DCI Today Winter, 2006

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THE MARCH TO MADISON SUMMER EVENTS YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS!

Making of a Major On The Road with

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dciTODAY

WINTER 2006

4 Let’s Take it from the Top DCI’s Dan Acheson says a heartfelt “Thanks!”

7 Pit Break Blasts from the past…DCI in Japan…Lending a hand to Katrina victims…The making of a Drum Major…Online resources, and more!

FEATURES 22 Major Showdown!

The Major events on the DCI calendar give corps around the country a chance to meet and prep for the Championships.

26 Life on the Road Summer tour can be a magical bus ride—if you know how to prepare.

14 Dear DCI Letters from recent age-outs who reflect on their corps experience.

16 Commitment to Excellence Bluecoats director David Glasgow is among the youngest ever to lead a Top-5 corps.

31 Brass Lesson Flex your lips

32 Percussion Lesson Accent the tap height

34 Movement Lesson 20 Free Day

Watch the rotation

Marco Buscaglia hits the message boards.

36 Gearing Up 38 Age-Out Former Cadet Al Chez blows his horn on Letterman.

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Check out the latest gear for drum corps and marching band.

12/27/05 3:29:56 PM

DRUM CORPS INTERNATIONAL Volume 31 Issue 2

Dan Acheson Executive Director Ed Dempsey Strategic Alliances Manager Chris Weber Promotions Project Manager

Custom Published By: In Tune Partners, LLC

New Year’s Revelations ou read it here first: I am predicting that 2006 will be the most exceptional year in drum corps history. I can predict this because whenever groups of highly motivated people assemble all over the world in the pursuit of excellence, the bar is raised.

I make my prediction because of my firm belief in music education. From the patience of the fifth-grade music teacher to the overworked high school band director through the mind-expanding lessons of the college professor, music educators shape the magnificent performers of today. They impart the pursuit of excellence and the passion that goes along with that pursuit.

Today’s drum corps participants are also supported by their parents. Parents raise funds, sew uniforms, drive to auditions and listen to hours and hours of musical scales and exercises. They are the guardians of the music education process.

When Drum Corps International creates the stage through our major events each year, or captures outstanding performances in audio or video recordings, we celebrate the achievement of the performer as well as the educator and parent. It is always a pleasure to look into the bleachers following a drum corps performance to see music educators, parents, alumni and avid fans standing together to acknowledge the excellence achieved by the performers.

Thank you for your exceptional generosity and focus on making sure that music and pageantry are always a part of all of our lives.

Y

Dan Acheson Executive Director/CEO

Irwin Kornfeld CEO Will Edwards President Angelo Biasi Publisher Emile Menasché Editor-in-Chief Jennifer Biasi Managing Editor Dave Kornfeld Photo Editor Don Helsel Operations Director Theo Fiorillo Creative Director Aimee Zaleski Art & Production Director Photography Johnny Gilbert, Sid and Linda Unser Trevor Johnston Illustrations Contributors Nick Angelis, Marco Buscaglia, Gino Cipriani, Ed Medina, Danny Miles, Bruno Zuccala Drum Corps International is a non-profit organization formed to service the North American drum corps activity. Editorial and business offices are located at 470 South Irmen Drive, Addison, IL 60101, phone: 630-628-7888, fax: 630-6287971. DCI Today is published in Fall, Winter and Summer each year. Nonprofit organization U.S. postage paid at Lebanon Junction, KY, permit #2223.

Copyright© 2006 Drum Corps International.

All rights reserved.

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PIT BREAK News and Notes from Drum Corps International

DCI Classic Countdown Returns to Theaters this April Drum Corps International presents the return of the ultimate drum corps cinema showdown: the 2006 Classic Countdown.

On Thursday, April 27, the top-12 shows voted on by drum corps fans will be shown in real-life proportion in select theaters across the country.

“We are very pleased with the response to and success of last year’s Classic Countdown, and I’m very excited to see which 12 corps will be selected for this year’s version,” said DCI executive director Dan Acheson. “I love the opportunity that this showing gives to fans to experience the history of DCI.” Jessika Filler, a member of the Seattle Cascades who viewed the 2005 Classic Countdown in Dublin, Calif., said about last year’s experience, “The theater we were in

was absolutely packed, and it really felt like we were watching a drum corps show! Everyone was screaming, applauding, laughing, cheering, it was so much fun!”

The 12 corps appearing on the 2006 Classic Countdown will again be selected by fans on DCI.org. The 12 shows from last year’s version will not be eligible to appear this year.

Slightly different from 2005, in this round fans will be asked to choose two corps from the 1970s, four corps each from the 1980s and 1990s and two corps from the 2000s. No corps can appear on the countdown more than once during the evening, so as many times as you may vote for your one favorite corps, only the highest vote-getting year of a corps will be shown.

Voting will begin on DCI.org in late January

around the DCI winter meetings, and the 12 Classic Countdown corps for 2006 will be announced in midFebruary. Stay tuned to DCI.org in the coming months for complete details.

Knights Lose the Homesick Blues This season, the Blue Knights get to say goodbye to the days of looking for rehearsal space, begging schools for just one more classroom, and hauling horns back and forth for storage. After hundreds of volunteer hours, vacant Mapleton High School in North Denver has become the official Blue Knights rehearsal facility.

The new facility boasts two gymnasiums, a weight room (now affectionately referred to as “the kitchen,” but soon to be the dance studio), an auditorium, band and choir rooms, three classrooms, a green room and even a permanent home for souvenir sales— more than enough space for a drum corps, two indoor ensembles or a burgeoning indoor winter brass program.

But the path to cleanliness was next to Herculean. When asked about the original state of the school, Blue Knights director Mark Arnold understated

matters by simply saying, “Disgusting.”

Blue Knights volunteers, parents, alumni, members and staff went to work painting, cleaning bathrooms, scrubbing graffiti off walls and generally whistling while they worked.

Twenty gallons of paint, 10 mop heads and $500 in cleaning supplies later, the facility was ready for unveiling.

And unveil they did. Decorated with banners donated specifically for the facility, the members of the Blue Knights ensembles cheered volunteers because they felt proud to be rehearsing in a space created just for them. And having their own facility gives them the flexibility of having sectional space between rehearsal camps and individual training sessions taught

by Blue Knights instructors.

