DCI Today Fall, 2003

Fall, 2003

A Woman’s Touch Leading Ladies Mold DCI

Shining the Shoes An Interview with Steve Rondinaro

2004 TOUR

A Sneak Peek!

Fall, 2003 VOLUME 29 • NUMBER 2

INSIDE 14 Elegy for an Age Out ✦ by Emily Tannert

18 2004 Tour Sneak Peak ✦ DCI’s Major Events

28 A Woman’s Touch ✦ by Chris Hollenback

30 Shining the Shoes ✦ An interview with Steve Rondinaro

37 Free Day ✦ When the literary Beats meet the drum corps beats

DEPARTMENTS 7 Pit Break ✦ News in the world of DCI

10 DCI Merchandise ✦ 2003 World Championships

21 Tickets ✦ On sale now

ON THE COVER John Aguilar (20) and Kassidy Rogers

(20) were both first year members of the Blue Devils in 2003. John is from San Jose, Calif. He teaches marching band and winterguard at Logan High School in Union City, Calif., and will age-out of the Blue Devils in 2004. Kassidy is from Tempe, Ariz., and is currently in her third year as a dance major at Arizona State University. She teaches multiple color guards in the area and is a company member of the Dance Arizona Repertory Theatre.

DCI.org Get all the scores — and the rich stories behind the scores — FAST at DCI.org throughout the summer.

Bring it in

by Dan Acheson THE DRUM corps activity is blessed to have several people behind the scenes working on behalf of the youth participants. The performers often never really come in contact with these dedicated people, yet these super volunteers are there working very hard to make sure the drum corps experience continues to be available. Some examples include corps board members, fundraisers, donors, Tour Event promoters and alumni.

Drum Corps International has had a super hero in our office for 181/2 years, Peggy Kosin. Having been a drum corps mom first and foremost back in the day she came to DCI in 1985 with a passion to serve well beyond the pittance of a paycheck she received all these years. Peggy retired on October 31, 2003, but thankfully announced her volunteer days are not over with DCI. She’ll be traveling with her husband Tom next season who serves as the DCI Major Event scoring tabulator.

Peggy asked that there be no fanfare as she retired, but I thought you should know how special she has been to the activity. Peggy’s work ethic, passion and overall sense of what needs to be done can never be replaced.

She is THE EXAMPLE of what we all hope to be as a human being. She cares not only for the current year participants as if they were her own children; she cares for all of us who were once a kid in the activity. She is the epitome of what defines a gentle lady, but with a fire that flares originating from her Irish spirit with timeliness unmatched. We’ll miss Peggy in her role within the DCI office but we look forward to celebrating many more seasons with Peggy the super volunteer.

I’m already in trouble with Peggy for writing this letter, but I’ll be in more trouble if I do not say another thank you to ALL the good people behind the scenes that make such an incredible experience possible for so many.

Publisher: Drum Corps International Co-Editors: Monica Simon and Dave Wilson Design and Production for Drum Corps International: DesignAura, Martinez, California Art Direction: Laura Bratt and Nicole Bratt Contributing Writers: Dan Acheson, Marco Buscaglia, Ed Dempsey, Chris Hollenback, Monica Simon, Emily Tannert, Dave Wilson Performance Photography: Sid and Linda Unser

Drum Corps International is a non-profit organization formed to service the North American drum and bugle corps activity. Editorial and business offices are located at 470 South Irmen Drive, Addison, IL 60101, phone 630.628.7888, fax 630.628.7971.

DCI TODAY is published in Fall, Winter and Summer each year. Non-profit organization U.S. postage paid at Madison, WI permit #2223.

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Pit Break From Bones to boot camp

Cesar Rodriguez spends his time off

from the Air Force marching with the Crossmen, and says that drum corps prepared him for military service! “I don’t think there could have been anything else that would’ve prepared me better for boot camp than drum corps,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez, who was excited to go overseas as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom earlier this year, was unexpectedly stranded stateside due to diplomatic conflicts with the Turkish government. The baritone player subsequently cashed in his all his military time off and aged out with the corps.

From the 50 to 42nd Street Kristin Whiting, a designer and instructor

with the Glassmen, recently began an independent study program with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, a renowned New York organization. The theater is known for “Promoting the uniqueness of AfricanAmerican cultural expression and the preservation and enrichment of the American modern dance heritage,” according to its Web site.

“It’s a two-year program — you learn the Ailey technique, which is based on the work of Lester Horton and Martha Graham, two well-respected choreographers who revolutionized modern dance,” Whiting said. The Alvin Ailey regimen emphasizes versatility — she’s learning ballet, African, jazz and modern dance styles.

Whiting, who marched with the Patriots and Bluecoats and is a veteran of both

Our boy in Brazil Pat Seidling, director of the Phantom

Regiment, high-tailed it to Guarulhos, Brazil, late this summer, like he’s done for the past four summers — he’s been working with Marcello Bonvenuto, band director of that town’s Collegio Progresso, since 1999.

“Marcello wanted to modernize his band in the corps-style fashion; he discovered DCI through a handed-down video of DCI 1992, and then accessed us through DCI.org,” Seidling explained about how he hooked up with Bonvenuto when Seidling worked with the Madison Scouts.

“Brass Theater” and “Blast!”, has also been instructing Pilates for several Broadway show casts during her stay in New York.

Chillin’ in Chile Julian Flores of the Santa Clara

“On my trips I not only work with “my” band, Collegio Progresso, but I do clinics for other bands and events. I have given clinics and classes at elementary schools, the Music Academy for the Brazilian Military Police Force, the Music Institute of Technology” among other instruction responsibilities, Seidling said. “These events have had attendance ranging from 20 young students to 500 drummers ranging from teen-agers to professional working percussionists.”

