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Articles by Jeff Griffith
Change is unstoppable: Undefeated Bluecoats grab gold
INDIANAPOLIS — It’s a challenging climb up to the top of the drum corps world. It’s even harder to get back to that mountaintop. Bluecoats have experienced a significant amount of success since the corps’ first DCI World Championship title in 2016. But the road back has also featured a few close calls. Rather than dwell on the past, the Canton, Ohio corps, instead chose to make the 2024 DCI season about achieving excellence.
Madison Scouts are Finals bound after volatile Semifinals competition
INDIANAPOLIS — Throughout the summer, the annual chase for a spot in the DCI World Championship Finals has been closely-contested. All along the way, though, the pack has largely been led by one name — Madison Scouts. After positioning itself in 12th place midway through the season, the Wisconsin corps never relented, and rode the momentum of an energetic production to the corps’ first Finals appearance since 2017.
Third time’s the charm for Semifinals-bound Battalion
INDIANAPOLIS — Prior to Thursday’s DCI World Championship Prelims presented by Band Today, The Battalion had already made its fair share of history in 2024. The Utah corps’ 10th anniversary season has been full of memorable competitive moments, including an all-time high score and ranking at the DCI Open Class World Championships earlier in the week in Marion, Indiana.
Bluecoats lead the pack at World Championship Prelims
INDIANAPOLIS — Bluecoats have created a fair amount of change this season, but one thing has remained the same — the corps’ position at the top of the leaderboard. Thursday night at the DCI World Championship Prelims presented Band Today, the Canton, Ohio corps added yet another win to its 2024 unbeaten streak, and earned its first Prelims victory in five years. “Tonight’s run was amazing,” Bluecoats drum major Tony Gamez said.
Spartans go back-to-back, take home 2024 Open Class title
MARION, Indiana — Spartans’ history is covered in competitive success, featuring an array of World Championship titles. Even still, at Tuesday night’s DCI Open Class World Championship Finals, the Nashua, New Hampshire corps received a title it hadn’t earned in decades — back-to-back champion. “This means the world to us,” Spartans drum major Ana Carolina Silva said. “We have been working so hard from November until now.
Bluecoats keep it rolling, hold off surging Boston Crusaders in Atlanta
ATLANTA, Georgia — With just two weeks left in the season, Bluecoats’ undefeated run through the 2024 DCI Tour picked up another key checkbox on Saturday night in the Peach State. While the corps’ lead over the field of World Class competitors slimmed to just over half a point at the DCI Southeastern Championship presented by Ultimate Drill Book, the Canton, Ohio corps extended its win streak to 11-straight events.
Bluecoats set new record as streak continues through San Antonio
SAN ANTONIO — The overarching theme of their production, “change” is embedded in every aspect of the Bluecoats’ 2024 season. Saturday at the DCI Southwestern Championship presented by Fred J. Miller, Inc., the Canton, Ohio corps altered the record books, and took the 2024 DCI Tour to new heights. Bluecoats’ final score of 93.025 eclipses the previous DCI Southwestern Championship high mark set just last year by nearly half a point.
Bluecoats emerge atop frenetic Broken Arrow leaderboard
BROKEN ARROW, Oklahoma — After a marquee matchup Tuesday night, there’s now one less undefeated corps on the 2024 DCI Summer Tour. Often one of the first key meetings of top-scoring competitors, DCI Broken Arrow presented by Oklahoma Baptist University Athletic Bands serves as a key precursor to upcoming headline events.
SoundSport Showcase Rochester to feature mini-corps competition this August
As part of an exciting weekend of marching music in Upstate New York, the SoundSport Showcase Rochester — a brand-new free event — will feature an array of exciting indoor performances for a public audience. The event will take place Friday, August 2 at the Gates Chili Performing Arts Center (1 Spartan Way, Rochester, NY).
Athleticism, excellence to drive Cadets’ “sporty” 2023 program
To drum corps fans, The Cadets have a specific, recognizable image. Visual designer Jon Bilby knows that all too well; he marched with the corps in the late 1990s, and has been on its visual staff for the better part of two decades. Part of that brand is, of course, a maroon and gold color palette, which Bilby said won’t be changing in 2023. But part of it goes deeper.
Blue Stars taking next steps toward “special” 2023 season
LEBANON, Indiana — In many ways, the shared mantra surrounding Blue Stars’ April rehearsal camp — the corps’ final camp before spring training and the 2023 DCI Summer Tour — all tied back to one notion. This year, everything has been taken up a notch for the La Crosse, Wisconsin corps. According to brass caption head Travis Larson, that was evident even throughout the corps’ auditions this past winter. “We (as an organization) really haven’t changed much,” brass caption head Travis Larson said.
#BoermaIsBACK: Renowned arranger returns to Madison roots
From “Malagueña” to “Jesus Christ Superstar,” Madison Scouts developed a recognizable image and sound over decades of performances — one that takes risks, plays fresh music, and brings audiences to its feet. Loud, Proud, and Pleasing the Crowd. For 2023, the voice — or, more accurately, the pen — behind much of that growth is back in the fold, a key piece of the puzzle in carrying that same familiar Madison Scouts brand into an evolving era of drum corps.
Performer vote picks Genesis' 2023 production
“‘We’ is greater than ‘me.’” Genesis music supervisor Key Poulan has often guided his actions by that principle. The collective, as he sees it, is always stronger when working together through the sum of its parts. That’s not just Poulan’s ideology. Genesis, as an organization, makes it a point to hear and value all voices within its organization — especially, its performers.
