Canadian musicians bring ‘something extra’ on Australia visit

Marcus and Alexandria (front third and fourth from left) with the Melbourne Staff Songsters. Image: Melbourne Staff Songsters Facebook page

Two highly-experienced Salvation Army musicians from the Canada and Bermuda Territory recently brought their skills, compositions and training ability on a visit to Australia.

Marcus Venables, a composer and principal cornet player in the Canadian Staff Band, and his wife Alexandria, a member of the Canadian Staff Songsters visited Melbourne and Brisbane in October on request of the Australia Territory.

The visit was centred on the involvement of the pair in ‘Resounding Praise’, a weekend of music and worship at Ringwood Corps, Melbourne, with the Melbourne Staff Band and Melbourne Staff Songsters on the 18 and 19 October, as well as a performance as part of ‘Bands in the Round’ with the Brisbane City Temple Band on 25 October.

Alexandria also performed a vocal solo, ‘Take My Life (I Am Yours)’ at a chapel service held at Territorial Headquarters (THQ) in Melbourne on 16 October, with Marcus also performing ‘I Surrender All’ to an original tune. Marcus also presented at a Meet the Composer session, and the pair ran an open workshop the following night at Ringwood Corps.

Band and Vocals National Lead Julia Roper said while there was always the “wow factor” when listening to very good musicians play and being blessed by their ability, both Marcus and Alexandria brought “something extra on top of that”. She said the pair also gave their testimonies at the THQ chapel service. 

All photos Melbourne Staff Band and Melbourne Staff Songsters.

“They’re both very humble, lovely people, and you could tell from just their mannerisms and what they said, that everything was about focusing on worship and focusing on Jesus,” she said. “That was certainly the motivation for everything that they did, and that certainly came through in their ministry and even their music ministry as well. So that is very encouraging and inspiring for our local people, just to be able to sit in that and let that wash over them.”

Marcus performed and conducted several of his original compositions across the events, including his compositions for ‘Beyond All Measure’, ‘Holy Forever’ and ‘Hear the Call’, along with several of Australian composer Sam Creamer’s arrangements.

Julia said the technical aspects of the performances were mind-blowing, including some solos by Marcus.

“That stuff is impressive, but it was the heartfelt stuff that I think had more impact,” she said.