More from;Return to Battle in Russia and
Beyond Volume II
(seeking editor/publisher - will be available in English and Russian)
Return to Battle in Russia and
Beyond Vol I
(fewer than five copies) still available
through SA Trade, USA Central
Territory)
Captain and Mrs. Sven Ljungholm planted the Moscow Central Corps, in November 1991, in addition they planted two other Moscow corps in 1992, and a large (300) SA Outpost. During this period they were the only SA officers in place, and music became ‘as much a part of the Salvation Army as its uniform, its flags, and other means of working. The songs have done pioneering work such as few give them credit for….[1]’ often preparing the way for the Army, months, and in some, cases years, before an officer has appeared to carry on any organized effort.. There is not a corps in the Army, in this or in any other country, in which SA songs have not been used again and again. It is scarcely possible to go into any particular region of Russia without meeting up with the Founder’s song in its Baptist Churches.
No musical section has been more useful in extending the Army’s reach in Russia than the Moscow Central Central Corps Singing Company.
The recruitment and training of the 65 member music section was begun within weeks of the refounding of The SA in Moscow, an early initiative of Captain Kathleen Ljungholm and Recruit Marina Kokina. Further development took place under volunteer, several month visitor, Candidate Danielle Strickland, a Canadian Salvationist. In October 1992 Olga Afanasieva, a soldier in training at the corps, was appointed acting Y.P. Singing Company leader of the Central Corps.
SC Leader Olga Afanasieva holds advanced graduate degrees in both Choral Conducting and Piano Performance, and has been the conductor and trainer of recognised choral ensembles in Moscow, including the famed Red Army Chorus.
The Ljungholms were recently appointed by the General to ‘open fire’ in Ukraine and Moldova with the title Regional Commanders, saying farewell to almost 500 uniformed soldiers in their Moscow corps.
No comments:
Post a Comment