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PURPOSE OF OUR UNIT
Participate in Midian Shrine functions, or other functions as the Potentate
and/or Unit Officers shall direct, especially
to promote fun and good will to crippled, burned, or handicapped children.
WHAT WE DO
Concert Band - The concert band is our primary band currently
consisting of about 30 member musicians.
Noble Lynn Moller has been director of the concert band since 2007.
"This wind ensemble plays a wide variety of music ranging from ceremonial music for various occasions,
period music, traditional concert band selections, and arrangements of movie and show music.
An important part of the repertoire is the music of our brother nobles, Henry Fillmore, Karl King and John Phillip Sousa.
These individuals were important contributors to the heritage of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine and the musical wealth of our nation."
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Wind Ensemble for Shrine Ceremonial - November 7, 2009
Wind Ensemble for the Arch Ceremony - March 14, 2009
Click HERE to see historic pictures of the Concert Band
Parade Band - The parade band
currently uses a trailer for parades.
The band participates in 4 to 6 Shrine and local parades each year.
Parade Band for Arkalalah - October 31, 2009
Noble Lynn Moller is Director and Unit Commander, phone: (316) 204-6131.
Noble Tom Anderson Band Manager, phone: (316) 619-3697.
Noble Duane Draving is Treasurer of the Band, phone: (316) 722-0634.
Noble Rick Milhon, Secretary of the Band, phone: (316) 685-9897.
DanceKatz -
An auxiliary group of the
Million Dollar Band consisting of 12 to 17 musicians. This band has been
playing together since 1987.
Noble Lynn Moller is the director of this dance band and they perform the
“Big Band Sound” for more sophisticated ballroom dancing. This follows in the tradition of our brother nobles,
William "Count" Basie, Irving Berlin, Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington, and Paul Whiteman.
Their compositions and arrangements form the basis of our repertoire and popular American musical culture.
Evening dances are now being held and the group is available for outside performances.
Please check Midian Shrine news for dates or call (316) 204-6131 for
information.
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William "Count" Basie, 33°
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Irving Berlin, 32°
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Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington, 33°
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Paul Whiteman, 32°
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DanceKatz in the Mecca Ballroom for Ceremonial - November 7, 2009
Midian DanceKatz at Reflection Ridge - October 10, 2009
PolKatz - An auxiliary group of the Million Dollar Band which consisting of 10 to 14 members and has been performing for the last 29 years. The band has been under the supervision of Noble Steve Schmitter, phone (316) 684-1526, First Clarinet player since 1987. This band performs at many local nursing home facilities and at Octoberfest events. This band plays Polkas, Waltzes, and March music.
PolKatz at Cessna Aircraft Octoberfest - October 28, 2009
DixieKatz -
Another auxiliary group of the
Million Dollar Band. This group consists of 7 to 10 members and was formed
by Noble Dick Cory in 1996. This band plays lively Dixieland music and has
performed with the Wichita symphony. Noble Andy Roberts is Director, phone (316)
722-5249.
DixieKatz perform "Jesus on the Mainline" with the Derby High School Chorus at the Kansas Music Educators Convention - February 27, 2009
JazzKatz - A newly formed
auxiliary group of the Million Dollar Band. This group consists of eight
members and was formed by Noble Iven Kelty, phone (316)
264-3485,
in 2004. This is a small ensemble that plays dance and jazz music.
JazzKatz Performance at College Hill United Methodist Church - October 9, 2009
These bands play a total of 25 to 30 performances each year including concerts, parades, Octoberfests, dances, Shrine Circus, Midian Shrine and other Masonic functions. They also attend and compete against other bands at the annual Imperial and CSSA Shrine conventions. All members are dues paying members of the Central States Shrine Band Association (CSSBA) and the Shrine Band Association of North America (SBANA).
The band makes donations to the Plane of Mercy fund, which is used to transport children to and from the Shriner’s Hospitals and Burns Institutes for crippled and burned children.
The primary goal of the band is to provide upbeat entertainment and to make sure our members have fun performing music.
“WE PLAY - so crippled children can”
NEWS
The Wichita Moose Lodge, Reflection Ridge, Botanica, many local churches, schools, as well as other
area organizations employ
us for dances and other functions. This has aided in our fund-raising efforts and as ambassadors for Midian Shrine in our surrounding
communities. Of course, the Shrine Circus and Shrine Circus Parade in Delano were a big part of our spring activities.
Preparing for the performances at the San Antonio Imperial Session in July did not keep us from presenting big band dancing for Midian's 100th
Anniversary celebration. The DanceKatz took to the risers for an hour. The JazzKatz played the second set.