Vanguard has gone South for the winter — way South! He’s currently in Santiago, Chile, enrolled in Stanford University’s overseas program, where he’s studying International Relations and Spanish, and continuing his coursework in photography and film studies. “Should be interesting,” Flores said, and we agree!

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Pit Break SPIRITed instructor

Spirit of Jacksonville State University’s corps director, Ken Bodiford, was named JSU’s 2003 – 2004 outstanding faculty member of the year.

Bodiford graduated from JSU in 1988. An assistant professor in the music department, Bodiford became band director at JSU in 1994. The Marching Southerners have grown from 144 members to current numbers in excess of 300. He also oversees JSU’s chamber winds, wind ensemble, and symphonic bands.

Bodiford was also credited with bringing “thousands” of spectators to Jacksonville each summer for the “Drums Across America” contest.

Impulsive runners

Kevin “Scooter” Summers, an Impulse soprano player, is currently training for the Los Angeles marathon, which will be held on March 7, 2004. “Well, I guess I wanted to run the marathon because I wanted to stay in shape, and I wanted to say to my kids when I’m older that at one time in my life I ran a marathon,” Summers said.

“But my true inspiration was a man that goes by the name of Charlie Groh (Impulse’s director). I met Charlie when I marched Impulse, and he would tell us stories about running marathons last year, and that was really what inspired me to run the marathon.

I guess you could call him my idol.” Not to be outdone, Groh, Impulse’s long-time corps director (who will consult Impulse next summer), plans on running the Shoreline

Marathon in Huntington Beach, CA, in January 2004. Groh ran his first marathon in 2000, and advised Summers, “Never again will you think drum corps is hard work!” about the training process.

Hall of Fame 2003

Drum Corps International Hall of Fame 2003 inductees Len Piekarski and Glenn Opie at the DCI World Championships in Orlando. For more information on the DCI Hall of Fame and specific details on how to nominate candidates, please visit the DCI website at DCI.org and go to the Hall of Fame page.

2003 Division I World Championships DVD 4 Disc set featuring Top 12 corps ....................$ 98.00 Top 6 corps: Blue Devils, The Cavaliers, The Cadets, Phantom Regiment, Santa Clara Vanguard, Boston Crusaders features include Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround, Corps Designer Commentary, Percussion & Color Guard Judge commentary to accompany the corresponding camera angles Video: Multi-Camera, High Camera, Percussion Iso, Color Guard Iso For Bluecoats, Madison Scouts, Carolina Crown, Crossmen, Magic of Orlando, Spirit from Jacksonville State University features include Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1Surround Video: Multi-Camera, High Camera

2003 Division I World Championships CD 3 Volume set featuring the Top 21 corps ..................$ 39.00

2003 Division I World Championships Video 3 volume set featuring 22 corps from Quarterfinals performances ............$ 59.00

2003 Division II & III World Championships DVD Featuring Top 12 corps ..............$39.00

2003 Division II & III World Championships CD 2 Volume set featuring Top 12 corps................$ 12.00

2003 Division I World Championships Bundles* DVD, Video & CD Bundle ..............................................................$ 159.00 DVD & CD Bundle ..........................................................................$ 129.00 Video & CD Bundle........................................................................$ 79.00 *Offer expires December 31, 2003

Drum Corps International 470 South Irmen Drive, Addison, IL 60101 Toll-free 800.495.7469 • Fax 630.628.7971 For phone orders outside the U.S., please call 630.628.7888

DCI.org

“Drum corps means something different to everyone who marches. For me, it is that incredible blend of perfection, dedication and love. Perfection on the field, dedication to a show, a corps, and a family, and love for the people who you see every day, and together build not just a show, not just a performance, but a drum corps.”

— Andy Dittrich, Capital Sound

Do you want to march?

DRUM

CORPS

I N T E R N AT I O N A L

DIVISION

Blue Devils

Carolina Crown

Madison Scouts

4065 Nelson Ave Concord, CA 94520 925.689.2918 www.bluedevils.org

227A Main St Ft. Mill, SC 29715 803.547.2270 www.carolinacrown.org

1475 W Main St Sun Prairie, WI 53590 608.837.0707 www.madisonscouts.org

Blue Knights

The Cavaliers

Magic of Orlando

1137 S. Jason St. Denver, CO 80223 303.777.1937 www.bknights.org

P.O. Box 501 Rosemont, IL 60018-0501 847.685.8412 www.cavaliers.org

P.O. Box 690426 Orlando, FL 32869 201.791.5863 www.magicoforlando.org

Bluecoats

Colts

Mandarins

P.O. Box 2733 N. Canton, OH 44720 330.353.3999 www.bluecoats.com

P.O. Box 515 Dubuque, IA 52001-0515 563.582.4872 www.colts.org

P.O. Box 22297 Sacramento, CA 95822 916.395.8310 www.mandarins.org

Boston Crusaders

Crossmen

Phantom Regiment

P.O. Box 51391 Boston, MA 02205-1391 617.268.4600 www.crusaders.com

P.O. Box 506 Bergenfield, NJ 07621-0506 201.384.8822 www.yea.org

202 W State St Suite 514 Rockford, IL 61101 815.965.6777 www.regiment.org

The Cadets

Glassmen

Pioneer

P.O. Box 506 Bergenfield, NJ 07621-0506 201.384.8822 www.yea.org

P.O. Box 352080 Toledo, OH 43635-2080 419.698.9775 www.glassmen.org

4601 Holt Ave Milwaukee, WI 53219 414.486.1961 www.pioneer-corps.org

Capital Regiment

Kiwanis Kavaliers

1444 Demorest Rd Columbus, OH 43228 614.539.0366 www.capitalregiment.org

25010 Highway Market RPO Kitchener, ONT CANADA 519.894.0222 www.kavaliers.com

I

CORPS

Santa Clara Vanguard 1795 Space Park Dr Santa Clara, CA 95054 408.727.5591 www.scvanguard.org

