- by Kim Garreffa
With a new staff hierarchy in place, 138 students lined up to register on August 25th 2007 for Territorial’s 40th Anniversary Music & Gospel Arts Camp. Headed by our newest Territorial Music Secretary, Major Kevin Metcalf, other staff included special guest conductor Dr. Ronald Holz from Asbury College, Kentucky; Bible guests Captains Curtis Cartmell and Rachele Lamont from Montreal’s Inner City Ministries; “A” Chorus conductor Cathie Koehnen, who herself is celebrating almost 30 consecutive years at Jackson’s Point Territorial Camp; Drama leader Joe Caddy, who runs the Bill Booth Theater Company in Chicago Illinois; and Worship Stream Leaders Kurtis and Sharlene Loveless from Halifax (and of “Grounded” fame: (visit www.groundedworship.com/ or www.myspace.com/groundedworship ).

Rounding out the staff were band leaders John Lam and Brian Burditt of The Canadian Staff Band (www.salvationist.ca/csb/ ); Women’s Chorus and Mixed Chorus leaders Jane Lam, Steve Armstrong and Major Beverly Ivany; and Media Stream leaders Tim Sharp and Kim Garreffa.

Sunday night was the official 40th Anniversary Celebration, a musical night entitled “Thanks for the Memories”, featuring special guests Steve Brown, Curtis Metcalf, Doreen Marriott, Bill Way and Brian Burditt. All the guests demonstrated their musical prowess interspersed with stories of past camp memories. Bill Way reminded us how luxurious the camp had become, because in the early days there were no showers, and campers were only allowed to bathe and wash their hair at the lake once during the course of the week: “It’s no wonder we couldn’t get any dates!” Bill quipped. Brian shared how in his first year on staff he received an angry midnight complaint about campers holding an open air with full brass ensemble that was keeping everyone awake. When Brian arrived to interrupt the enthusiastic campers, they announced that he was there to give his testimony! So Brian agreeably obliged, but finished by concluding the open air and leading the students back to camp in a smart organized march.

Musically Doreen graced campers with vocal solos “Let Me Tell You” and “I Surrender All” (David Chaulk). Steve serenaded us on both flugel and cornet with “Sweet By and By” (Len Ballantine) and “Softly and Tenderly”. Most memorable was Curtis Metcalf’s flawless and humorous euphonium rendition of “Grandfather’s Clock”, after which he joined a double quartet (four cornets, four trombones) for “Ain’a That’a Good News”. Bill Way demonstrated his amazing piano proficiency with his own original jazz arrangement, but also brought the house down by reviving his old Jackson’s Camp tradition of playing his “doll” - a special Mattel creation whereby certain notes of the scale can be played by pressing the doll’s hands, feet or stomach.

Monday night was “Meet the Guest” featuring Dr. Ron Holz at what he does best, teaching SA music history in a creative and memorable way. Ron has just published a book entitled “Brass Bands of The Salvation Army” which is currently available for purchase through our Supplies and Purchasing Department, at www.SalvationArmy.ca/Store. On that night Ron shared the history of pieces such as “Would You Know Why I Love Jesus”, “He Who Would Valiant Be”, and our own Jackson’s Point pep song, using the campers themselves as an impromptu “choir”, singing various historical versions, as well as “A” Band who played various brass arrangements of the hymns. Interspersed with Ron’s interactive lecture were soloists who demonstrated the variety that exists musically amongst Salvationists, including a euphonium solo from OCE DY Captain Mark Hall, a new setting of a hymn tune from vocal soloist Donna Harris, a violin solo from staff member Anita Hiradhar, and a Broadway vocal solo from Drama leader Joe Caddy.

Tuesday night was the traditional Talent Night, and this night displayed some of the best talent seen in a number of years. Highlights included a duet from Barrington and Brindley Venables, singing Andrew Lloyd Weber’s “Pie Jesus” in the original soprano key (I believe their top note was a super A above middle C). Although people laughed at the sound of two men singing soprano, their pitch was flawless and from a musical standpoint it was an impressive presentation.

Read Part II