© 2008 Philip Biggs Brass Festivals Ltd.

The Brass Herald Issue 25 October - November 2008

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Star Lake Musicamp 2008

Earlier this year, The Salvation Army’s most famous summer music institution, Star Lake Musicamp, took place in the beautiful hills of New Jersey during a stunning week of weather.  The 2008 guest was cornet virtuoso, David Daws who shared the following retrospective on the overall camp experience.

“Star Lake’s theme for 2008 was Virtuosity meaning: a musician showing masterly ability, technique, or personal style.  During my week at SLMC I met many Virtuosos and many more Virtuosos-in-the-making as the enthusiasm for outstanding musicianship was infectious.  Attending Star Lake was an absolute joy for me and the musical standard was as high as I have seen at SA music camps.  There were four bands and the musicians were put in bands according to their performance in their auditions.  The “top” band was the Star Lake Band with which I had the pleasure of conducting works such as The Lord is King, Truth Aflame, Just as I Am, Kaleidoscope and a march The Chiltern Line by Ray Bowes.  The students were extremely keen, had fantastic stamina enabling them to play for 4+ hours per day and were regularly seen practicing on their own or with their sections.  Each day I had to play SA cornet solos at our Morning Devotions which included I Want to Say Yes, This Day Is for Living, ‘Mid All the Traffic, Just Like Him and There’s a Light in Heaven’s Window, with excellent piano accompaniments provided by Dorothy Gates and Lilly Finikin.

The staff at SLMC are accomplished musicians, wonderful Christians and fantastic teachers dedicated to helping the campers in all areas.  A highlight for me was the massed bands, 200 brass players in glorious sunshine, on the ball field, an incredible sight!  Despite the intensity of the sun the players stood and played as we listened to the exciting sound of brass in the open-air.  The Final concert was well attended and I had the privilege of premiering a new cornet solo, Boutade, which Mark Freeh has recently arranged for brass band.  I was extremely impressed by the Music Department and their vision and integrity.  They are working very hard to encourage music making, and brass banding in particular in the SA with a number of successful initiatives.”

Ronald Waiksnoris, Bandmaster of the New York Staff Band for the past 17 years, and USA Eastern Territorial Music Secretary for the past 24, also has the awesome responsibility of Camp Director for Star Lake Musicamp.  In looking back on the 2008 experience he shares: “David Daws was an inspirational guest at Star Lake Musicamp.  His cornet playing was mesmerizing, but his willingness to teach and share from his experience was equally impressive.

Billed as ‘an international experience’ in an Olympic year, this year’s Musicamp saw Salvationist campers from the UK, Canada, Korea, Argentina, Jamaica, South Africa and Puerto Rico in attendance, so a visit to the United Nations was a highlight for many.  The standard was high in all four bands.  The spirit of this great Salvation Army event continues as an effective ministry.”

One of the many blessings at Star Lake Musicamp is the amount of individuals who come on scholarship.  Several years ago, a new scholarship was endowed from the Green Foundation – excellent supporters of SA music around the world – in the form of the Budd, Royle & Strehle Program Staff Chair which provides a ‘special guest’, in effect, to work directly with the Pequannock Band – the least advanced of the four bands at the Musicamp.  Past recipients of this scholarship include William Flinn, George Holmes, Stephen Hanover and Paul Sharman.  This year’s award recipient was Malcolm Randall of the Boscombe, UK Corps and he shared his thoughts on attending Star Lake Musicamp.

“Star Lake Musicamp has gained a place in SA musical heritage and is surely one of the most famous SA music camps that still exist.  This somewhat legendary status is fully deserved, having witnessed at first hand the devotion and efforts of those staff in attendance, coupled with the quantity and quality of the students and their desire to be at the camp.  There is an obvious love for what is being attempted and a depth and breadth to the experience of the staff that brings a confidence and credibility to the activities that many other events can only dream of.  This made my job so easy to tag along and join on this year’s journey.  It was a pleasure to work with the Pequannock Band at SLMC and also to spend time with students from the other bands and choruses.  It was fascinating to learn about some of the students’ backgrounds and understand the importance that SLMC has to their musical advancement, but also their emotional and spiritual development.  The energy and enthusiasm shown by the students was unbelievably infectious and impossible to ignore.  The beautiful environment in which the camp is held assists the further relaxation and positive development of relationships.  There were many highlights for me during my time at SLMC ’08, too many to mention and each day held memorable occasions.  However, seeing so many campers at such a critical time in their lives, commit to developing their skills under the umbrella of this Christian organization, was both moving and inspiring.”

Working alongside Bandmaster Ron Waiksnoris as Assistant Territorial Music Secretary is Thomas Scheibner, who has been in his role for the past 25 years and now serves as Program Director for the Musicamp.  He shares these final comments: “Star Lake Musicamp 2008 was a terrific experience.  The standard of musicianship and the sensitivity to spiritual values continues to grow each year, in my opinion.  David Daws was a great special guest conductor who helped raise the standard of the playing of the Star Lake Band to a very high level.  Total registration numbers of musicampers continues to increase each year, as well as the number of brass instrumentalists, which bodes well for the future.”

- Aaron Vanderweele