Salvation Army Brass Band Brings Musical Gifts To Community
Posted
Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
Songs such as "Deck the Halls" and "Jingle Bells" could be heard Saturday coming from outside Kmart.
The music was being played by The Salvation Army Brass Band.
As Salvation Army bell ringers jingled their bells, the band stood nearby and played music with their brass instruments.
The current five-member band consists of Salvation Army Capt. Jody Dalberg and his wife Amy; Judy Brown; Jennifer Mink; and Theresa Smith.
The band plays year-round and its schedule picks up during the holiday season at Kmart, Wal-Mart, Marsh and Owens.The band also performs at local nursing homes, service clubs, Grace College and local businesses.
The band spends Saturdays in November and December performing songs while volunteers ring bells for Salvation Army's red kettle.
Jody, who plays the cornet, said the band has been around since the late '20s.
Jody has played the cornet since fourth grade when he started in the Salvation Army's junior band and advanced to the senior band.
"I enjoy hearing the music that is created when the group gets together, and seeing the joy and smiles it brings to people as they walk by," Jody said.
His wife, Amy, plays the E flat alto horn in the band. Amy, 29, has played the alto horn for 16 years in the band.
"I enjoy worshiping God through playing my horn," Amy said.
Smith, 52, plays the E flat alto horn and said she has been playing with the band since she was 9.
"I enjoy playing in the band because it is a challenge learning new music and I enjoy watching people stop to listen to our music," Smith said.
Mink, 38, has played the cornet for the past five years in the band.
She played the cornet in seventh and eighth grade at Warsaw Middle School and at Warsaw Community High School.
"I enjoy playing and I think, by us playing, it helps bring attention to the bell ringers to help raise funds for the Salvation Army," Mink said.
Mink said playing music is a big part of her family. She said her daughter Samantha plays in the eighth-grade band at Edgewood Middle School. Mink's grandfather was the band master for the Salvation Army Chicago Staff Band.
Brown plays the brass baritone, and has played with the band for the past five years. She has played the brass baritone for 50 years. She previously played in the Salvation Army Chicago Staff Band and started bell ringing when she was a teenager.
"I've always loved musical instruments and grew up playing music," Brown said.
Jody said the band always is looking for new members. People interested in being in the band should call Jody at 574-267-5361.
