Saturday Finale at Star Lake Musicamp
by Hugo Bravo
Chorus, band, and timbrel performances concluded a week of music lessons and devotion at Star Lake Musicamp, a seven-day retreat where young musicians can grow both spiritually and musically. Every year for a week in August, Star Lake Camp in New Jersey hosts young people ages 13 to 25 who wish to develop and sharpen their skills under the tutelage of skilled Salvation Army musicians from the Eastern Territory and beyond.
The Salvation Army Appalachian Band opened the finale with a performance of “Christ’s Name Proclaim!” a piece by Andrew Blyth that, until that day, had only been performed twice, both times in the United Kingdom.
“To have it here at Star Lake, I think, is a great start for any music program,” said Richard Woodrow, conductor of the Appalachian Band.
Before a performance of “Easter Glory,” Hilltop Band conductor Matthew Luhn shared how the composition is divided into three separate movements to tell the story of Christ’s resurrection, challenging both the players and the audience to closely listen.
“The piece tells the Easter story in present tense,” said Luhn. “The first movement, violent and brutal, is the long death march to Christ’s execution. The second movement, when we are waiting for Jesus to return, is anger and despair. And on the third day, the third movement is frantic. There’s lots of confusion, people running around, and conversations about what has happened. Then finally, off in the distance, the truth quietly comes. Christ the Lord has risen.”
After the performances, former New York Staff Bandmaster Ronald Waiksnoris inducted Patrick Morris into the Star Lake Musicamp Hall of Fame, which honors Star Lake’s most acclaimed participants.
“Patrick was the greatest technician,” said Waiksnoris. “He had technique on euphonium, trombone, anything. He even played in the U.S. Army Band, which meant he got to go to Washington, D.C., and play in the White House.”
“My first year at Star Lake was 1969,” said Morris. “The special guest was Colonel Bernard Adams, the bandmaster of the Salvation Army International Staff Band in London. I was 15 years old and had been listening to his recordings for years. He played some of those same recordings here. Meeting him and seeing him play was a dream come true.”
Though Morris moved to Florida in 1986, he’s always made it a point to come back to New Jersey for a week in August to be part of Star Lake. He shared some wisdom with the audience of campers and their families in attendance.
“Practice, prepare, and pray for every audition. And take the time to know your audience, not just knock them off their feet with your talent,” Morris said, smiling.
Morris also gave recognition to a friend in Florida, George McLaughlin, who had passed away recently at 104 years old.
“George attended the very first Star Lake Musicamp in 1935. When I go back to Florida, I’m going to tell his family that what he did in 1935 is still being done today, to the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Lorena Lance, accompanist for the Ramapo Chorus, shared a message for all the week’s participants.
“Hold on to what you’ve learned this week, especially the devotionals that you all shared,” said Lance. “Music is awesome, but the most important thing that you will take from here is the growth each of you has made in just a week, within yourselves and in your own connections with Christ.”
The finale was broadcast across Salvation Army social media channels, with viewers across the territory and across the United States witnessing how The Salvation Army both enriches lives and worships the Lord through the power of music.
Next year’s Star Lake Musicamp will take place Aug. 9–16, so mark your calendars!
