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by Jeff Curnow –
| < TORRANCE SINGING COMPANY in action at the Chris Mallett Memorial Concert. |
A near-capacity audience was on hand at the Torrance, California, Corps for the fourth annual Chris Mallet Memorial Concert.
The Torrance band, singing company, songsters and praise and worship team joined with excellent solo presentations in a concert that glorified God and benefited the future of Army music in Southern California.
Featured trombone soloist, Andrew Poirier of the Canadian Staff Band, displayed both technical virtuosity and remarkable musicality while performing several solo selections. Poirier’s piano accompaniments were performed by David Dunford of the Tustin Ranch Corps.
Chris Mallett, Southern California’s former divisional music director, was promoted to Glory unexpectedly in 2000 in the midst of developing an annual concert series to raise funds to send youth to the divisional music camp. Now, both the concert series and music camp are named in his honor.
Each concert features youth whose talent has been nurtured at the Chris Mallet School of Music. This year’s program included performances by Jenna Gleason, vocal soloist and James Allen, pianist. Gleason’s confidence was evident in her lively presentation of Twila Paris’ “I Am not Afraid Anymore” and in her able handling of the difficult, “Candle of the Lord” by Joy Webb.
Allen delighted the crowd with classical selections by Chopin and Mozart. The offering at the program raised nearly $1,300 for future school of music scholarships.
The Army’s tradition of excellence in music is in good hands in Torrance.