Drum Corps International 2018 Yearbook

DRUM CORPS INTERNATIONAL 2018 YEARBOOK DRUM CORPS INTERNATIONAL 2018 YEARBOOK

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WELCOME A word from one of Drum Corps International’s marching members I can tell you without a doubt that you have made the best deci- sion of your summer by being here. Tonight, you will experience a host of drum corps groups, all equipped with captivating brass, remarkable color guards, and precise percussion. You will see perform- ers full of passion giving their all and bearing their souls on the field. They’ve spent weeks preparing to perform for you, hours upon hours trying to perfect Gabe Gallegos each and every moment of their shows. Drum Major Doing what we do every day is not always an easy task, but watching the Troopers resilience of my fellow drum corps members keeps me going. The ability to get back up again—when every ounce of your body tells you to stay down—is just one of the many life lessons that this amazing activity teaches. Drum corps members support and help each other through from day zero all the way until we walk off the field for the last time. We really do become a big family, and that family environment is the reason I have been in this activity for the past eight years. Today, as you watch all of these members pour their hearts out on the field, please think about the hard work it took to put every one of these incredible shows together. And when you hear, see, or feel something you like—LET US KNOW! Cheer, clap, stand up, scream! The louder you get, the more fun we all have, and the better performance you get! Last and certainly not least, thank you to the parents for giving up your children all summer. Thank you to the teachers for preparing us to take on this challenge. Thank you to the volunteers who do countless tasks behind the scenes. And to everyone else who supports this amazing activity: We would not be able to put on this show without you. So thank you! Enjoy the show, cheer hard, and have fun! Sincerely, Gabe Gallegos 2018 Souvenir Yearbook 3

WELCOME Drum Corps International Office of the Executive Director 110 W. Washington St., Suite C, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 WELCOME TO THE 2018 DRUM CORPS INTERNATIONAL TOUR AND DCI WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS! Daniel E.Acheson Executive Director/CEO Drum Corps International Thank you for joining us to share in the world of marching music performance and the DCI experience. If this is your first show, you will be amazed. If you are already a part of the DCI community, you will continue to be awed and inspired by the phenomenal talent of our performers. DCI and all our participating organizations strive to provide the highest level of quality throughout every aspect of the experience. You will see that commit- ment translated into extraordinary productions that are simply outstanding in every way. As you enjoy the shows, you will be witnessing the result of incredible cre- ativity, innovation, discipline, skill, and talent – all possible because of unwaver- ing dedication of the instructors and volunteers and the support of the families and fans. Because of such strong commitment, our performers will take the positive experience of drum corps with them as they go on to pursue excellence in life as music educators and in countless other professions. Thank you for being part of the ever-growing global community of the marching music performing arts. We appreciate your support of the young people we are so fortunate to serve and of the experience that is Marching Music’s Major League™. Dan Acheson 4 2018 Souvenir Yearbook



CONTENTS FEATURES 32 LEADING LADIES Five of the most accomplished women in the drum corps community open up about their roles as leaders and discuss the steps DCI is taking to march with the times and into a stronger future. BY SUSAN POLINIAK 120 MINUTES In the daily interval between practice and 40 performance, drum corps members pull off a coordinated drill nearly as impressive as the show on the field—the two-hour countdown known as Eat, Pack, and Load. BY HUDSON BARQUES JUDGMENT DAYS Drum Corps International’s judge 42 administrator explains the art, science, and challenges of scoring the boundary-breaking shows of today’s drum corps groups. BY JOHN PHILLIPS SPECIAL DEDICATION Drum corps programs for 46 performers with special needs will be marching into Indy for Championships Week. Meet the leaders and inspiring members of New York’s FREE Players and Ontario’s Community Living Hamilton. BY STEPHANIE SUSNJARA DEPARTMENTS Welcome Championship Awards From the performers ............... 3 World and Open Class winners From the Executive Director of DCI ....4 from the 2017 season ........... 134 About Hall of Fame Drum Corps International ....... 8 2018 Inductees ......................... 136 2018 Events & Scorecard Past Honorees .......................... 137 Events Table of Contents ......... 11 Friends of DCI Premier Events Scorecard ....... 12 The Inner Circle of DCI’s Tour of Champions .................. 22 most committed fans ........... 138 THE CORPS SoundSport/DrumLine Battle.. 24 Volunteers of the Year Championships Week .............. 26 This year’s winners and past 51 Open Class World Championship recipients ............................... 140 The programs, repertoires, Events and Score Sheet ....... 27 Thank You! and staff members of DCI Performers Showcase ....... 28 Recognizing all those corps competing on the Indianapolis World Championship who helped make the 2018 DCI Tour. Events and Score Sheet ....... 28 2018 DCI Tour happen ............ 142 Past Champions Postscript World Class ............... 52 Commemorating more than Photographers Linda and Open Class ................ 101 four decades of World Sid Unser have spent decades International .............. 127 Champion corps in all of DCI’s capturing DCI’s most dramatic All-Age ....................... 127 competitive divisions ........... 128 moments on the field ............ 144 6 2018 Souvenir Yearbook

