Symphonic Band Tour 2017
The MBU Symphonic Band just recently returned from their annual fall tour. During the week, the band gave concerts throughout the state of Minnesota, performing in both Christian school chapels and evening services in local churches. This tour was Dr. Brown’s second as band director. He officially took over the leadership of the band at the beginning of the 2017 fall semester, and has done a wonderful job preparing them for tour this year.
One of Dr. Brown’s favorite things about tour was the school chapels. School chapels are a great venue to connect with potential college students and generate interest in Maranatha and its many opportunities. In each chapel, the band played a mixture of secular and sacred pieces, and the kids enjoyed each performance. The band members loved getting to mingle and talk with the students, and in several chapels the Christian school’s bands were able to perform a song or two along with the MBU band.
As well as generating interest in the school, another purpose of band tour was to encourage local churches in their ministry. The evening concerts were entirely sacred numbers, and the music was interspersed with testimonies from either Dr. Brown or some of the band members. The Lord used the music and the personal testimonies of the students to bless the hearts of church members. One of the comments the band received a couple of times was, “It is so good to see that there are still young people out there that want to serve the Lord!”
The band members also got a great blessing from tour. The Lord blesses those who serve Him, and every band member will tell you that that was true on this trip. From seeing the servants’ hearts of the hosts every night to the great friendships that were formed and strengthened between the band members, tour challenged and encouraged each one that took part.
Thank you to all those who prayed for the band as they were on the road!
Article Written by Peter Holloway