Saugeen Shores Pumpkinfest organizers received a surprise when the Canadian Staff Band (CSB) of the Salvation Army asked if they could play a free concert at the event.
The Band was expected to play in Owen Sound on Saturday evening but decided it wanted to make a stop in Port Elgin for the renown festival because of the support that the community has shown for the Salvation Army Food Bank.
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Following the giant vegetables and pumpkin weigh-offs on Saturday afternoon in the Missionary Church (old arena), the 40-member band set up and treated those in the audience to an exceptional free concert.
Under the direction of John Lam, who is originally from Owen Sound, the band performed a variety of musical selections and has traveled around the world representing Canada.
To read a history of the band, Click Here.
Director, John Lam was appointed as the fifth bandmaster of the CSB in 2008. According to the CSB wesbite, “Lam brought his own unique vision and leadership style and immediately put his own stamp on the band’s musical presentations. In his first two years two new CDs were released under his direction, as well as a two-CD set containing music from old LP albums made in the band’s first ten years. The project coincided with the band’s 40th Anniversary, celebrated with a gala festival at Scarborough Citadel in May 2009”.
Lam has held several musical positions, including, the Head of Arts at Glendale High School in Tillsonburg, Onttario, teaching instrumental music for the Thames Valley District School Board, Corps bandmaster at The Salvation Army London Citadel and enjoys teaching at numerous music camps for the Salvation Army.
