Change of leaders - September, 2007

As of September, 2007 Major Henny van Pelt will be the new executive officer of the ASB. Major Germen Stoffers had held this post since September 2003 and as for everything in life there is always an end. The band thanks Major Germen Stoffers and his wife Froukje for all they have done for the band and wish them all the best.

Sprokkereefs Proud Parents of Oliver Dean Tawera Sprokkereef - July 12, 2007

William and Nicole are the proud parents of their son Oliver Dean Tawera Sprokkereef born on the morning (!) of July 12, 2007. This is the couple's first child.

After two miscarriages, and losing three children, Kenneth Downie wrote the piece Stars of the Morning. This piece was dedicated to William and Nicole.

This morning a true star has born (Tawera means Morning Star in New Zealand!).

Truly a Gift from God. Both mother and son are doing well.

CONGRATULATIONS!

Promoted to Glory: 'Major' Bosshardt - June 30, 2007

'Major' Bosshardt died on Monday, June 25 at the age of 94. The funural took place on Saturday 30th of June. The Amsterdam Staff Band and Amsterdam Staff Songsters did have an important role during the funeral. Visitors were not only Prime Minister Jan-Peter Balkenende, dutch celebrities like Henny Huisman, Jos Bring, Frits Barend, Maartje van Wegen but also homeless people and prostitutes. All of them had a very special relationship with the 'Major'. Click here for more information about Bosshardt and click here for the photo gallery.

Click here for the Live recording of 'Er ruist langs de Wolken', played by the Amsterdam Staff Band.

Comings and goings in 2007 - June 20, 2007

This season we have to say goodbye to some members of the band, Leandra Bosma (Alto Horn), Sebastiaan Nieuwland (Bb Bass), Pieter Koopmans (Bb Bass) and Harri Smit (Baritone). Thank you ever so much for all the hard work you have done for the band in the years you have been part of the band. We hope you can look back to great time in the band. You all have contributed much to the band in many ways. We will miss you a lot!

We can also welcome back a new member to the band for the coming season: Ronald Slijkhuis (Bb Bass). The band is very happy that you join the tuba section again and we hope you will enjoy it to be back!

Are you also a soldier at a Salvation Army corps and interested to play in the ASB? Do not hesitate to send us an e-mail. You may be invited to do an audition! If you are not familiar with the Salvation Army feel free to visit a corps in your area. Whenever you decide to become an active member of the Salvation Army and willing to worship the Lord by playing a brass band instrument then the ASB could be the place for you! You will be more then welcome! At least come and visit us to listen in on a rehearsal at the Salvation Army Headquarters in Almere, on a Tuesday evening.

First CD Recording with Bandmaster Thijs Musch - April, 2007

The Amsterdam Staff Band has just recorded a new album in April 2007. This will be the first CD recording with the new Band Master Thijs Musch. One of the major works on this recording is a brand new piece called 'In Primis' for the Amsterdam Staff Band by Alfred Willering, an extraordinary talented wind music composer and musician. Another piece that will be recorded is 'Stars of the Morning' by the well known brass band composer Kenneth Downie, specially written for Staff Bandsman William Sprokkereef and his wife, to encourage them during their most difficult time: losing their three little stars. To be expected fall 2007. Price: 20 euros.

Pieces recorded for the CD are:

Ritmans Proud Parents of Julian Thijs Ritman - September, 2006

Olaf and Marleen Ritman are the proud parents of their son Julian Thijs Ritman born on Saturday, September 30 2006, at 2:40 AM. This is the couple's first child and both mother and son are doing well.


CONGRATULATIONS!

Comings and goings in 2006 - June, 2006

This season we have to say goodbye to a member of the band, Hans Lenting (cornet). Thank you ever so much for all the hard work you have done for the band in the past five years you have been part of the band. We hope you can look back to great time in the band. You have contributed much to the band in many ways. Anyway, we can also welcome back a new members to the band for the coming season: Marco Beeldman on bass trombone. The band is very happy that you joing the trombone section again and we hope you will enjoy it to be back!

ASB welcomes Bandmaster Thijs Musch - December, 2005

The Salvation Army Amsterdam Staff Band is happy to announce the appointment of the new bandmaster Thijs Musch as per January 2006.

Thijs Musch has been a member of the ASB for many years and is currently active as a professional musician at a Military Band.


The band welcomes him warmly and is sure he will maintain and improve the high standard Howard Evans has been able to accomplish.

Welcome back Thijs! We are sure we will have great time together!

Bandmaster Howard Evans says farewell to ASB - October, 2005

There is a time of coming and a time of going.. The time of coming has gone and the time of going has come.

Just over five years ago Howard Evans was appointed as Music Director for the Salvation Army in the Netherlands. Part of the job was to be the conductor of the ASB.

Howard Evans has been an inspiring leader in many ways. He was able to bring the band to a high musical level, shared a great deal of ministry and was very much on top of it all. Every week after bandrehearsal Howard sent an e-mail out to all bands(wo)men about how the rehearsal was, and what to work on in the coming week. This was also the case after a band weekend. Evans always wanted to ‘look after‘ his guys and gals, as he always said.
And so he did!

The members of the ASB very much regret the fact that Howard is leaving the band but will look back at a tremendous five years with him.

On Saturday 26th November 2005 the ASB has held a farewell concert to thank Howard Evans for all he has done for the band in the last five-and-a-half years.

Again, Howard Evans, thank you ever so much!

Rutger Snippe married Christine Sprokkereef - September, 2005

Bandsman Rutger Snippe married with Christine Sprokkereef on September 16, 2005 in Almere. The Amsterdam Staff Band would like to wish them all the best in the future! Congratulations to you both and God bless!