Seattle Cascades P.O. Box 55100 Shoreline, WA 98155 206.367.6695 www.seattlecascades.org

Southwind 218 Patchen Dr. #408 Lexington, KY 40517 859.268.5244 www.southwind.org

SPIRIT from Jacksonville State University P.O. Box 1295 Jacksonville, AL 36265 256.782.5562 www.spiritdrumcorps.org

Troopers 535 N Beverly P.O. Box 375 Casper, WY 82609 307.472.2141 www.troopersdrumcorps.org

For more information and a complete listing of outstanding DCI Division II & III corps, visit DCI.org/corps today!

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Elegy for an Age-Out

by Emily Tannert I REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME I realized I was aging-out.

Of course I knew on an intellectual level when it was going to happen; every person knows from the moment they set foot at an audition camp exactly how much time they have left. No, I’m talking instead about that irreversible knowledge deep in your soul, the feeling of truth that can’t be denied.

I remember the first time I realized, on an emotional level, that I was aging-out.

It was the Toledo Zoo performance with the Toledo Symphony Orchestra. It was a muggy, overcast night, and all of us dripped with condensation inside our uniforms. We ran through the show for a very appreciative audience, and closed our performance with the corps song. As I sang, I listened – I mean really listened – to the words and the many voices echoing them beside me and behind me and all around me. I didn’t even make it through the second verse before I had to fight back the tears.

That was in mid-July. By the time August rolled around, I thought I had a handle on it. I thought I’d faced the emotions and accepted the inevitability of aging-out. What I wasn’t prepared for was my career to end one show sooner than I’d expected, and that sudden jolt threw all my carefully constructed emotional blockades out the window. Suddenly I had one less day, one less show, one less time to put on the uniform, one less chance to perform.

As much as I disliked dealing with the truck, I would have given anything to need to unload it one more time. And so when it came time to prepare for the age-out ceremony, I put on my uniform perhaps a little earlier than I needed to and walked over to the stadium maybe a little sooner than was required. I wanted to savor every last second of being a member. My corps director had to herd me off the field at the end of the ceremony; again fighting back the tears, I turned at the exit gate and took one last look at the last field I performed on. It was just a football field, a little muddy and abused

10

after a long day and week of hard use. The stadium was just a stadium, not even the largest I’d ever played in. But for me, it will always be special. As I turned and walked out, I tried my best not to look back.

It took me at least an hour to take my uniform off. I made some lame excuse for staying in halves once I got on the bus, and untied my MTXs with extreme reluctance once we got back to the housing site. Something about putting on the uniform makes being in corps very real, far more real than even playing the music and marching the show, and taking the uniform off is the very definite sign that your career as a drum corps performer is over.

I wish I could explain why aging-out is such an emotional thing.

I think it’s hard to understand until you do it, even if you’re someone who’s close to the activity and understands the love and dedication that goes into being a member. I know I had no clue.

I always said I was going to bawl – and I’m not much of a crier – after my last show, and I wondered what life after drum corps would be like. “What do you do when you don’t march?” I asked my ageout friends. “When I figure it out I’ll let you know,” was invariably the answer. Now I find I don’t have a better answer myself.

You see, marching corps is the realization of a dream for most of us. All of us have stories about the first time we saw a corps tape, or the first show we attended, or the first camp we ever went to, or the first (and sometimes second and third) times we got cut, and how hard we worked in the off season to make sure it wouldn’t happen next year.

All of us know high school and even middle school kids who idolize drum corps and the people who do it, who do nothing but watch tapes and learn licks, and who are champing at the bit for their turn.

They dream, as we all once did, of becoming a member, putting on the uniform and playing the show for thousands of screaming fans – of making the dream a reality. Those of us who march get to live our dream. Those of us who have aged-out don’t get to any more.

I found out on finals night what it means to be an age-out. I sat in the stands, in one of the best seats in the house, and watched as one of my best friends became a world champion. Every bone in my body screamed at the wrongness of it all, that I should be sitting in the stands at a drum corps show; the impulse, of course, was to be out on the field. But that was no longer my privilege, and I fought back the tears.

I found out again about two weeks after tour what it means to be an age-out. I had not watched, had not even touched, drum corps since I got back home. One beastly hot day, during band class at the high school where I teach, the director cut rehearsal short and took the kids inside. He put in the Cavaliers show from 2002 to show the kids what one of the drill moves he’d “borrowed” should look like.

Watching a corps show for the first time since finals night, I was reminded again that my time as a performer as done, and I fought back the tears.

By the time my semifinals performance DVD arrived at home, I had reconciled myself with aging out a bit more. Still, I watched

just plain fan, this is the last time you’ll hear from me in this forum.

I have very much appreciated the opportunity to speak to fellow drum corps enthusiasts from around the globe, and even more so to hear from them their stories. It’s nice to know that the experience is universal, regardless of when or where we marched. It’s also nice to know that whatever else may happen in our lives, we are not ever alone; we always have the drum corps family I saw part of my drum corps family at a recent weekend, at the Glassmen banquet. We circled up at the end of the awards ceremony and sang the corps song for the last time for the 2003 season. This time I did not fight back the tears and they ran down my face as I was surrounded one last time with the voices of my corpsmates.

