DrumCorps
Summer 2015 | Vol. 9 No. 1
The Magazine of Marching Music’s Major League™
International
The (DrumLine) Battle of Britain SoundSport Lands in Ireland and England
Building the Golden Empire
’15 DREAMS DCI Summer Tour Preview
ALL ABOUT THAT BASS BRASS SEASON PREMIERES ON THE BIG SCREEN HIT PARADE: NO. 1 SONGS & THE FINALS
Summer 2015
DrumCorps International The Official Magazine of Marching Music’s Major League Volume 9 Issue 1
Dan Acheson Executive Director/CEO Bob Jacobs Director, Marketing John DeNovi Director, Sales & Business Development Chris Weber Sr. Manager, Communications
Custom Published By: In Tune Partners, LLC Irwin Kornfeld CEO The Cavaliers
Will Edwards President Emile Menasché Editor-in-Chief Jackie Jordan Creative Director Michael R. Vella Production Director Barbara Boughton Business Manager Photography Johnny Gilbert, Jolesch Enterprises, Katy Nowak, Linda and Sid Unser Contributors Michael Boo, Kate Koenig, Danny Miles Drum Corps International is the leader in producing events for the world’s most elite and exclusive marching ensembles for student musicians and performers. Editorial and business contact is 110 W. Washington St., Suite C, Indianapolis, IN 46204, phone: 317-275-1212, fax: 317-713-0690. Drum Corps International Magazine is published twice a year. Nonprofit organization U.S. postage paid at Long Prairie, MN permit #710. Copyright ©2015 Drum Corps International. All rights reserved.
Features
They Were Dancing in the Isles 14
The diversity and adaptability of DCI’s SoundSport and DrumLine Battle were on display at events in Ireland and England, pointing to the future for musical competition in Europe and beyond. By danny Miles
21 Jump Start: 2015 Summer Preview
With more than 100 events between June and August, the DCI Summer Tour is sure to be full of drama, excitement, and artistry. And if 2014 is anything to go by, a season full of surprises awaits. By Michael Boo
Departments 5 Sidelines Get out of the stands and onto the field ... Kick Start the summer of 2015... Remembering Dr. K ... The Tour Premiere goes live! ... A DCI alum gets Whiplash ... and more!
10 Gear Guide
Pinpointing the parts of a marching tuba.
26 Commitment to Excellence
Former Blast! cast member Tim Heasley recounts the founding of Open Class corps Golden Empire.
30 Stepping Off
How has music changed since DCI began? Check out this list of Finals Week No. 1 hits.
Ravens Drum & Bugle Corps, in Athlone, Ireland
www.dci.org
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News and Notes from Drum Corps International
Get a Kick Start
Motivational speaker Fran Kick’s popular hands-on workshops for students will return this summer, and they’re free to those attending select events on the DCI schedule. “This is an opportunity for groups of students from bands and organizations to come into a drum corps show just a little bit early and experience the psychology and dynamic of teamwork,” says Kick. For more details and the latest info, visit DCI.org/kickstart.
Out of the Stands and Into the Spotlight DCI Tour Premiere Wednesday, June 17 Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN
DCI Ft. Wayne Wednesday, July 8 Bishop John D’Arcy Stadium, Ft. Wayne, IN
DCI Central Texas
presented by Band Shoppe
Thursday, July 16 Crusader Stadium, Belton, TX
DCI Southwestern Championship
presented by Fred J. Miller, Inc.
