Drum Corps of Texas combine for historic performance....
For immediate release (MBDC Plaza) - Gulf Coast Sound Senior Drum & Bugle Corps:
In an unprecedented show of solidarity, members of every active drum and bugle corps in the state of Texas will unite on the field for a combined performance. Revolution, Gulf Coast Sound and Bayou City Blues will perform together at "The exSIGHTment of SOUND" competition to be held at Rice University Stadium in Houston, Texas on July 18th. Selections for the massed corps will include "Amazing Grace" and "God Bless America". The performance will take place after the final corps competes, prior to retreat.
Revolution Junior Drum & Bugle Corps from San Antonio, Texas was founded in 1999 by John Rodriguez. The corps was created to serve the musical youth of the area and provide a summer activity filled with positive reinforcement, musical instruction and leadership building skills. The young men and women of Revolution achieved the title of Drum Corps International Division III Champion in 2002. Revolution is engaged in a national tour for 2003 in a quest for prominence in DCI’s Division II ranks.
Gulf Coast Sound Senior Drum & Bugle Corps from Houston, Texas has been competing regionally and nationally since 2001. The corps combined with MCM winter guard to win the 2002 Texas Color Guard Circuit Independent World championship. Gulf Coast Sound performed in the first annual Drum Corps Associates Southern Regional over the recent 4th of July weekend and will travel to Scranton, Pennsylvania for DCA finals Labor Day weekend.
Bayou City Blues Senior Drum & Bugle Corps from Spring, Texas is the oldest corps established in Texas. Bayou City Blues was formed in1991. The corps performs in parades and as an exhibition unit at local venues.
Ticket information for the show that includes The Cavaliers, Santa Clara Vanguard, The Cadets, Boston Crusaders and Glassmen as well as Revolution in competition, can be obtained by calling 281-397-8124 or visiting www.drumcorpstexas.com. The stadium is located at the intersection of Greenbrier and University Streets in Houston.
Come enjoy the performances and be part of drum corps history in Texas!
SFA Head Band Director & The Cadets staff member Dean Westman imjured....
Dean Westman, brass caption supervisor for The Cadets Drum & Bugle Corps and Director of bands at Stephen F. Austin High School in Sugar Land, Texas, is in a Berkshire MA hospital after breaking his ankle following rehearsal. Dean was moving down a small, wet incline when his feet slipped out from under him. Unfortunately, one foot stayed behind, snapping the ankle.
Surgery was performed on June 11th, and Dean now has a pin through his leg and ankle to hold things together. He is confined to an area hotel for a week, and then home to his parents in Chicago for rest and recuperation.
At best, the corps is hoping to have him back around July 11th but that is clearly conjecture at this point. The variables are the healing process, the pain, and the mobility that will be available after things settle down. In the interim, Gordon Henderson, who jumped on a plane with 6 hours notice, will be heading the brass staff until June 21st, with Donald Hill, taking over from June 22-July 3rd.
George Hopkins, corps director commented, "Needless to say, this is most unfortunate. We were looking forward to Dean leading the team through the summer, but, his ankle had other ideas. Gordon and Don will be a great tag-team and the teach staff in place is excellent. The summer will be a little less exciting, but we are ready, nonetheless".
Tom Aungst, Percussion caption head, heard the news while home in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, teaching school. "Well, I am disappointed of course. Dean has a great sense of humor and he is a great, great teacher. We have been getting along well."
College credit offered for members of Carolina Crown....
Members of 2003 Carolina Crown may earn summer academic credit for corps participation through the University of North Carolina at Charlotte's department of music for the first time this year.
In a special partnership arrangement between UNCC and Carolina Crown, corps participants desiring academic credit may register beginning April 7, 2003 for "Summer Marching Ensemble," a course which will include the performance season from June through August. Registration is available until May 29.
UNCC and Carolina Crown will recognize the accomplishment of corps members who complete a full season of participation in Carolina Crown. One unit of credit is awarded for continuous activity through DCI finals.