I had told them, in my age-out speech at the end of the season, that they should cherish the time they have and the people around them, because once each season ends, it’s never, ever the same again; you could get the exact same people together and try to play the exact same notes, but it never truly is the same. And as I stood in the circle, tears running down my face, I knew that no matter how

the DVD twice through immediately, straining my eyes and ears looking for myself, listening for my parts, searching for some proof that I had actually been there and done that. You see, if marching drum corps is a dream come true – the dream that has become reality – for us old people, the reality is now only memories.

It’s easier now for me to talk about aging out. I’ve tried for a month now to sit down and write this last column, to try to communicate what it means to me for the dream to have passed into memory, and it’s only recently that I’ve found the words to express myself. Meanwhile I’ve distracted myself by passing on what I learned and inspiring others to follow in my footsteps.

That’s my task now. Each person in the drum corps world has a role to play: As a fan, to support the activity; as a volunteer or administrator, to get the corps down the road; as a member, to entertain, awe, inspire, and convert new and old fans alike; and as an age-out, to pass along the wisdom and gifts we received as members.

I work with a wonderful group of teen-agers, and I encourage each of them to try out and to march drum corps. But I know the vast majority lack the opportunity and resources to have a drum corps experience the way I did, and so I try also to teach those lessons of determination, perseverance, teamwork and personal responsibility that I learned in corps. It’s the least I can do to repay those who gave me the gift of having the resources and opportunities to have my own drum corps experience.

And now that my time has ended, it is time for me to let new voices speak about their experiences in drum corps. So while I’ll always be around the activity, as staff, administrator, volunteer, or

many times I heard and sang the corps song, it would never be the same again. Perhaps that’s what it means, at least for me, to age out.

For all of you who have not yet experienced this transition, I repeat the advice I gave my corps: Cherish the time you have, and most especially, cherish the people around you. They are what make the corps experience so very special. Appreciate the opportunity to march; if there was one thing I would change for myself, I wish I had spent more time enjoying and less time doubting myself and my abilities. Love what you do and do it to the best of your abilities, and you will be successful, in life as well as in drum corps.

For those of you for whom the dream is not yet a reality: Go for it! You never know what can happen until you take that first step.

And if you need help, or advice, or a little inspiration – seek out me or any of the other innumerable age-outs. We’d love to pass on a little of what we learned, and help the next generation of members fulfill their dreams.

As for me . . . well, I guess I’ll have to start my own support group: Drum Corps Addicts Anonymous. Yeah, I’ll be there every night.

If you care to join, you know where to find me.

My thanks to everyone who has made this opportunity possible.

You may never know how much drum corps has changed my life, but know that I appreciate it more than words can say.

Emily Tannert was a columnist for DCI.org. She aged-out of the Glassmen in 2003 where she was a member of the pit.

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August 3-7 Denver, Colorado

World Class Venues Combine the energy level of the world’s greatest musician athletes and the comfort of one of the most exciting new stadiums in the NFL, and you get world-class drum corps in a world-class setting. From the front row to the top of the stadium, this is as good as it gets for watching drum corps. You will enjoy the incredible experience of witnessing one of the greatest youth activities in the world in one of the most amazing venues on earth. Be part of the excitement of the 2004 DCI World Championships at Denver’s INVESCO Field at Mile High.

And just five miles down the road is All-City Stadium, on the beautiful South High School campus, the site of the DCI Division II & III World Championships.

This newly renovated stadium features a superior artificial field, ample parking and seating for more than 4,000 fans!

About Denver

Where to Stay The Adam’s Mark Hotel is the official headquarters of the 2004 Drum Corps International World Championships.

Located downtown on Denver’s famous 16th Street Mall, the Adam’s Mark is Colorado’s largest hotel offering first-class amenities such as 24-hour 2004 DCI World room service, an outdoor Championships Official Headquarters heated pool, and six restaurants and bars.

In addition to it’s convenience to downtown and INVESCO Field at Mile High and All-City Stadium, the Adam’s Mark will serve as the site for Wednesday’s DCI Individual & Ensemble events.

Staying at the Adam’s Mark Hotel will make you feel like a DCI VIP! Reservations for the Adams Mark and Drum Corps International’s other preferred hotels can be conveniently made on DCI.org in the “Denver 2004” section! Check it out NOW!

Sitting one mile above sea level, in a spectacular setting at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, is one of America’s fastest growing cities.

The city of Denver is young, clean and exciting with the 10th largest downtown area. With a wide variety of shopping, restaurants, and nightspots within walking distance, you are sure to keep yourself busy in the hours between the 2004 DCI World Championships events. For more information on things to see and do in the Denver area, visit the Denver Convention and Visitors Bureau at www.denver.org or call them at 800.233.6837 today!

Make your plans today to be a part of the 2004 DCI World Championships!

Order your tickets on page 21!

2004 World Championships Schedule TUESDAY August 3, 2004

WEDNESDAY August 4, 2004

THURSDAY August 5, 2004

FRIDAY August 6, 2004

SATURDAY August 7, 2004

Division II & III

Individual & Ensemble Adam’s Mark Hotel

Division II & III Semifinals All-City Stadium

Division I Semifinals INVESCO Field at Mile High

Division II & III Finals All-City Stadium

Preliminaries All-City Stadium

Division I Quarterfinals INVESCO Field at Mile High

Drum Corps International

Division I Finals INVESCO Field at Mile High

470 South Irmen Drive • Addison, IL 60101 800.495.7469 • 630.628.7888 • FAX 630.628.7971 • DCI.org

2004 DCI Major Ev THE ANTICIPATION AND EXCITEMENT of the 2004 World Championships in Denver has begun to build as junior corps around the world plan their 2004 programs and drum corps members and hopefuls begin preparing for auditions.