There’s still more work that can be done, but the Blue Knights finally have a place they can call home. www.dci.org 7

PIT BREAK

The Corps and Katrina

United States Coast Guard/WireImage.com

A few weeks after returning home from tour, Brian Bayan, a 2005 contra age-out of the Crossmen who is a paramedic/firefighter in Houston, Tex., was deployed to New Orleans with five other medics from Cypress Creek EMS. Their mission was to assist with evacuation and provide emergency medical care to the people still stranded in the city after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. During their four-day stay (where they actually lived in their ambulances!), they managed to evacuate hundreds of sick and injured.

Katrina may have lost its place as a front-page story, but the crisis remains very deep: As of early December, more than 100,000 homes remain uninhabitable. Find out how you can help at Redcross.org.

Brian’s co-worker and good friend Thomas (T.J.) Darst, a 1999–2002 Cavaliers Baritone alumnus, was deployed to Slidell, La., with a team of technicians to establish a means of communication between the rescuers, and to coordinate the law enforcement and medical efforts in East Louisiana.

Madison Countdown Corps all across the continent have begun preparation for the long road to Madison 2006.

Download the fan guide at Madison06.dci.org.

DCI Presents A New Addition To Its DVD Offerings: “The Lot 2005.”

From the diesel-fumed parking lot jungle, join six of Drum Corps International’s premier battery percussion units as they prepare to step into the performance arena.

Follow Bluecoats, The Cadets, Carolina Crown, The Cavaliers, Madison Scouts and Phantom Regiment through their pre-show warm-up routines, parking yourself right in the action as these smoking lines melt asphalt with a fury of fast hands and solid beats.

Available in January 2006 at Store.dci.org.

DCI HALL OF FAME Want to learn about the great people and moments in drum corps history?

Check out the Drum Corps International Hall of Fame, where legends are remembered. The Hall opened in 1985 and includes more than 75 members, who can gain entry one of two ways: election by the DCI Board and Hall of Fame Members (for people who have been active in drum corps at some time within the last 15 years); and election by the Hall of Fame Legacy Committee (for folks who’ve been away from the activity for several years). In addition to honoring past greats, a committee of Hall of Fame Members selects one Division I drum major for the Jim Jones Leadership Award, named for one of DCI’s founding directors, and a charter member of the Hall of Fame.

DCI.org/fame

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Corps Members Experience Japan Blasts From The Past This summer, DCI fans will have the opportunity to relive drum corps days of yore when two alumni corps take the field in exhibition.

Madison Scouts alumni from at least five decades will be regrouping to wow the DCI World Championships audience at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis., this coming August.

This group will look to field between 150 and 300 alumni performers, who will present music and drill straight from the archives of some of the bestloved Madison Scouts performances.

Fans attending the DCI Eastern Classic in Allentown, Pa., on Aug. 5 will have the opportunity to witness the Bridgemen Alumni Corps under the direction of alum George Lavelle.

The group will perform a selection of greatest hits, including Bridgemen’s signature tune, “William Tell Overture.” The exhibition will be in the same stadium where Bridgemen was crowned the 1977 DCI East champion.

“It has been 19 years since a drum corps crowd saw the Bridgemen on a football field, and we look forward to entertaining and putting the fans in a frenzy, just like we used to,” says Lavelle.

More information on the Madison Scouts reunion project can be found at Fastlanecpu.com/reunion. Learn more about the Bridgemen’s return to glory at Bridgemen.info.

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istorically, Japanese marching bands and U.S.-based drum corps have traded members back and forth as an unofficial exchange program. Every November, The Cavaliers—like many other DCI drum corps—have several Japanese members try out in the United States.

In 2005, The Cavaliers had a tenor and a snare drummer from Japan perform with the corps, for their second and third seasons with the organization respectively.

And cultural sharing is a two-way street (or flight path): Late this October, Jeremy Kilgo, Chris Michelotti, Nick Robertson and Jeff Waldmuller of The Cavaliers, and Gabriel Farfan and Josh Kolopanis of the Santa Clara Vanguard, started a 90-day stay in Japan, where they’ll march with the Aimachi Marching Band, a group based near Nagoya.

“We’re pleased that there are several members able to participate in this sort of cultural and musical exchange program we’ve begun in the past few years,” says The Cavaliers corps director Jeff Fiedler. “I understand the

members are doing an excellent job and are representing the corps well.

Last year’s trip to Japan by The Cavaliers piqued these guys’ interests and they were excited to return. It is certainly an experience of a lifetime!”

The Aimachi Americans practice with the group five days a week and will take part in several competitions and performances during the fall and winter. The six members are staying in a guest house which is part of the Aimachi rehearsal complex, which also includes a full-service practice field (gymnasium), a cafeteria, and several other buildings. In their free time, the six have been able to explore this beautiful and historic country. Michelotti reports visits to Buddhist temples, street markets, car shows and even Mount Fuji, which is about a six-hour drive from where they live.

Michelotti, a tuba player, says adjusting to life in Japan has taken some time. “The language barrier was very prevalent when we first got here, but as we spent more time talking with different people and picking up Japanese words here and there, the barrier is slowly going away.

There are several people here who speak English fairly well and have helped translate both on and off the rehearsal field.”

Michelotti has been keeping a blog of his stay in Japan at xanga.com/micolatte. You can learn more about the Aimachi Marching Band at Aimachi.com.

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“Major” Commitment A drum major is a leader, a friend, a motivator, a bridge between corps members and staff, all rolled into one. It’s a position that demands full commitment to the corps. And although drum majors are in the spotlight, it’s not a job for the ego-driven. We asked directors and drum majors past and present to tell us what it takes to raise the baton.

“Lead by example. Lead by doing—and not necessarily talking.

Leadership serves as the prime responsibility of a drum major.

Conducting comes second, but still is important. Passion, energy, confidence... strive for all of those qualities.”—Steven Smith, Madison Scouts, Drum Major, 2005—2006

“Do your job, day to day. Wake in the morning with a smile on your face and be the very best you can be. With this as a ‘mantra,’ everything you hope for will come to you.”—George Hopkins, Director, The Cadets

“My one and only piece of advice is this: Don’t even worry about the fame you think you’re going to get as drum major. Sure, you get to hear your name announced before each performance, but it can’t be about you. It has to be about the music, and about the corps.”—Karl Stein

“The best way to NOT become a drum major is to tell your director ‘I want to be drum major.’ The most effective way to reach your goal is to imagine the kind of actions a great leader might do and then simply start doing them.

