DRUM CORPS ROCK OUT

Musical athletes rock out to beat of their own drums

Drums Across River Region will electrify Millbrook crowds

Story by Amy Passaretti & Photos by Drum Corps International

The color guard is one of three sections that make up these traveling marching bands

Seven groups of elite musical athletes will transform Stanhope Elmore High School’s football field into a stage as these drums and bugle corps dazzle the crowds with their performances.

Drums Across the River Region on July 13 at 7 p.m. is just one of 19 stops along a countrywide route for traveling marching bands to compete.

“They put together a show similar to a halftime show, but it’s different – more intense, difficult and longer. It’s a combination of a Broadway show, marching band, acrobatics, and it tells a story. The 11-minute performance is far more sophisticated than what you’ll see at a college or high school halftime show,” said Lawrence LeClaire, Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps’ executive director.

This particular stop in Millbrook is hosted by Southwind, which was founded in Montgomery in 1980, so it’s the closest thing the corps has to a home base. Chosen from the best musicians around the nation, the 125-person ensemble features students from 15 differ

Southwind's brass instrument section is made up of talented students

ent states this year. “The corps is made up of the best, most dedicated individuals from their hometown marching bands – hard-working musicians who want perfection,” said LeClaire.

Perserverance is key to success as these kids ages 14 to 21 travel for 30 days on tour buses – often all night; rehearse in the hot sun all day long; camp on school floors; and follow a particular route to compete with other marching bands.

The mission of the drum corps is more than just honing skills, said LeClaire. During the season, its members learn to take care of themselves, manage their money, be smart, stay clean, do their own laundry – be independent.

“I call it the world’s greatest youth activity. I am still in touch with friends from drum corps years ago. We become great musicians, develop work ethic and see the country. I think it’s an experience everyone should have,” said Chris Goldschmidt from Southwind’s board of directors.

All the drum corps’ routes converge for the championships, which will be in Indianapolis this August.

“We serve about 27,000 meals during the course of a season,” said LeClaire. “We feed them well. They are burning calories like crazy throughout the days.”

Legends Drum Corp will travel from Kalamazoo, Michigan, to compete

The process for being chosen to this prestigious summer traveling band begins with auditions in November and December. Once chosen, students spend one weekend a month from January until June at Southwind’s camp in Mobile. Prior to leaving for the summer tour, they spend two straight weeks rehearsing.

There are three units that make up the band: brass instruments, color guard and the percussion section.

“Each section has its own set of professional instructors. Some may have done this in the past and want to give back or simply have a passion for it,” said LeClaire.

A design team forms in October, before auditions even begin, to plan out the show, including musical arrangements, design, colors and uniforms, which are all custom. Southwind also has its own set of instruments to ensure consistency across its members.

“Everything is matched up; everyone plays on the exact same instrument, model and even custom mouthpieces. It’s all about perfection,” said LeClaire.

At each competition, corps are judged based on different categories. Each of the three sections is judged separately. There is a critique on the overall general effect of the show; individual performers are judged, and there are judges placed up high to focus on the visual component, said LeClaire.

Robert Scroggins, an American hero

Two senior corps, including

Carolina Gold from

North Carolina, also will perform

Each year, Southwind's musical arrangements and costumes are custom made

It’s all recorded and uploaded online, and judges converge in the end zone at the end of each show to provide critiques and feedback to each performing band.

“They make those changes on the fly, so the next night they’ll be that much better. The goal is to improve every single show,” said LeClaire.

This is the third year Drums Across the River Region will perform at Stanhope Elmore. The night’s performances will feature Legends from Kalamazoo, Michigan; Heat Wave from Inverness, Florida; Louisiana Stars from Lafayette, Louisiana; Southern Knights from Pelham, Alabama; Southwind, which is now based out of Mobile; and two senior corps: Atlanta CV from Acworth, Georgia, and Carolina Gold out of Raleigh, North Carolina.

“We typically see crowds between 3,000 and 5,000,” said LeClaire. “And they are energetic crowds. They cheer and get loud. When those kids hear them scream and start yelling for them, they feel special; it feeds their performance.”

There are two options at Stanhope Elmore: reserved seating and general admission. Reserved seating tickets are $20 and are located on the 50-yard line, which provides the best sound and best view, said LeClaire. General admission tickets are $15. Tickets can be purchased online at southwind.ticketspice.com/darr, or they can be purchased at the gate.

The Louisiana Stars will return to Stanhope Elmore this year