Saturday, July 18 Alamodome, San Antonio, TX
DCI Southeastern Championship Saturday, July 25 Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA
DCI World Championship Finals Saturday, August 8 Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN
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his summer, DCI spectators will be presented with an exciting opportunity that’s ideal for music clubs and school ensembles—the chance to get out of the stands and onto the field itself. Group ticket purchasers for select 2015 Drum Corps International Tour events will be eligible to participate in DrumLine Battle and SoundSport performance competitions, which will take place at the venue before the drum corps themselves face off. DrumLine Battle (DLB) puts percussionists in the spotlight. With simple rules, two minute head-to-head matches, and a focus on showmanship, DLB is about entertaining the crowd. “It’s fast paced and in-your-face—a fun format that showcases the talent and creativity of your students,” explains DrumLine Battle and SoundSport Coordinator Eric Hjellming. “Impress the three judges while winning over the audience and your school might just be crowned DrumLine Battle Champion!” In contrast, SoundSport is open to practically any music-making ensemble you can think of, and probably a few you’ve never thought of. All instruments and ages are permitted so you can even create an ensemble featuring students and instructors, parents, or alumni. Performances are between five and seven minutes long, and like DrumLine Battle, there’s a special focus on entertaining the audience. Units will receive input and commentary from three professional adjudicators as they perform in this up-close-and-personal format. Learn more at DCI.org/perform. www.dci.org
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Sidelines
Celebrating the Legacy of Dr. David Kampschroer
D
rum Corps International lost one of the most important figures in its evolution last February when Dr. David Kampschroer passed away at age 74. His drum corps career began when he marched as a member of the Phantom Regiment in the early 1960s. He co-founded the Blue Stars in 1965 when he was just 25 years old; became executive director in 1968, and continued to lead the group for another 12 years. But his leadership reached well beyond his own group. When Drum Corps International was formed in 1972, he was selected as executive director of the new organization for the western region, serving until a full-time administrator could be hired. He was also among the first drum corps leaders to seek support for the activity through corporate sponsorship, a practice that has become essential today. Dr. Kampschroer was inducted into the DCI Hall of Fame as a charter member in its inaugural year of 1985. He also served as a longtime chair of the DCI Hall of Fame, helping to make the induction ceremony a celebration of the best that drums corps has to offer. He also continued to serve as both a mentor and advisor to the Blue Stars after retiring as head in 1980. As both a leader and as a friend, Dr. Kampschroer will be deeply missed throughout the drum corps community. Read more about his legacy at tinyurl.com/DrKamp
Former Blue Star Whips Up Movie Magic DCI alumnus John Wasson recently got the attention of Hollywood for his arrangement of the Duke Ellington classic “Caravan,” featured in the 2014 Oscar-winning jazz-themed drama Whiplash. Since his days marching with the Blue Stars (1976-’78), Wasson has composed music for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and U. S. Air Force Academy Band, served as staff arranger for the Purdue AllAmerican Marching Band for 17 years, arranged the Blue Stars’ Reloaded (2004) and Pixelation (2005) shows, and more. tinyurl.com/nj4x26w 6
www.dci.org
New Scenes on Field & Screen FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, the DCI season will officially open and close on the same turf. But originating from Indianapolis won’t be the only “first” when the Blue Stars, Bluecoats, Carolina Crown, Madison Scouts, Cadets, and Cavaliers face off at Lucas Oil Stadium for the June 17 DCI Tour Premiere. 2015 also marks the first time the season opener will be broadcast live on movie screens across the country (previous Tour Premieres were recorded and shown in cinemas a few days after the event). “It’s very exciting for us to have the 2015 DCI Tour bookended by events at Lucas Oil Stadium,” says DCI Executive Director Dan Acheson. “After kicking off this summer’s action in movie theaters in June, fans can then follow the corps online on the DCI Fan Network before heading back to theaters to wrap up our 43rd anniversary season with the live broadcast of the DCI World Championship Prelims on August 6, our 12th year of ‘Big, Loud, and Live.’” Learn more about both of DCI’s cinema events at fathomevents.com.
DCI Lives Online DCI.org is expanding on its mission to deliver the latest drum corps news with exclusive “magazine style” online content. Visit the site regularly for web-only versions of Age-Out, Commitment to Excellence, and more.
