ORIENTAL BAND ALZAFAR SHRINE

Volume 1, Issue 1
February 2013
ALZAFAR SHRINE
ORIENTAL BAND
San Antonio, Texas
Welcome Nobles all!
This is the Alzafar Shrine Oriental Band first newsletter since our website was built and launched this
month, February 2013. Our newsletter called The Musette will be updated with the latest news every two to
three months unless some exciting event news or history comes up. Pictures will be updated.
The Musette Newsletter
This first release is more of a test run and you are invited to email me with your thoughts regarding what
you see. None will be discarded. Please send your feedback to wnanes@sbcglobal.
Thanks
William “Bill” Nanes
President/Music Director
Alzafar Shrine Oriental
San Antonio, Texas
210-520-0768 Home
210-827-3596 Cell
Oriental Band Officers
2012-2013
President - William “Bill” Nanes
Home Phone (210) 520-0768
Cell (210) 827-3596
Email: [email protected]
Vice President - Armando Falcon
Secretary/Treasure - Charles Beckmann, MD
Music Director—William
“Bill” Nanes
Asst. Music Director—Tom Kopcho
Quarter Master—Richard Thompson
The purpose of the Alzafar Shrine Oriental Band is to have fun doing
what we do best; playing and marching. However, while we are
thoroughly enjoying the activities, we are always mindful of your most
important goal of perpetuating the programs of our Temple and the
Children’s Hospitals.
William Nanes, Publisher and Editor, The Musette Newsletter
Alzafar Shrine
901 N. Loop 410 W.
San Antonio, Texas 78232
(210) 496-1625
Alzafar Shrine Oriental Band
William Nanes, Publisher and Editor, The Musette Newsletter
The Musette Newsletter, Volume 1, Issue 1, February 2013
Ft. Worth State Champs 2011
2011 Laredo Texas Parade
at staging area
Ft. Worth Texas competition 2011
Ft. Worth competition entry with the
assistance of the Alzafar honor guard
A Hoochi Kooch performance for the
newly installed Potentate 2010
2012 Laredo Texas parade start-up
Alzafar Shrine Circus elephant … Dumbo
Our parade ride. Exclude Dumbo!
Entertaining Shriners and their ladies
Alzafar Shrine Circus 2012
San Antonio, Texas
It’s all for the
CHILDREN !
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Alzafar Shrine Oriental Band
William Nanes, Publisher and Editor, The Musette Newsletter
The Musette Newsletter, Volume 1, Issue 1, February 2013
ALZAFAR SHRINE ORIENTAL BAND
2013 PARADE SCHEDULE
DATE
PARADE
LOCATION
LINE-UP
SAT. 23 Feb
Washington Birthday
Laredo, Texas
7:00 a.m.
9:00 a.m.
SAT. 13 Apr
Strawberry Festival
Poteet, Texas
8.00 a.m.
10.00 a.m.
SAT. 27 Apr
Fiesta Flambeau
San Antonio, Texas
5:00 p.m.
7:00 p.m.
SAT. 04 May
Cornyval
Helotes, Texas
7:30 a.m.
9:30 a.m.
SAT. 04 May
Hobo Fest (optional)
Kirby, Texas
9:00 a.m.
10.:00 a.m.
SAT. 11 May
Bluebonnet Festival
La Vernia, Texas
8:00 a.m.
10.00 a.m.
SAT. 25 May
Memorial Day
Bandera, Texas
9:00 a.m.
11:00 a.m.
SAT. 15 Jun.
Berges Fest
Boerne, Texas
7:30 a.m.
10:00 a.m.
th
START
THUR. 04 July
July 4 Jubliee (optional)
Schertz, Texas
8:00 a.m.
9:30 a.m.
FRI. 23 Aug
Gillespie Cty Fair (optional)
Fredericksburg, Texas
8:45 a.m.
10:00 a.m.
SAT. 31 Aug
Kendall County Fair
Boerne, Texas
8:00 a.m.
10.00 a.m.
SAT. 21 Sep
Medina County Fair
Hondo, Texas
8:00 a.m.
10:00 a.m.
SAT. 12 Oct
Peanut Festival
Floresville, Texas
8:00 a.m.
10:00 a.m.
SAT. 19 Oct
Fiesta de Amistad
Del Rio, Texas
8:00 a.m.
10:00 a.m.
SAT. 26 Oct
Kerr County Fair
Kerrville, Texas
8:00 a.m.
10:00 a.m.
SAT. 09 Nov
Veteran’s Day
San Antonio, Texas
10:00 a.m.
12:00 noon
SAT. 14 Dec
Christmas Parade
Sattler, Texas
9:30 a.m.
11:00 a.m.
ALZAFAR SHRINE ORIENTAL BAND BRIEF HISTORY
The original Alzafar Band was formed in 1940. However it was not formed in San Antonio but at a Shrine club in the valley
of Texas which was part of the Alzafar Shrine in San Antonio, Texas.
At a Flambeau parade in San Antonio years later a Nobel of the Alzafar Shrine asked for and received permission to form
an Oriental Band. It was announced in the Alzafar ARCHBAR publication and drew five Nobles. A meeting was held on
November 7, 1977 and the new Alzafar Shrine Oriental Band was formed.
In January 1978 at an official stated meeting, Potentate Floyd O. Schneider officially announced the new unit. At that
instance the stage curtains opened and the Nobles where treated with “Hoochie Kooch” played by the newly formed
Alzafar Shrine Oriental Band.
The very first Texas All State competition for the Alzafar Shrine Oriental Band was in Houston, Texas in 1978. What is
funny is that the band won this competition but was soon disqualified because someone noticed that the new band played
the wrong contest song. The tune announced during Mid-Winter in El Paso, Texas was for the following year. The Alzafar
Shrine Oriental Band did win at Austin Texas in 1980. The rest is history.
Today the Alzafar Shrine Oriental Band enjoys playing in parades and competitions. Although most of our members are
aging, they are strong as a camel. Our Musettes have been around for the longest time. No one knows for sure.
Nevertheless, they produce their unique sound at the helm of their musicians. Our percussion players are going strong as
well.
So that’s it in a nut shell. This information was taken in part from member handbook written back in 1993 and again in
1997. William “Bill” Nanes, Alzafar Shrine Oriental Band, President/Music Director, 2012/2013
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