"SMALL MIRACLE" SET TO REPEAT ITSELF
AS BAND READIES FOR SHRINE BOWL
The amazing transformation from over 200 high school musicians representing more than 90 Kansas high schools into smooth, college-quality marching band begins Tuesday in Emporia. That's when 216 students from all over Kansas report to Emporia State for the 25th Annual All-State Masonic Band camp at Emporia State University.
"For these individual students to come together from so many different programs of various sizes and places in Kansas, and to quickly form into a cohesive unit that not only plays but marches well is pretty special", says Kansas Shrine Bowl Executive Director Dave Mize. "It really is a small miracle."
Tracy Freeze, Assistant Professor of Music at Emporia State University, will direct this year's All State Masonic Band. Students are sponsored by Masonic organizations throughout Kansas. The band is administered and supervised by the Kansas Masonic Foundation in Topeka.
The band's itinerary for the week is intense, but it is also laced with some built-in fun for the young people who are building friendships while they are practicing. Bandsmen will be greeted Tuesday by a hamburger feed hosted by Emporia Lodge #12, then will begin practicing. Some 7 hours of practice are scheduled for Tuesday afternoon and evening, and nearly 15 hours combined on Wednesday and Thursday. Thursday evening is reserved for recreational activities before the band practices again on Friday morning before its first performance at the annual Shrine Bowl banquet on Friday evening.
The band will march in the annual Kansas Shrine Bowl parade on Saturday morning, and will perform before the game and at halftime of the game itself.
The All-State Masonic band was developed because no school bands were available during the summers to add color and excitement to the Kansas Shrine Bowl. Regulations of both the NCAA and the Kansas State High School Activities Association prohibited bands from being organized when school was not in session. The idea of an All-State band was brainchild of then Director of Bands at Wichita State University Brad Bone, who suggested that a statewide band would be a good way to have music available at the game. The All State Masonic Band was born the next year with 93 members performing in the inaugural band.
The Kansas Shrine Bowl All-Star Football Game is an annual event featuring two football teams composed of 68 of the best graduated high school players from the East and West. Kickoff for this year's game at Welch Stadium in Emporia is scheduled for 7 PM on Saturday, July 26. Proceeds from all Shrine Bowl events support the Shriners Hospitals for Children, a network of 22 hospitals that provide expert, no-cost orthopedic, burn, and spinal care to children under 18. Children are admitted free to Shriners Hospitals for Children without regard for race, religion, nationality, creed, or relationship to a Shriner.
Advance reserved chairback tickets for the game are $20.00 in advance. Adult general admission tickets are $9.00 in advance. Student tickets (K-12) are $5.00 in advance. Other Shrine Bowl events scheduled in Emporia on July 26th include an open 5K Road Race that includes 60 Cross Country All-Star Runners, a 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk, a giant Shrine Parade, an Arts & Crafts Fair; a Kids Fair, a High School Combine, a Poker Run for Bikes, Autos and Trucks, and a Free Fashion Show. Additional information and tickets can be purchased through the Shrine Bowl office by calling 1-800-530-5524. The Shrine Bowl web site address is ksshrine.com and the e-mail address is ksshrine@kansas.com.