Social Consciousness
Join the conversation about the 2015 DCI Tour:
@DCI
Drum Corps International
DCI Photos
DCI Fan Network
(WHIPLASH) DANIEL MCFADDEN, COURTESY OF SONY PICTURES CLASSICS
1940-2015
Gear Guide
By Danny Miles
The Marching Tuba Jupiter Quantum 5080S
Jupiter’s Quantum Marching Brass instruments are designed to handle the elements, produce stadium-filling volume, and blend to create a cohesive ensemble sound. We asked the company’s Brent Rosborough to explain key features that help the 5080S Marching Tuba fulfill its musical mission.
Boston Crusaders
SPECS
Weight: 23 lbs. Material: Brass Finish: Lacquer or silver plating (shown)
BEll The 21" bell is tapered and flared specifically for field use to provide wide sound dispersion and definition. Tone Intensifier
Bore The relatively narrow .698" tubing diameter contributes to the tuba’s warm sound and ability to blend.
This ring near the bell is designed to make the tone warmer and more focused.
Valves These have doublelapped stainless steel construction for fast action. A trigger was added to the first valve tuning slide for precise intonation.
Main Tuning Slide Designers made this slightly longer than standard to improve tuning stability in changing weather conditions.
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Mouthpiece Receiver Reinforced construction is intended to give the sound more presence.
We’ve put in the time, played through the pain. Together we go further. The race has begun. Welcome to the season.
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They were Dancing in the Isles
Ireland and the UK stepped up to give SoundSport and DrumLine Battle a high-energy European debut.
By Danny Miles
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he Guinness Book of World Records calls it the oldest pub in all of Europe. But on Friday March 20, Sean’s Bar—which overlooks the banks of Ireland’s Shannon River in the town of Athlone—played host to something completely new: The cont i nent ’s f i r st Sou ndSpor t a nd DrumLine Battle events. In launching Drum Corps International’s growing new competitive music programs in Europe, Athlone was one day ahead of Bristol, England, which hosted the UK’s inaugural SoundSport contest on March 21. “The t wo event s rea l ly illustrate what SoundSport and DrumLine Battle are all about,” says DCI’s global director of sales & business development John DeNovi, part of a DC I cont i ngent t hat c ros sed t he Atlantic to support event organizers in 14 www.dci.org
Ireland and the UK. “Each one was different and reflected the local community in which it was held. We had plenty of new performers who’d never taken part in competitive music, and they brought their own vision of what that whole experience could be. But we also had people with a history of more traditional drum & bugle corps and drum line performance. A nd for some, this was a chance to get back involved in an activity they loved in their youth.” W hen DCI lau nched SoundSport and DrumLine Battle in 2012, one of the most important aims was to give a wider range of people a chance to experience the fun and challenge of musical competition. Rules regarding performers’ ages, ensemble size, instrumentation, and even venues were designed to adapt to the talents, desires, and resources of local communi-
Clockwise from top: Emerald Force Irish Dance Troupe; Ravens Drum and Bugle Corps; Blue Barons
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ties. “Rather than a top-down approach where everyone conforms to a central rule book, SoundSport and DrumLine Battle events are shaped by the people and g roups tak ing part in t hem,” DeNovi says. “And that’s what we saw in Ireland and England. We really got a chance to watch DCI’s v ision for SoundSport and DrumLine Battle come to life.”
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he town of Athlone sits almost in the physical center of the island that’s home to the Republic of Ireland as well as Northern Ireland (which is part of the UK). “It was a great location,” says DeNovi, who was joined on the trip by DCI’s executive director Dan Acheson and SoundSport & DrumLine Battle events and promotions manager Eric Hjellming. “There was a very postcard-like setting around us, with colorful buildings surrounded by lush fields and the beautiful Athlone Castle looming in the background. It was especially exciting because most of the performers and the audience had never seen or participated in an event like this before.” The town’s central location proved to be fitting for an event that brought together many different types of musicians from across the country. “We had a really nice variety,” DeNovi adds. “We had a traditional drum & bugle corps, a tin whistle and accordion band, bag pipers, a string octet, and much more.” Perhaps the highlight was the DrumLine Battle. While the name implies a contest between two percussion groups with similar equipment, DLB’s rules don’t define exactly
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what a “drum line” should be. This gave the “Battle of Athlone” the “kind of creative variety that we’ve always hoped for,” DeNovi says. “The drum line from the Ravens Drum & Bugle Corps faced off against the Emerald Force Irish Dance Troupe. The dancers—all women—used hardtap shoes against a hard surface to create perc ussion sou nds. DrumLine Battle is always about showmanship and gamesmanship as well as music, and Emerald Force really understood how to play the game. At one point, they took out drum sticks and started air drumming in time as they danced. It was a really cool idea and probably got the best crowd reaction we’ve ever had at a DLB event.” For Acheson, the whole experience was a very positive first step. “We are very grateful to Colm Bolger and the Ravens Drum & Bugle Corps for staging a fantastic event at an incredible and historic location,” he says.