With the winter months approaching, it’s not too soon to start making your travel plans for the 2004 SUMMER MUSIC GAMES Tour, and we’re right there for you with this sneak peek of several exciting regional competitions leading up to the World Championships.

Drum Corps International returns to Louisville, Ky. for the first of its Major Events on June 26 at the University of Louisville’s Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium in the shadow of the spires of historic Churchill Downs. DCI Louisville will feature eight or more drum corps thoroughbreds from the DCI Atlantic and DCI Central Divisions, in what promises to be an event that lets the audience and participating corps know that the competitive season has begun.

With a few more weeks of SUMMER MUSIC GAMES Tour

events under their belts, world-class drum corps returns to the Lone Star State with DCI Southwestern at San Antonio’s Alamodome on Saturday, July 10, featuring eight or more corps. Although this event is earlier than in recent years due to the Alamodome’s availability and tour scheduling leading up to the World Championships in Denver, DCI Southwestern remains the biggest and best single night of drum corps in Texas.

Hold on to your hats (or mouse ears), DCI is heading back to the Sunshine State as a full lineup of Division I corps return to the site of the 2003 World Championships – Florida Citrus Bowl – for a two-night event on July 16 and 17.

Based on fan response to last summer’s World Championships, DCI Orlando could prove to be one of the hottest tickets of the young drum corps season.

After the smashing success of last season, the full lineup of Division I corps will again return to one of the storied stadiums of the drum corps activity. Traveling north along the Interstates and back roads of the Eastern U.S., the tour rolls into the newly renovated J. Birney Crum Stadium in Allentown, Pa. for a two-night visit on July 23 and 24. The Eastern Classic has long been a staple in the SUMMER MUSIC GAMES Tour as the last Major Event before the

Saturday, June 26, at 7 p.m.

DCI Louisville

Saturday, July 10, at 7 p.m.

DCI Southwestern

Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium • Louisville, Ky.

Alamodome • San Antonio

Ticket prices: Premium $25; Value $18; Group $15**

Ticket prices: Premium $35; Super $25; Value $18; Group $15**

Contact DCI: 800.495.7469 x3 • 630.628.7888 x3 • DCI.org 14

Friday & Saturday, July 16-17, at 7 p.m.

DCI Orlando Florida Citrus Bowl • Orlando, Fla. Friday Ticket prices: Premium $30; Super $25; Value $20; Group $15** Saturday Ticket prices: Premium $30; Super $25; Value $20; Group $15** Two-Day Ticket prices*: Premium $50; Super $40; Value $30; Group $30**

vents Sneak Peek!

World Championships. However, the 2004 Eastern Classic is a week earlier to accommodate the corps’ travel schedules to the World Championships being held at the furthest point west in 25 years.

In what has quickly become one the most unique shows of the season, the Masters of the SUMMER MUSIC GAMES will return to Middle Tennessee State University Stadium in Murfreesboro on Friday, July 30. What makes this show so unique is that the lineup, the top eight corps in the world at that point in the season, won’t be determined until a week before.

To make it even more interesting, the competition is not only on the field, but online during the week leading up to the event, as fans vote on DCI.org to determine what the performance order will be and who will be the last corps on.

The very next day, on July 31 the eight corps from the Masters will meet up once again with the remaining Division I corps at Indianapolis’ RCA Dome for the DCI Midwestern Championship, at noon and 7 pm. The DCI Midwestern Championship is the final Major Event before the World

Championships in Denver. The one-ticket, two-show format will remain the same as last season with an afternoon qualifying event followed by the Saturday evening’s Midwestern Championship Finals featuring the top 12 corps in the world. The checkered flag is out as they head for the finish line at Denver’s INVESCO Field at Mile High the following week.

Tickets for the above DCI Major Events go on sale to the general public on November 18, 2003 at 9 am (central time) and can be ordered online at DCI.org or by calling 800.495.7469 x3 (international orders can be placed by calling 630.628.7888 x3) at that time. Look for more announcements and details on DCI’s Major Events on DCI.org as they become available.

These 2004 SUMMER MUSIC GAMES Major Events promise to provide drum corps fans access to the worlds best drum corps events and to pave the way for what looks to be a competitive drum corps season and an exciting World Championship week.

Friday & Saturday, July 23-24, at 7 p.m.

DCI Eastern Classic

Friday, July 30, at 8 p.m.

Masters of the SUMMER MUSIC GAMES

Saturday, July 31, at NOON & 7 p.m.

DCI Midwestern Championship

J. Birney Crum Stadium • Allentown, Pa.

MTSU Stadium • Murfreesboro, Tenn.

Friday Ticket prices: Premium $30; Super $25; Value $20; Group $15** Saturday Ticket prices: Premium $30; Super $25; Value $20; Group $15** Two-Day Ticket prices*: Premium $50; Super $40; Value $30; Group $30**

Ticket prices: Premium $40; Super $30; Value $20; Group $15**

Ticket prices: Premium $45; Super $35; Value $25; Group $15**

RCA Dome • Indianapolis

Order form on page 21 *Two-Day Ticket price special ends May 28, 2004. **Required purchase of 25 or more tickets.

