Easter Music Course 2025: A musical and spiritual oasis

Sian Cooper (Clowne) and Dawn Weeden report from this year’s Easter Music Course.

Do you love singing or playing an instrument to glorify the Lord? Are you of ‘senior years’ and missing the buzz of the old music school? The place for you is the Easter Music Course, writes Sian Cooper (Clowne).

The course ran from Easter Monday to Friday of that week. It was a week of friendship, fun, spiritual teaching, musical teaching, challenge and guest appearances.

Organised by the Music and Creative Arts team, the week couldn’t be in better hands. Assistant Director of Music and Creative Arts (Brass and Choral) Paul Sharman’s patience and teaching were exemplary with brass delegates of varying abilities, while Assistant Director of Music and Creative Arts (Creative Arts) Stephanie Lamplough worked her magic with the singing group

Both music leaders chose a mix of old and new music to challenge, inspire and bring us closer to God. In addition, Susan Avison chose songs for the mixed voices that enabled us to sing in a songster brigade of 60-plus people.

Each day there was a Bible study led by Major Ian Standley (Birmingham Citadel) and guest speakers handpicked to give us much food for thought.

In addition to this, the team was enhanced by the presence of Gillian Pomering (THQ) and nurse for the week Major Alison Greer (Older People’s Services), who provided fun and challenging entertainment in the evening. This year included getting-to-know-you speed dating, Coventry City Band blessing us with a varied programme, and delegates having the opportunity to showcase their skills in a talent evening, plus we solved a murder.

The afternoons featured masterclasses from Chris Brindley, leading us in a songster piece he had been inspired to write, and filling the generation gap were an excellent session with Paul’s son, George Sharman, and Stephanie’s daughter, Josie Lamplough, as well as an afternoon of hockey.

If all that left us feeling exhausted, there was free time where we could chill, visit nearby coffee shops, spend time in mindfulness colouring or exercise with Rhoda’s timbrels or Steph’s dance fitness classes.

There was definitely something for everyone – why not come along next year and join us!

It was with more than a little apprehension that I arrived at Easter Music Course 2025, reports Dawn Weeden. As a friend of The Salvation Army and not affiliated with any corps for more than 40 years, I guessed that I would be the odd one out and wondered whether I would fit in. However, from my first meeting with delegates in the car park and then at registration, it was clear that everyone was welcome.

With its mix of comfy chairs and sofas, and tea and coffee on tap, the ‘Leslie Condon Lounge’ provided a central hub for general congregating, Bible study, evening prayers and downtime.

As expected, there was music in abundance, with two to three brass or vocal rehearsal sessions daily, plus a mixed singing session where everyone participated. The pre-breakfast timbrel session proved to be an energetic way to start the day! Highlights for me included Coventry City Band presenting their programme A Walk Through the Bible, Chris Brindley talking about his composition ‘I Have Seen the Glory of the Lord’, and Josie Lamplough and George Sharman sharing their musical talents.

Laughter was also very much a feature of the week. Whether it was the poor jokes trotted out by Major Ian at regular intervals, or friends connecting in the lounge or dining room, or the fun of trying to solve the murder mystery ‘Death on the EM Sea’ – not to mention the quickfire getting-to-know-you session on the first evening!

I attended as part of my PhD research on Salvation Army music. The week provided new friendships and an oasis of musical and spiritual refreshment. Next year I will be signing up for me rather than as part of my research – I look forward to returning!