Volunteer to do the tasks nobody else will; empty trash cans after a meal, or hold a brainstorming meeting with members at the first rehearsal to determine how you can all raise the level of expectations for the upcoming season.

Make it clear that you take action and separate yourself from those who only want the “cool title.”—Matt Haines, The Cadets, Drum Major, 2004 “Frankly, I seem to have found my best DMs among those I had to convince to take the position.”—George Hopkins “Be honest, lead by example and practice tons. There is nothing more amazing than being a drum major and it will be an experience you will never forget!”— Jamie Rone, Southwind, Drum Major, 1999 “A drum major should know how to conduct, how to salute, and project his or her voice well. But a drum major also needs to be able blend into an ensemble, despite the distinctive uniform.”—Karl Stein, Southwind, Drum Major, 2005 “Being a drum major in a DCI corps takes quite a combination of skills: Positive attitude, strong leadership skills, musical talent and flexibility, clear communication and the ability to find the most appropriate way to motivate the corps each day are among the most important in my opinion.”—Chad Armbruster, Blue Stars, Director

“[I look for] someone who can represent the corps in any situation without hesitation, someone who understands and respects others, whether it is staff, volunteers, supporters, members, fans or competitors. The drum majors, through their own set of principles and values, consistently lead by example and present the organization in a positive, responsible manner.”—Doug Darwin, Kiwanis Kavaliers, Executive Director “Join the corps as early as you can and soak in the positive experiences. Learn from the leaders around you. Be a leader in ways you know how when you are given the opportunity.

Understand that drum corps isn’t about winning contests—it just uses competition as a vehicle to develop good people. Figure out how you can best contribute to that process and you’ll be well on your way.”— Jeff White, The Cavaliers, Drum Major, 1999 “I look for those who take responsibility. They are prepared for rehearsals, they lead through example, they assist their peers, they clean the gym when all else run the other way, they look the part, they act the part... they are Cadets through and through.”—George Hopkins Want to join a corps? Visit DCI.org/corps to find one today!

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Dear DCI Miranda Soucie: Blue Stars Drum corps is my life. The activity essentially gave me a reason to keep going. After a tragic accident took away two of the most precious people I know, drum corps picked me up and sent me on my way to who I am today. That was nine years ago this September. Family isn’t just the people with you at home; to me family is a bond no one can break. It’s natural, undying, and forever molded in the arms of drum corps.

Ross Wilkerson: Madison Scouts The biggest difference in my day-to-day life has been realizing what my friends mean to me, and what I want to be to them. After being around 133 guys and a girl, who would do anything for me at the drop of a hat, I find myself wanting to be that kind of person to my friends.

When inconveniences arise and plans must change, the people who can adapt will find themselves more successful.

While drum corps teaches marching and music, members learn so many more valuable lessons that can be used in life.

Ben Gervais: Colts The greatest source of motivation for me comes from the volunteer personalities around the corps.

To see each of the volunteer parents spending every minute of every day working on meals, uniforms and even equipment for the members, makes me hope that one day I can be just as dedicated and supportive.

Tyler Long: Carolina Crown

Rachael Waggoner: Blue Stars Drum corps has shown me how great people can really be. This fall, I was offered a chance to be part of the DCI Honor Corps, but I didn't think it would be possible for financial reasons. I simply asked some alumni and other corps lovers for help, and within a few weeks, I had a plane ticket and enough donations to pay for the dues. So many people jumped at the chance to help including some who have never even met or talked to me. To me, that shows how deep drum corps love runs.

Eric Shriver: Bluecoats Nearly everything learned in Drum Corps can be applied to everyday life. Whether those traits are related to people skills, personal responsibilities, time management, or just keeping a positive attitude, this activity can be considered very educational regarding life skills.

Katie Peak: Colts There are many times in our lives where we will benefit from the flexibility that we used in drum corps.

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Letters From The Corps

My life and the person I am today has been changed beyond any word, any conversation and any emotion. Drum corps isn’t a hobby, it’s not even a “band thing,” it’s a life-altering experience.

Drum corps is a family of anywhere from 30 to 135 lifelong friends, and more than that, drum corps is who I am, it is those who were before me. The experience will continue to challenge and change all those to come.

Tommy Allen: The Cavaliers One thing that will last forever will be the character that has been developed and refined through drum corps. Without my experience I very well could have been an average, common student.

Five years in the making, resulting in a lifetime of values and morality. Thank you drum corps!

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Dear DCI Joe Hobbs: The Cavaliers I don’t know if it is possible to march drum corps without it changing your life. The lessons I’ve learned from drum corps will be with me for as long as I live. Drum corps has molded me into a stronger person and a stronger musician. This activity builds character, and I love it to death!

Julie Bierschenk: Capital Regiment The bond between corps mates is really the most precious thing in the world, and I am so thankful for every one of my drum corps friends.

Michikazu Narita: The Cavaliers I have become a better teacher and have better helped my ensembles in my home of Japan, as well as become a better performer. Also, it amazes me how just a couple of years ago, America and its people seemed so distant, and the thought of me having so many friends in another land is unbelievable.

Ben Henderson: The Academy Although it is a lot of work, I wouldn’t give up a minute of the rehearsals in 120 degree heat, or the long running blocks, or even the occasional error. This is because I know that it is the lessons learned in band and corps that, when applied to life, make it nearly impossible to fail.

Jonathan Lee: Mandarins I started at 16, and the most lasting effect that drum corps has had on me is the friends that I’ve made.

Our center tenor, Polar Prutaseranee, was 21, and not once during the season did I feel a conde16 www.dci.org

scending attitude based on age. Polar’s example showed me the qualities of a true leader: everyone is an equal. The only way to earn respect is to give it first. I respect Polar deeply, and we still talk on a daily basis.

Eric Simmons: Memphis Sound One of the things I learned with my drum corps experience was dedication.

During the 2005 season, I got really sick during every-days and was forced to quit because of my health. But two weeks before finals, I learned there was a spot in the baritone line. I drove from Mississippi to Georgia, jumped in the drill the next day and had the show on in four days. I marched the remainder of the season, including finals. My dedication to anything I do is very strong now.

Matt Ramey: Santa Clara Vanguard Marching with SCV has been to this date the best thing to ever happen to me, for no other reason than I was able to meet the most inspirational and hardest-working group in my life.

Every day I know that there are other people in the country that are always working to get what they want, and that still drives me to excel in every day life. I have now aged out and my last season is in the past. But the lives I have changed are countless.

