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Las Vegas Citadel brings music to youth
The Las Vegas Citadel Corps is bringing music education to its youth every week through its youth music ministry.
Presently, the corps provides opportunities for music instruction and worship, which include Youth Band, Singing Company, Girls Quartet, Jr. Worship Team, Guitar Class, and Drum Class—all of which are taught by corps volunteers.
The corps established its Youth Band seven years ago. Bandmaster Pete Cooper and Deputy Bandmaster Travis Constantine provide leadership for the program.
“We started the [Youth] Band to share our love of music and love for the Lord with the young people of the church,” Constantine said. “It gave the kids of the Corps an outlet to do something musical and also gave us an outreach to bring others to the church and to learn about the Lord.”
The Singing Company was under hiatus for a while until Jim and Nancy Howard took leadership of it six months ago. This youth choir meets weekly to receive vocal training and to rehearse songs for performance and praise. The group has sung during Youth Sunday Services and other community events.
In addition to the Singing Company, two other vocal groups were formed under the Howards’ leadership. The Girls Quartet and Jr. Worship Team both involve a select group of talented singers who meet weekly for vocal teaching and song rehearsals to lead the Sunday worship and provide special music during youth Sunday services.
“I love being a part of these groups,” Kelsie Groenleer, a corps youth musician, said. “I love singing and I enjoy making music with my friends.”
The guitar and drum classes were formed a month ago by members of the Worship Team—one of whom is a graduate of The Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center.
“I wanted to give back to The Salvation Army for everything that it has done for me,” said drum instructor Joe Ramirez.
Las Vegas Citadel Corps youth continues to make melodies in their hearts as they praise the Lord through their singing voices and through their brass, stringed and percussion instruments.
