Peggy Thomas

Bandmaster Peggy Thomas graduated from the Eastman School of Music in 1975 with a Bachelor’s of Music in trumpet performance and from Northwestern University School of Music in 1977 with a Master’s of Music in trumpet performance. In 1976, Peggy became the first woman in the world to gain membership in a Salvation Army staff band.  As a member of the Chicago Staff Band, she served as principal cornet for almost 40 years and is presently the Deputy Bandmaster.  She has recorded extensively with the Chicago Staff Band, plus recording two solo albums, Songs in the Heart and Perspectives.  In 2015, Peggy won a solo competition at NABBA (North American Brass Band Association) for ‘high brass slow melody.’ In 2017, Peggy was awarded the Beacon Award by the International Women's Brass Conference; she earned the Order of the Founder award in 2019. Peggy has appeared as soloist, clinician and conductor throughout the United States, Canada, Korea, Netherlands, England, New Zealand and Australia.  She has performed with the Colorado Philharmonic Orchestra as well as occasionally subbed with the Chicago Symphony, the Rochester Philharmonic and the St. Louis Symphony.  Peggy is a former student of Susan Slaughter, Vincent Cichowicz and William Scarlett.  She joined the Territorial Music & Gospel Arts Department of The Salvation Army in 1979.  The Salvation Army is a church; therefore the purpose of this department is to create opportunities and resources that enhance worship in the Army by utilizing the arts as a tool to bring people into a relationship with Christ.  She has also taught at numerous music camps sponsored by The Salvation Army over the past 45 years. Peggy retired as the bandmaster of the Norridge Citadel Band of The Salvation Army, one of the outstanding brass bands in the Midwest, after 35 years of service.  The band participates in all worship services and has traveled extensively in the United States and Canada.  In 1988, the band was invited to march in the 100thanniversary of the Rose Parade in Pasadena, CA.  In 1999, the band traveled to England for a ten day tour.  Since becoming bandmaster in 1983, she has produced over 50 CDs with this band.  Peggy and her husband Scott have two married sons and four beautiful grandchildren.

Course curriculum

    1. Worship Concepts Introduction

    2. Module 1.1: True Worship Matters

    3. Module 1.2: True Worship as a Response to God's Word

    4. Module 1.3: Always Receivers

    5. Module 2.1: Step One - Worshipping God Instead of Ourselves

    6. Module 2.2: Step Two - Making Worship Number 1

    7. Module 2.3 Step Three - Defining True Worship

    8. Module 2.4: Step Four - Worship Evangelism (Part 1)

    9. Module 2.5: Step Four: Worship Evangelism (Part 2)

    10. Module 3.1: Laying the Foundations of Worship

    11. Module 3.2: Setting the Cornerstone

    1. Introduction to Worship Planning

    2. Module 1.1: Ways to Approach the Order of Service

    3. Module 1.2: The Dialog Approach

    4. Module 1.3: The Dialog Approach (Part 2)

    5. Module 2.1: Worship is a Journey

    6. Module 2.2: The Order of Service

    7. Module 2.3: The Necessity of Congregational Song

    8. Module 2.4: The Hospitable Worship Leader

    9. Module 3.1: Getting Ready for Sundays

    10. Module 3.2: Intentionality

    11. Module 3.3: Evaluation of Worship

    12. Module 3.4: Excellence in Worship

    13. Module 3.5: Creativity in Worship

    14. Module 4.1: Sunday Morning

    15. Module 4.2: What Word, What Song?

    16. Module 4.3: A Nugget Every Sunday

    17. Module 5.1: What Plan?

    18. Module 5.2: Salvation Army Worship

    19. Module 5.3: Who Makes This Happen?

    1. Introduction to Worship Components

    2. Module 1.1: Call to Worship

    3. Module 1.2: Prayer

    4. Module 1.3: Spoken Word

    5. Module 2.1: Music

    6. Module 2.2: Music

    7. Module 2.3: Music

    8. Module 2.4: Music

About this course

  • Free
  • 38 lessons
  • 3.5 hours of video content