Laura Choquette: Capital Regiment The audience didn’t care that our ballad was changed a week before finals, or that we learned 42 sets in a threehour block to close holes in the closer.

They came to see a great show, and we gave it to them. The feeling we all had after we came off the field knowing we had made it through the season could not be traded for the world. Thank you CRCG ’05 for an incredible unforgettable summer!

Samantha Stepp: Memphis Sound Through drum corps I’ve seen places I’ve always dreamed of seeing, I’ve made friends for life, and had many priceless experiences. I’ve learned many life lessons. I once was shy, but now I can go right up to someone and start a conversation without any reservations.

CAN YO U I MAG I N E . . .

The Cadets photographs by David Rice

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Commitment to Excellence

By Ed Medina

Bluecoats Director David Glasgow A onetime drum major leads a resurgence of a corps he aged-out only a few years before.

A

s Bluecoats drum major in 2000 and 2001, David Glasgow could be seen calling his corps to “attention”. Now, as the corps’ executive director, he’s getting attention—like it or not.

Newsgathering organizations, DCI Today and DCI.org among them, have asked Glasgow for interviews no fewer than five times in the last two seasons.

Although Glasgow himself could be considered newsworthy—at age 26 he’s one of the youngest directors to ever lead a Top-5 corps, the same corps from which he aged out after four years and was named “member of the year”—he’s quick to point out that the corps’ recent success is not about him.

“We’re continually getting better, so I think the corps is being recognized for that,” Glasgow said of the recent interest. “I’m really just a representative of the Bluecoats that people can talk to.

“The corps’ success “isn’t something that only I have done. It’s more about what the entire organization has done, on and off the field, to get here. That’s the story.”

Last season’s fifth-place finish not only capped a record-setting season for the corps people love to

“bloooooo” (highest-ever finals placement and highest-ever finals score of 94.450), it also made the 1999 season, in which the Bluecoats fell out of finals for the first time since 1987, seem like it was eons ago. Their 13th place finish can officially be seen as a mere aberration in what is DCI’s latest story of consistency, excellence, and success.

“1999 was a tough year,” recalls Glasgow, who at the time was a Bluecoats baritone player. “But we learned from it. Getting back on the right track in 2000 and 2001 was key for us. It laid the groundwork for today. The organization at that time, thanks to the leadership of Bill Hamilton and Larry Hershman (then corps director and program coordinator, respectively), focused on recruiting not only top-caliber marching members, but also high quality staff,” he continues. “Adding some key instructional staff members in recent years certainly helped us move to the next level, and it attracted more talented members.”

But, perhaps the largest contributing factor in the Bluecoats’ rebirth is the corps’ fundraising.

Starting a bingo game in 2002 allowed the organization to hire Glasgow as the corps’ first full-time director. The additional funding has also led to an upgrade in the offthe-field act, including new equipment purchases and overhauling the Bluecoats’ overall tour experience for the marching members.

“Our goal was never to improve just our scores,” Glasgow said. “We’ve really tried to enhance the experience for our members, which in addition to providing good instruction and a good show, is key to keeping them coming back year after year.”

The new focus and influx of revenue is paying off. In addition to achieving their highest finals finish ever, the Bluecoats won six shows in 2005—the most in a season since winning eight in 1989—and forced the perennial powerhouses of the activity to become familiar with a new shade of blue near the top.

Although he is reluctant to take credit for the corps’ recent surge, Glasgow is at the center of it all. And make no mistake, it means a lot to him. For it was only five short years ago that he was wearing the same uniform.

“I am truly honored to be able to give back to an organization and to an activity that has given me so much,” Glasgow, who recently studied Human Resources, Psychology and Business at Michigan State University, concludes. “It’s wonderful to help provide a great experience for the people who participate in the Bluecoats, including the people I marched with who are still in the corps.”

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“The Commandant’s Own” THE UNITED STATES MARINE DRUM & BUGLE CORPS

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Free Day

By Marco Buscaglia

Get the Message?

Online fans are a “net” gain for drum corps

D

The Emphasist: A big fan of 1920’s journalism without even knowing it, the Emphasist likes to make a point.

Usually involving short, choppy sentences. And periods. A lot of them. Just to add impact. Likes to end his posts with a bang. Wants to make point.

Usually does so after hitting the return key a few times. Occasionally puts words in ALL CAPS to make point.

on’t let the lack of bus fumes and football fields fool you—the real drum corps season is in full swing.

Queen of the Posters: Has posted That’s right—and it’s all taking place 24,201 messages since last January. here on the Internet: show rumors, staff Unblocked sunlight would burn up changes and more. And dominating all her retinas in a matter of seconds. of these online factors are the message Considers herself an expert because of boards. frequency of posts.

Don’t get me wrong—I love keeping up on the activity online. I think it’s a The Censored: Reads messages each wonderful way to grab a bit of summer day but cannot respond, as it is strictly during these cold winter months. I’m forbidden in his corps pledge card. always interested in who’s playing what Has written 187 responses to posts just and who’s hired whom. And I enjoy a lot waiting for day after he ages out. of the back-and-forth you get to read on the drum corps topics of the day.

The Employed: Reads message boards Me? I’m kind of a lurker myself, You talkin’ to me? DCI’ message-boards during lunch or occasionally throughreading, but rarely posting due to a lack are humming during winter months. out day, never allowing himself more of time, energy and the fear of hundreds of follow-up e-mails calling me names. But I’ve noticed than three minutes for fear his boss will sneak up behind some definite trends emerging with the frequent posters him, unplug computer and call security, ultimately forcing him, his wife and kids to roam the streets searching out there.

I know I’m missing a bunch, but here’s my take on for nuts and berries. the message board denizens who keep our activity busThe Cop: Keeps every word you’ve ever written on his tling, even in the dead of winter. own personal 60-gigabyte server. Likes to follow up The Pollster: This guy can’t make a decision without your posts—along with posts from others—with comconsulting an online poll, which is why he posts them ments like: “Sure, you say you’re for rifles now, but so frequently—some as many as five times. Polls range back on Jan. 14, 2000, you said ‘I can’t even imagfrom the standards (“Do you favor amplification on the ine a drum corps show with all rifles in the guard,’ field”) to the incredibly personal and specific (“Should I Hypocrite!” break up with my girlfriend before the season starts?”).