15

Drum Corps International presents

The 2004 SUMMER MUSIC GAMES! Quantity

DCI Louisville

Total Price

Saturday, June 26, 2004 Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium, Louisville, Kentucky 7:00 pm Premium Seats ________@ $25.00 _____________ Value Seats ________@ $18.00 _____________ Group Seats* ________@ $15.00 _____________

DCI Southwestern

On sale November 18, 2003

Saturday, July 10, 2004 Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas 7:00 pm Premium Seats ________@ Super Seats ________@ Value Seats ________@ Group Seats* ________@

DCI Orlando

$35.00 $25.00 $18.00 $15.00

_____________ _____________ _____________ _____________

On sale November 18, 2003

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21

A

W oman’s T ouch Leading Ladies Mold DCI

by Chris Hollenback Caree rM

Drum corps fans are familiar with the work of George Hopkins, the executive director of Youth Education in the Arts (YEA!) and its member corps, The Cadets and Crossmen. Many fans might not be aware of how much is done by a leading lady behind the scenes to make the corps’ performances happen. Christine Higgins is the director of drum corps operations for both corps, and she’s a rare administrator among DCI corps.

“Christine is worth three people to the YEA! offices,” Hopkins says. “She works day and night. (This includes) set up of camps, set up of tour, care, feeding and flights of staff, volunteer recruitment, membership recruitment and much more. She is the glue that keeps the corps together.”

Few women in drum corps fill the executive leadership roles like Higgins. “I enter a DCI meeting and notice when I look around the room that I am one of a very select few females in the room,” Higgins says. “A lot of times I am the only one!”

There are zero female corps directors among the 22 division I corps. There are only two Division II corps director, and only four among the Division III ranks.

While there aren’t many female corps directors now, DCI executive director Dan Acheson says he’d like to see more women in leadership positions. “We are seeing more women getting involved in drum corps governance by serving on corps board of directors. My personal experience for ten years as the executive director of the Glassmen had me answering to a majority of women on the board. For an activity that successfully embraces diversity on every front I find it odd today that the Drum Corps International board of directors is typically all male. The men at the table are all incredible, but it Career Marching

Slick e i l u J

1985-1988: Phantom Regiment (French horn)

Career Teaching 1989-1991, 2002-2003: Phantom Regiment (visual instructor)

On being a leader “Teaching drum corps is one of the most rewarding things I have done in my life.”

uctor l Instr t Visua gimen m Re o t n a Ph

22

Christine Higgins

archin 1979-1 g 981: C adets o 1982-1 f Dutch 986: D Boy (g utch B 1987-1 uard) oy (gua 989, 19 rd) 91-199 (guard) 2: The Cadets Caree rT

eachin 1993-1 g 999: Th e Cade 2000-2 ts (gua 003: Th rd) e Cade part-tim ts (gua e) rd, 2002-2 003: C rossme 2000-p n (guard res , part-t Crossm ent: The Cad ime) ets and en (dire ctor of corps o peratio ns) On be ing a le “Get o ader ut there and do corps a it. All o re cons f the tantly lo adminis oking fo trators r great .”

Director of Corps Operations The Cadets and Crossmen

would be interesting to see where things might go with a male/female mix. The bottom line is the drum corps activity needs good leadership regardless of gender,” Acheson says.

Many more women choose to participate in the activity as drum corps instructors and volunteers. While there are more male instructors than female on most drum corps staffs, female instructors say it isn’t problematic.

“Though it’s true that by numbers, women are a minority in teaching drum corps, I have never felt like a minority,” says Julie Slick, a visual instructor for Phantom Regiment. “There is a bit more emphasis and importance placed on ‘proving yourself ’ as a women in a male-dominated arena. It’s all in your approach to teaching and the way you present yourself to the kids. I think that drum corps is one place where males and females can truly walk on equal ground.”

Emma Roberts, a guard instructor for The Cadets, wishes there were more female instructors. “There are definitely not nearly as many women instructors as there are men,” Roberts says. “I don’t know why that is but I’m really hoping more women will decide to pursue teaching after they age out. I know plenty of incredible, competent women that could really make a difference. Plus, on the staff bus, I never get to watch the movies I want to watch with all those men around!”

“The drum corps activity is a breeding ground for strong women,” says Slick, a doctor who makes time to teach drum corps.

“Since I started teaching drum corps, I have always gravitated towards the drum line. If I can get the battery to listen to me and learn from me, then there really are none of those challenges.”

Caree rM

Emma Roberts

archin 1989-1 g 992: Em erald K 1993-1 nights 994: C (guard) a rd 1995: O inals (g uard) akland Crusad 1995-1 ers (gu 996: G ard) enesis 1996: B II Winte luecoa rguard ts (gua 1997-2 rd) 000: Th e Cade 1999-2 ts (gua 000: P rd) a tr iots Win 2001: E terguard merald Marquis Ca reer T

eachin 1998: R g idge R aiders 2001: E merald K nights 2001: O (consu oltewah ltant) Marchin 2001-p g Band resent: (consu The Ca ltant) dets (g On be uard) ing a le “If you a der are a s trong, people confide are goin nt wom g to lis have to an, ten to say.” what y ou

Color Guard Instructor The Cadets

Poag says that drum corps leadership can help build your resume. “After getting a whole corps down the road for the summer you open yourself to any given number of job opportunities,” she says.

Higgins has her hands full with her current duties and is very happy in her current role. But someday Hopkins has to pass the baton of leadership to someone, and Higgins would seem to be a natural candidate.

“Would I like to run YEA!?,” Higgins says. “First of all, I’m not sure if Hop will ever pass the baton. Second of all, he has some big shoes to fill. Would I ever consider running the whole organization? Sure, when I felt I was ready for it.”

