Abou Ben Adhem Shrine Temple BANDSMEN!

We will PRACTICE on June 17! And, we will have practice on July 1 and July 15. Here's why you really need to be at these rehearsals. The Fair organizers want us to be in the parade on Monday, August 3; Wednesday, August 5; and Friday,August 7. They have agreed that the band may pull to the side of the parade route and play a short concert on each of the 3 nights. We need every band member to participate as we want to look sharp and we want to sound great! After the 3 rehearsals I will be able to come up with a "play list" that we can use at the Fair. (The more we perform in public the greater the chance that we may find "new members" for our growing organization!) We will also plan on a tailgate party on August 7. Uniform for the Fair is white shirt, black pants, either white or blue cap.

We will practice on August 19 and September the 2nd. These two rehearsals will be used to read through the music that will be used at CSSBA in Colorado Springs and we will also use the music for future local concerts.

Put the Schedule Dates on you calendar:

Wednesday, June 17.........Rehearsal
Wednesday, July 1............Rehearsal
Wednesday, July 15..........Rehearsal
Monday, August 3..............Parade and Concert @ Fair
Wednesday, August 5........Parade and Concert @ Fair
Friday, August 7.................Parade and Concert and Tailgate Party @ Fair
Wednesday, August 19.......Rehearsal
Wednesday, September 2..Rehearsal
Sept. 9 thru Sept 13............CSSBA @ Colorado Springs, CO
*Currently, the schedule at CSSBA looks like this: Rehearsal on Sept 9, Market Place
entertainment on Sept 10 and Sept 11. Opening Ceremony Music at Flying W Ranch
on Sept 10, Concert for Ladies Luncheon Sept. 11, and entertain at Annual Meeting
Banquest on Sept. 11. We close with the parade on Sept 12. (Schedule subjuect to change)

In addition to "The Book I like", we will use music from the following list:

Music Man South Pacific Hello Dolly Salute to Glenn Miller Memory

More Cowbell Bottom Line Disco Lives The Wild Westerns Hey Jude

We Go Together Greased Lightnin' Strike up the Band Bill Bailey ......and other titles to be named!

-Dan Stark

Summer Schedule 2009

Many thanks to all who played at National Cemetery on Memorial Day. We had a great band and there was a lot of positive feed-back. We seem to get better every year.

Our next thing up is of course the June Ceremonial. We will play at the Business Meeting on Friday, June 5, at 6:00pm. in the lower level. On Saturday, June 6, be on stage at 8:00 am. The uniform for both days is white shirt, black pants, FEZ. NO TIE, no coat.
This Ceremonial we have 5 members going through who will join the band. Three of them represent three generations of their family. Please make them feel welcome and help them have a good time this weekend.

These new members include...

Kyle Martin: Assistant Bartender
Ed Williams: Drums (Grandpa Williams)
Jerry Williams: Saxophone (Grandpa Williams Son)
Mike Melton: Tuba (Grandpa Williams Grandson)
Nick Venute: Vocal Singer

Practice Schedule: No practice on June 3, because that is just before the Business meeting. Practice on June 17, Dan wants to work on some new stuff and see how some of the stuff for Central States sounds.

Practice on July 1, July 15.
The Fair starts on July 31, and runs through August 9. We are planning on playing in the parade on August 3, August 5, and August 7. Details on time later. Rumor has it that the MSU Band may not be there this year so bring enough lip to play a short concert in addition to the parade. We will also plan on a tailgate party on August 7. Uniform for the Fair is white shirt, black pants, either white or blue cap. We will plan to Practice on August 19.

You have a few days before the Business Meeting and Ceremonial so use the time to,

Practice, practice, practice,

Joe

Memorial Day Concert at the Springfield National Cemetary

The Abou Ben Adhem Shrine Temple band was represented in large numbers for one heck of a patriotic concert for the Memorial Day ceremonies at the Springfield National Cemetary on the morning of May 25th. The band was joined by several friends to fill out their sound and wow did we sound great as a group!!!

The band began playing at 10am and the weather looked for a moment like it might cooperate. Unfortunately the skies changed their mind 15 minutes into the band's concert and continued to rain down on the crowd through the rest of the ceremonies.

Dan Stark did an amazing job conducting the band and many of the songs played were enjoyed by the veterans, family members, and friends that huddled under multi colored umbrellas to pay their respects through the misting rain.

Crowd favorites included "Amazing Grace", "God of Our Fathers", "Dixieland Strut" and "You're A Grand Old Flag". The band also played the designated anthems for each branch of the military during the flag ceremonies.