The Million Dollar Band did well at the Festival of Music sponsored by the Shrine Band Association of North America
at the Imperial Session, July 6-8, 2009. The Concert Band began Midian's participation and earned a Superior rating. The PolKatz continued
the efforts also receiving Superior. The DanceKatz had some problems with the final number but still were rated Excellent. The DixieKatz and JazzKatz
rated Superior. Photographs of the San Antonio band awards presentation may be found by clicking on this link: www.shrinebandsna.com/FOM.htm
The Million Dollar Band played in the Shrine Bowl Parade July 25. That night the Concert
Band entertained at Reflection Ridge.
A cooperative effort with the Senseney Music Community Band led to a well attended concert at the Scottish Rite Consistory.
We look forward
to fostering this relationship.
Phew! October was a busy, busy month! The PolKatz oom-pahed all over town for OctoberFest celebrations.
We started on the third playing several
hours on the closed street east of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. On the eighth, we played at Botanica. We oom-pahed again on the 15th at
Reflection Ridge. The PolKatz played before the Stated Meeting on the 21st. The next night
found us at the Catholic Care Center in Bel Aire.
On the 23rd we played at Larksfield. On the 28th, the PolKatz played a late morning gig at the Cessna
Wallace Plant. That's just one of the groups
from the Million Dollar Band.
The DixieKatz, with Hill Billies drummer, Noble John Heckman,
played at the Scottish Rite Pancake Feed on October 6th and performed again
in Arkansas City for an hour before the Arkalalah Parade. The Parade Band joined the units in the Arkalalah Parade. The JazzKatz played for the east
Good Shepherd Center on the 9th. The DanceKatz played at Reflection Ridge on October 10th. Various members play in more that one of
our groups, some in all of them.
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David Herrmann
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In 2008, David Herrmann donated his 1945 King Sousaphone with its hard case to the band.
This instrument has been well cared for and is in superior condition. A long time member of the band, his participation was highly valued,
and we are honored to have his instrument entrusted in our care.
June 2007 - A tremendous highlight of this year was the performance of the DanceKatz at the annual Glenn Miller festival in Clarinda, Iowa.
The band played two hours for the pancake breakfast in the new firehall. It was a great experience as the hall proved to have good acoustics and provided a good dance floor.
On April 19, 2006, the DanceKatz opened the Wichita Jazz Festival with a joint concert with WSU Jazz Arts II.
Noble Iven Kelty, drummer, was featured in Larry Hatteberg's People on October 10, 2004. Video clip is included!
In July, 2004, the bands went to the Imperial Session Shrine Convention in Denver, Colorado and competed against bands from all over the United States. The newly formed JazzKatz achieved an Excellent rating and all other bands achieved a Superior rating at this convention.
2009 Officers and Volunteers
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:| Music Director: | Lynn Moller |
| Associate Director: | Martin Geeding |
| Manager: | Tom Anderson |
| Treasurer: | Duane Draving |
| Secretary: | Rick Milhon |
| Librarian: | Iven Kelty |
| Membership: | John Matrow |
| Quartermaster: | Jim Malia |
| Topics Writer: | Richard Milhon |
| Representatives: | Mark Lyles Bruce Rose |
| Assistant Quartermaster: | John McDaniel |
| Assistant Librarian: | Jack Fordham |
| Concert Band Representative: | Lynn Moller |
| Dance Band Representative: | Lynn Moller |
| Show Band Representative: | Lynn Moller |
| Dixie Band Representative: | Andy Roberts |
| Jazz Band Representative: | Iven Kelty |
| Polka Band Representative: | Steve Schmitter |
| Parade Band Representative: | Lynn Moller |
| Chili Feed Chairman: | Jack Fordham |
| Circus Chairman: | Bruce Rose |
| Transportation Representative: | Finace Taylor |
HOW TO JOIN
ASK for a Membership Petition from any member or contact the Unit Secretary.
Complete the Petition and turn it in to the Unit Secretary.
Undergo a brief personal interview, probably at your home, at your convenience.
Be voted in by the Unit Members.
INITIAL COST
Annual dues are $23 which includes Central States Shrine Band Association (CSSBA),
and Shrine Band Association of North America (SBANA)
dues.
Costume cost varies by individual band.
WHEN AND WHERE UNIT MEETINGS HELD
In general, the following rehearsal schedule is used. Contact us to confirm.
Rehearsals are at Midian.
We WELCOME guests....ESPECIALLY NEW NOBLES!
email: Midian Shrine Million Dollar Band
Photos Courtesy of Noble Duane Draving
THANKS FOR YOUR INTEREST IN
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Updated 01/29/2010