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day later, Acheson, DeNovi, and Hjellming crossed t he Irish Sea to Bristol, England. There, many of the participants had a background in drum and bugle corps performance. Organized with help from Drum Corps UK and Drum Corps Europe, SoundSport UK took place indoors at the Sports Hall of Bristol’s SGS College. “It was a very well run event,” DeNovi says. “It was a comfortable environment, and it made for a lot of energy. The performers were close to the audience, and the proximity increased the intensity of From top: The Quaid Ensemble; the groups’ performances. The Clara Town For example, a seven-person Band; Scoil horn section sounded huge; Bhride Tin Whistle and I’d seen the same group last Accordion Band year on a soccer field, and and Twirlers
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit. –Aristotle
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they sounded much stronger in this more intimate setting.” After some brisk competition, the UK event (helped by having a pub adjacent to the venue) quickly turned into a social gathering. “There was lots of interaction after the show,” DeNovi says. “It was nice to see people get a chance to reconnect with friends and with the activity they’d loved years ago. Some hadn’t performed in 20 or 30 years.” One organization that was clearly re-energized by SoundSport’s arrival in the UK was Scotland’s Blue Barons, winners of Best in Show. “It was the first time in 20 years SoundSport Events Place that they’d come to England to perform,” Date Taoyuan, Taiwan DeNovi says. “The event put the excite- May 2, 2015 ment back in the organization, and now May 22, 2015 Shanghai, China more people want to join.” June 26, 2015 Oceanside, CA Herb Meyer Stadium According to DeNovi, the enthusiasm at El Camino HS was noted by both Drum Corps UK and June 29, 2015 Mesa, AZ Drum Corps Europe. “We had a discussion the drum corps and color guard activities in John D. Riggs Stadium at Mesa after the event, and agreed that SoundSport the United Kingdom. “We join with our Community College has unlimited potential in Europe. New partners at DCE and DCI to focus our efforts July 18, 2015 San Antonio, TX groups have already come for ward to on bringing more great performers to the Alamodome express interest in hosting future events.” July 24, 2015 fields, floors, and stages far and wide.” Murfreesboro, TN Johnny “Red” Floyd “The organizations which comprise To that end, the flexibility offered by Stadium at MTSU Drum Corps Europe share a remarkable pasSoundSport and DrumLine battle should July 25, 2015 Atlanta, GA sion for the marching arts with our American promote the exchange of ideas between the Georgia Dome counterparts,” says DCE Chairman Marcel August 3, 2015 Michigan City, IN U.S., Europe, and other regions where these Ames Field Matthijsse. “We have come together to proactivities are gaining a foothold, including vide opportunities for people from through- August 8, 2015 Indianapolis, IN Latin America and Asia. “Our partners at Pan Am Plaza out Europe to enjoy the drum and bugle Drum Corps UK and Drum Corps Europe SoundSport schedule subjuect to change corps activity and to help [it] grow. Our have set the stage for tremendous growth,” meeting in Bristol was extremely productive...the prospects for DeNovi says. “This will be an unprecedented collaboration.” the future are very bright indeed.” “It was simply wonderful,” Acheson says, “to see “Today’s cosponsored event signals the start of the next chap- so many generations of performers coming togeth- From top: Essex ter of the continuing growth of the marching and performing er at both events to celebrate marching music.” Marching arts in the UK,” adds Alan Thompson, chairman of MPA:UK, “That was our goal, ”DeNovi concludes. Corps; Cinderford Academy an organization that was recently established to promote both “Mission accomplished, so far.”
