‘A new day’ for Melbourne Staff Band
BY BARRY GITTINS
An estimated 250 people attended the commissioning of Melbourne Staff Bandmaster Mark Hamilton – the 11th person to lead the group – at Box Hill Corps on Sunday afternoon, 2 March 2025. The ceremony was also live-streamed.
“It’s a new day,” Commissioner Miriam Gluyas told Salvos Online before the meeting commenced.
Declaring the MSB’s new leader to be a Jesus-centred, Spirit-led man, the Territorial Commander added that “this is the next phase, in leading people forward and leading them to Jesus. He will be a great mentor and leader.”
Major Matt Reeve echoed those sentiments, viewing Mark as the right person for the role, and described the MSB as a group ready to “engage with all facets of The Salvation Army, encouraging, uplifting and transforming people’s lives”.
So, no pressure, but there is a fair bit riding on the direction and choices Mark makes as far as expectations go.
The new bandmaster’s first musical choice was Paul Sharman’s ‘My God and King!’, which featured tight, elegant sectional work from the cornets. This was immediately followed by a restrained, masterful rendition of Sam Creamer’s ‘Hold That Fort!’
Matt’s flurry of welcomes to dignitaries and officers included retired MSB leaders Ken Waterworth and Colin Woods, before noting the occasion’s top priority: “We want to worship.”
To that end, he prayed that those present and online would have open minds, hearts and hands.
With this in mind, the MSB joined its worship ensemble and singers to lead the congregation in ‘Our Redeemer’.
The harmonies swelled, and people smiled; there was a lot of love in the room – for Jesus, for Mark and for each other.
Major Lance Jeffrey, the MSB’s assistant executive officer, read about Jesus walking on the water and encountering his mates (Matthew 14:22-33) before MSB band secretary Darren Waterworth presented long-service certificates to Yasmin Van Gaalen-Prentice (10 years), Shaun Maxfield (10), Mark Hamilton (25) and Michael Agnew (30).
In fine voice, Craig Downes led the congregational song ‘O Church, Arise’ before the MSB performed David Chaulk’s ‘And My Soul Overflow!’
With a sensitive, soulful anchoring from the tuba section, the band shared sacred moments through their musicianship, General Albert Orsborn’s words, and the Holy Spirit’s pleading:
From a hill I know, Healing waters flow; O rise, Immanuel’s tide, And my soul overflow!’
With due solemnity and reverence, Majors Reeve and Jeffrey were installed in their roles (as executive and assistant executive officers respectively) by Commissioner Gluyas.
She explained that the MSB’s purpose is “to bring glory to God’s name” while inspiring, providing pastoral support, collaborating, creating, and taking risks.“We are here to bring the mission of God to the world,” she prayed. “Music is ministry to our world.”
Leslie Condon’s much-loved arrangement, ‘Gift for His Altar’, gave the MSB many opportunities to demonstrate an affinity for each other; to listen to each other and tell a tale. With heartfelt contributions from the euphoniums, strident support from the trombones and diligent attendance to the conductor’s beat, a story unfolded, centred around Richard Slater’s words and melody:
I have not much to give thee, Lord, For that great love which made thee mine: I have not much to give thee, Lord, but all I have is thine.’
“All we have is His,” the TC affirmed. “All Mark has is His.” Addressing Mark directly, she said, “I recognise and affirm you as the bandmaster of the Melbourne Staff Band ... You will have a group of people who will raise loud, beautiful sounds of joy to the Lord. God has called you to this purpose.”
The TC described the MSB as a group of disciples who will bring “people into the very presence of God”, and she urged the new bandmaster to prepare himself for excitement and a little disappointment as he encountered incredible opportunities.
“You will do this with the support of others, and many will cheer you on.”
“We come humbly,” prayed Major Reeve, asking God to give Mark creativity and discernment. “May you be close to him, in all ways. Bless his family, as they undertake this task, somewhat, together.’
Acknowledging that “it does seem surreal that I’m standing up the front and Ken is not,” Mark said he was “truly humbled to be in this position” and that his music selections reflected his thoughts as he commenced his role.
Honouring his parents, and paying tribute to Russell Davies, Noel Jones, Hedley Preston, Ken Waterworth and Colin Woods, Mark reflected on a 1995 performance of ‘The Present Age’ when then-Commissioner John Gowans asked what quality The Salvation Army needed to serve the present age.
“Courage”, was Gowans’ answer. Courage, Mark asserted, “is the theme I’ve chosen for the band this year ...“It is my desire for the band that we will act courageously, when prompted by the Spirit, to take a stand for Christ. The Melbourne Staff Band has a valuable ministry, and God’s not finished with us yet.”
In a welcome return to ‘band singing’, with the trombone section accompanying, Neil Roper then led the MSB in Dean Goffin’s arrangement of John Bunyan’s ‘The Pilgrim Song’ (rendered via Percy Dearmer).
The question of who ‘would valiant be’ arose in Major Reeve’s homily, revolving around the topic of Peter walking on the waves towards Jesus. Matt noted that deep waters signify tranquility in Western cultures, explaining that oceans and rivers symbolised chaos, death and destruction for the people of Jesus’ day and culture. By sending his closest followers out onto the waters, he added, Jesus was saying, “I want you to go and do the thing you are most afraid of ... We can take steps to do new things, but then we find ourselves in the boat, and it’s rocking.
“What happens? We need courage. Jesus comes to us and says, ‘Take courage; do not be afraid. Come’.”
“It’s not just about the music; it’s about Jesus. It’s about connecting with people and having conversations.” – Mark Hamilton
After sharing in a chorus while the MSB members distributed bookmarks inviting people to be courageous and attend upcoming events, the band presented Leslie Condon’s ‘The Call of the Righteous’. A feature piece of the day, it proved to be a well-trodden pilgrimage, with the musicians’ balance and enthusiasm narrating a story of hardship, hope, hunger, healing and – ultimately – the haven of heaven.
The final moments of the meeting included the congregational song, ‘God’s Soldier’, the benediction, and Erik Leidzén’s exacting, appropriate ‘Pressing Onward’.
The event was a mini-marathon, brimming with hope and goodwill, truly worth participating in.
Settling-in period A few days later, Mark’s wife, Kylie, told Salvos Online, “This isn’t about Mark, or the band. It’s about the glory of God and the mission of The Salvation Army. We are hopeful. There is a lot that the band can be doing.”
As for Mark, he later tells Salvos Online that “this is a settling-in year for me, but I hope we will be relevant. I want the band to be encouragers.”
Mark is fair dinkum and explicit about being a Christian first, and a Salvo and a musician second. Roll that around in your mind. It’s timely.
“If we feel an urge or compulsion to act or speak to someone, we should follow through,” he says. It’s not just about the music; it’s about Jesus. It’s about connecting with people and having conversations.
“We need to engage with the communities and individuals we meet and visit and get alongside people,” Mark says.“Personnel will be an issue; it’s also true that a lot of people aren’t as interested in brass bands as people were in other eras. So, we need to be able to attract them and to be relevant to their lives.’
A final word from the new bandmaster: “I’m very fortunate that I have great support from Kylie and my family [his daughter Eva plays first cornet under her father’s baton in the MSB]. Kylie sees this as a great ministry opportunity for me.”
That belief is shared by many people who wish Mark and the MSB well. Beyond tradition and convention, leaving behind past glories and struggles, transcending musical prowess, competence or performance, the MSB is looking Jesus in the eye.
