Enjoy Music from The Salvation Army New York Brass Band and C Street Brass at Christ Church of Grove Farm - Help The Salvation Army Provide Music Education for Students throughout Western Pennsylvania

CARNEGIE, Pa., Sept. 29, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Salvation Army New York Brass Band, Carnegie Mellon University's C Street Brass Band, and The Salvation Army of Western Pennsylvania have teamed up to raise funds so that students throughout the region can participate in music education programs.  An evening of stellar musical entertainment will take place on Saturday, October 18, 2014 at Christ Church of Grove Farm, 249 Duff Rd, Sewickley, PA 15143 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm.  As an added treat, a solo performance by James Gourlay of River City Brass Band will be included among the musical selections.  General admission tickets are $20 each and $10 for students.  For a donation of $50, guest can enjoy a VIP reception beginning at 5:45 pm which includes a meet and greet with the musicians, hors d'oeuvres and dessert, as well as premium seating for the concert.  Corporate sponsors are needed to purchase student ticket packages enabling disadvantaged youth to attend.  Tickets can be purchased online by visiting The Salvation Army of Western PA's website at wpa.salvationarmy.org. For more information on corporate purchases, please call 412.446.1644.

The Salvation Army in Aliquippa has transformed the lives of hundreds of children, as well as the community itself through music education programs and has set the standard of what music programs can be.  Inspired by this great success, The Salvation Army of Western Pennsylvania is striving to replicate this type of program throughout its Division.  A Divisional Music Program will offer its youth participants the gift of music, along with a wonderful sense of purpose and commitment.  The Salvation Army Research has shown that children who study a musical instrument are more likely to excel in all their studies, work better in teams, have enhanced critical thinking skills, stay in school and pursue further education. "The New York Staff Band Benefit Concert will not only provide much-needed funding for a Divisional Music Program, but will also provide critical awareness of The Salvation Army and the breadth and depth of its programs," stated Major William Bode, Divisional Commander of the Western PA Division.

The New York Staff Band (NYSB) represents the finest in Christian brass band performance and was the first 'staff band' in Salvation Army [SA] music history. When the band released its first 33-rpm 'long play' [LP] back in 1957, it was heralded as 'America's Foremost Brass Band.'  The liner notes stated boldly: "From the 'greatest city in the world' comes one of the greatest bands of the world. The NYSB has been and continues to be a trailblazer in SA and brass band music making.  The New York Staff Band has been featured at many famous locations worldwide, including:  Carnegie Music Hall, Disneyworld, Madison Square Garden, Metropolitan Opera House (NYC), The National Auditorium (Washington, D.C.), Roy Thomson Hall (Toronto), Royal Albert Hall (London), Sydney Opera House (Australia),  United Nations, World's Fairs, Yankee Stadium, and Yuinchokin Hall (Tokyo).

C Street Brass, ensemble in residence at Carnegie Mellon University now calls Pittsburgh home. If you hear brass music coming from downtown, chances are its C Street Brass playing on the street honing material for a new show. Aside from busking, house parties, and club dates, C Street Brass has been on a variety of chamber music series including: Corpus Christie Chamber Music Series, Corpus Christie, TX, Community Concerts Second Series, Baltimore MD, and their own series at Carnegie Mellon. In addition to being in residence at Carnegie Mellon, C Street Brass has also held residencies at WBJC the Classical Radio voice of Baltimore, Bradley Hills Presbyterian Church in Bethesda, MD.

Both a church and a social service organization, The Salvation Army began in London, England in 1865. Today, it provides critical services in 126 countries worldwide.  The 28-county Western Pennsylvania Division serves thousands of needy families through a wide variety of support services. To learn more about The Salvation Army in Western Pennsylvania, log onto www.salvationarmy-wpa.org, twitter.com/SalArmyPGH or facebook.com/SalvationArmyWesternPA.  The Salvation Army … Doing the most good . . . for the most people . . . in the most need.

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SOURCE The Salvation Army Western Pennsylvania Division