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SUMMER
PREVIEW Pictured: Bluecoats
JUMP START DRUM CORPS AND THEIR FANS ARE GETTING READY TO PLUNGE INTO A NEW SEASON OF MARCHING MUSIC’S MAJOR LEAGUE!
seemed to last forever in some parts of the country. But in gyms, practice rooms, and rehearsal spaces from New England to Southern California, from the Great Lakes to Texas, drum corps groups were busy planning for the kind of heat that can only be found on the field during the Drum Corps International Summer Tour. As happens every year, the upcoming season will combine old traditions and new innovations. The “new” starts on day one at Lucas Oil Stadium THE WINTER OF 2015
in Indianapolis. DCI’s longtime Finals destination will be the site of the June 17 DCI Tour Premiere—the first time the venue has hosted a drum corps show other than the World Championships, and DCI’s first live movie theater broadcast of the season opener (“New Scenes on Field & Screen” page 6). But as big as that season opener will be, it’s only one of more than 100 shows spread over 37 states before everyone returns to Indiana. World Championships Week will start August 3 in Michigan City and climax back in
BY MICHAEL BOO
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Summer
Boston Crusaders Blue Knights
Indy with events scheduled August 5-8. In all, more than 50 drum corps will take part, including 22 World Class units, a growing Open Class division that could get as large as 30 corps this season, and one of the strongest international contingents in history. As DCI Open Class Coordinator David Eddleman explains, this growth “speaks to a renaissance in the drum corps activity like we have not seen since the 1960s or 1970s.” For fans in the stands, that can only mean one thing: more great shows to enjoy. Here’s an early season look at what’s in store.
WORLD CLASS CORPS
Phantom Regiment
Blue Devils B
Crossmen
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After achieving near perfection to win the title in 2014, Blue Devils will be on a quest to find that remaining 0.35 points the corps left on the field at the World Championship Finals. The corps’ visit to Foxboro, Massachusetts at the beginning of July will be the earliest in 10 years that the group has traveled to the East Coast. During that trip, the Blue Devils brass and percussion sections will join members of the Boston Crusaders at the Tanglewood Music Center for a special performance with the esteemed Boston Pops. Although the group had yet to officially announce its program, program coordinator Scott Chandler did offer a few clues about what to expect. “This year the Blue Devils will explore one of the wonderful ways imagination can come to life,” he says. “The music includes works by the legendary Stephen Sondheim, and Grammy Award-winner Gordon Goodwin will once again be composing an original piece for [us]. The BD team is all together again and hard at work producing what we hope will be an exciting experience for performers and audiences.” While the Bluecoats weren’t ready to divulge any show information as we went to press, one can guess where their focus will be in 2015 after a last-minute surge took them to second place on Finals night—the best finish in the group’s his-
Preview
tory. Perhaps this will be the season they take that final leap to the very top. The group they leapfrogged, however, will also be looking to close the gap, as the Cadets delve into the music of Shostakovich with “The Power of 10,” largely based on the composer’s rancorous Symphony No. 10. After two straight fourth-place finishes, Santa Clara Vanguard is looking for “The Spark of Invention”—a show inspired by the work of inventor Nikolai Tesla, as well as the corps’ own home in the midst of Silicon Valley—to ignite a run for a medalist placement. Carolina Crown is returning from outer space to drop into inner Earth, fighting their way through Dante’s nine Gates of Hell during “Inferno,” based on the poet’s “Divine Comedy.” In order to end with the life affirmation of Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 9,” the corps will have to pass through what is expected to be some of the darkest music to be featured on the field this year. The Cavaliers return to the field with the highest number of veteran horn players in recent memory, basing their 2015 production on vigorous music and visuals that exploit spectacular athleticism. Phantom Regiment is exploring Paris with “City of Light,” performing such popular orchestral classics as “Clair de Lune,” “An American in Paris,” and Saint-Saëns’ “Symphony No. 3 (Organ).” Word out of Denver is that Blue Knights will build on last year’s competitive surge in “Because,” with Adam Watts’ “I’m Alive” and Eric Whitacre’s “Fly to Paradise” among the musical selections. After 2014’s delightful “Where the Heart Is” production, Blue Stars is continuing along a path of intriguing visual vignettes with “Side Show.” It is safe to presume there will be many “hidden” visual references to the accompanying music, just as there was last summer. It is a most special year for Boston