Opportunities for young women to be leaders

There are plenty of opportunities to get involved. At YEA!, Higgins and Hopkins will be hiring a new associate director of drum corps Melissa Poag, tour director for the Boston Crusaders, says having operations to help them handle all of the work involved in organizmore men than women on drum corps staffs isn’t a big deal. ing both corps, a Macy’s Day color guard, two different percussion “Honestly, with as much that goes on I don’t have time to think ensembles and high school band events. about whether I am one of the only women or not,” Poag says. “I Higgins encourages young women to apply for that position and can’t remember a time when I felt like a minority in the activity — others across the activity. “I would just say get out there and do it,” it’s just one big family. Being on the administrative end, there are Higgins says. “All the corps are looking for great administrators. And always challenges. I think the biggest challenge is problem solving, whether it would be a full-time position like mine or on a part-time and that has nothing to do with gender.” basis in the summertime, there is always the need for great people to Young women making a huge impact help. Just be willing to work extremely hard and long hours.”

Poag plays a huge role in the success of the Crusaders, says Howard Roberts agrees that being a leader in the activity is a constant chalWeinstein, executive director. “Melissa performs so well in the position lenge. “The best advice would be to just believe in yourself,” Roberts of tour director for the Boston Crusaders for several reasons,” says. “I have had many people try to knock me down and try to disWeinstein says. “First, she is fresh out of marching in the activity, so she courage me from really reaching my goals. I like to just take that has a great understanding of the needs and feelings of our members. negativity and turn it into fuel for my fire. If you are a strong, conSecond, Melissa knows how to deal with both the instructional fident woman, people are going to listen to what you have to say. and support staffs, making things happen in a timely and appropriate Don’t ever let anyone step all over you.” manner. Last but not least, she is truly dedicated to the success of our Poag highly recommends taking the plunge to lead a corps, as an organization, and works throughout the year to ensure the Boston instructor or administrator. “Drum Corps has opened a world of Crusaders a smooth tour. As most other corps directors would agree, opportunities for me and taught me things I would have never learned the tour director position is probably the most important role on in school,” she says. “It has also taught me things that I have learned the road. Melissa handles it with care and diligence.” in school (especially in my operations management field), making it “As an administrator, my goals are easier to understand or give first-hand experience on a topic.” to figure out more efficient “I would strongly encourage (young women) to get involved,” Slick ways to get the corps hing one) c r says.

“Teaching drum corps is one of the most rewarding things I have a rit e) er M riton s (ba through the summer,” Poag Care The Cadet saders (ba done. Measure that against saving lives in : ru 2000 ton C says. “I want to interact with : Bos my (day) job, it’s still extremely reward2002 g the members and find a chin ers Melissa Poag a e ing. The first step is to let the appropriate T er usad happy medium between what Care Boston Cr people know that you’re interested, and : r) 2003 it is they want and what it is irecto d r u then make yourself available. (to they need to allow them to get a g “I think it’s important to engulf yourn i e the most out of their summer On b r e self in the activity, especially when you d lea r it!” with the corps. Also, I am always fo “Go are just getting started in teaching. Learn trying anticipate problems that can from those around you, who collectively arise so I can already know the best have an unbelievable knowledge base. plan of action to solve the problem.”

Ask a lot of questions. Most importantly, “My main goal as an administrator respect your students, and realize how at YEA! is to offer the best possible in important you are in their eyes. Teaching everything we do,” Higgins says. kids of this caliber is truly an honor.”

Tour Director Boston Crusaders

23

Contest Calendar February 7

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February 28–29 West Selland Arena Fresno, California •• Fresno, California • Dallas, Texas ••

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The Interview Name: Steve Rondinaro Age: 49 (really! Until next August 11) Family: Wife Tammy, daughter Katelyn Lee, son Brooks, 2 dogs, 1 cat Education: B.A. from SUNY at Geneseo Current occupation: Radio and TV station owner/manager, newsman Drum corps background: started with the Squires of Watkins Glen,

N.Y., at age 9; marched as a baritone player until aging out; was director my last year as a marching member in 1975; director through 1979; moved to Miami and inherited Florida Vanguards as director in 1980; started the Florida Wave from that foundation in 1981 Favorite recent film: I haven’t been to the movies lately but “Field Of Dreams” hits me like no other film.

Favorite actor or actress: Sean Connery. He has great pipes and amazing staying power, which gives hope for us older guys.

Favorite pig-out food: Chicken wings (but they have to be the genuine Buffalo style article accompanied with copious amounts of bleu cheese) The last good book I read: The last one I finished.

I’m a voracious reader. The Shaara trilogy on the Civil War was especially good; “Gods and Generals” et al.

Two CDs I’d have if I were stranded on a desert island: The

Squires anthology we put together (some of the early stuff would ward off hostile animals); and an off-label CD with “New World Symphony” and “Adagio for Strings” on it.

Most prized possession: Pictures of my family past and present Favorite non-drum corps activity: Breaking an important news story Best advice I’ve ever been given: When in doubt, do the right thing The thing I like most about my job: I’m the boss … so I can’t complain about idiot management.

The thing I like least about my job: I’m the boss … so I can’t blame the idiot management.

Two people I admire the most: Louis and Virginia Rondinaro, my mom and dad

Shining the Shoes An Interview with Steve Rondinaro

I’d give anything to meet: God, for obvious reason. On a more

mortal level, I’d love to have a chat with Abraham Lincoln.

Favorite drum corps show ever: 1979 DCI Championships.

It was my first year in the PBS hot seat and the corps were great. Such a variety of styles!

