Listen to this article
by Russ Prince –
The final festival of the 2005 Chris Mallett School of Music produced many highlights, including a grand assembly of young musicians receiving awards and honors from Major Paul Seiler (divisional commander), Major Steve Smith (divisional program secretary) and Captain John Stennett (divisional youth secretary). Outstanding musicians, both from Pasadena Tabernacle, were James Allen (senior) and Carolyn Wood (junior). Honor campers were Brittany Tangermann, Torrance (senior) and Evan Binder, Pasadena Tab (junior). A score of other young people represented the 11 choral, brass, percussion and string ensembles, led by outstanding music leaders.
For the third year, Young Peoples’ Band Director David Daws (Hendon, London) was the special guest. His musical leadership and growing relationship with many of the southland’s finest young musicians showed impressive results. Less than a week earlier, Daws was safely evacuated from a London subway train, following the city’s tragic bombing. Within days, with wife, Sarah, and their two young daughters, they flew to California.
Commissioner Philip Swyers joined Daws in a delightfully humorous cornet duet, composed by Divisional Music Director Kevin Larsson. But the true highlight was hearing the wonderful music making of the young Salvationists from corps across this great division. Thanks again to Kevin and Jacqui Larsson, the Daws family, and all the volunteer music leaders, and of course, every student, for making music camp 2005 alive with the sounds of music.
