Serve Our Willing Warriors received a really incredible Christmas gift this year! Several weeks ago Rev. John Patterson of Gainesville United Methodist Church called us up, introduced himself and then told us that GUM Church was hosting a Benefit Christmas Jazz Concert on our behalf. As if that announcement wasn't enough, he went on to thrill us by telling us WHO the guest artists would be . . .
None other than Dave Detwiler and Prelude!
(Better known around our nation's capital as "The White House Band"!)
Wow!
Merry Christmas to us!!!
I simply do not have the room to list the accolades, awards, performances, and prestigious positions of the members of this incredible group. I will simply provide some links - read and be amazed! Each member of Prelude has served in different branches of our military and performed with military bands. So it is a group comprised of the 'best of the best'. And believe me -- it was apparent!
Admission to the Christmas Jazz Concert at GUM Church was free with goodwill donations taken at the door to benefit SOWW. The evening was extraordinarily special for the SOWW attendees. We met gracious, generous members of the church + the community and were serenaded by the finest Christmas jazz arrangements and musicians imaginable. Truly we were "mixing and mingling to the jingle bell beat" and enjoying every minute of it!
"First Call" Trumpeter + Teacher Extraordinaire - Dave Detwiler!
At one point in the concert, Mr. Detwiler took a back seat (or rather a front pew) to watch some of his extremely talented students (secretly planted in the audience) have a go at leading the rest of the band members in some spectacular arrangements. Rev. John Patterson, who also demonstrated his own virtuosity on trumpet during the evening, is pictured seated next to his delighted teacher and friend.
Here Mr. Detwiler rejoined the group and played alongside some of his younger counterparts. There sure was an awful lot of musical genius in that room!
At the end of the concert, the members of Prelude posed for photos and greeted the audience members. It was the perfect close to the year 2013 and a perfect 'prelude' (pun intended) to Christmas and the New Year.
We are SO(WW) very grateful to Rev. Patterson and Gainesville United Methodist Church for their extraordinary Christmas gifts of hosting, donating funds + providing us all with a night of superstar talent!
Many, many thanks to all the members of Prelude. You make us proud to be Americans! Our toes will be tapping all the way into the New Year . . .
PS: For all you folks out there that missed the concert - you can get a copy of "Christmastime in Washington" by clicking HERE!
(You'll wanna listen to it all year long!)
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