Conductors Corner: Gordon Ward, Motor City Brass Band

In the brass band community we often recognise the great principal cornet players. Legends of the movement who, at the top of their game, took a seat and held onto it for a sustained period of time, showcasing their musical and technical prowess with every performance. We will all have names that immediately spring to mind and I can see in my mind’s eye the famous wooden principal cornet stand in the Black Dyke bandroom with the names of the greats, past and present, scratched into it. One of my personal favourites, of this Pantheon of Principals, is a British export who took one of The Salvation Army’s most prominent Principal Cornet seats and made it his own for three decades. Yorkshireman Gordon Ward was, for 33 years, Principal Cornet of the New York Staff Band. I had the pleasure of catching up with him to discuss his early playing days, a life changing move across the Atlantic Ocean, and his latest step in the banding world as Musical Director of the Motor City Brass Band.

Early life

A native of Hull, East Yorkshire, Gordon grew up in the local Salvation Army where he learned to play cornet under the tutelage of his Father, who had conducted the Young People’s band for over 40 years. After leaving school, Gordon “attended the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester receiving lessons from Cecil Kildare and later on Philip Jones, attending Stockport Salvation Army whilst living there”. After graduating, Gordon returned home to begin his career in music before a life changing opportunity was presented to him. “After four years of teaching in East Yorkshire I had the opportunity to interview for the position of Director of Music for The Salvation Army in Greater New York” he explains. "My wife Linda and our two year old son Chris took the plunge and moved across the Atlantic to begin our new life in 1981. With this move came a long association with the New York Staff Band”.

Moving to the USA

Moving halfway across the world was a big step for the young family and not without its challenges. “I settled very quickly into the new culture and the fast paced life of New York City. It was a little harder for my wife as at first she could not work” Gordon explains. The Salvation Army though remained a constant and the family settled at Hempstead Corps, Long Island, where Gordon was Bandmaster for 13 years. With his new position agreed before moving, he was able to get his teeth firmly into the job which he held for the remainder of his professional career. “My role as Music Director varied and developed year after year” he remembers. “I was responsible for overseeing the music program at 40 centers as well as running a summer music program at the famous Star Lake Camp. I also conducted the Greater New York Youth Band. This group developed into a highly proficient group undertaking many overseas tours. The whole music program grew over many years as did the staff of the department. A summer music conservatory program was developed with smaller numbers than a music camp for more individual instruction. I was back in New York last year to celebrate the 30th anniversary of this program and honored to have the senior conservatory band named after me".

New York Staff Band

On arrival in New York in 1981, Gordon joined The New York Staff Band of The Salvation Army (NYSB), an appointment which helped to cement his reputation as one of the movement's finest cornet soloists. “I joined the band from the start of my New York adventure”, Gordon explains, and “unlike most members, I did not audition for the band. I ended up spending 33 years with the band with over 20 of those as Principal Cornet”. A career of this length creates memories and “there have been so many highlights over the decades in the group. The first big tour I took was literally around the globe in 1982. Definitely a highlight of that tour was playing in the Sydney Opera House" Gordon reflects. “I have had so many fantastic experiences in locations around the world”. Looking back was there anything that Gordon would change? “Obviously with age comes a lot of experience and that experience does sometimes say ‘why didn’t you do this or that’ in some situations”. A significant highlight of his time with the NYSB came when his sons joined him in the band. “I was fortunate to be the cornet soloist with the NYSB for many years and was thrilled to be joined in the band by Chris on Soprano cornet and Tim on Solo Horn” Gordon says. “I could not have imagined this happening but it did and they even got to play duets together. Some proud moments obviously”.

Motor City Brass Band

Nowadays Gordon utilises his musical skills and experience as Musical Director of the Motor City Brass Band, a position he has held since 2022. The band, based in Southfield, a suburb of Detroit, offered Gordon a creative outlet at a difficult time in his life. “My wife Linda had recently passed away and this opportunity came along shortly after. I needed to stay busy and so the timing of this was good” he explains. “They gave me six months as interim conductor to see if we were a good fit. While in that period we won the 2nd section of the North American Brass Band Championships and after that they offered me the position permanently”. There are comparisons to be drawn from his time involved in Salvation Army bands, but also, as you’d expect, some notable differences. “Obviously the objective of a non-Salvation Army band is first and foremost to make the best music together” he states. “Although these bands do involve many Christians they also include others and some of no faith at all. The commitment of the Motor City members is first class and we seem to have developed a culture that everyone is accountable for this” he says. Outside of conducting “I also play in the Five Lakes Silver Band here in Michigan under the baton of my son Chris and the culture within this group is also amazing”. And for someone brought up in the brass banding traditions of the UK, but now firmly involved in those of the USA there is excitement for what the future holds. “Brass banding in general is still developing in the USA”, Gordon explains. “Obviously the vast distances between cities can be a hinderance but we are fortunate here in South East Michigan to have seven non-Salvation Army bands within a two hour drive as well as four Salvation Army bands. The standard is improving very quickly I may add with some really fine ensembles and individual players".

A Bit of Fun

If you could meet any Salvationist figure from history and ask them one question, who would you choose and what would you ask, and why?

Probably William Booth and ask him how he thinks The Salvation Army has turned out.

What is your favourite piece of Salvation Army music and piece of non-Salvation Army music and why?

Probably The Present Age by Leslie Condon as I played it in manuscript with the composer conducting at the Tylney Hall Music School. There are a few non-Salvation Army pieces that come to mind but not one that stands out above the others so much.

If you could play one solo performance, in any venue, under any conductor and accompanied by any ensemble from history, what would you play and where and who would you choose?

A tough question with so many great conductors and ensembles. Maybe Black Dyke in the 1970’s and 1980’s with Roy Newsome conducting. This was the band I grew up with in Yorkshire.