2018 SOUVENIR YEARBOOK Dan Acheson Executive Director/CEO Bob Jacobs Director, Marketing John DeNovi Director, Sales & Business Development Chris Weber Sr. Manager, Communications Custom Published By: In Tune Partners, LLC Irwin Kornfeld CEO Emile Menasché Editor Jackie Jordan Creative Director Michael R. Vella Production Director Vanessa Small Business Manager Photography Linda and Sid Unser, Johnny Gilbert, Tyler McCourt, Jolesch Enterprises Contributors Hudson Barques, Susan Poliniak, Stephanie Sunsjara, Danny Miles Assistant Editor Kate Koenig Drum Corps International is the leader in producing events for the world’s most elite and exclusive marching ensembles for student musicians and performers. Business contact: 110 West Washington St. Suite C Indianapolis, IN 46204 Phone: 317.275.1212 Web: www.DCI.org Editorial contact: [email protected] Advertising: [email protected] ©2018 Drum Corps International. All rights reserved. 7

WELCOME MISSION STATEMENT The mission of Drum Corps International is to bring the life-enriching benefits and enjoy- ment of marching music performing arts to more people worldwide. We do this by creating a stage for participating organizations to engage in education, competition, entertain- ment, and the promotion of individual growth. FOR NEARLY A HALF CENTURY, Drum Corps International, CORE VALUES Marching Music’s Major League™, PURSUING EXCELLENCE: DCI strives to consistently demonstrate excellence in its has been the leader in producing operations and results and remain the preeminent leader in its field. events for the world’s most TEAMWORK AND COLLABORATION: DCI promotes effective teamwork, productive elite and exclusive marching relationships, and cooperation to achieve superior results. ensembles for student VISIONARY LEADERSHIP: DCI leads in moving the marching music performing arts musicians and performers. toward a preferred future that inspires others to share the vision and engage. Thirteen original founding COMMITMENT AND DEDICATION: DCI works diligently and tirelessly in its devotion member organizations formed the to advancing marching music performing arts. Drum Corps International collective CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION: DCI demonstrates imagination and ingenuity to in 1971 to organize and unify lead- develop new and effective ways to accomplish its mission. ership for youth-focused competi- tive drum corps events throughout MUTUAL CARE AND RESPECT: DCI treats all with dignity, courtesy, attention, and North America. Directors of those appreciation; and seeks these traits in others with whom it engages. competing groups sought to unite their corps by providing opportuni- PROFESSIONAL STAFF ties to perform together—in the Dan Acheson David Eddleman Wayne Leide Chris Weber end building a foundation for future Executive Director/ Open Class Chief Financial Sr. Manager, success. CEO Coordinator Officer Communications Katie Wietbrock Jay Moore Megan Benson A non-profit entity was officially Assistant Ticket Liz Glass Digital Marketing Event Operations Office Services established in 1972, and today DCI Manager Manager Manager Manager Michael Boo Kathy Harcourt Jim Paxton Seasonal Staff supports numerous programs Staff Writer Customer Service Assistant Corps Jordan Gilpin around the globe while sanctioning Carla Bowman Representative Housing Manager Madison Grunow participating recognized drum Staff Accountant and Friends of DCI John Phillips John Mahoney Coordinator Chelsea Broekema Judge Administrator Event Managers ® corps, SoundSport performance Event Operations Jeff Hartowicz Tina Pliagas Dale Antoine ensembles and DrumLine Battle™ Manager Video Services Business Pat Flynn Manager Mitch Huston Development teams performing in more than Kacy Burns Eric Hjellming Programs Julie Lakomek Staff Accountant 100 competitive events that make Lee Carlson Event Operations Coordinator Jill Moyer Kim Owens Manager up the annual Drum Corps Artistic Director Bob Jacobs Jameson Rhodes Rene Perez Technology International Tour. Jeff Cox Sr. Director, Administrator Interns Corps Housing Robert Belzeski Manager Marketing Duffy Teague Evan De Stefano Manager VISION STATEMENT John DeNoviohn DeNovi Brian Keller Travel and Meetings Jeff Griffith J Manager Ticketing Manager S Kate Hauersperger Sr. Director, Global r. Director, Global Sales and Business Sales and Business Jeff King Elaine Toon Olivia Hockey Development A world in which the positive Development Operations Director Operations Graham Hopkins Administrator life-transforming personal and Tony DiCarlo Sue Kuehnhold Rich Trotman Kylie Lincoln Brennan Tremblay Sr. Director of Contest Director societal benefits of marching Scott Dixon Events, Community Sr. Technology music performing arts are widely Group Sales and Corps Relations Manager Connie Leide John Turner and Community recognized and enjoyed. Engagement Accounting Open Class Judge Manager Administrator Coordinator 8 2018 Souvenir Yearbook



