The Salvation Army Chicago Staff Band will perform on Saturday, May 4 at 6 p.m. at the Warsaw Community High School Performing Arts Center, 1 Tiger Lane, Warsaw.
The event is sponsored by 1st Source Bank and is finally coming to the area after cancellations due to COVID and weather, according to a news release provided by The Salvation Army. The theme for the evening is “May The Fourth Be With You” and is free to the public.
In America’s heartland, the Chicago Staff Band has come to represent the best in banding traditions of The Salvation Army, the release states. It is composed of members of Salvation Army congregations from throughout metropolitan Chicago, dedicated to Christian service and musical excellence.
Founded in 1907 as a gathering of Salvation Army employees, thus the label “staff band,” the men and women of the band represent a variety of occupations and studies, including a number of Salvation Army employees and officers. Chicago Staff Band members share at least three things in common: a love and desire to serve God, commitment to the membership and ministry of their respective Salvation Army worship center, and quality musical talent that is willingly shared on a volunteer, non-professional basis.
The band travels monthly throughout the USA Midwest and has conducted concert tours of the United Kingdom, Mexico, Panama, Puerto Rico, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, Philippines, Chile, Jamaica, Canada, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, South Korea, New Zealand and Nigeria.
The Chicago Staff Band’s programming is designed to inspire as well as entertain. The band strives to live up to what was many years ago described by a Chicago newsman as “the band with a sacred message.”
“The CSB came to Warsaw in 1996 to celebrate our 75th anniversary,” said Envoy Ken Locke, Warsaw administrator. “We tried to get them back to Kosciusko County in 2021 for our 100th anniversary but COVID and then weather prevented the concerts. We are excited and hope many can join us for a great evening of music!”