The Movie Reviewer: Adds nothing to the drum corps The Rabble-Rouser: Never met a controversy he doesn’t discussion on Web site, opting instead to post review of like, even when none exists. Currently working on flash Jack Black’s performance in “King Kong.” mob protest in Addison, Ill., to demonstrate total disgust with choice of artwork on cover of 1998 DCI CDs. The Faux Old-Timer: Thinks she marched back in the pre-Mesozoic era, even though she has yet to turn old Proud Alum: Whatever you do, don’t badmouth this enough to qualify for cheaper car insurance. Likes to person’s corps online. He or she will unleash a flame war post things like, “Back in my day” to add impact, comso effective that it could wipe out the city of Cleveland. pletely oblivious to the fact that the “day” in question Once threatened to beat up the CEO of IBM because of was 2002. inflammatory messages posted from Aptiva computer somewhere in Charlotte, N.C., concerning an out-of-tune The Mspelr: Likes to use contemporary spelling for re-entry in the closer from his last year marching. Still words like “rote,” “cuz” and “’sted” to disguise the fact occasionally posts from California state prison library. that he never made it past the third grade.

20 www.dci.org

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MAJOR SH DCI Major Events anchor the marching season and give corps from around the country a chance to see where they stand.

The field’s the same; the scoring is the same; your corps’ show is basically the same—or as much the same as any dynamic piece of musical motion art can be on any given night. So, what makes a Major event, well, a Major?

“The major events are more or less the premier tour stops that make up the Summer Music Games Tour,” notes DCI’s Chris Weber. “These events are organized, managed and run specifically by Drum Corps International. These are separate from our other sanctioned events which are contracted out to independent tour event partners. The major events are our anchor events, they generally take place in large stadiums on the week-

ends. They draw significant interest from fans during the season.”

No such thing as “Minor” As every corps competing over the long season knows, all events on the DCI calendar are important. Whether it’s in high school football stadiums, larger college arenas, or under the bright lights of the finals, competition is always a challenge, and the crowds are always eager to hear a corps at its best.

The drum corps season is intense: Drum Corps International produces a series of more that 140 competitive musical events over eight weeks from June through August. Most of these events take place in high school and

midsize college stadiums and feature between six and eight corps. Corps will compete against each other in smaller groups leading into major events, and some of the top finishers from the previous year will not encounter one another until they march into the big arenas.

“In the beginning of the season, corps will generally stay regionally based,” Weber explains. “For example, the first three major events that take place in the Midwest have lineups primarily made up of Midwestern corps. As the season progresses, corps start to travel more, allowing for a widespread mix of groups.”

Although most corps stick with one basic show for the entire season, the

22

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HOWDOWN early regional events are a laboratory for each corps to experiment and change their show as needed. This is the time when corps can gauge their shows’ effectiveness and see how things work before the critical eyes of the fans and the judges (all of whom are sanctioned by DCI). For some corps, this can be a time of significant changes before the final month of polishing those precious 10-11 minutes on the field.

Early season majors, which can feature 10-14 corps or more, offer an opportunity for corps to check out rivals that they don't typically meet and to see how their own shows hold up. “Each major event gives the members and instructional staffs a target every

BY DANNY MILES

week to work toward,” says Jeff Fiedler, corps Director of The Cavaliers “Rather than just having a target at the end of the summer at the championships, you’re working every week to improve the show as much as possible”

The March Towards the Championships As the season wears on, the corps become tighter and the focus intensifies. After the initial stages of working the show, most corps have finished with the big changes, and are now getting ready to apply the polish needed to shine in the Championships. But the majors are still a focal point. “After select major events, corps design teams and staff members will have a judge’s critique where they are able to meet with the judging panel from that event to discuss their shows—what is working and what is not,” Weber www.dci.org 23

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The Majors in a Nutshell explains. “They look at what is effective and what needs improvement. This can often be the basis for the types of changes corps will make to their shows.”

And as the Championships grow closer, the scoring starts to add up: Corps carrying higher scores get to perform later in the Championship, which can be an important advantage when it’s time to take the season’s final tally.

Throughout the season, the days leading up to the weekend majors are packed, with corps performing two to four weekday shows. “Many corps directors will say every show during the week is an important step in building toward the weekend events,” Weber says. After the challenges of travel, practice and performance, corps members look forward to all opportunities to perform, especially in front of the large venues and large crowds associated with many of the major events.

It’s important to note that not all majors are the same.

Because of scheduling and travel considerations, not every Division I corps performs at every major event. “San Antonio and Atlanta this year will be all 24 Division I corps in and afternoon/evening show format,” Weber says.

“Based on scores accumulated in the previous weeks, the corps are seeded, and the 13th-24th place corps are asked to perform at the first afternoon event.” The four highest placing corps from that round move onto the evening competition, where they will join the top-eight corps.

But that format is far from universal. “The Masters of the Summer Music Games show in Murfreesboro only features the top-eight corps at that point of the season.” he continues. “The DCI Eastern Classic is a two-day event that features 12 corps on Friday and 12 on Saturday.”

Whatever the format, each Major plays an important role in the season.

Colts corps director Greg Orwoll feels that certain Saturday events can even feel like the World Championships of each given week.

“Each major event brings a focus that gives us an opportunity to check up and see how we do against the other corps there,” he says. “Each Saturday is almost like a separate season for us and the shows during the week help to build a crescendo into those performances.”

DCI FATHER’S DAY KICKOFF The Sports Complex at Benedictine University Lisle, IL Sunday, June 18

DCI COLUMBIA University of Missouri’s Memorial Stadium Columbia, MO Saturday, June 24

DCI CENTRAL ILLINOIS Illinois State Univ.’s Hancock Stadium Bloomington/Normal, IL Friday, June 30

DCI INDIANAPOLIS, THE CENTRAL DIVISION CHAMPIONSHIPS RCA Dome Indianapolis, IN Saturday, July 8

DCI KALAMAZOO Western Michigan University’s Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI Saturday, July 15

DRUMS ALONG THE ROCKIES INVESCO Field at Mile High Denver, CO Saturday, July 15

DCI LOUISVILLE Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium Louisville, KY Monday, July 17

DCI SAN ANTONIO, THE SOUTHWESTERN CHAMPIONSHIP Alamodome San Antonio, TX Saturday, July 22

MASTERS OF THE SUMMER MUSIC GAMES Middle Tennessee State University’s Floyd Stadium Murfreesboro, TN Friday, July 28

DCI ATLANTA, THE SOUTHEASTERN CHAMPIONSHIP Georgia Dome Atlanta, GA Saturday, July 29

DCI EASTERN CLASSIC J. Birney Crum Stadium Allentown, PA Friday and Saturday, Aug. 4 and 5

2006 DCI WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS Camp Randall Stadium Madison, WI Aug. 8-12 Visit DCI.org to find out how you can attend these and more DCI events.