2018_TourMap_Yearbook_May28_Layout 1 6/1/18 2:57 PM Page 1 THE 2018 DRUM CORPS INTERNATIONAL TOUR ALABAMA GEORGIA OKLAHOMA TEXAS (CONT.) Millbrook • 7/13 Valdosta • 7/10 Broken Arrow • 7/17 San Antonio • 7/21 Birmingham • 7/26 Hoschton • 7/11 Mustang • 7/24 Mesquite • 7/23 Dothan • 7/27 Hiram • 7/14 OREGON UTAH ARIZONA Atlanta • 7/28 Ashland • 7/5 Ogden • 7/11 Mesa • 7/2 IDAHO PENNSYLVANIA Salt Lake City • 7/23 ARKANSAS Boise • 7/10 Pittsburgh • 6/28 Bentonville • 7/16 ILLINOIS Allentown • 6/30 VIRGINIA Little Rock • 7/25 Lisle • 6/30 Johnsonburg • 7/26 Salem • 7/30 CALIFORNIA Rockford • 7/6 Sheffield • 7/27 WASHINGTON Clovis • 6/22 DeKalb • 7/14 Chester • 8/1 Vancouver • 7/6 Stanford • 6/23 Dixon-Rock Falls • 8/1 Allentown • 8/3 Renton • 7/7 Sacramento • 6/24 Metamora • 8/4 KANSAS Allentown • 8/4 Tri Cities • 7/9 Pittsburgh • 8/5 Oceanside • 6/29 El Dorado • 7/16 Pasadena • 6/30 INDIANA Olathe • 7/16 Erie • 8/6 WEST VIRGINIA Riverside • 7/1 Michigan City • 6/24 KENTUCKY MICHIGAN MISSOURI RHODE ISLAND Charleston • 7/30 Sacramento • 7/6 Evansville • 6/27 Alexandria • 7/14 Detroit • 6/21 St. Louis • 7/15 Cranston • 7/3 WISCONSIN Escondido • 7/14 Muncie • 6/29 White Lake • 7/29 NORTH CAROLINA SOUTH CAROLINA Whitewater • 6/23 Bellflower • 7/15 Zionsville • 7/11 LOUISIANA Plainwell • 8/3 Cape Girardeau • 7/27 Winston-Salem • 7/29 Lexington • 7/7 Bakersfield • 7/20 Plymouth • 7/31 Lafayette • 7/23 NEW JERSEY TENNESSEE La Crosse • 7/1 OHIO Pleasant Hill • 7/21 IOWA MARYLAND MINNESOTA Clifton • 7/5 Akron • 6/23 Knoxville • 7/12 Cedarburg • 7/3 Mankato • 7/2 COLORADO Sioux City • 7/10 Annapolis • 7/31 Minneapolis • 7/7 NEW YORK Murfreesboro • 7/27 Wausau • 7/5 Denver • 7/14 Johnston • 7/11 MASSACHUSETTS Rochester • 7/8 Glens Falls • 7/21 Mason • 6/25 TEXAS Waukesha • 7/8 Denver • 7/24 Dubuque • 7/13 Lawrence • 7/1 Farmington • 7/31 Gloversville • 7/22 Centerville • 7/30 Denton • 7/19 East Troy • 8/1 FLORIDA Oskaloosa • 7/29 Lynn • 7/2 MISSISSIPPI Rome • 8/2 Avon Lake • 8/4 Belton • 7/19 WYOMING Orlando • 7/8 Cedar Rapids • 8/3 Lawrence • 8/2 Hattiesburg • 7/25 Buffalo • 8/5 Massillon • 8/6 Katy • 7/20 Casper • 7/13 LIVE! in Cinemas 2018 World Championships DCI Tour Premiere • 6/21 Open Class Prelims - Michigan City, IN • 8/6 Open Class Finals - Michigan City, IN • 8/7 Prelims – Indianapolis • 8/9 BIG, LOUD & LIVE SoundSport International Music & Food Festival • 8/11 Semifinals – Indianapolis • 8/10 from Lucas Oil Stadium • 8/9 Finals – Indianapolis • 8/11 Order Your Tickets Today! • www.DCI.org ©2018 Drum Corps International Events and dates subject to change. rev 05/18

PREMIER EVENTS SCHEDULE & SCORECARD Use the following pages to find events near you and record the scores as a keepsake! INSIDE Premier Events ....................12 Tour of Champions ............22 DrumLine Battle & SoundSport ........................24 Championships Week ........26 Michigan City .....................27 Indianapolis .......................28 Denotes event with DrumLine Battle and SoundSport competition (see page 24). 2018 Souvenir Yearbook 11

