The summer season for the music and gospel arts department always closes with a week at Territorial Music School (TMS), the annual music camp for Salvation Army musicians ages 16-30. This year, TMS returned for the first time since 2019, held at the Guelph Bible Conference Centre in Guelph, Ont.

The special music guest for the week was Matt Woods, soloist and conductor from the U.S.A. Western Territory, who approaches music ministry through high-level musicianship. Throughout the week, Woods participated in activities, shared and listened to both faculty and students, led “A” band at the final festival with performances of Balkan Dance and The Present Age, and conducted the “A” chorus, who performed He Who Lights the Stars and Far Above All.

Captains Jason Dockeray and Kristen Jackson-Dockeray, territorial children and youth secretary and territorial secretary for candidates, attended TMS as Bible guests, leading sessions based on the parable of the sower and asking the question, “How are you encountering God?” With them, Canada and Bermuda Youth facilitated patio parties each evening with creative games, prizes and snacks.

The Toronto Mass Choir, an award-winning gospel choir, brought energy and excitement to the Sunday evening program that set the tone for the week with their musicality and true joy of music ministry. On Monday evening, the faculty joined in with a tuba solo by Rob Brown, vocals by Johnny Michel, a cornet trio by the music and gospel arts department, and Cameron and Phylicia Rawlins singing The Prayer.

Tuesday night featured a mix of student talent, including performances by Sarah Robertson on the euphonium, Julianna Gerard on the piano, and Bram Robertson singing his own song, Say It’s the End. The night concluded with competitive trivia between chorus teams.

On Thursday evening, the TMS final festival was held at Guelph Citadel where students performed in their mainstream groups, including the Lam band, the Venables band, the vocal mainstream and the worship mainstream, alongside performances by the “A” band and “A” chorus.

In closing, Heather Osmond, territorial secretary for music and gospel arts, left all those attending with a challenge: “It would be great if everyone were to bring at least one person to TMS next year and pack out this camp, but rather, let’s all bring at least one person to Christ this year and go from there.”

“To see the progress the students make during our time together is amazing, and the joy and enthusiasm is contagious all week,” says Marcus Venables, assistant territorial music secretary. “This week has built up musicality and friendships, but even more, it has built up our faith and strength in the Lord to go out and preach the gospel.”