Individual members may earn general education credit. This credit can be applied towards an eventual college degree, either from UNC-Charlotte, or by transferring earned credit to any other collegiate institution as a general education credit. The minimum age of registration is 17.
For those corps members who may be interested in teaching instrumental music in schools, evidence of academic credit for participation in Carolina Crown will be useful to prospective employers, particularly those seeking marching band instructors.
Individuals who participated in last year's Carolina Crown full season may also receive retroactive credit, even if not participating this coming summer.
Registration is available online through UNC-Charlotte's Web site, www.uncc.edu. Individuals should access "Summer Programs" and then select "First Session Offerings" and click on "Summer Marching Ensemble" (MUSC 3301). One unit of academic credit at UNC-Charlotte is and is tax-deductible.
Kevin Smith, corps director, and Dr. Larry Marks, UNCC director of bands, will serve as program administrators. For further information or assistance, please contact Marks at (704) 687-4470.
It's official! Denver to host 2004 DCI World Championships....
For the first time since 1978, Drum Corps International's World Championships will be held in Denver from Aug. 3 to Aug. 7, 2004, at the brand-new INVESCO Field at Mile High, home of the Denver Broncos football team.
Denver officials are already excited about hosting championships.
"We've hosted the Pope, the Summit of the Eight (a meeting of the eight leaders of the world's eight biggest nations), we've won two Super Bowls and two Stanley Cups, but for sheer pulsing excitement, it's hard to top the thrill of having 50 drum and bugle corps all in one spot," said Richard Grant, director of communications of the Denver Metro Convention and Visitor's Bureau.
Mark Arnold, director of Denver's Blue Knights drum corps, said, "Our fans are really going to love coming to Denver. It's one of the top summertime destinations. It's going to be great having this world-class event in such a wonderful world-class venue as INVESCO Field at Mile High."
The Denver setting will bring back a flurry of memories for Dave Gibbs, director of the Blue Devils. Gibbs performed with the Blue Devils at World Championships in Denver in 1977 (as a soprano player) and in 1978 (as drum major). Back then, the event was held at venue named Mile High Stadium, which was replaced by INVESCO Field at Mile High.
"It's a great city to have World Championships in! It was fun when I performed there in the late '70s -- I have great memories, and I look forward to bringing the Blue Devils back to the wonderful surroundings of Denver," Gibbs said.
Belleville Black Knights celebrate 50th anniversary.....
The Belleville Black Knights Drum & Bugle Corps will celebrate its 50th Anniversary in 2003. There will be a Drum Corps Reunion Banquet for ALL Southern Illinois drum corps alumni. The reunion will be held on September 27, 2003 at the Millennium Hotel at 200 S. 4th St in St Louis, MO.
The Reunion committee is trying to track down all of the Southern Illinois Drum Corps members. Please contact Steve McCarty at "semccarty@yahoo.com" with your address, the year(s) you were a member, and corps affiliation. If you have any information on other members (email address, street address, or even the city they live in), please send it also.
The committee is also looking for any Black Knights, Millstadt Crusaders, Bellettes, Gabrielettes, etc. paraphernalia for the Reunion: photos, movies/video tapes, audio recordings,contest programs, or anything else you might think to be of interest.
Santa Clara Vanguard to perform at the 2004 Tournament of Roses Parade....
The Santa Clara Vanguard will march in the 115th Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade in 2004. The theme of that parade is "Music Music Music".
"We will be represented by a combination of this year's Vanguard and Vanguard Cadets, complimented by members from the Alumni Corps. It is an honor to represent both the City of Santa Clara and the drum and bugle corps activity in such a prestigious event," said Vanguard general manager Dan Vannatta.
The 115th Rose parade will take place on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2004 at 8:00 a.m. (PST). The parade will feature spirited marching bands from throughout the nation, majestic floral floats, and high-stepping equestrian units. Following the Rose Parade at 2 p.m. (PST), the 90th Rose Bowl Game will feature an exciting match up between two championship teams, showcasing the best of collegiate football," according to the official tournament of roses Web site (http://www.tournamentofroses.com/).