PREMIER EVENTS DCI TOUR PREMIERE Presented by DeMoulin Bros. and Co. Thursday, June 21 FORD FIELD Detroit, MI The 2018 season kicks off with the DCI Tour’s history-making first march through the City of Detroit. SCORE Blue Stars La Crosse, WI __________ Bluecoats Canton, OH __________ DCI CENTRAL INDIANA Boston Crusaders Boston, MA __________ Presented by Woodwind & Brasswind Carolina Crown Fort Mill, SC __________ Friday, June 29 The Cavaliers Rosemont, IL __________ BALL STATE UNIVERSITY Muncie, IN Phantom Regiment Rockford, IL __________ Carolina Crown will make a special encore performance DCI WEST with high school marching musicians as DCI delivers the capstone to the Music For All Summer Symposium. Saturday, June 23 SCORE STANFORD STADIUM Stanford, CA Blue Stars La Crosse, WI __________ Pacific coast corps return to the home of the Stanford Carolina Crown Fort Mill, SC __________ Cardinal in 2018’s first major showdown west of the Rockies. The Cavaliers Rosemont, IL __________ SCORE Colts Dubuque, IA __________ The Academy Tempe, AZ __________ Crossmen San Antonio, TX __________ Blue Devils Concord, CA __________ Genesis Austin, TX __________ Blue Devils B Concord, CA __________ Madison Scouts Madison, WI __________ Blue Devils C Concord, CA __________ Phantom Regiment Rockford, IL __________ Blue Knights Denver, CO __________ Mandarins Sacramento, CA __________ DRUM CORPS AT THE ROSE BOWL Santa Clara Vanguard Santa Clara, CA __________ Saturday, June 30 Troopers Casper, WY __________ ROSE BOWL STADIUM Pasadena, CA Vanguard Cadets Santa Clara, CA __________ In a traditional summer milestone, World and Open Class corps return to the hallowed ground of Rose Bowl Stadium. SCORE The Academy Tempe, AZ __________ Blue Devils Concord, CA __________ Blue Knights Denver, CO __________ Gold Oceanside, CA __________ Golden Empire Bakersfield, CA __________ Impulse Buena Park, CA __________ Incognito Garden Grove, CA __________ Mandarins Sacramento, CA __________ Pacific Crest Diamond Bar, CA __________ Santa Clara Vanguard Santa Clara, CA __________ Troopers Casper, WY __________ Watchmen Riverside, CA __________ 12 2018 Souvenir Yearbook

PREMIER EVENTS DCI MINNESOTA Presented by U.S. Marine Drum & Bugle Corps Saturday, July 7 TCF BANK STADIUM Minneapolis, MN The defending World Champion Blue Devils make their first 2018 midwestern appearance as World, Open and All-Age corps march on the campus of the University of Minnesota. SCORE Blue Devils Concord, CA __________ Blue Stars La Crosse, WI __________ The Cavaliers Rosemont, IL __________ Chops Minneapolis, MN __________ Colt Cadets Dubuque, IA __________ Colts Dubuque, IA __________ Crossmen San Antonio, TX __________ Genesis Austin, TX __________ Govenaires St. Peter, MN __________ DCI CROSSROADS Legends Kalamazoo, MI __________ Presented by the SoundSport International Madison Scouts Madison, WI __________ Music & Food Festival Phantom Regiment Rockford, IL __________ Wednesday, July 11 River City Rhythm Anoka, MN __________ ZIONSVILLE COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL Zionsville, IN Shadow Oregon, WI __________ This brand new event just north of Indianapolis comes exactly one month before a World Champion DCI ORLANDO will be crowned at Lucas Oil Stadium. Presented by Great East Music SCORE Festivals & Music Store Blue Devils Concord, CA __________ Sunday, July 8 The Cavaliers Rosemont, IL __________ CAMPING WORLD STADIUM Orlando, FL Legends Kalamazoo, MI __________ Eight groups will take the field of Orlando’s Camping World Madison Scouts Madison, WI __________ Stadium in the 2018 DCI Tour’s only Sunshine State showdown. Phantom Regiment Rockford, IL __________ SCORE Bluecoats Canton, OH __________ DCI NORTHERN KENTUCKY Boston Crusaders Boston, MA __________ Saturday, July 14 The Cadets Allentown, PA __________ CAMPBELL COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL Alexandria, KY Carolina Crown Fort Mill, SC __________ The 2017 Drum Corps Associates World Champion Heat Wave Inverness, FL __________ Cincinnati Tradition joins a lineup of World Class corps Jersey Surf Camden County, NJ __________ just south of The Queen City. Music City Nashville, TN __________ SCORE Spirit of Atlanta Atlanta, GA __________ Bluecoats Canton, OH __________ Carolina Crown Fort Mill, SC __________ Cincinnati Tradition Cincinnati, OH __________ Jersey Surf Camden County, NJ __________ Music City Nashville, TN __________ Spirit of Atlanta Atlanta, GA __________ 2018 Souvenir Yearbook 13

