BENI KEDEM HIGHLANDER

A Highlander band had been the dream of several Nobles of Beni Kedem Temple for a number of years. Finally in the fall of 1992 the time was right to turn this dream into reality. By letter and word of mouth a small, but determined group of Nobles gathered together to explore the possibility of forming a Highlander Band. Deeming there was enough interested individuals, a club was formed and recognized by Potentate Pat Oshel. Numerous obstacles had to be overcome. Of the Nobles gathered only one had experience piping and one drumming. In order to obtain the necessary skills to put a band together the members spent many Wednesday evenings with practice chanters in hand under the tutelage of the Kanawha Valley Pipes and Drums. Once we had acquired the necessary basic skills, we began meeting Monday evenings at the Temple. Progress was slow in the beginning as the bagpipe is a very complicated instrument to learn to play and master and Highland drumming is difterent from other types of music. In the beginning we decided a Colour Guard would be a part of the band to allow members who wanted to be a part of the band to participate. Next money was raised to outfit the band. Many Nobles gave generously to help us become a reality. Even though our bagpipes had not arrived from Scotland we set a goal to march and play at least one tune in the Cherry River Festival Parade at Richwood, W.V. August of 1993. After much anticipation the pipes began arriving in April. Up until now the pipes had only played the practice chanter. Now we were faced with a set of new challenges: 1) to remember the music, 2) to keep the bag filled with air, 3) to squeeze the bag when necessary, 4) to breath normally, and 5) to march. We had three months to master all those things to meet our goal. The drummers now had to learn to march and play with the pipers. Help was not far away as the KENA Highlanders from Fairfax, Virginia offered to visit and give us pointers on putting a Shrine Highlander Band on the street. We met our challenge by practicing at least two times a week and sometimes on weekends. The Beni Kedem Highlanders had made their debut In grand style. Every organization thrives on competition as a measuring stick for improvement. The Highlanders have been fortunate to compete with the best the Shrine has to offer. In our fist competition at the South Atlantic Shrine Association (S.A.S.A.) Convention we placed second to our mentors from KENA Temple. This encouraged us to practice harder and learn more tunes until we had put together a ten minute show. Every performance and parade helped us to improve and at the S.A.S.A. Convention in 1994 our hard work was rewarded with a first place. We have continued. to occupy the top spot for the past two years against stiff competition from KENA and khedive Temples. In 1995 we went to our first Shrine Imperial Session at Indianapolis, Indiana and competed in Class B Bands and were awarded first place. In 1996 there was only one pipe band class and we finished in fourth place out of four bands, but it still was a rewarding experience. In 1996 the Ben Kedem Highlanders requested and received unit status from the Nobility. We continue to gain new members and expand our musical repertoire. We have been and will continue to be an active unit by performing as much as possible. For we are ever mindful that the Beni Kedem Highianders represent Masonry and Shrinedom and by being visible in public may entice young men to want to become involved in the world's greatest philanthropy. We look forward to many prosperous years of performances and parades remembering that we march and play so a crippled or burned child will be whole someday.