Division II & III Majors

While many may assume that major events only include Division I corps, some Div. II & III corps do perform at major events during the first half of the season. The major events within the last two to three weeks of the season tend to focus on the Division I corps, while big Div. II & III shows near the end of the season help determine performance order for those corps at the Division II & III Championships.

24 www.dci.org

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DCI Road Final 2

12/23/05

8:39 PM

Page 1

Life

On The Roa

Traveling with a drum corps can be a great ride, and a little preparation can help you avoid the potholes.

26

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Page 2

Personal Practice

oad

By Ed Medina

A

course of a 60-day excursion from June through August. Stops along the way become a blur. Days of the week become unknown. But the music, equipment work, choreography and drill—all leading up to your 11 minute show—that’s your life from the time you leave your nice, comfy bed at home to the time you return.

The Big Push “When you join a corps like Phantom Regiment, the expectation is that you are going to work hard,” said Jeremy Figlewicz (20), a junior euphonium player and music education major at Michigan State.

“The staff pushes us, sometimes hard, to where we need to be. You know you’re going to get your butt kicked but you trust your staff to do

David Castillo

Photo: Johnny Gilbert

lthough he could still watch old drum corps videos with reverence, Josh Scott couldn’t help but see them differently after getting home from tour with Phantom Regiment in 2003, his rookie season. The videos were the same, but for some reason they looked different to him.

“You see drum corps on a World Championships DVD and you come to expect everything to be that good from the start,” said Scott, a junior music performance major (euphonium) at Butler University in Indianapolis.

“What you don’t see on the video are the two-and-a-half months it took to get there.”

Scott, who turns 21 in February and will march his fourth and final year in the Regiment euphonium line in 2006, now knows—all too well— what goes into making that finals video look so good. After three seasons, he, like any other drum corps vet, realizes that what you see on the video is but a small part of what happens on a drum corps tour.

“Everything was a lot more intense than I imagined,” he said.

“Rehearsing every day, warming up at the show, traveling; it wasn’t necessarily a culture shock, but it was like nothing else I had ever experienced in my life.”

Until you are actually in that position it is tough to imagine yourself shaking out the cobwebs after an all-night bus ride, then spending most of the same day running around a large patch of grass—or worse, a parking lot—in the hot summer sun.

The cycle of touring also includes loading and unloading buses and equipment from large trucks (sometimes several times a day), riding to show sites, and traveling overnight in the cramped confines of a bus seat. It includes warming up, exercising, performing, and eating—and repeating it over and over again during the

what’s right to get you there,” he said.

In exchange for surviving tour, you earn the experience of a lifetime.

Perhaps you will have learned some new skills and will have built an army of friends and a drum corps family with whom you’ll probably never lose touch.

It all sounds great on paper, but signing on with a drum corps for the summer is no guarantee of fun and laughs. The bottom line, according to Phantom Regiment director Pat Siedling, is that the drum corps experience is what the marching members make of it. www.dci.org 27

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Page 3

4

Tour Survival Tips

It’s tough to really know what to expect on tour if you’ve never been. That’s why DCI Today asked Phantom Regiment director Pat Seidling for some tips and things to think about before going on the road with a DCI drum corps.

1.

Alessandra Souers

“We don’t promise fun, we don’t promise relationships, we don’t promise to beat any other corps, or that you’ll enjoy the music and the show,” said Siedling, who spent some years working in Nashville as a transportation coordinator for such top country music acts as Kenny Chesney and Sara Evans.

“What we do promise are quality buses, food, quality instruction, a nice instrument to play and a clean uniform that fits and looks good on you,” he said. “Obviously, the rest is up to the marching members to bring their enthusiasm and hard work. What they get out of it is a derivative of having a good experience on tour, and we spend a lot of effort providing that for them.”

Clockwork

28 www.dci.org

2. “What should I pack and what do I bring on tour?”

Seidling’s advice: “Ask another member what they bring.” Most limit their tour baggage to one small suitcase and a carry-on. If both can be integrated, even better. But remember—it will probably be hot outside everywhere you’ll be going and you’ll have to rehearse regardless of the heat, rain, cold, etc. Make sure you have rain gear, your corps jacket and enough clothing to last in between scheduled laundry days. You can’t have too many pairs of socks or underwear, and an extra towel—should your first become funky—is a good start!

3. “What if I get sick?” Seidling says: “See your corps director immediately. We may seem rough and gruff, but we do take these things seriously.”

4.

And finally, remember why you’re there. “If you can bring a cell phone, okay, fine,” Seidling says, “but put it away deep in your backpack. Meet new people and enjoy the summer.

Leave the cell phone alone! Put it down...right now...drop it...go meet someone new.”

Johnny Gilbert

Among the many aspects of the drum corps activity that has evolved over the years is the touring schedule. Most of today’s Division I corps are together full time as of Memorial Day, pulling in members from everywhere and hitting the road for good sometime around mid-June.

“Nowadays, once a drum corps packs up and hits the road, they are gone,” Siedling said. “They do not unload those buses until they get home after tour. In the last few years, we have been on the road for up to 60 straight days.”

Among the more profound realizations in those 60 days is that the people you march next to—the same ones you might have seen in those old videos—are regular people too, just like you. You become one of them.

“When I finally lived it, I realized that everyone is human and not any more special than I was,” said Scott.

“The people who march drum corps aren’t any more talented than the people in marching band. What is different is the work ethic and the tour, and it’s great to see things in the show that aren’t good at the beginning get better over the course of tour. You see the hard work pay off.”

And as for those old videos? “I can still sit down and watch 1989, 1996 or 1993 (Phantom Regiment) and I still say ‘wow, that’s amazing,’” Scott added. “But at the same time, it’s a different feeling because you’ve been a part of it. You’ve been through some of the same things they probably went through. You feel a connection to those people you might not have ever met.”

