September | 2013 | The National Capital Band

Personnel News - September 2013

Posted on 17 September 2013 by Webmaster

The National Capital Band (Bandmaster Dr. Steve Kellner) announced some personnel changes at the beginning of the 2013 – 2014 season.

The band says farewell to Ruth Choi, whose officer parents were appointed to the staff of Evangeline Booth College in Atlanta. Also leaving the band are Esther Kim and Sam Kim, who will both be attending the University of Virginia. Josh Sears also has an educational commitment that will keep him from participating for at least the first half of the season.

Jim and Susan Shiels were appointed to the Suffolk Corps in southeastern Virginia and have resumed full-time service as officers with the rank of Captain. Despite the long distance, Jim will continue to play in the band, but Susan will be stepping away.

Joining the band are Majors Tim and Donna Carter, Tim on first horn and Donna on second cornet. The Carters were appointed as area commanders in Central Virginia (Richmond) over the summer. Also joining the band from the Richmond area is Sara Elliott, who has moved from Oklahoma to take the position as music director for the Central Virginia Area Command. Sara will be handling the flügelhorn duties.

The Fredericksburg Corps has also hired a new director for its music programs. Kate Wohlman comes over from England to fill this spot and joins the NCB on Bb bass. The bass section is also bolstered by Lieutenant Trey Jones, corps officer at Alexandria Citadel, who has played with the band as a substitute several times in the past couple of years but has now committed to a full season. Also joining the band from Alexandria Citadel is Troy Stupart. Both Trey and Troy will be on Eb bass.

In addition to new players, there have been changes in the cornet and horn sections. Danielle Ashton moves from first cornet to solo horn. John McKee, who joined the band in the middle of last season, moves from solo cornet to first cornet to fill Danielle’s spot, and Rebekah Schramm moves from second to first cornet.

Posted in Bandroom News, News

2013 - 2014 Season Gets Under Way

Posted on 15 September 2013 by Webmaster

The National Capital Band (Bandmaster Dr. Steve Kellner) officially began its 2013 – 2014 season in its traditional fashion with a retreat at Camp Happyland. The members of the band gathered on the evening of Friday, 6 September 2013 for a time of musical and spiritual preparation for the upcoming season.

This year’s retreat was exceptionally well-attended, with only three members of the group unable to attend. The format was the same as that used in previous years, with five rehearsal sessions (one on Friday night and four on Saturday) interspersed with meals and with three breakout devotional sections, ending with a consecration service on Saturday afternoon. This format was introduced by Bandmaster Kellner at the first retreat held under his leadership (2010) and has proved to be very effective at preparing the band for their season of ministry.

During the breakout sessions, members of the band were divided into four groups for a time of sharing and prayer. Devotional materials for the sessions, prepared by Major Rob Reardon (Band Chaplain), centered around the Bramwell Coles song Here at the Cross. James Curnow’s meditation on this song is one of the band’s primary devotional selections for this season. Each session looked at a verse of the song and the consecration service wrapped up the theme with an emphasis on the last line of the chorus, “Lord, for Thy service, fit me I plead”.

The rehearsal sessions, each one hour in length, were intense as usual. They serve to introduce new repertoire and to allow the band to begin coming together as a unit, particularly for members who have changed seats or are joining the band.