PREMIER EVENTS DRUMS ALONG THE ROCKIES Presented by Ascend Performing Arts Saturday, July 14 SPORTS AUTHORITY FIELD AT MILE HIGH Denver, CO One of the DCI Tour’s longest-standing events brings eight corps through the hometown of the Denver Blue Knights. SCORE The Academy Tempe, AZ __________ DRUMS ACROSS KANSAS The Battalion Salt Lake City, UT __________ Presented by The City of El Dorado Blue Knights Denver, CO __________ Convention and Visitors Bureau Oregon Crusaders Portland, OR __________ Monday, July 16 Pacific Crest Diamond Bar, CA __________ BG PRODUCTS VETERANS SPORTS COMPLEX Santa Clara Vanguard Santa Clara, CA __________ El Dorado, KS Seattle Cascades Seattle, WA __________ Nine drum corps groups take the field for this intense mid-season battle in the Sunflower State. Troopers Casper, WY __________ DCI MIDWESTERN The Academy Tempe, AZ SCORE __________ CHAMPIONSHIP Blue Knights Denver, CO __________ Presented by DeMoulin Bros. and Co. The Cadets Allentown, PA __________ Sunday, July 15 Genesis Aaustin, TX __________ THE DOME AT AMERICA’S CENTER St. Louis, MO Madison Scouts Madison, WI __________ In DCI’s debut event in this spectacular venue, corps from Santa Clara Vanguard Santa Clara, CA __________ across the country converge in the shadow of the Gateway Arch to mark the largest lineup of the season thus far. Seattle Cascades Seattle, WA __________ Spirit of Atlanta Atlanta, GA __________ SCORE Troopers Casper, WY __________ Bluecoats Canton, OH __________ Blue Devils Concord, CA __________ DCI CENTRAL TEXAS Blue Stars La Crosse, WI __________ Presented by FloMarching Boston Crusaders Boston, MA __________ Thursday, July 19 The Cadets Allentown, PA __________ BELTON HIGH SCHOOL Belton, TX Carolina Crown Fort Mill, SC __________ The Cavaliers Rosemont, IL __________ The Summer Tour’s annual Texas swing begins as DCI marches into Belton. Colt Cadets Dubuque, IA __________ Colts Dubuque, IA __________ SCORE Crossmen San Antonio, TX __________ Blue Stars La Crosse, WI __________ Genesis Austin, TX __________ Boston Crusaders Boston, MA __________ Jersey Surf Camden County, NJ __________ Genesis Aaustin, TX __________ Legends Kalamazoo, MI __________ Guardians Seguin, TX __________ Madison Scouts Madison, WI __________ Jersey Surf Camden County, NJ __________ Mandarins Sacramento, CA __________ Madison Scouts Madison, WI __________ Music City Nashville, TN __________ Oregon Crusaders Portland, OR __________ Phantom Regiment Rockford, IL __________ Pacific Crest Diamond Bar, CA __________ Pioneer Milwaukee, WI __________ Pioneer Milwaukee, WI __________ Shadow Oregon, WI __________ Seattle Cascades Seattle, WA __________ Spirit of Atlanta Atlanta, GA __________ Spirit of Atlanta Atlanta, GA __________ 14 2018 Souvenir Yearbook



PREMIER EVENTS DCI NORTH TEXAS Presented by Stanbury Uniforms Thursday, July 19 C.H. COLLINS ATHLETIC COMPLEX Denton, TX A World Class lineup heats up DCI’s Southwestern Series in the northern part of the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. SCORE The Academy Tempe, AZ __________ Blue Knights Denver, CO __________ The Cadets Allentown, PA __________ Carolina Crown Fort Mill, SC __________ The Cadets Allentown, PA __________ The Cavaliers Rosemont, IL __________ Carolina Crown Fort Mill, SC __________ Colts Dubuque, IA __________ The Cavaliers Rosemont, IL __________ Crossmen San Antonio, TX __________ Colts Dubuque, IA __________ Mandarins Sacramento, CA __________ Crossmen San Antonio, TX __________ Music City Nashville, TN __________ Genesis Austin, TX __________ Phantom Regiment Rockford, IL __________ Guardians Seguin, TX __________ Troopers Casper, WY __________ Jersey Surf Camden County, NJ __________ Madison Scouts Madison, WI __________ DCI SOUTHWESTERN Mandarins Sacramento, CA __________ CHAMPIONSHIP Music City Nashville, TN __________ Presented by Fred J. Miller, Inc. Oregon Crusaders Portland, OR __________ Pacific Crest Diamond Bar, CA __________ Saturday, July 21 THE ALAMODOME San Antonio, TX Phantom Regiment Rockford, IL __________ Pioneer Milwaukee, WI __________ With all 24 World Class corps facing off for the first time in 2018, DCI’s Southwestern Championship will give fans an Santa Clara Vanguard Santa Clara, CA __________ early indication of the season’s competitive battle lines. Seattle Cascades Seattle, WA __________ Spirit of Atlanta Atlanta, GA __________ SCORE Troopers Casper, WY __________ The Academy Tempe, AZ __________ Blue Devils Concord, CA __________ DCI MESQUITE Blue Knights Denver, CO __________ Presented by Pageantry Innovations Blue Stars La Crosse, WI __________ Monday, July 23 Bluecoats Canton, OH __________ MESQUITE MEMORIAL STADIUM Mesquite, TX Boston Crusaders Boston, MA __________ In the final stop of 2018’s Texas Tour, 11 groups burn to be the first to conquer this brand new DCI venue. SCORE The Academy Tempe, AZ __________ Blue Devils Concord, CA __________ Bluecoats Canton, OH __________ Carolina Crown Fort Mill, SC __________ The Cavaliers Rosemont, IL __________ Genesis Austin, TX __________ Phantom Regiment Rockford, IL __________ 16 2018 Souvenir Yearbook

