Together 2023: ISB and ISS in concert

Major Julian Watchorn reports on the Together 2023 ISB and ISS concert.

An expectant crowd enjoyed an exhilarating afternoon of musical excellence and reflection from the International Staff Band and Songsters.

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The band began with ‘Call to Serve’, written for the Welcome to the High Council by Kevin Larsson, who was in the audience. The piece was warmly received.

The ISS sang the joyful ‘Sing and Rejoice’ and the ISB shared the rousing ‘For Men of Faith’, referencing the tunes ‘Eternal God’ and ‘For All the Saints’.

Staff Songster Gemma Hinchliffe brought the powerful solo ‘They Could Not’ before the ISS introduced the title song from their new album, You Are the Song, followed by the upbeat ‘My Redeemer Lives’.

The band presented the show-style ‘Exodus 15’ and the gentle ‘Seal Lullaby’, played by Richard Woodrow on flugelhorn.

The audience was treated to the premiere of the technically challenging ISS piece ‘Vite Mea Domino’, by Richard Phillips and Stephen Pearson. The band shared a lighter number, ‘Light of Your Smile’, before Hazel Hampton gave a catchy blues rendition of ‘He’s Never Failed Me Yet’.

The ISB shared Kenneth Downie’s ‘Jesus Is Lord’ from their new album, Manuscripts 2.

ISB executive officer Major Paul Kingscott shared a thought from 2 Chronicles 5, which speaks of trumpeters and musicians joining in unison to praise and thank the Lord.

The ISS sang a new version of ‘The Old Rugged Cross’ before the ISB played the intense ‘Triquetra’, which means ‘trinity’.

Chief Secretary Colonel Paul Main brought the concert to a close by thanking the musicians for their ministry, before leading the congregation in prayer.

The songsters concluded by singing ‘The Lord Bless You and Keep You’.