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GIRARD —
Being a member of the Kansas Masonic All-State Marching Band is a lot of work and a lot of fun. Heather Ashmore, Arma, has been enjoying both for the past four years.
The 36th annual Kansas Shrine Bowl, set for July 25 at Cessna Stadium, Wichita State University, will be her last opportunity to play clarinet with the group, which is composed of high school musicians from across the state.
“I would be eligible to participate in other ways, but not to play in the band after this,” said Ashmore, who will be a senior this fall at Girard High School.
The daughter of Dave and Cindy Ashmore, Heather said she has been playing clarinet since about fourth grade. “My brother plays drums, and we both play piano,” she added. “I used to go to Northeast High School in Arma, and our band director there asked me if I’d be interested in the Masonic All-State Band. I’d been to a game, but never thought about the band before. I transferred to Girard in my freshman year, and started in the band then.”
Band members are selected and sponsored by the Masonic Lodge in their community. Masonic groups and caring individuals donate camp fees that provide each member with a band shirt, housing, meals, insurance, professional music and marching instruction, supervision and social activities.
“I really want to thank the Masons for providing the funds that make this opportunity possible,” Ashmore said.
Band camp always starts on the Tuesday before the Saturday game and involves lots of practice in both playing and marching.
“All the music is marching music, not concert music, and we have to be able to play and march at the same time,” Ashmore said. “They give us 30 drill sheets, and we have to learn them in five days. It’s very, very busy and you don’t have any down time. We’re always constantly doing something.”
But she said that she likes doing it. “It helps in giving back to the community and to the kids in the Shrine Hospitals.”
Band members do get a little time off. “We’ll have a mixer on Tuesday, a trivia game on Wednesday and recreation time on Thursday,” Ashmore said. “We never know until we get there what the recreation will be.”
On Friday, the band will perform at the Kansas Shrine Bowl Players Banquet, then will lead and perform in the parade Saturday morning.
Being a member of the Kansas Masonic All-State Marching Band is a lot of work and a lot of fun. Heather Ashmore, Arma, has been enjoying both for the past four years.
The 36th annual Kansas Shrine Bowl, set for July 25 at Cessna Stadium, Wichita State University, will be her last opportunity to play clarinet with the group, which is composed of high school musicians from across the state.
“I would be eligible to participate in other ways, but not to play in the band after this,” said Ashmore, who will be a senior this fall at Girard High School.
The daughter of Dave and Cindy Ashmore, Heather said she has been playing clarinet since about fourth grade. “My brother plays drums, and we both play piano,” she added. “I used to go to Northeast High School in Arma, and our band director there asked me if I’d be interested in the Masonic All-State Band. I’d been to a game, but never thought about the band before. I transferred to Girard in my freshman year, and started in the band then.”
Band members are selected and sponsored by the Masonic Lodge in their community. Masonic groups and caring individuals donate camp fees that provide each member with a band shirt, housing, meals, insurance, professional music and marching instruction, supervision and social activities.
“I really want to thank the Masons for providing the funds that make this opportunity possible,” Ashmore said.
Band camp always starts on the Tuesday before the Saturday game and involves lots of practice in both playing and marching.
“All the music is marching music, not concert music, and we have to be able to play and march at the same time,” Ashmore said. “They give us 30 drill sheets, and we have to learn them in five days. It’s very, very busy and you don’t have any down time. We’re always constantly doing something.”
But she said that she likes doing it. “It helps in giving back to the community and to the kids in the Shrine Hospitals.”
Band members do get a little time off. “We’ll have a mixer on Tuesday, a trivia game on Wednesday and recreation time on Thursday,” Ashmore said. “We never know until we get there what the recreation will be.”
On Friday, the band will perform at the Kansas Shrine Bowl Players Banquet, then will lead and perform in the parade Saturday morning.
“After the parade, we have to practice for Saturday night,” Ashmore said. “We’ll play during the game, with features in the pre-game and half-time ceremonies.”
Proceeds from the event will go to the Shriners Hospitals for Children, a nonprofit organization consisting of 22 hospitals. They provide medical care for children with serious conditions or injuries, regardless of financial need.
The Shrine Bowl football players get to visit a Shrine Hospital, but Ashmore has never been to one.
“Hopefully, some day I can check that out,” she said.
She might do even more than that. “I’m thinking about being a pre-med major in college,” Ashmore said. “Maybe someday I’ll be a doctor at a Shrine Hospital.”