PREMIER EVENTS Santa Clara Vanguard Santa Clara, CA __________ Seattle Cascades Seattle, WA __________ Spirit of Atlanta Atlanta, GA __________ Troopers Casper, WY __________ DCI ARKANSAS Wednesday, July 25 WAR MEMORIAL STADIUM Little Rock, AR One of the state’s most iconic stadiums once again plays host to the second of Arkansas’ duo of events this summer. DCI SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI SCORE Bluecoats Canton, OH __________ Wednesday, July 25 The Cavaliers Rosemont, IL __________ UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI Hattiesburg, MS Jersey Surf Camden County, NJ __________ Madison Scouts Madison, WI __________ Santa Clara Vanguard makes its first-ever appearance at M.M. Roberts Stadium at a late season showdown that’s Mandarins Sacramento, CA __________ been won by the Blue Devils for 10 straight years. Pioneer Milwaukee, WI __________ Spirit of Atlanta Atlanta, GA __________ SCORE Troopers Casper, WY __________ The Academy Tempe, AZ __________ Blue Devils Concord, CA __________ Blue Stars La Crosse, WI __________ The Cadets Allentown, PA __________ Colts Dubuque, IA __________ Crossmen San Antonio, TX __________ Oregon Crusaders Portland, OR __________ Pacific Crest Diamond Bar, CA __________ Santa Clara Vanguard Santa Clara, CA __________ DCI BIRMINGHAM Thursday, July 26 SAMFORD UNIVERSITY Birmingham, AL DCI’s second appearance at F. Page Siebert Stadium serves as an important launching point on the march toward Atlanta. SCORE Blue Knights Denver, CO __________ Mandarins Sacramento, CA __________ Music City Nashville, TN __________ Pacific Crest Diamond Bar, CA __________ Phantom Regiment Rockford, IL __________ Seattle Cascades Seattle, WA __________ Southern Knights Pelham, AL __________ Southwind Mobile, AL __________ Spirit of Atlanta Atlanta, GA __________ Troopers Casper, WY __________ 2018 Souvenir Yearbook 17

PREMIER EVENTS DCI SOUTHERN ALABAMA Friday, July 27 RIP HEWES STADIUM Dothan, AL Another sophomore stop on the DCI Tour marks 2018’s final drum corps contest in the Heart of Dixie. SCORE The Academy Tempe, AZ __________ Blue Stars La Crosse, WI __________ Colts Dubuque, IA __________ Crossmen San Antonio, TX __________ DCI SOUTHEASTERN Genesis Austin, TX __________ CHAMPIONSHIP Jersey Surf Camden County, NJ __________ Presented by Lone Star Percussion Madison Scouts Madison, WI __________ Saturday, July 28 Oregon Crusaders Portland, OR __________ MERCEDES-BENZ STADIUM Atlanta, GA Pioneer Milwaukee, WI __________ After more than a decade at the Georgia Dome, Seattle Cascades Seattle, WA __________ DCI groups march under the roof of this new state-of-the-art facility for the very first time. SCORE The Academy Tempe, AZ __________ Atlanta CV Atlanta, GA __________ Blue Devils Concord, CA __________ Blue Knights Denver, CO __________ Blue Stars La Crosse, WI __________ Bluecoats Canton, OH __________ Boston Crusaders Boston, MA __________ The Cadets Allentown, PA __________ Carolina Crown Fort Mill, SC __________ Carolina Gold Greensboro, NC __________ The Cavaliers Rosemont, IL __________ Colts Dubuque, IA __________ Crossmen San Antonio, TX __________ Genesis Austin, TX __________ Jersey Surf Camden County, NJ __________ Madison Scouts Madison, WI __________ Mandarins Sacramento, CA __________ Music City Nashville, TN __________ Oregon Crusaders Portland, OR __________ Pacific Crest Diamond Bar, CA __________ Phantom Regiment Rockford, IL __________ Pioneer Milwaukee, WI __________ Santa Clara Vanguard Santa Clara, CA __________ Seattle Cascades Seattle, WA __________ Spirit of Atlanta Atlanta, GA __________ Troopers Casper, WY __________ 18 2018 Souvenir Yearbook