Best drum corps anecdote: I had two solos in our concert number back in the valve/spring rotary days of the Squires in ‘71 and ‘72. I don’t remember the show but as I went out for the first solo the rotor bar snapped and, spun by the strength of the spring, went humming around the hub like a buzz saw. Sheared metal can make a bloody mess of your hand. I hacked my way through the solo with no flats or sharps in my arsenal. I’m sure the staff and the rest of the horn line wondered what in the world they just heard. I made it back into the line, caught the eye of my backup with my bloody hand, and he played the second solo. I finished the show, but it wasn’t pretty.

Favorite drum corps memory: When the Squires actually started getting good. I tell this story on the Brass Roots documentary: We made the Finals at the World Open Class B Championship in 1972. We were rolling home on our little yellow school buses when we were met at the Schuyler County line by a police escort.

We hit the Watkins Glen line and were met by firetrucks with sirens blaring. We pulled into the town park and it seemed like everyone in the whole town was there. We played a victory concert and felt ten feet tall. It was magic. The town was so proud ... and so were we. The next morning I had an emergency appendectomy.

25

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Free Day

by Marco Buscaglia

“When the literary Beats meet the drum corps beats.”

“Oh, smell the people!’ yelled Dean with his face out the window, sniffling. ‘Ah, God! Life!’”

— Jack Kerouac, “On The Road”

To the casual eye, a connection between the beat poets and today’s drum corps participants may seem like a stretch. But any English major worth his or her copy of “Howl” should be able to find the link.

After all, the Beats often traveled from town to town, preaching their poetry and juking their jazz to crowds in smoky pubs and chat-filled coffee houses. Replace pubs with stadiums and poetry with pageantry and you’re halfway there.

Sure, it’s tough to imagine Allen Ginsberg waking up at 6 a.m. to scarf down some cereal before strapping on his bass drum. But Ginsberg, like your typical corps member, was driven by many things, including the need to share his talent with the world, the love of performance and the call of the open road. Certainly anyone on tour with $14 left in spending money and a duffle bag filled with T-shirts and boxers can relate to the minimalist living the Beats thrived on – seeing the country while stopping from town to town to do your thing, then moving on.

When I marched with the Cavaliers in the 1980s, I was blissfully unaware of the historical importance of some of the cities I visited. While rolling past Massachusetts towns with names like Manchester, Derry and Nashua during a couple of East Coast swings, it never occurred to me that we were footsteps from Lowell, the birthplace of Jack Kerouac, the beat poet for all generations. Perhaps Kerouac would have gotten a kick out of the fact that busloads of young men and women were traveling the country, living on simple meals and creating adventures on football fields, in buses and in parking lots.

In a sense, the summer tour is the stuff of great literary adventures: Various locations that offer similar but differing situations, along with the ever-present opportunities for mischief, melodrama and magnificence.

Traveling is one of those things you take for granted when you march. For the most part, rehearsal and performance dictate your routine, not the need to see the birthplace of Elvis or the sunset that Rand McNally ranks the “Second Most Beautiful in the World.” You leave one city in the dead of night and enter the next when the sun is rising. After some real sleep, any sightseeing consists of the practice field and wherever the cook truck sets up for lunch. If you’re lucky, you’ll have a minute to cross the street and grab a Gatorade at the nearest gas station.

Still, free days are always filled with possibilities. I’ve wandered the streets of Boston, Montreal, Atlanta, Denver and other locales during a little mid-tour R&R, getting a taste of local culture.

Whenever a city I’d traveled to would come up in family conversation, my sister would remark “Oh yeah? What’d you see, a gym floor?”

OK, so most of what I saw in those cities and towns were gym floors, football stadiums and school parking lots, but each provided a link to the differences that shape North America. And after spending our pre-tour time rehearsing at a junior college football stadium in a nondescript Chicago suburb, practicing on a football field in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains was a welcome change. We’d put our horns down and just look at the horizon, soaking it in without even realizing how far we were from home.

On late-night bus rides through Minnesota, Nebraska or Wyoming, we’d stare out our open windows in awe of the stars above us, most of us only familiar with stars as occasional bright spots that leaked through the urban skies of our hometowns.

When it comes to the terrain we’ve traveled, most of us gloss over the landscape and remember the schools with sub-zero showers, the gyms with padded floors or the practice fields with holes the size of basketballs. But even those memories fade after a while, leaving us with one large portrait of what the country looks like, even if it is broken up into numerous pieces. But we also come away with a universal truth – America is a nation made up of many parts. Those places we visited look different from where we live. There are hills and mountains and rivers and lakes. There are skyscrapers and strip malls and houses nicer than ours and schools more run down. The people speak with accents and sometimes use jargon we don’t understand.

Without drum corps, these are facts we might not have learned until later in life. With drum corps, we get a taste of towns we’ll remember, hoping some day to return.

I’m still planning to visit a go-cart track that we used to frequent when the Cavaliers went to Allentown. I’m not sure it can be the centerpiece of a vacation, or if it’s even still there, but it would be great to race down the track with my kids, just like I did 15 or so years ago during our dinner break.

Today’s members are at the cusp of their travels. With longer tours, there’s more of the country to see, so even if you only see the Chicago skyline from a bus window, or the Appalachian Mountains from a practice field, you can add them to your “beenthere” list. And once your marching days are over, the places you have visited will quietly call you back. Eventually, you will answer.

But the best point of any journey is always the beginning. Enjoy the Bohemian-like lifestyle while you can.

Or as Kerouac himself wrote, “We were delighted, we all realized we were leaving confusion and nonsense behind and performing our one and noble function of the time, move.”

Marco Buscaglia marched with The Cavalier Cadets from 1978-83, and The Cavaliers from 1984-89. He is currently an editor with Tribune Media Services in Chicago.

29

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