A fund-raising campaign will be established soon to ensure a successful Vanguard performance and to not detract from our primary purpose of supporting this year's performance groups," Vannatta said.
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Six of the world's top drum and bugle corps will compete at the 16th annual 2003 "exSIGHTment of SOUND" at Rice Stadium in Houston, Texas. The event hosted by DrumCorpsTexas will be held on July 18th.
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BOA speaks out on the latest G.N. Finals change...
I think we can all agree, "Change can be a challenge and disturbing." I hope we can also further agree that all of us, whether pro or con on Bands of America's Grand Nationals format change have BOA's mission to "create and provide positively life-changing experiences for students, teachers, parents and communities" as our mutual focus.
The response and discussion about the Grand National Finals format change has run from one extreme to the other. It was unanimously recommended by the advisory board members and guests present at the Advisory Board meeting January 12-13 that starting in 2003 Bands of America Grand National Finals Championship will be a showcase of 12 of the finest high school bands in America and a celebration of all finalists that does not focus on the ranking of the bands. It will be a "presentation of the best of the best." A Grand National Champion will be named, Outstanding Achievement Awards presented in three captions based on scores, and all finalists recognized for the incredible achievement of earning a position in Finals.
"Over the past few years, the level of performance and excellence of the finalist bands has gotten to the point where to designate who was 2nd best and who was 12th best (or for that matter the '1st best') is besides the point," says Scott McCormick, President of Bands of America. Bands of America's more than 25 years of success has helped to drive the level of excellence in marching band and general band education to unprecedented levels. At some point, the competitive drive can and will exceed the perceived benefits. Grand National Finals is at this stage of development. It is almost "ludicrous" to measure, at this level, the comparative excellence of these performers.
We need to take a look at the nature of celebrating 12 outstanding bands. We need to place maximum emphasis the MANY who exude that superior level of excellence that has become Grand National Finals.
The Finals awards ceremony will change to place primary emphasis on the achievement and celebration of each finalist participant and band. It will be a celebration of music and achievement.
Saturday evening will be a show that acknowledges all of the finalist band members with National Finalist medallions. The Grand National Champion, Outstanding Music, Visual and General Effect, and Esprit de Corps will also be awarded. No placing or scores will be announced, no scores provided to the bands, only commentary by the adjudication panel. The numbers will be kept confidential and only used to tabulate the Grand National Champion and the Outstanding Achievement Awards.
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2003 DCI Division I Repertoires:
Bluecoats - Capture and Escape
*Time to Take Back the Knights - Stephen Mellilo
*Adagio for Theresa - Al DiMeola
*Code Name: Eternity - Amin Bhatia and Trevor Morris
Blue Devils - The Phenomenon of Cool: Unsquare Dances
*Concierto de Aranjuez - Gil Evans/Miles Davis
*Take Five - Dave Brubeck
*Blue Rondo ala Turk - Dave Brubeck
*Unsquare Dance - Dave Brubeck
Blue Knights - Primary Colors
*Kaval Sviri (Peter Liomdev)
*Izpoved, Confession (K. Kyurkdjyiski)
*Prologue (Mike Nevin)
Boston Crusaders - Bravo!