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PREMIER EVENTS SOARING SOUNDS Monday, July 30 CENTERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL Centerville, OH This popular Dayton-area showcase is just one year shy of celebrating four decades as part of the DCI Tour. This year’s event will feature a special international guest as The Netherlands’ Jubal returns to America for the first time since 2015. SCORE The Academy Tempe, AZ __________ Blue Knights Denver, CO __________ Bluecoats Canton, OH __________ The Cavaliers Rosemont, IL __________ Cincinnati Tradition Cincinnati, OH __________ Jubal Dordrecht, Netherlands __________ Saturday, August 4 Music City Nashville, TN __________ J. BIRNEY CRUM STADIUM Allentown, PA Seattle Cascades Seattle, WA __________ Spirit of Atlanta Atlanta, GA __________ The Academy Tempe, AZ __________ Blue Knights Denver, CO __________ DCI EASTERN CLASSIC Boston Crusaders Boston, MA __________ Friday, August 3 The Cadets Allentown, PA __________ J. BIRNEY CRUM STADIUM Allentown, PA Carolina Crown Fort Mill, SC __________ After celebrating 40 years as a DCI battleground in 2017, The Cavaliers Rosemont, IL __________ one of drum corps’ most iconic venues is ready for yet Crossmen San Antonio, TX __________ another historic pre-World Championship weekend. Genesis Austin, TX __________ SCORE Jersey Surf Camden County, NJ __________ Blue Devils Concord, CA __________ Oregon Crusaders Portland, OR __________ Blue Stars La Crosse, WI __________ Pacific Crest Diamond Bar, CA __________ Bluecoats Canton, OH __________ Spirit of Atlanta Atlanta, GA __________ Cadets 2 Allentown, PA __________ Cavalcade of Bands Harrisburg, PA __________ DCI PITTSBURGH Colts Dubuque, IA __________ Presented by the Three Rivers Madison Scouts Madison, WI __________ SUMMER MUSIC GAMES Mandarins Sacramento, CA __________ Sunday, August 5 Music City Nashville, TN __________ BALDWIN HIGH SCHOOL Pittsburgh, PA Phantom Regiment Rockford, IL __________ Drum corps get to show their steel in the final Premier Event Pioneer Milwaukee, WI __________ before the DCI World Championships in Indiana. Santa Clara Vanguard Santa Clara, CA __________ SCORE Seattle Cascades Seattle, WA __________ Carolina Crown Fort Mill, SC __________ Troopers Casper, WY __________ Oregon Crusaders Portland, OR __________ Pacific Crest Diamond Bar, CA __________ Pioneer Milwaukee, WI __________ Seattle Cascades Seattle, WA __________ Spirit of Atlanta Atlanta, GA __________ Troopers Casper, WY __________ 20 2018 Souvenir Yearbook

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PREMIER EVENTS The Tour of Champions brings elite DCI groups and fans closer together with an exciting blend of competition and entertainment. In addition to traditional on-field performances, dazzling sideline encores and other special presentations give audience members an inside look at Marching Music’s Major League™. 1 Northern 4 The Masters 7 Drums Along Illinois of the Summer the Waterfront Northern Illinois Music Games New Era Field University Presented by Jupiter, Buffalo, NY DeKalb, IL Mapex & Majestic SUNDAY, AUGUST 5 SATURDAY, JULY 14 Middle Tennessee State University 8 Massillon 2 Oklahoma Murfreesboro, TN Presented by The Pro Presented by Drums FRIDAY, JULY 27 Football Hall of Fame of Summer Enshrinement Festival Broken Arrow 5 NightBEAT Paul Brown Memorial Stadium Wake Forest Tiger Stadium Broken Arrow, OK University Massillon, OH TUESDAY, JULY 17 Winston-Salem, NC MONDAY, AUGUST 6 SUNDAY, JULY 29 3 Texas Presented by Band Shoppe 6 Chester Legacy Stadium Talen Energy Stadium Katy, TX Chester, PA FRIDAY, JULY 20 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 1 1 SCORE 2 SCORE 3 SCORE 4 SCORE 5 SCORE 6 SCORE 7 SCORE 8 SCORE The Cavaliers Bluecoats Blue Devils Santa Clara Vanguard Blue Knights Boston Crusaders Phantom Regiment Carolina Crown The Cadets Crossmen Blue Stars Colts Mandarins Madison Scouts Cadets 2 The Academy Music City Pioneer 22 2018 Souvenir Yearbook



