Sounds of Hollywood
A joint concert benefiting the victims of the 2025 California wildfires and the Texas floods in a program expressing strength and resilience.
- Friday, September 5, 2025 @ 7:30 pm · get tickets
THE ALLENTOWN BAND
Ronald Demkee, Conductor
NEW YORK STAFF BAND, SALVATION ARMY
Derek Lance, Bandmaster
Proceeds will be donated to benefit victims of both the Texas Floods and the California Wildfires, through programs established by the Salvation Army.
PROGRAM
THE ALLENTOWN BAND
Hooray for Hollywood
Warren Barker
Tara’s Theme; 42nd Street; Born Free; Merrily We Roll Along; The High And The Mighty; Theme From A Summer Place; Swanee; Days Of Wine And Roses; Theme From Lawrence Of Arabia; As Time Goes By and Hooray For Hollywood.
Singularly Streisand
People-Funny Girl, Memories-The Way We Were, Don’t Rain on My Parade-Funny Girl
Patricia Risley, vocals
Hymn to the Fallen from “Saving Private Ryan”
John Williams/Lavender
Honoring those lost in the fires.
Make Our Garden Grow from “Candide”
Leonard Bernstein/Grundman
– INTERMISSION –
THE NEW YORK STAFF BAND
Program TBD
COMBINED BANDS
Shine as the Light
Peter Graham
Ronald Demkee, Conducting
Amazing Grace
William Himes
Derek Lance, Conducting
Stars and Stripes Forever March
John Philip Sousa
Derek Lance, Conducting
NEW YORK STAFF BAND, SALVATION ARMY
Since 1887 the New York Staff Band of The Salvation Army [SA] has maintained the highest standards of musical practice and Christian ministry. As one of the nation’s oldest, continuous musical ensembles, the NYSB has rightfully been heralded as ‘America’s Foremost Brass Band.’ The band’s honored status as the first staff band in SA history is matched by its excellence in musical performance and in its role as a trailblazer in repertoire, programming, and service. While the band performs at a level music critics consider professional, all members of the band are volunteers, none receiving payment for their participation, even though many members have studied at some of America’s finest music schools and conservatories. Each member gives freely of their time and effort while in the band, all in addition to their regular day job.
Throughout its history the band has continued to interact with contemporary culture by featuring outstanding guest soloists in their festivals or concerts. In just the past few years these have included world-class groups or soloists such as The King’s Singers, The Brooklyn Tabernacle Singers, Michael W. Smith, Philip Cobb, Maestro Bramwell Tovey, Chris Martin, Canadian Brass, Cory Band and the Black Dyke Band.
The band continues to be motivated by their love of Christ. That motivation they link to their calling to lift high the Christian Gospel. Their music making serves as an effective arm of the SA’s compassionate ministry while the band also keeps true to the highest purpose of sacred music—giving praise and glory to God.
Beyond the confines of the SA, the NYSB’s interactions with culture stand as testimony to its consistent engagement and Christian witness. Throughout its history the band has embraced new methods to face the ever-changing nature of society. Whether setting the pace in the early days of radio and TV or continuing to use electronic media to enhance their ministry through outstanding recordings, the NYSB participates at the forefront of the interaction between the sacred and the secular.
The NYSB ranks among the most widely traveled groups in band history. They have toured the United Kingdom more than ten times, toured Europe, and Scandinavia on multiple occasions, traveled several times to the Far East, Australia, and New Zealand, been across the border into Canada on more than 20 occasions, and performed coast to coast in the Western Hemisphere.
Ronald W. Holz. O.F., Ph.D.