Five Open Class corps advanced to the World Championship Semifinals in 2014
S T A O
C E U L B
d r a u g n a V a r a l s t C u a o t c S San n o s i Mad lue Stars B s r e p o Tro t s e r C c fi i c a P s n i r a d Man ers d a s u r C n o s g e e d r a c O Cas ets d a C d r a u g t n n e Va m i g e R h t 7 s t n i a S Blue s r e e n a c c u B g s n s i a d r a B e R ta o s e n Min ovenaires G a n a i l u J www.stanbury.com ’ x i r t a 800.826.2246 Be
Stanbury is a Corporate Partner of Drum Corps International.
STAND OUT!
Santa Clara Vanguard
Summer
Crusaders as the corps celebrates its 75th
Spartans
The Cavaliers
Championship Prelims in Indianapolis to anniversary. The performance at Tangle- appear in the Semifinals, tying the record wood with Blue Devils and the Boston set in 2013. This year, there will be more Pops is but one of the summer-long cele- than a handful of corps looking to inbrations designed to make 2015 memocrease that number. Will this be the year rable for both the corps and its fans. that an Open Class group makes it into Madison Scouts will be taking us to the Saturday night Finals competition? “78th & Madison,” inspired by the great If it is, the most likely candidate is MGM musicals of the 1940s and 1950s. Blue Devils B. The group’s 2014 Open Of special note is the return of longtime Class championship gave the Blue Devils brass arranger Scott Boerma after several organization titles in both classes. In years of exploring other projects. striving to repeat, the corps will also be Crossmen returned to the Finals last seeking the Open Class percussion award year by posting its highest score in a for the seventh year in a row. decade. According to assistant corps Vanguard Cadets—who finished director Joel Moody, the Texas-based second by one point—will present “On group will have a new look to go along Cloud Nine,” in 2015, a show inspired with a departure from its traditional by the euphoria that accompanies life’s musical styles. sweetest moments. To keep their place in the Finals, Although the top-two enjoyed an however, Crossmen will unusually big gap over the have to fight off other rest of the field at last year’s strong contenders, includOpen Class Finals, they ing Colts (who narrowly weren’t the division’s only 3DCI.org/schedule missed a Top-12 finish) strong performers, as GenFind every event on this season’s calendar. and Troopers (who weren’t esis, Spartans, and for the 3DCI.org/tickets far behind them). “We’re first time 7th Regiment also Purchase individual going to continue to define seats and group ticket made it into the Semifinals who the Colts are, while we packages for the 2015 in Indianapolis. look at new ways to deliver DCI Tour. With “Phantom of the a drum corps performance,” 3DCI.org/corps Opera,” Genesis will be Find links and informasays program coordinaattempting to pop into the tion about every DCI Open and World Class tor Marc Sylvester of the Open Class’ top three for group. group’s show “...And a the third consecutive year. 3DCI.thefannetwork.org Shot Rings Out: A Johnny Spartans is bringing its “Best Keep up with the latest Staccato Murder Mystery.” action, watch live drum Color Guard” back to the corps shows, and more. “It’s film noir. It’s fresh. It’s field with “At the Gates!” something nobody’s done. But in the Selections from “Pan’s Labyrinth,” “The end, our plan is just to be a really good Matrix,” and “The Hunger Games” will drum corps.” be heard from 7th Regiment. Meanwhile the Troopers’ “Wild As always, fans can expect diverse Horses” will try to capture “the power, musical selections and themes. beauty, strength and grace that repreLegends will celebrate the corps’ 10th sents horses of the West.” You can also anniversary with “The Climb,” repreexpect World Class artistry and entersenting the physical scaling of mountainment from The Academy, Cascades, tains as well as reaching for elevated life Jersey Surf, Mandarins, Oregon Crusaders, goals. Music City’s “In the Stars” explores Pacific Crest, Pioneer, and Spirit of Atlanta. the astrological characteristics of three spheres from Holst’s “The Planets.” OPEN CLASS CORPS Racine Scouts—recipient of 2014’s Open The Open Class is expanding, and it’s Class “Most Improved Corps” award— getting stronger. In 2014, five Open will depict how Vincent van Gogh creClass groups made it past the World ated his most famous paintings.
