One impression of the Salvation Army may be that of a volunteer bell-ringer standing outside a retail establishment during the Christmas holidays, collecting money to be placed in a red kettle.

Another image is that of the Salvation Army Band.

There are several categories of the Salvation Army Band: Corps, Regional, Youth, Fellowship, Staff and Territorial. There are 11 Staff Bands.

The New York Staff Band, founded in 1887, is known as “America’s Foremost Brass Band.”

The New York Staff Band of the Salvation Army, with Derek Lance, Bandmaster, joined forces with the Allentown Band, Ronald Demkee, Conductor, for a concert, 7:30 p.m. Sept. 5, Miller Symphony Hall, Allentown, benefiting victims of the 2025 California wildfires and the 2025 Texas floods.

The concert theme, “Sounds of Hollywood,” featured guest soloist, mezzo-soprano Patricia Risley, who was joined by her daughter, Molly Phares, accompanying the Allentown Band for “Singularly Streisand,” including the hits “People,” “Memories” and “Don’t Rain on My Parade.”

The Allentown Band also performed “That’s Entertainment,” with “Another Op’nin, Another Sho,” “Send in the Clowns,” “Be a Clown” and “That’s Entertainment”; John Williams’ “The Cowboys,” and Leonard Bernstein’s “Make Our Garden Grow” from “Candide.”

Selections performed by The Salvation Army New York Staff Band included “High Octane,” “Norwich Citadel”; a medley of “I Can See Clearly Now,” “Come Sail Away” and “Get on Your Feet”; “O Love,” and “Holy Forever.”

The blast of brass from The New York Staff Band was a sound to behold.

“I hope that what we’re doing tonight is showing our love for Jesus and God forever,” said Lance.

States the website of Summit Records, “The New York Staff Band represents the finest in Christian brass band performance.”

The combined bands of the New York Staff Band and the Allentown Band concluded the concert with “America the Beautiful,” “Hail to the Spirit of Liberty March,” “Amazing Grace” and “Stars ad Stripes Forever March.”