“How much spending money should I bring on tour?” $5 a day is good rule of thumb, Seidling says. You won’t necessarily spend money every day on the road, but you will want to be prepared to pull the trigger on that T-shirt or DVD that’s calling your name, or perhaps an occasional sports drink or snack at a rest stop.

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brass

Lessons

By Gino Cipriani Brass Caption Head The Cadets

Flex Your Lips

W

ithout question, lip flexibility is one of the staples of playing a brass instrument.

Lip slurs not only help you move fluidly and effortlessly throughout the partials, but also help build embouchure strength and

endurance. Because of this, your routine should be geared towards improving the elasticity of the embouchure on a daily basis.

Here are some guidelines to think about when practicing lip flexibility:

1] When slurring in the upward direction, be sure that the back of the tongue rises and the air speed increases. When slurring in the downward direction, lower the back of the tongue and increase the volume of air. Using different vowel syllables will help accommodate the register in which one is playing in. For example, “ooh” for the low register, “aw” for the middle register and “eeh” for the upper register.

2] Be sure to keep the corners of the mouth firm.

Illustrations by Trevor Johnston

Trp/Mello

Bari/Tuba

Lip slurs should occur mostly within the confines of the cup, with as little movement of the corners as possible. When slurring in the upward direction, the lips must become taut. This creates more tension within the cup.

Vice-versa, when slurring in the downward direction, the lips inside the cup should move inward and become more relaxed. This creates less tension within the cup.

For best results, flexibility exercises should be performed daily. Be sure to keep up the same exercises for at least four to six weeks. This will help facilitate your proficiency as a brass player and help you perform at a higher level.

Always remember that tone qualiBasic flexibility exercise ty, as well as tonal focus, is the priority when playing these exercises.

Be careful not to rush through each ¡ ¡ E ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡¡¡¡¡ ¡¡ ¡ ¡ Ì exercise and “telegraph” the direction of the slur. The better you can center each individual pitch, the ¡ ¡ " D D E ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ Ì quicker you will improve and ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡ ¡¡ ¡ ¡¡ ¡ ¡ enhance your brass fundamentals. ¡ ¡ Ì Good luck! And remember, it’s the Descend Chromatically. quality of your practice, not the quantity. Be patient!

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percussion

Lessons

By Nick Angelis Percussion Caption Head Colts

Accent the Tap Height fter establishing a consistent tap height and sound, the next phase is to add another height.

This is an isolated hand, two-height exercise that works on coordination of feet and hands with down beats and up beats and proper technique.

A

1] At this point, the hands are in the playing position. It is vital that at all cost the beads are in the center of the drum head. This will create the most even sound from right to left hand. The goal is to have equal contribution to each tap played in the exact same place.

2] As you are playing the right hand pattern, you will notice that the left hand is still in its stationary position (center of the head). The tendency when working on up and down beat patterns is for the opposite hand to drift from the center. We get caught up with the coordination and not the technique.

3] The same applies to the left hand.

Snare 3

S

7 / 4 í ™™ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ™™îí ™™œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ™™î > > > > > > > > R L

/ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ™™î46 í ™™ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ™™î > > > > > >

Illustrations by Trevor Johnston

While playing, do not allow for the right hand to stray from the center. This may seem elementary, but every time you add a new variable, the first thing to go is the technique.

Be careful when learning new patterns and rudiments that you keep the beads in the center of the head at all times. This is your roadmap to success.

For the complete exercise and others, log onto Colts.org.

32 www.dci.org

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movement

Lessons

By Bruno D. Zuccala Assistant Director Color Guard Caption Head The Cavaliers

Watch the Rotation he Cavalier color guard staff spends much time training its members to deal with performance conditions in context.

Compensating for wind, rain, lighting and equipment problems are paramount for success. My hope is to train them for their show responsibilities and also to help them become better teachers when they are standing in front of their own color guards someday.

One of the most important components of this is when the equipment is going in the air. Let’s look at a rifle, for example. You must always count your rotations. Try this exercise:

T

Illustrations by Trevor Johnston

Toss the rifle straight up.

As soon as the rifle leaves your hands,, look for the bolt, strap, or spotter, whichever part you’ve decided to focus on. These are usually an opposing color to the main body of the rifle, and you can fix your eyes on that rifle piece.

Conditions such as wind and glare can make it hard to track the rifle all the way through its flight path. If the lights create a glare, then look at the same rifle parts on the 45 degree angle. This will ensure that you do not look directly into the lights and blur the weapon.

If the wind is a problem, try releasing the rifle into the wind and having it blow the weapon back to you, or pull back on the release so it will not travel too far forward. Consistent practice of these techniques will always help you through any obstacle.

34 www.dci.org

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From the Field...

To the Floor!

WGI 2006 Competition Calendar Color Guard February 4 Atlanta, Georgia Austin, Texas

February 11-12 Boston, Massachusetts* Kansas City, Missouri Ft. Lauderdale, Florida San Bernadino, California*

February 18-19

February 25-26 Mid Atlantic Power Regional

March 4-5 Dayton, Ohio* Denver, Colorado Jacksonville, Florida

March 11-12 Southwest Power Regional

February 11

Dallas, Texas Las Vegas, Nevada* Richmond, Virginia

February 18

March 18-19 South Power Regional Tampa, Florida* Minneapolis, Minnesota Syracuse, New York

Chesterton, Indiana* Europe, The Netherlands Pensacola, Florida

Trenton, New Jersey* Fresno, California Houston, Texas Phoenix, Arizona

Percussion

March 25-26 Mid South Power Regional Nashville, Tennessee*

West Power Regional

Ft. Lauderdale, Florida Rancho Cucamonga, California* Detroit, Michigan Pensacola, Florida St. Louis, Missouri

February 25 Fresno, California Phoenix, Arizona Portland, Oregon

March 25 Hayward, California Houston, Texas Roebuck, South Carolina

April 1-2 Indianapolis, Indiana* Stratford, Connecticut *Denotes two-day regional

March 4-5 Dayton, Ohio* Denver, Colorado

March 11-12 Las Vegas, Nevada Richmond, Virginia

Santa Clara, California* *Denotes two-day regional

March 18-19 Coatesville, Pennsylvania Minneapolis, Minnesota Nashville, Tennessee*

WGI COLOR GUARD World Championships • April 6-8 • Dayton, Ohio WGI PERCUSSION World Championships • April 20-22 • Dayton, Ohio

WWW.WGI.ORG 937.434.7100

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GEARING UP New and noteworthy instruments and equipment for marching musicians It’s in the Bag

DCI summers mean living out of your pack. But there’s no reason you have to kill your back in the process. Eagle Creek Travel Gear (which also offers travel pillows, towels and more) boasts a number of lightweight packs. The Cross-Country Wheeled Duffel 30 weighs under 8 lbs and can hold over 108 liters. Exterior compression straps let you shove more stuff in there, and when it gets too heavy, relax—it has wheels. Eaglecreek.com

Get Energy

on the Stick

Carry your sticks in style with Zildjian’s Artist Collection Stick Bags. The series includes bags designed by Grammy Award winning Green Day drummer, Tré Cool (this lightweight black and white number, with skull and crossbones design and a “Stolen From Tré Cool” graphic on the large outside front pocket), Adrian Young, Dennis Chambers, and Travis Barker. Zildjian.com.

