On Sunday, September 13th, 2009 Jubilee Brass again journeyed to the lovely Ontario town of Stratford (on the Avon). This visit was to help the Corps celebrate its 125th Anniversary. The guest leaders were the new Divisional leaders, Lt. Colonels Lee and Debbie Graves. The Colonel brought a stirring challenge in his message in the morning meeting challenging us to take care of our neighbors. Many came forward at the end of the meeting for commitment and a pastoral prayer.

The Band provided a prelude consisting of hymn tunes Slane, Fewster and Repton as well as the arrangements, “Be still for the presence of the Lord” and “’mid all the traffic”.

The Band’s morning selection was “Turn you eyes upon Jesus” with the band forming as a choir singing the chorus at the conclusion of the piece.

Karen Gross of the Winterberry Heights Corps in Hamilton was the vocal soloist bringing two beautiful renditions in the morning meeting.

Jubilee Brass and Karen Gross moved from the citadel to a lovely outdoor band shell on the banks of the ‘Avon’ for a concert very well attended. The sloping hills of the park, the large shade trees and appropriately placed picnic tables made for a comfortable setting.

The Band battled with notes and bumble bees. A large lovely planting of flowers at the edge of the stage initially drew the bees in bunches but they simply couldn’t resist the opportunity of attacking faces and fingers in the middle of the most technical of passages. Who created those things anyway?

After getting the crowd on their feet with ‘O Canada’ the band settled into the program beginning with Soderstrom’s ‘Army of God’. Two Bill Gordon pieces, the Processional “Be glorified” and a March medley,” Gospel Jubilee” were also featured.

Our proud pugnacious positive piper, Jack Bernard, thrilled the crowd (again) with the test piece for the pipes, “Highland Cathedral”. Jack doubles as an end chair baritone player and the band sergeant to boot. Keeps him busy and mostly out of trouble. The front bench of cornets disgorged three of them to play a careful and pleasing rendition of “What a friend”. The three also happen to be ‘friends’ namely Karl, Fred and Bert.
Karl Jolly hardly had time to catch his breath as he presented the lovely cornet solo, “I’d rather have Jesus”. He did a good job subbing for our principal Gary Venables.

In order to get the crowd involved we played “How great thou art”, “Shine, Jesus Shine” and “”Praise my soul”

Karen pleased the crowd with two powerful and meaningful vocal solos.

We left the shores of the “Avon’ with the six swans a swimming (or was it seven or was it five?) and the bees retreating to the sweet nectar of the flowers-where they belong.