Making music

Music has always been an integral part of Salvation Army ministry in Blacktown. The Blacktown Salvation Army brass band was established in 1966 and remains active, with 21 members at present. The band plays every Sunday morning at local nursing homes or hospitals before the Blacktown Salvation Army Sunday morning meeting. On occasions the band presents short concerts in shopping centres such as Westpoint Blacktown or Centro Seven Hills, the local Bunnings stores or in the streets. Christmas carolling by the band attracts a lot of interest and often family groups will follow it as it moves around the streets. The band also plays for a number of community carol events. One longstanding commitment has been the Marsden Hospital Carols Night which the band has now led for almost 50 years. The Blacktown Salvation Army band is also involved in various local Anzac Day ceremonies. This year many band members and the Blacktown Timbrel (tambourine) Brigade participated in the Sydney City Anzac Day March with the Sydney Salvation Brass band.