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Mutes

on the March

Winter means indoor practice—and that can be a problem when it comes to volume. Yamaha’s new Marching Mutes are flexible foam pads designed to enable marching percussion instruments to be played at a low volume with similar resistance. The Marching Snare Mutes are available in 13" and 14"; the Marching Bass Mute pairs are available in evennumber sizes from 14"—32". Marching Tenor Mute sets are available in small (2x6", 8", 10", 12" and 13") or large (2x6" 10", 12", 13" and 14") sizes. Yamaha.com

Gearing Up Final.indd 36

12/30/05 12:08:05 PM

Stay Hydrated

Summer or winter, proper hydration is essential for safe and effective exercise.

The Wenger 2 Liter Hydration Pack makes it easy to tote several hours’ worth of liquid for workouts, running, or long days of practice. Features include curved, mesh shoulder straps with adjustable sternum strap, a reflective front safety pouch, and a two-liter hydration reservoir with tube and bite valve, from the folks who make the genuine Swiss Army Knife. Wengerusa.com

Save

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Made by a musician for musicians, ChopSaver is a 100% natural solution for wind players’ lip care needs—whether you’re showing your musical chops on hundred-degree days or in the coldest winter months. Chopsaver.com

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Age-Out

Al Chez Then: Trumpeter, The Garfield Cadets Now: Trumpeter on The Late Show with David Letterman I started at age 8 with a corps my dad helped start, the Woodbridge/Edison Saints in New Jersey. My two brothers, Mikey and Peter, were in it. My Dad was the quartermaster, my mom the secretary. But that corps folded in 1977 due to touring and financial problems. At the time, the Bridgemen were the strong corps in the area.

For some reason—I still don’t know why—I joined the Garfield Cadets. I had long hair, half way down my back. The clean-cut image of The Cadets was a change, indeed. But I’m glad I did it, and marched with them until age-out, so I marched from ages 8-21—13 years!

I also marched two years for senior corps, the Bushwackers and The Reading Buccaneers, so that makes 15 years.

My favorite experience was when The Cadets made the finals. In 1980, The Cadets were not perennial finalists: In fact, we had 15 horn players two weeks before the first show. The corps was ready to fold; members were jumping on with other corps fast; we were dying.

But we got an influx of members from Mississippi and Louisiana and we came in 10th place in prelims. Our score went from a 51.050 to 81.450 in one season.

We accomplished things we never thought possible.

We stuck together and low and behold, the corps would go on to win three World Championships in a row a few years later. All Cadets should thank that 1980 corps.

Another great memory is the 1979 Dream competition in Jersey City, New Jersey. I had performed at that show many times with The Saints over the years. This was one of the last times that the show would be held at 38 www.dci.org

Roosevelt stadium—it was being torn down, and with good reason. I went to my first drum corps shows there, one while my mother was pregnant with me, and again when I was 3. When my father was a child growing up in Jersey City, he and a bunch of friends jumped a fence and snuck into the stadium one year. My father’s friends thought it was weird but somehow it struck my dad as being very cool. He stayed and watched, and continued to go (paying of course!) for many years with his wife and children: Thanks Dad! Anyway, in ’79 The Cadets were not having a good season: We were 16th at DC; good but not good enough.

I had a bunch of soprano solos that season. In the stands were my mom, dad, and brothers, all sitting around the 30 yard line. When I went out to play my solos something hit me to give something back to them for all they gave me. Instead of playing my solos on the 50 yard line as all soloists did back then, at the last second I ran as fast as I could over to the 30 yard line and played right to them.

They went nuts, and I still owe them all.

Another great time was while I was still in the Saints. We were performing a Bill Chase show at Garfield stadium. I had the Chez on the set of Letterman. opening solo in “Invitation to a River,” which starts with the whole corps silent and a timpanist roll. I was supposed to play a big G to high G part, then the corps comes in on a power chord. Well, we had these small tassels on the side of our uniforms. My spit valve got stuck on the tassels and my tuning slide came all the way out! The roll starts: I try to put in the slide—I freak and put it in upside down! Now it’s stuck!

The roll stops… silence.

The drum major, seeing I was in trouble, jumps off the podium and grabs me another horn from a third soprano (thanks Wargo!). He gives me the horn. I think “What should I do?” Something hits me—BLOW THEIR FACES OFF! The crowd goes nuts. Good moment.

Catch Al on the Late Show. He’s also a brass consultant with Bushwackers; Bushwackers.org.

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2006 MAJOR EVENTS DRUM CORPS INTERNATIONAL

DCI Father’s Day Kickoff DCI Columbia

Lisle, Ill. • June 18

Columbia, Mo. • June 24

DCI Central Illinois

Bloomington/Normal, Ill. • June 30

DCI Indianapolis The Central Division Championships Indianapolis, Ind. • July 8

DCI Kalamazoo

Kalamazoo, Mich. • July 15

DrumsAlong the Rockies DCI Louisville

Denver, Colo. • July 15

Louisville, Ky. • July 17

DCI SanAntonio The Southwestern Championship San Antonio, Texas • July 22

Masters of the Summer Music Games

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Murfreesboro, Tenn. • July 28

DCIAtlanta The Southeastern Championship Atlanta, Ga. • July 29

DCI Eastern Classic

Allentown, Pa. • Aug. 4 –5

DCI Division II & IIIWorld Championships Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, Wis. • Aug. 8 –12

Individual & Ensemble Competition Overture Center for the Arts • Madison, Wis. • Aug. 9

DCI Division IWorld Championship Camp Randall Stadium • Madison, Wis. • Aug. 10 –12

Visit DCI.org for the latest information.

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