Salvationists, ministry partners, donors and concert-goers were moved by the sound of Christmas classics and contemporary arrangements at this year’s Christmas With The Salvation Armyat Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto. The highlight of the night was special guest Jordan Smith, season 9 winner of The Voice, who took a commanding presence on stage. Joining him were the Canadian Staff Band (CSB), Canadian Staff Songsters (CSS), NEON, organist Ian Sadler and the Festival Chorus, an 80-person choir made up of Salvationists from across Ontario.
Commissioner Lee Graves gives a heartwarming Christmas message
Hear the Bells by Marcus Venables opened the night with band, choirs and organ, under the frosted hue of blue and silver, led by Heather Osmond, territorial music and arts secretary. The night continued with a carol and then an enthusiastic welcome for the special guest. Smith’s Angels We Have Heard (Glory Be) turned the audience’s attention to the true meaning of Christmas, declaring peace, light, love and justice for the world through “Christ the Lord, the newborn King.”
Lt-Colonel Les Marshall, territorial secretary for mission and master of ceremonies for the event, welcomed the audience and presented each staff section’s selections for the evening. NEON’s performance of Won’t Be a Silent Night had the audience on their feet and created an introspective look at our response to the Christmas story.
Smith closed the first half of the concert with a powerful rendition of Joy to the World. He greeted the audience and expressed a feeling that “Christmas should be fun” before concluding with Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town, featuring a ripping bass line on tuba by CSB member Noel Samuels.
The cornets and trombones raised their bells to start the second half with a glorious fanfare alongside Sadler. A highlight of the second half was a newly produced video on the history of The Salvation Army’s kettle campaign in Canada and Bermuda. And Smith once again dazzled the audience with the commanding power of his voice singing O Holy Night.
The CSS, CSB and Festival Chorus perform Hark! the Herald Angels Sing
Commissioner Lee Graves, territorial commander, then graced the stage to deliver a Christmas message that quoted the well-known I’ll Fight speech by Founder William Booth, challenging the audience to continue finding places to live out and serve the message that Christ’s birth brings.
The night concluded with Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas by John Williams, its final lyrics summarizing the night well: “It’s a magical, lyrical, annual, miracle, sing it out loud! Sing a song for a happy new year!”
Photos: Mark Yan
Watch the concert on YouTube:
This was so heart warming. Glory be to God now and forever!