Even with the rain, the crowd was large and the meaning of Memorial Day was well represented in the respect and tribute that flowed from each person in attendance.

The graves were all decorated with American flags and many Veterans proudly wore shirts, hats, and uniforms pertaining to their past and current military service.

Roy Blunt and Sara Lampe both spoke of the great sacrifices of the men and women in our nation's military service during times of war and the gift of freedom they protected for us and future generations to enjoy.

If you get a chance next year, please join the Abou Ben Adhem Shrine Temple band in honoring the ultimate sacrifices made by so many during the Memorial Day Ceremony at the Springfield National Cemetery. This day is more than just an extended holiday weekend. By participating in the remembering of these ultimate sacrifices we can ensure that future generations carry on this well earned tradition. Not to mention you will hear one great outdoor concert from the band.

More band news to come over the summer. The band will be playing at the June 6th Ceremonial Parade and at the Ozark Empire Fair in early August. Check later for dates and times.

If you want information on how to join the band, send an e-mail to Joe at:

jandsgiboney@mchsi.com

We are always looking for new members and we share a great deal of fun and friendship while making great music. Practices are usually on the first and third Wednesday of each month at 7pm at the Abou Ben Adhem Shrine Temple band room close to the main entrance.

Until next time...be safe and have a great summer.

Band Practice April 1st and 15th.

We WILL have practice this week, Wednesday, April 1. I am going to try to get to the Shrine tomorrow and start getting the room back in order. I hope to see everyone there on Wednesday at 7pm.

Until then,

Practice, practice, practice,

Joe

St. Patrick's Parade in Rolla, MO.

A great time was had by all in the Abou Ben Adhem Shrine Temple Band. We loaded up the trailer, passed out the clothes pins & music, and played one great St. Patrick's parade together!!!

The weather was cooperating for a comfortably cool March Saturday and the mostly sunny sky really brought out a crowd out for the Rolla event.

Wow were we grateful for good weather!!!

There were people 7or 8 deep in places along the route. The onlookers loudly cheered as our snare drum player soloed to the crowd in between the musical numbers "In Heaven There Is No Beer" & the slower ballad "Irish Rose".

There are no words that I can muster to describe the fun and appreciation that so many had to see our band play proudly. I heard several times, both from young and old, "Go Shriners!!!" as we passed by.

I can also report, there was much laughter from the parade watchers during "In Heaven There Is No Beer" as the band comically sang...

In Heaven there is no beer. That's why we drink it here. And when we're all gone from here. Our friends will be drinking all the beer!!!

Being in the front of the parade this year, the band was able to unload and easily head over to the South Central Missouri Shrine Club when finished for an excellent lunch of Irish corn beef, cabbage and baby red potatoes.

I would like to personally thank these fellow Nobles for their excellent hospitality and wonderful culinary skills. (They served the best and most tender corn beef this fellow as ever had.)

The deserts were plentiful and the bar staff accommodating. The Rajah there, Richard Ferranto, was a wonderful host as were the other members of this club. We were greatly impressed and welcomed.

If you get the chance next year, I highly recommend visiting the South Central Missouri Shrine Club after the Rolla St. Patrick's parade for the friendship and fellowship that will follow. Contact (573) 364-0196 or (573) 364-7849 for more information about this incredible club and their scheduled activities.

Remember we will not have practice this coming Wednesday, March 18, because of the Circus. Please work at the Circus all that you can this week.

The next scheduled practice is April 1 at 7pm in the band room.

Happy St. Patrick's Day to all from the Abou Ben Adhem Shrine Temple Band!!!

Spring 2009 Schedule.

We have received new music to sight read this Wednesday so make it to rehearsal. We will also start working on Concert material. Following is the our Spring schedule:

March 4 Rehearsal at Shrine
March 14 Rolla....St. Pat's Day Parade
April 1 Rehearsal at Shrine
April 15 Rehearsal at Shrine
May 6 Rehearsal at Shrine
May 20 Rehearsal at Shrine
May 25 Memorial Day Concert
June 5 & 6 Temple Business Meeting and Spring Ceremonial!

See you Wednesday night and remember, the first 30 get a free beer! (maybe something better?) Joe will have several announcements to make about up coming events.

-Stark

Band Practice!!!

Rehearsal is this Wednesday night. 7:00 p.m. start time. Weather looks good for Wednesday. And remember, free beer during the break!

PUT THE DATE ON YOUR CALENDAR. WEDNESDAY, JAN. 21! 7:00 p.m.


-Stark