Kids love music. Look around the next time you walk down the street or sit on a bus. How many young people are plugged into their favourite tunes, almost oblivious to everything else around them?

More than listening to it, if given the opportunity, kids are enthusiastic about playing music. It's a powerful medium that is drawing together 50 young people, aged nine to 17, in the Ontario Central-East Division. Blood and Fire Brass had its debut alongside the Canadian Staff Band in November 2008 and has been growing ever since.

Jacob Slous, nine, from Mississauga Temple Community Church, Ont., is the percussionist and youngest member of the group. He has been playing for five years. Blood and Fire Brass “is a great place to play some fun and challenging pieces of music as well as get together with old friends and meet new ones,” he says. D.J. Legrow, 16, a euphonium player, agrees. At his home corps in Brampton, Ont., he is involved in drama ministry. He also plays in his school band and enjoys rugby.

Bandmaster Derrick Fishwick is excited at the prospect Blood and Fire Brass represents. “This group was formed to encourage young people of the division to become leaders in Salvation Army ministry,” he explains. “Growing up at Mississauga Temple, I was inspired by Art and Gary Dean. They exemplified dedication to ministry and encouraged me in my musical and spiritual growth. My vision is that this group will help nurture another generation of leaders that will lead to vibrant and God-inspired ministry for The Salvation Army.”

Joining Fishwick in leading the group are Bill Way, deputy bandmaster, Rob Brown, band sergeant, David Haggett, band manager, and Graham Colley, band secretary. They have goals for the group that include travelling to other locations in Ontario as well as outside of the province. They are also working toward making a recording with the band. “This will provide an occasion to express our ministry to a larger community,” the bandmaster explains.

Blood and Fire Brass came into being three years after the inception of the Ontario Central-East Divisional Youth Band. Its bandmaster, Captain Mark Hall, divisional youth secretary, believes that music is an exciting means of cultivating young people. “The power of this type of program is in its ability to bring young people together in Christian fellowship, having the opportunity to disciple them and get them involved in and committed to ministry,” he says. “We want to teach them what it means to be saved to serve.”

Looking to the future, their leaders are thrilled with the potential they see in each member. “At the moment, there are 50 members of the band,” Fishwick smiles. “Think of what could happen in 10 or 15 years if each of them took on just one leadership position. Imagine what an influence they could be.”

Top photo: Blood and Fire Brass hard at work during rehearsal; second photo: Blood and Fire Brass began with a retreat a Jackson's Point Camp where they spent time in rehearsal, fellowship and worship