Corps Clicks
The Cadets
7th Regiment
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Preview
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Commitment to Excellence
By Danny Miles
Crossmen before his last year in 1997. Upon graduating college, he spent a year as a high school band director, then successfully auditioned for the cast of Blast!, t he To n y-w i n n i n g mu s ic a l formed from the Star of Indiana drum corps. “I couldn’t get over the fact that I was being paid to do what I would do for free,” Heasley says. “For the better part of seven years, I per for med worldwide surrounded by musicians, educators, artists, and theater professionals who were simply on another level.” After Blast!, Heasley returned to teaching, working with various high school groups and drum corps before becoming director of the Bakersfield College Band & Drum Line. “The idea for starting a local drum corps program came during my time on the road with Blast!, but that vision really started to Golden Empire director Tim Heasley come to fruition at Bakersfield College,” he says. “There was an ‘entertainment’ drum line founded by another local Blast! reflects on the joys and challenges of cast-mate, David Ellis; we started working together to develfounding an Open Class drum corps. op an indoor drum line program. The long-term goal was unding, recruiting, logistics... you’ve got to tackle a to develop the structure that might be able to support a mountain of challenges before a drum corps plays a drum corps.” single note. So why would any sane person take on the When they couldn’t get funding for their proposed next challenge of starting a group from scratch? step of forming a school marching band, Heasley enlisted the “For me it was as simple as this,” explains Tim Heasley, help of a local colleague to create a spring semester brass director of Bakersfield, California’s Golden Empire, which ensemble while he and the drum line board studied what entered DCI’s Open Class division in 2014. “Drum corps they’d need to field a full drum corps. “With the college helped shape me at an important stage of my life. I was for- facilities already in place, we knew one of the biggest hurdles tunate to be able to travel out of my community to march, would be equipment,” he says. “Much to my surprise, an and I wanted to help bring that experience to young people anonymous donor stepped forward to fund a fleet of Jupiter who might not otherwise get that opportunity.” ”The long-term Quantum Marching brass instruments. It was at Heasley was first introduced to marching this point we started seriously moving forward.” goal was to music as a member of his junior high school’s Heasley worked with DCI personnel for guidband when the director—a former member of develop the ance and began recruiting and training members the Sky Ryders drum corps—showed a videotape structure that for the fledgling group. Almost all of them were of the DCI World Championships on the band might be able new to the activity. “The 2014 season was a conroom TV. “My fascination with drum corps con- to support a stant learning and improving process,” he says. tinued in high school,” Heasley adds. “I can “But that’s what drum corps is all about. My hope drum corps. ” remember as a freshman standing in the horn arc is that we will take the momentum from last year of the Riverside City College Marching Band at Bakersfield into 2015. Very early on, one of our biggest supporters—who College. I was hooked! I watched my first live DCI show at also happens to be my mom—coined the phrase ‘Making RCC that next summer, and I became determined to march.” Excellence Better.’ I’m not big on catch phrases, but I have to Primarily a trombonist in high school, Heasley went on say this has been an overarching goal for us: taking what we to play baritone horn with the Freelancers (1992-95) and thought was good before and improving upon it.”