Regiment pushing toward payoff in unconventional summer preseason
Across the drum corps landscape, spring training rehearsals are just a little bit different this year. For one—the obvious—it’s not Spring. Drum corps across the country have just gotten back to the practice field, and it’s already the dog days of the summer. “We’ve flown right into San Antonio in the middle of July,” Phantom Regiment program supervisor Tony Hall said. “That's the way it feels.” But some things never change. It’s still brass, percussion and color guard.
Corps news and announcements
In This Edition: • Inside Raiders' February rehearsal camp • Blue Knights names new percussion caption head • Troopers offer sneak peek at 2020 uniforms • And more! 7th Regiment Fiorella Contreras, a member of the 2019 7th Regiment baritone line, will lead the corps on the field this summer as drum major. According to corps executive director Kevin Lowery, “Fiorella truly embodies what we believe a corps member and student leader should be.
Corps news and announcements
In This Edition: • Crossmen introduce 2020 drum majors • Raiders reveal show title, repertoire artists for 2020• Blue Knights appoint new brass arranger • And more! 7th Regiment Learn how you can sponsor a meal for 7th Regiment this summer. SeventhRegiment.org The Academy Are you looking to add some vibraphones to your marching ensemble? The Academy has a few Majestic vibraphones for sale at $800 off. TheAcademyShop.com Blue Devils Blue Devils has professional euphonium hybrids for sale.
2020 southeastern Texas event will move to the University of Houston
Previously announced to return to the city of Katy, Drum Corps International will move its 2020 southeastern Texas event to the University of Houston’s TDECU Stadium. Taking place on Friday, July 17, the newly-named DCI Houston presented by Band Shoppe event will feature a seven-corps lineup that includes the Blue Devils, Blue Knights, Blue Stars, Bluecoats, Carolina Crown, Cavaliers and Phantom Regiment.
Corps news and announcements
In This Edition: • Legends names new brass caption heads • Battalion to make inaugural DCI Finals trip in 2020 • Colt Cadets welcomes back familiar design team • And more! 7th Regiment 7th Regiment revealed its caption managers for the corps' 2020 season. “We are so excited to have this amazing team of educators in place," executive director Kevin Lowery said.
Drums Across the Tri-State | Charleston, WV
Charleston WV 7-31.jpgPhoto by: Drum Corps International by Drum Corps International Estimated time before the event: INDIVIDUAL TICKETS Price: $18-$23 Prices increase $3 in all sections day of the show and do not reflect additional processing fees. Phone and Online Sales end at 9:00 am ET on Wednesday, July 26th to ensure that all tickets and materials get delivered to Charleston in time for the show.
Bluecoats remain unbroken in Broken Arrow
BROKEN ARROW, Okla. — On a night that featured nine of 2018’s finalists and saw four of the top five corps separated by just over 2.5 points, Bluecoats remained undefeated by a strong margin at Tuesday’s DCI Broken Arrow event. "You say you want a revolution. Well you know, we all want to change the world." -Revolution by the Beatles#theBLUECOATS #Bloo19 #DCI2019 pic.twitter.com/kDWlGtOfQl — Bluecoats (@Bluecoats) July 17, 2019 1. Bluecoats » 89.375 2. Blue Devils » 88.725 3.
Watch the 2019 DCI World Championship Prelims live in cinemas nationwide
“Big, Loud & Live,” the annual cinema broadcast of the Drum Corps International World Championship Prelims, will return to select movie theaters across the nation on Thursday, August 8. The milestone 16th-annual event will feature DCI's top-15 corps competing live from Lucas Oil Stadium. “Big, Loud & Live” will be presented in more than 500 movie theaters across the U.S. through Fathom Events' Digital Broadcast Network.
Cavaliers embark on long-awaited California adventure
The last time The Cavaliers trekked out to the west coast, they left with a bronze medal. It’s been a dozen years since; the 2007 DCI World Championships, which took place at Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, were the last held outside the state of Indiana. The Rosemont, Illinois corps’ return trip, according to corps director Dr. Michael Vaughn, has been years in the making. But members of the Green Machine, in 2019, are headed back to the Golden State for just the third time in this millennium.
Spotlight of the Week: 2004 The Cavaliers
A previously scheduled event at Denver’s INVESCO Field at Mile High meant that the 2004 Drum Corps International World Championships were scheduled a week earlier than normal. In a new addition to the DCI rulebook, 2004 marked the first year corps were permitted to utilize electronic amplification, allowing for percussion instruments and vocals to be better heard. Also new this year, a second percussion judge meant scores would be taken out to three decimals.
2018 corps member scholarship award winners
As part of the DCI World Championships, more than $19,000 in scholarship awards were presented to World and Open Class performers. The Jim Jones Leadership Award, named for the the founder and director of the Troopers, is given each year to one World and one Open Class drum major for a combination of leadership qualities and conducting skills. The winners are chosen by a committee of DCI Hall of Fame members, following an in-depth interview and evaluation process.
DCI statement regarding information disclosure
Drum Corps International is committed to preserving informational privacy and integrity regarding health, safety, and well-being concerns for all performers, staff, and volunteers within the DCI community. Further, DCI will strictly enforce policies that protect all individuals from any form of retaliation and will remain vigilant in safeguarding confidentiality.
DCI Board of Directors takes decisive action to ensure participant safety
Yesterday on the first day of its regularly scheduled meeting, the Drum Corps International Board of Directors took pivotal action to strengthen safety policies for all drum corps programs. Since spring training rehearsals begin in mid-May for many participating corps, board members moved quickly to ensure that clear expectations are in place to protect performers, staff, and volunteers.
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