Sydney Congress Hall
Encyclopedia
Sydney Congress Hall is a Salvation Army
Corps situated in the Sydney
's CBD
. Not only is SCH the oldest Corps in the Australian Eastern Territory, it was also the largest Corps in NSW for much of the 20th century. It has maintained a strong traditionalist view on many of the Salvation Army's developments over the years.
Since its inauguration in 1882, utilizing a variety of music
al instruments and a few self motivated players, the Sydney Congress Hall Band has expanded and developed and was in its day recognised as one of the Salvation Army’s foremost brass bands.
The members are drawn from varied professions.
Whilst maintaining a full programme of church
and out-reach activities as part of the Sydney Congress Hall Corps, the Band is also in heavy demand for concert
engagements and other cultural events. Furthermore, the Band plays a permanent role in Territorial events and other major Army gatherings.
The Band has toured extensively in Australia and New Zealand
and has previously undertaken tours of Hong Kong as well as two tours of Canada and the United States of America
in 1971 and 1985 and a tour of the United Kingdom
in 1991.
Since its inception, the Band has endeavored to ensure that the musical expression has met the challenge of the day, whilst not detracting from the Gospel
message.
The Sydney Congress Hall Band is currently under the baton of Bandmaster Andrew Douglass.
This 17 piece jazz ensemble play all styles of big band
jazz
, ranging from Swing to Latin, Funk
to Blues
, Ballad
s to Gospel
. OnFire's mission is to attract the jazz listening public of Australia to the message of Christ and to enhance the worship experience within their own church (and the Australian church at large).
The band has played events such as the Manly Jazz Festival, the Youth in Swing concert series, and many concerts with James Morrison
. During 2001, the Band toured the South Island
of New Zealand
. In 2003 OnFire had a guest spot on ABC Radio
accompanying James Morrison.
In 2000, the band released their self-titled debut album, In March 2002 they released a second album entitled Jazz with Heat and Direction and In 2007 they released their 3rd album Unfinished Business.
, and the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre
.
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
Corps situated in the Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
's CBD
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
. Not only is SCH the oldest Corps in the Australian Eastern Territory, it was also the largest Corps in NSW for much of the 20th century. It has maintained a strong traditionalist view on many of the Salvation Army's developments over the years.
Sydney Congress Hall Brass Band
Sydney Congress Hall is centrally located in the city of Sydney and forms part of the Territorial Headquarters for Eastern Australia.Since its inauguration in 1882, utilizing a variety of music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
al instruments and a few self motivated players, the Sydney Congress Hall Band has expanded and developed and was in its day recognised as one of the Salvation Army’s foremost brass bands.
The members are drawn from varied professions.
Whilst maintaining a full programme of church
Church Body
A local church is a Christian religious organization that meets in a particular location. Many are formally organized, with constitutions and by-laws, maintain offices, are served by pastors or lay leaders, and, in nations where this is permissible, often seek seek non-profit corporate status...
and out-reach activities as part of the Sydney Congress Hall Corps, the Band is also in heavy demand for concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
engagements and other cultural events. Furthermore, the Band plays a permanent role in Territorial events and other major Army gatherings.
The Band has toured extensively in Australia and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and has previously undertaken tours of Hong Kong as well as two tours of Canada and the United States of America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1971 and 1985 and a tour of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in 1991.
Since its inception, the Band has endeavored to ensure that the musical expression has met the challenge of the day, whilst not detracting from the Gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
message.
The Sydney Congress Hall Band is currently under the baton of Bandmaster Andrew Douglass.
OnFire Big Band
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, ranging from Swing to Latin, Funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
to Blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
, Ballad
Ballad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
s to Gospel
Gospel
A gospel is an account, often written, that describes the life of Jesus of Nazareth. In a more general sense the term "gospel" may refer to the good news message of the New Testament. It is primarily used in reference to the four canonical gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John...
. OnFire's mission is to attract the jazz listening public of Australia to the message of Christ and to enhance the worship experience within their own church (and the Australian church at large).
The band has played events such as the Manly Jazz Festival, the Youth in Swing concert series, and many concerts with James Morrison
James Morrison (musician)
James Morrison AM is an Australian jazz musician who plays numerous instruments, but is best known for his trumpet playing...
. During 2001, the Band toured the South Island
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. In 2003 OnFire had a guest spot on ABC Radio
ABC Local Radio
ABC Local Radio is a network of publicly owned radio stations in Australia, operated by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.ABC Local Radio stations broadcast across the continent using terrestrial transmitters and satellites...
accompanying James Morrison.
In 2000, the band released their self-titled debut album, In March 2002 they released a second album entitled Jazz with Heat and Direction and In 2007 they released their 3rd album Unfinished Business.
The Songsters
The Songsters is made up of men and women of all ages. Under the direction of Ash Sellers, they participate in the majority of Sunday meetings as an aid to worship. The Songsters have sung in Salvation Army corps around New South Wales, and have also joined with other Songster groups on occasions, as part of a massed chorus and as a solo choir at worship and praise events at the Sydney Opera HouseSydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in the Australian city of Sydney. It was conceived and largely built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, finally opening in 1973 after a long gestation starting with his competition-winning design in 1957...
, and the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre
Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre
The Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, is located in Sydney's Darling Harbour near the Central Business District. The building is adjacent to Cockle Bay, Tumbalong Park and the Harbourside shopping centre....
.