MWO Sally Lee is seen here during a band competition in Vernon playing the tenor drum. She was recently voted the top player in the Honour Band. In bottom photo, Lee is shown with Oliver Mayor Ron Hovanes and fellow cadet MWO Kathryn Schur.
Photos contributed
Put a rifle in her hand, and Sally Lee won’t impress, but give her a tenor drum and she’ll turn some heads.
The 16-year-old 788 BC Dragoons army cadet from Oliver was recently voted MVP in Honour Band.
To be honest, she wasn’t paying that much attention when her name was called during a concert in Vernon.
“I was a little surprised,” she admitted.
The Master Warrant Officer has been an army cadet for five years and thoroughly enjoys the field training exercises and survival expeditions. But her passion is playing the snare drum in pipe band and the tenor drum in Honour Band.
Lee’s passion for music began in Grade 6, and she has since dedicated herself to drumming.
She joined the army cadets after some encouragement from family friends, and she never regretted it.
“Everything is paid for, Lee pointed out, adding that all her camping excursions are free.
The Dragoons keep the cadets busy with adventure, music, shooting sports and other activities, such as orienteering.
“It’s an amazing program . . . you meet people from all over BC,” said Lee. It taught me a lot of things, a lot of leadership skills, public speaking . . . being different is okay.”
Honour Band is for the elite musicians who want a challenge, and believe her when she says it’s a challenge. You only have three days to memorize the music, and there are no music sheets to guide you. That’s why they practice for hours at a time, even on the bus.
For Lee, being in the pipe band is like a full-time job, but she loves it.
Her future goal is to attend Royal Military College in Kingston, ON in order to study computer engineering.
“I’ve always been interested in computers. My dad was in computer science . . . I’m interested in programming.”
Lee was also fortunate to go to Saskatchewan as part of an “Adventures in Technology” program offered by the Rotary Club of Oliver.
She visited the University of Saskatchewan’s campus and other technology based companies off campus to check out their technology programs.
Lee saw the Potash Corps, Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre, the Veterinary Medicine Centre, and agricultural and bio resources on campus. Off campus, she visited WBM (a computer hardware company), and the Global TV news station where she actually got to go on screen.
Lee and her peers also saw the fire department, police department, SRC Geo Analytical lab, Canadian Light Source, SED Systems, Hitachi, and Agtron Enterprises.
“It was definitely a jam-packed week and it was very life changing. The people we got to know and the experience we get to bring back is absolutely incredible.”
Lee said she is so grateful the Rotary Club organized such a trip.
“The fact that I got to be a part of it was an honour. I would recommend anyone to go next year if they offer it again in our town.”
Youth between the ages of 12-18 can join the army cadet program that has a parade every Wednesday night from 6-9 p.m.
For more information, call Lee at 250-535-3609, Captain Schur at 250-689-0501 or MWO Kathryn Schur at 250-485-7381.
Lyonel Doherty
Oliver Chronicle
