TCAC- Day 5

As they say in the classics, we’ve hit the home straight!

We’re coming towards the end of what has been a hectic, tiring, but fun-filled week here at TCAC. And everyone here is stuffed!

A big highlight – as it always is – was the ‘Date Night’ dinner which occurred on Wednesday night. All females were beautifully attired while all the big boys did their best to look – and act – as sharp as possible.

We did ourselves no harm by the way!

An aspect of the camp which has been particularly uplifting has been the bible study groups and the early morning praise and worship sessions led by Phil Laeger. The messages and themes discussed have certainly challenged many at the camp and I’m sure some lifelong messages have been learnt.

As for the Big Band, we’ve been extremely active over the past few days. Not only have we done close to 19 hours of rehearsing, but we were also given the privilege of leading all delegates in a time of praise and worship on Tuesday night.

But what has really stood out to me personally is how everyone in the band has bonded together with such ease. It’s no secret that before this camp the majority of us would’ve had little to no idea about of each other. But four days on and it’s almost like we’ve become a close netted family and we know each other back-to-front.

I could tell you that Nathan Glenn has a diet consisting of pumpkin seeds, protein powder and tuna. I could also tell you that Scott Mangos can tear up a dance floor like very few men I know. I could also tell you that Jason Sandercock is a veteran when it comes to the ladies and that any man struggling to catch a girl’s eye should seek advice from him.

Another pleasing aspect about the band over the past few days has been their willingness to participate in all activities. Not only have we achieved so much during the strenuous rehearsal time, but we have also mixed with delegates of all ages and got involved in as much as possible.

It’s now only two days until we fly to Stockholm and the excitement is certainly starting to build amongst the group. To be honest, it’s kind of surreal that our first rehearsal together was back in January because it really does feel like it was only yesterday.

The concert for TCAC is tonight so make sure you get down to Ivanhoe Girls Grammar at 7.30pm for an entertaining evening. We’ll play three numbers at the concert and with the amount of rehearsal we’ve done this week, we should be in some decent form!

Hopefully.

Round the Band with Em - Part 1

Ok, so our next post comes from the administrative member of the band.  I'm that person that gets to go on the trip, but doesn't actually play an instrument.  Mind you, without me... well its best not to think about what would have happened!

Unfortunately for all you blog readers out there I am not quite as funny as one Ben Waterworth, but I will do my best.  This week, while the band have 20 hours of rehearsals, I have 20 hours of tying up lose ends, enjoying the music and keeping the world informed of our movements...so to speak.

So I thought that perhaps it might be nice to get some introductions going... you know, give you a bit of info about the band so you know a little more about us and hopefully some of the humorous stories will be a little more humorous.  So over the next few days I will be going around section by section asking the same 3 questions and taking some pictures in order to introduce them to you completely and fully... so hold on to your hats because here we go...

So section number one is the Trumpets... 

The Trumpet section is a little bit special for a lot of reasons, but one of the reasons they are so super special is that they hold all of our interstate members...

On 1st Trumpet we have Jason

1. What could you not live without?
Chocolate
2. How long have you been playing for?
Since I was 7, so like 23-7.
3. What are you most looking forward to about Sweden?
The good looking people of Sweden

Next we have Scott

1. What could you not live without?
Coke
2. How long have you been playing for?
11 years
3. What are you most looking forward to about Sweden?
Going to IKEA

On 3rd Trumpet... Nick
1. What could you not live without?
My iPod
2. How long have you been playing for?
Since I was 4
3. What are you most looking forward to about Sweden?
Food

And last, but certainly not least, we have Sarah
1. What could you not live without?
Music and Jesus
2. How long have you been playing for?
20 years
3. What are you most looking forward to about Sweden?
Mixing with different cultures

So there you go the trumpets... what a good looking backrow we have in the band!

TCAC - Day 2

Well here we are, in the middle of Blampied (also known as whoop whoop) on the second day of Territorial Creative Arts Camp (TCAC).

Just under 100 delegates are gathered here for the camp and around 20 leaders will be keeping a watchful eye over all of us for the duration of the week.

Everyone arrived here around four yesterday and following registration and a quick welcome, we were treated to a beautiful lasagne that would rival the fine work of Denise Waterworth. We then participated in worship which was led by Phil Laeger and heard from Nathan Casey – the youth pastor at Inglefarm Corps in South Australia – who spoke about ‘thirsting’ for God.

As for the Big Band, we’re about to embark on a week’s worth of rehearsal, which will add up to approximately 20 hours before this Friday’s concert. It’ll be interesting to see how all the wind players hold up, but we’re all professionals here and we don’t get paid the big bucks for no reason!

TCAC also has a strong reputation for the development of new relationships and already the fishing lines are out as fishermen – and women for that matter – try to land that all important catch. We won’t name names because, as the old saying goes, what happens on camp stays on camp.

A major concern for many people here is the lack of mobile and internet reception. I can hear all you over 30’s crying out “now they know how we felt all those years ago”. I am certain though that we’ll all still come back in one piece.

So if you’re trying to contact loved ones and aren’t receiving a response, please be aware that we are in some serious country territory and don’t have much range.

That’s it for now though – be good!

BW

Welcome to our adventure!

G'day,

Welcome to the official blog of the 'Australian Southern Territory's Salvation Army Big Band'.

First off, you're probably wondering why we have such a long title. Well we wonder that too and can't answer that- sorry to disappoint.

Secondly, who are we? We're a group of Salvationists who have come from all over Australia to form a big band. And we don't sound too bad either!

We play a variety of music including swing, shuffle and rock. Basically everything except for the typical music you'll see David George (leading alto sax player) dancing to every Saturday night!

We leave to go to the Salvation Army's Territorial Creative Arts Camp in Blampied, Victoria this Sunday (4th July). We will do approximately 20 hours of rehearsal before finishing off our week with a concert at Ivanhoe Girls Grammar School on Friday (9th July). More information to come.

Two days later (Sunday 11th July), we head off to Stockholm, Sweden for the Salvation Army's World Youth Convention, which will be held from Thursday 15th July to Sunday 18th July. We have been asked by the General of the Salvation Army to be special guests for the convention, so we are understandably thrilled and excited about being apart of this exciting occasion.

Over the next few weeks, Emma Lewis (the band's manager) and myself (Ben Waterworth- trombone player and the most attractive specimen of the band) will keep you well informed of our movements.

You can follow us on Twitter or on Facebook as well by clicking on those two links. Our email address is astsalvobigband@hotmail.com!

Look forward to bringing you much more news, views and humorous material in the coming weeks.

Many blessings,

BW