Sydney Youth Band

The Sydney Youth Band of the Salvation Army (or SYB) is a brass band based in Sydney New South Wales, whose membership is that of people aged 13–30. It is primarily made up of Salvation Army members, including soldiers and others that attend The Salvation Army. It is a part of the Salvation Army's NSW/ACT Division but functions more as a regional youth band for the Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong area.

Sydney Youth Band of The Salvation Army
Also known as	SYB
Origin	Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Genres	Brass Band
Years active	2001 – present
Labels	Salvationist Publishing & Supplies Ltd
Website	www.sydneyyouthband.com

Performances and Tours

SYB in an alley in Melbourne during their tour in 2008.

• SYB performed with the Melbourne Staff Band[1][2] when they toured in 2007.
• They participated in 2007's Salvation Army commissioning weekend activities playing in a concert with Sydney Congress Hall Band, The Sydney Veterans Band and Brisbane City Temple Band. These four bands then combined to make a "mass band" celebrating Sydney Congress Hall's 125th anniversary celebrations.
• The band performed at 2008's World Youth Day celebrations in front of 200,000 people. Specifically, at the re-enactment of the Stations of the Cross at Barangaroo on Friday 18 July.[3]
• A group of six performers from the band performed the Salvation Army hymn tune Abide With Me on Channel Seven's Sunrise morning program.[4][5]
• The band toured Victoria from 29 to 31 August in 2008. They visited South Barwon and Warragul Corps as well as Melbourne City Temple.[6]
• SYB played with James Morrison and The Onfire Big Band at Sydney Congress Hall in November 2008, for a Christmas concert.
• The 'PNG Tour 09', which commenced in early July 2009, saw the band playing their unique style of Brass in crowds of up to 3000+ people, they were the first foreign Salvation Army band to tour Papua New Guinea since The Salvation Army, Campsie Corps Band in 1985.
• In 2018 the band returned to Victoria from 4 to 5 August. While in Victoria, the band visited Ringwood Corps as well as The Salvation Army Melbourne Project 614 Corps.[7]
• In 2019 the band returned to Canberra from 15–16 June. This was the first tour back to Tuggeranong since 2012.

Cancelled Tours

The band's tour of Chile in 2009 was launched at the Sydney East Illawarra Divisional rally at Sydney Congress Hall on 2 November 2008. The band was to play at the 'Centenary of the Salvation Army in Chile' celebrations from 22 July to 8 August 2009. This tour was cancelled in early 2009 and the band toured Papua New Guinea instead.

There exist no other (known) cancelled international tours of the band.

Bandmasters

Bandmaster	Period Served
Graeme Press	2001–2002
James Hill	2002–2009
Joshua Mann	2009–2013
Brad Lucas	2014
Captain Peter Gott	2015–2017
Ron Prussing	2018–present

Ronald Prussing

Ronald J. Prussing is the current bandmaster of the Sydney Youth Band. After graduating from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in 1974, Ronald was appointed to Principal Trombone in the Sydney Elizabethan Orchestra, currently known as the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra. He held this position for two years. He was also appointed to Associate Principal Trombone of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra (SSO) until 1986 when he was appointed to Principal.[8] Ronald has been bandmaster to many bands, including the one and only Sydney Congress Hall Band. Ronald has had a very successful musical career, however his appointment to the Sydney Youth Band was a turning point in his career. Since becoming bandmaster of the Sydney Youth Band, Ronald has been quoted to have said "The Sydney Youth Band is sick. Fully Sick." as well as "We must be soul friends". Ronald has also undertaken a trip to Israel and thoroughly enjoyed it.

The Band Executive

As of 31 July 2018 the SYB band executive is:

Role	Name
Bandmaster	Ronald J. Prussing
Leadership Team	Jordan O'Brien, Linda Wells, Mackenzie Anderson
Executive Officer	Major John Viles

Men's Timbrel Brigade

During a 2015 performance at Carindale Corps, Brisbane, several bandsmen became increasingly dismayed with the state of the band's musical proficiency, to the extent of appall. An unnamed bandsman abruptly strode forth mid-piece, and following a curt discourse with Bandmaster Peter Gott, himself and three others absented the platform, leaving the band in confused disarray. Then, amidst the uproar, the four marched back in, timbrels in hand, to the delight of the congregation and gasps of many, many admirers. The command, "PRESENT ARMS" was given, and four timbrels were extended in perfect unison. The world was subsequently treated to a timbrel performance unparalleled by any before it; the perfection of a craft until that point unmastered. Thus, to the dulcet tones of Timmy Trumpet's "Nightmare", the Brigadier Brigade was birthed. Despite calls to revolt and function as an independent divisional musical unit, the Brigade continues to serve as a section of the Sydney Youth Band, and is a highly anticipated component of their tour concerts.

The group knows upwards of four moves, including the iconic "Smacky-Smacky Loop-de-Loop". Controversially, it is said that many of these were actually choreographed by leaders of a "Timbrels 101" course run at The Salvation Army's EQUIP Youth Camp earlier in that year. Brigadesmen have refused to comment regarding this suggestion. Each performance is unique, with at least one and a half new moves. It is rumoured that the Brigade is experimenting with props.

The Brigade refuses to rehearse earlier than twenty-four hours prior to any performance. Hence, you will often find them rattling away through the early hours of a morning during band tours.

The Brigadier Brigade's motto is "Live, Blood, Love, Fire, Fight", a mixture of the Army's motto "Blood And Fire" and the popular Australian Territory hashtag, "Live, Love, Fight".

Bandmaster Ron Prussing on the Brigadier Brigade (following a display):

"I'm only the musical directer, I have no responsibility for that. I have never seen it before. If you want to see me act like Pontius Pilate, you've just seen it... (laughing) that was just incredible!"

The group has been likened to hip-hop dance crew Justice Crew, and despite mixed critiques from veteran timbrel brigade members, has a small but fervent fanbase both within and outside of The Salvation Army. For this reason, and for the privacy of these talented humans, their names below have been cleverly disguised.

Current Brigadiers

McKenzo Andrews (Brigade Leader; Head Brigadier; Founding Member)

Elo Mishell (Deputy Brigade Leader; Assistant Head Brigadier; Founding Member)

Omar Lyuiz (Ex-Deputy Brigade Leader; Ex-Assistant Head Brigadier; Founding Member)

Ziquere Wills OAM (Junior Brigadier)*

Brigadiers In Adjournment

Dunkirk Rooy (Librarian; Assistant to the Head Brigadier; Founding Member)

*Ziquere was prestigiously nominated Rookie of the Month by Timbrels Monthly in August, 2018, but was unsuccessful and did not receive this award. He has refused comment regarding this matter.

SYB in Pop-Culture

This section is currently under review.

References

1. Mention of SYB in MSB's "wrap up" of SCH tour
2. Clip of SYB playing at SCH Archived 30 November 2007 at the Wayback Machine
3. Creative Ministry Magazine editorial on SYB's 2008 performance at World Youth Day, P. 16
4. SYB bandsmen performing on SUNRISE
5. Creative Ministry Magazine picture showing SYB participation on Channel 7's SUNRISE, P. 4
6. Creative Ministry Magazine editorial on 2008 tour to Melbourne, P. 16
7. "About | Sydney Youth Band". Home | Sydney Youth Band. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
8. "Ronald Prussing". www.sydneysymphony.com. Retrieved 1 August 2018.