Music lovers are invited to usher in autumn at the Fall Festival of Gospel Song.
The Salvation Army Cariboo Hill Temple is hosting the concert on Saturday, Nov. 3 at 7:30 p.m.
The Cariboo Hill Temple Band and Songsters will be joined by special guests the Shaughnessy Heights United Church Choir for the occasion. Guest director John Lam of the Salvation Army’s Canadian Staff Band will also join the musicians for the occasion.
David Mills, bandmaster of the Cariboo Hill Temple Band, started up the fall event when he took over the band three years ago. He wanted to offer his musicians an event to work towards and present something that would generate excitement for both players and audience.
“The players take the summer off, so this event jump-starts our music program for the new season,” he explained in an email to the NOW.
The idea of fall concerts isn’t a new one, though; Mills noted that the band was formed in 1888 – making it Vancouver’s first band – and has done many fall concerts over the years with a variety of special guests.
This event marks the third festival under Mills’ leadership.
“Although the concert is called the ‘Fall Festival of Gospel Song,’ we are not really limited to just the traditional form of gospel music,” he said. “The band usually plays a fanfare-style opener and exciting band arrangements of famous hymns, as well as beautiful lyrical selections.”
Both the Cariboo Hill choir and the Shaughnessy choir will perform a variety of sacred and classical works, and there will be two massed numbers featuring band, organ and the massed 70-voice choir – for a total of just over 100 musicians onstage.
Mills noted the concert is designed to appeal to a broad audience and is family-friendly, but it’s not recommended for pre-teens and younger children.
Admission is by donation at the door. For information, call 604-525-7311.