Comings and goings in 2005 - June, 2005

There are always times for coming and going. Also after this season we have to say goodbye to some members. Marco Beeldman (bass trombone), Gerard Klaucke (Percussion) Paul Roelofs (principal trombone) and Ronald Slijkhuis (Eb Bass), thank you ever so much for all the hard work you have done for the band in all those many, many years you have been part of the band. We hope you can look back to great time in the band. You have all contributed so much to the band in many ways.

Howard Evans graduates for a Masters - June, 2005

Howard Evans will officially obtain his Master degree for Music in Brass Band Conducting officially on 13th July. Howard passed his final assessment with the first concert on June 6, 2005 in Castleford of the ASB during the tour in the United Kingdom.

Howard has been studying under professor David King at Salford University in Manchester. The Amsterdam Staff Band is very pleased and proud to have Howard Evans as their bandmaster for nearly six years already.

Congratulations Howard! Thank you ever so much for all you have done in the past, are doing at the moment, and will do for us - the ASB - in the near future!

Michel Rosenquist married Linda Slot - April, 2005

Bandsman Michel Rosenquist married Linda Slot on April 15, 2005 in Rotterdam. The Amsterdam Staff Band would like to wish them all the best in the future! Congratulations to you both and God bless!

Comings and goings in 2004 - June, 2004

The end of the season is nearly there. There are always times for coming and going. Also after this season we have to say goodbye to a few members. Philip van Dalen (principal cornet), Edwin Outhuijse (principal trombone), André Roubos (road manager) and Rinus Seegers (trombone), thank you ever so much for all the hard work you have done for the band in all those many, many years you have been part of the band. We hope you can look back to great time in the band. You have all contributed so much to the band in many ways. Anyway, we can also welcome new members to the band for the coming season. Come back soon to find out who they are.

Executive Officer of the ASB Germen Stoffers receives the title "Knight of the Order of Oranje Nassau" - April, 2004

On Thursday April 29, 2004 the Executive Officer of the Amsterdam Staff Band Germen Stoffers and his wife both received the Royal decoration "Knight of the Order of Oranje Nassau" from Her Majesty Queen Beatrix van Oranje ("Orange"). Royal decorations do bear the Dutch text "God be with us". Congratulations Germen & Froukje!!

New donation to the ASB: Musser Chimes - March, 2004

The percussionsection of the ASB received in March 2004 a brandnew set of Musser satin brass chimes by sponsoring of GK Design and contacts through the Executive Officer. This is a welcome gift for the section in order to complete their percussion equipment. We thank the Managing Director of GK Design and the Executive officer for their interest in the band and especially the percussion section.

OK guys, Go, Ring Them Bells!!

Pietersens proud parents of Benjamin Wijnand - March, 2004

Arend and Claudia Pietersen are the proud parents of their son Benjamin Wijnand Pietersen born on March 5, 2004. This is the couple's first child and both mother and son are doing well.


CONGRATULATIONS!

CD Recording with euphonium player David Childs - February, 2004

At the end of February 2004 the Amsterdam Staff Band has recorded a new CD featuring the young euphonium player David Childs. David Childs was awarded the title ‘International Euphonium Player of the Year’ at the age of eighteen. During the same period he became the only euphonium soloist ever to win the brass final of the classical ‘BBC Young Musician of the Year’ competition and was also awarded a Silver Medal from the Worshipful Company of Musicians. The recording is scheduled to come out in May 2004. More information about this will follow.

Pieces recorded for the CD are:

Army meets Army - January, 2004

Change of leaders - September, 2003

As of September 2003 Major Germen Stoffers is the new executive officer of the ASB.

Commissioner Jan van Boven had held this post since February 2000 and as for everything in life there is always an end. The band organized an informal ‘thank-you’ concert for the Commissioner and in that same concert the new leader recievied a warm welcome.

In 1973 Germen Stoffers and his wife went to the Training College to become a Salvation Army Officier. They have worked in various appointments in the Salvation Army. They have served as corps officiers, responsible for the church to the social work activities thoughout the country. At present the Major is also Director for the whole social programme for the Rotterdam area of the Netherlands, in addition to his appointment as executive officer of the band.

Commissioner Jan van Boven Major Germen Stoffers

Thijs Musch gets job in professional military band - August, 2003

The ASB would like to congratulate Thijs Musch (cornet) on winning the auditions to play full-time with The Band of the Mounted Arms (TKBW in Dutch), which was founded on 1 October 1995. It consists of a military commander, a drum major/roadmanager and thirty-eight musicians. Most of the musicians are regular personnel with fixed-term contracts, the majority of whom are studying at a music academy or have already completed their studies.

Thijs completed his Bachelor in Arts and Education and Bachelor in Performance for both trumpet and wind band conducting at the Conservatory of Zwolle. Thijs was a student of Jos Verspagen trumpet player of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra with whom Thijs works frequently as well.

Congratulations, Thijs!

New instruments for the Amsterdam Staff Band - March, 2002

In 2002 the band has replaced its old instruments with new ones. The ASB now plays exclusively Smith & Watkins (K2) cornets, Courtois soprano cornet, Yamaha flugelhorn (YFH631GS), Yamaha althorns and baritones, Besson Prestige euphoniums, Conn trombones (8HT, 88HTO), Vincent Bach bass-trombone (50B3LOG) and last but not least...Willson basses! All instruments, except the cornets, were supplied by Music All In - Atelier Pfeiffer.

Sitting (from left to right): Marcel Schot (Atelier Pfeiffer), Howard Evans (Bandmaster); Standing (from left to right): Commissioner Jan van Boven (Executive Officer) and Philip van Dalen (Band secretary).