Empire Building
F
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5/29/14 1:26 PM
Stepping Off
No. 1 With Double Vision Every August, DCI’s World Championship judges decide who will be No. 1 in the drum corps arena. In pop music, supremacy is conferred by the weekly Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. How do these two No. 1s match up? Here’s a list of songs that topped the charts during every DCI Finals competition from 1972-2014—from the classic to the cringeworthy.
Date
No. 1 Song
Artist
Kingsmen 8/18/72 Alone Again (Naturally) Gilbert O’Sullivan Santa Clara Vanguard (SCV) 8/17/73 The Morning After Maureen McGovern SCV 8/18/74 The Night Chicago Died Paper Lace Madison Scouts 8/16/75 Jive Talkin’ Bee Gees Blue Devils 8/21/76 Don’t Go Breaking My Heart Elton John and Kiki Dee Blue Devils 8/19/77 I Just Want to Be Your Everything Andy Gibb SCV 8/18/78 Three Times a Lady Commodores Blue Devils 8/18/79 Good Times Chic Blue Devils 8/16/80 Magic Olivia Newton-John SCV 8/22/81 Endless Love Diana Ross and Lionel Richie Blue Devils 8/21/82 Eye of the Tiger Survivor The Cadets 8/20/83 Every Breath You Take The Police The Cadets 8/18/84 Ghostbusters Ray Parker, Jr. The Cadets 8/17/85 Shout Tears for Fears Blue Devils 8/16/86 Papa Don’t Preach Madonna The Cadets 8/15/87 I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For U2 Madison Scouts 8/20/88 Roll With It Steve Winwood SCV 8/19/89 Right Here Waiting Richard Marx The Cadets 8/18/90 Vision of Love Mariah Carey Star of Indiana 8/17/91 (Everything I Do) I Do It for You Bryan Adams The Cavaliers 8/15/92 End of the Road Boyz II Men The Cadets 8/21/93 Can’t Help Falling in Love UB40 Blue Devils 8/20/94 Stay (I Missed You) Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories The Cavaliers 8/12/95 Waterfalls TLC Blue Devils & 8/17/96 Macarena Phantom Regiment (Bayside Boys Mix) Los Del Rio Blue Devils 8/16/97 I’ll Be Missing You Puff Daddy and Faith Evans featuring 112 The Cadets 8/15/98 The Boy Is Mine Brandy and Monica Blue Devils & SCV 8/14/99 Genie in a Bottle Christina Aguilera The Cadets & Cavaliers 8/12/00 Incomplete Sisqo The Cavaliers 8/11/01 Bootylicious Destiny’s Child The Cavaliers 8/10/02 Hot in Herre Nelly Blue Devils 8/9/03 Crazy in Love Beyoncé featuring Jay-Z The Cavaliers 8/7/04 Slow Motion Juvenile featuring Soulja Slim The Cadets 8/13/05 We Belong Together Mariah Carey The Cavaliers 8/12/06 Promiscuous Nelly Furtado featuring Timbaland Blue Devils 8/11/07 Beautiful Girls Sean Kingston Phantom Regiment 8/9/08 I Kissed a Girl Katy Perry Blue Devils 8/8/09 I Gotta Feeling The Black Eyed Peas Blue Devils 8/14/10 Love the Way You Lie Eminem featuring Rihanna The Cadets 8/13/11 Party Rock Anthem LMFAO featuring Lauren Bennett and Goon Rock Blue Devils 8/11/12 Call Me Maybe Carly Rae Jepsen Carolina Crown 8/10/13 Blurred Lines Robin Thicke featuring T.I. and Pharrell Blue Devils 8/9/14 Rude Magic! 30 www.dci.org
Source: playback.fm/birthday-song
Images: (Bee Gees) NBC Television; (chic) Jmex; (Newton-John) Nationaal Archief, Den Haag, Rijksfotoarchief; (Madonna) Olavtenbroek; (boyz II Men) Momento Mori; (Beyonce) John Ferguson; (Perry) thomascrenshaw
No. 1 Corps