*Danzas de Pasion (Various Spanish Themes interwoven including Bolero, by Ravel)
*La Oracion (based on the Josh Groban's "The Prayer")
*Fantasia del Torero (Medley of Spanish Fantasy by Chick Corea & Malaguena by Ernesto Lecuona)
Capital Regiment - A Brave New World
*New World Symphony (Antonin Dvorak)
*Escapada (Joseph Spaniola)
*My Many Colored Days (Richard Einhorn)
*Mysterious Mountain Symphony #2 (Alan Hovhaness)
Carolina Crown - Bell-issimo
*Mass from "La Fiesta Mexicana" (H. Owen Reed)
*Earth from "Symphony #1" (Phillip Sparke)
*Stained Glass - Part 1
*The Engulfed Cathedral (Claude Debussy)
*Stained Glass - Part 2
*Carol of the Bells - Original Music (Michael Klesch)
Cavaliers - Spin Cycle: An Original Composition by Richard Saucedo
*Propulsion
*Resonance
*Terminal Velocity
Colts - Symphonic Visions: Ritual, Song, and Dance
*Cantus Laetus (David Gillingham)
*Harrison's Dream (Peter Graham)
*Blue Sapphire from 'Colours' by Roger's Cichy
Crossmen - Color
*Somewhere Over the Rainbow (E.Y. Harburg, Harold Arlen), based on the Gold Company version
*Welcome to the St. James Club (The Rippingtons)
*Blue Rondo A La Turk (Dave Brubeck: re-orchestrated by Chris Brubeck)
*Count Bubba - Gordon Goodwin
Glassmen - the Elements: air, earth, fire & water
*Air - Danza de los Duendes (Nancy Galbraith)
*Earth - October (Eric Whitacre)
*Fire
*Water - Original Composition by Bruce McConnell and Chris Hestin
Kiwanis Kavaliers - The Music of the Beatles
*Hey Jude
*Eleanor Rigby
*The Long and Winding Road
*Michelle
*Norwegian Wood
*Octopus's Garden
*Oh! Darling
*The End
Madison Scouts - Gold, Green, & Red: The Music of Benoit Jutras
*Gold: Jardin Chinois/Distorted
*Green: Atmadja/Urban
*Red: Reve Rouge
*Finale: Incantation
Magic of Orlando - Silver Voices
*Sinfonia Voci by David Holsinger
*Abrams Pursuit by David Holsinger
*Sanctus from "Mass" by Leonard Bernstein
*Offertory from "Mass" by Leonard Bernstein
*Finale from "Easter Symphony" by David Holsinger
Mandarins - Black Market Bazaar
*Symphony No.2 in B Minor (Alexander Borodin)
*Polovstian Dances (Alexander Borodin)
*In the Steppes of Central Asia (Alexander Borodin)
*Bacchanale from Samson et Dalila (Camille Saints-Saens)
Phantom Regiment - Harmonic Journey
*Canon in D (Johann Pachelbel)
*Wild Nights from Harmonium (John Adams)
*The Lord's Prayer from King of Kings (Miklos Rozsa)
*Ostinato from Mikrokosmos (Bela Bartok)
Pioneer - Spirit of Pioneer
*Song of Moses (David Holsinger)
Santa Clara Vanguard - Pathways
*Orawa for Orchestra (Wojciech Kilar)
*One Man Show from "Pollock" (Jeff Beal)
*Musica Verna - Anima Mundi, Mvt. 1 (Richard Danielpour)
*Orawa for Orchestra (reprise)
Seattle Cascades - Festiva Danza
*Huapango
*Harp Concerto (Alberto Ginastera)
*Oblivion (Astor Piazzolla)
*Libertango (Astor Piazzolla)
*El Salon Mexico (Aaron Copland)
Southwind - Dance Portraits
*Gayne Ballet (Khachaturian)
Spirit - Time
*Somewhere in Time (John Barry)
*Whirr, Whirr, Whirr (Hultgren)
*October (Eric Whitacre)
*Nutville & No Jive (Buddy Rich)
*Appalachian Morning (Paul Winter)
*Somewhere in Time Reprise (John Barry)
The Cadets - Our Favorite Things
*Fanfare & Allegro (Clifton Williams)
*Malaguena (Ernesto Lecuona)
*Rocky Point Holiday (Ron Nelson)
Troopers - Reflections of The Blue & The Grey
*Great Locomotive Chase (Robert W. Smith)
*Gently Flows The Amber Grain (Brian Scott)
*Battle Music (David Holsinger)
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