PREMIER EVENTS The Diplomats Drum The Diplomats Drum The Diplomats Drum & Bugle Corps Sunday, July 8 Orlando, FL NOW IN THEIR SIXTH YEAR, Drum Corps International’s Saturday, July 14 SoundSport® and DrumLine Battle™ programs continue Alexandria, KY to grow at a rapid pace, both in the United States and around the world. Designed to be fan-friendly, flexible, and economical Saturday, July 21 San Antonio, TX for the groups involved, SoundSport and DrumLine Battle provide opportunities for drum corps organizations, school Saturday, July 28 ensembles, and other performing groups to add to their Atlanta, GA competitive schedules—while making room for new groups Saturday, August 4 to begin competing for the first time. These exciting initiatives Allentown, PA are also proving to be a springboard for new and re-emerging Saturday, August 11 drum corps organizations that wish to join the DCI Summer Indianapolis, IN Tour. The culmination of the SoundSport/DrumLine Battle MUSIC: More than 35 ensembles from the U.S., Canada, and summer season will be the third annual SoundSport around the world will compete during the Festival. Groups International Music & Food Festival, held on Saturday, vying for the SoundSport championship perform five- to sev- August 11 in downtown Indianapolis, preceding the DCI en-minute programs; SoundSport events welcome perform- World Championship Finals. In a family-friendly atmosphere, ers of all ages and on all instruments, so fans may experience with food vendors and entertainment galore, an eclectic anything from a full marching band to a tin whistle ensemble. range of performers will show their stuff in close proximity to Meanwhile, the percussion units looking to become DrumLine festivalgoers. It’s the closest thing to a Super Bowl fan fest in Battle champion pack plenty of virtuosity into their two-minute the drum corps universe. sets. In both cases, showmanship is key. You can also expect special appearances by alumni corps, an all-star outfit draw- WHERE IT’S AT: The Festival takes place at three Indy ing nearly 550 members from middle schools across Indiana, locations: Pan Am Plaza, nearby Georgia Street (insider tip: and much more. find a spot on the Georgia Street parking garage for an over- head view of the action), and the Pavilion at Pan Am, a 900- FOOD: The Indianapolis food scene has grown significantly seat indoor venue that houses all the SoundSport perfor- in recent years, and that growth is on full display at the mances. DCI broadcast veteran Steve Rondinaro hosts the SoundSport International Music & Food Festival. An array of Pavilion events. vendors, from local restaurants to some of the city’s finest gourmet food trucks, will offer a wide variety of mouth-water- DrumLine Battle ing cuisines. on Pan Am Plaza HANDS-ON EXHIBITS: This year’s options include a special play zone for kids and families, an exhibit devoted to the Indiana Pacers basketball team, mini-drum lessons with representatives from local music stores, and an interactive drum circle. VIRTUAL CONTEST: Turn your eyes to the Jumbotron to see the winners of the SoundSport Virtual Championships. Ensembles of all types anywhere on the planet can enter this competition by submitting performance videos online to 24 2018 Souvenir Yearbook

PREMIER EVENTS 2018 SOUNDSPORT MEMBER TEAMS Alisal Community Impact of Orlando Arts Network All-Star Orlando, FL Drum Corps Salinas, CA Les Titans de Quebec Quebec City, QC Alisal Community Arts Network Marching Band Let Them Drum Salinas, CA The Woodlands, TX Appalachian Gold Lone Star Drum Summersville, WV and Bugle Corps Fort Worth, TX Appalachian Sound Drum & Bugle Corps MadBrass Atlanta, GA Madison, WI Arbella Pacific Dream Danvers, MA Portland, OR Arsenal Drum & Phenom Bugle Corps Tempe, AZ Albuquerque, NM Rhythm IN BLUE Bushwackers Canton, OH Princeton, NJ Rivermen Drum DCI judges, who give scores and commentary just as they do Calgary Stampede and Bugle Corps for top corps on the field. This year’s growing lineup includes Showband Portland, OR groups from Japan, China, and the United Kingdom. Calgary, AB Rogues Hollow Regiment Central Florida Doylestown, OH GRAND FINALE: During the awards ceremony at the end of Sounds of Freedom Sonus Brass Theater the Festival, all musical participants will join forces to play Orlando, FL Woodbridge, VA “Raise Your Voice” by Irish composer Brendan Breslin. This Columbus Saints Spirit of Sunnyvale anthem, specifically written to be played at all SoundSport Columbus, OH SoundSport events and scored for every conceivable instrument, will pro- Community Living Sunnyvale, CA vide a rousing send-off. Hamilton Drum Corps Star United Hamilton, ON Bloomington, IN Compass PRICE: Free. Every part of the SoundSport International Midland, TX Storm Music & Food Festival is open to the general public, and no Terre Haute, IN tickets are required. Cutting Edge The Diplomats Fort Worth, TX Drum & Bugle Corps Edmonton Sabers Windsor, ON Marching Band Edmonton, AB The Optimists Alumni Drum and Bugle Corps Elkhart Central Blazeline Toronto, ON Elkhart, IN The Rocketeers Encorps Harvest, AL New Brunswick, NJ Thunder Brigade Florida Xpress Drum & Bugle Corps Hawthorne, FL Gaithersburg, MD FREE Players Valley Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps Downey, CA Old Bethpage, NY VIBES Fine & Performing Freelancers Alumni Corps Arts DrumLine Escondido, CA Casper, WY Georgia Street Drum Circle Teams as of May 15, 2018 2018 Souvenir Yearbook 25

CHAMPIONSHIPS WEEK This August, Drum Corps International returns to Indiana to crown its 2018 World Champions. The week begins with the Open Class World Championship in Michigan City (Aug. 6-7), followed by four days of action in Indianapolis climaxing with the World Championship Finals on Aug. 11. INDIANAPOLIS WILL ALSO BE THE LOCATION for a range of special events, including the DCI Performers Showcase (see page 30), the Kickoff Party and Hall of Fame Induction (Wednesday, Aug. 8), and two daytime events on Saturday, Aug. 11: the fifth-annual Street Beat 5K run/walk and the SoundSport International Music & Food Festival (see page 24). The action moves inside Lucas Oil Stadium for Thursday’s World Championship Prelims, where International, Open and World Class groups will contend for a spot among the top 25 advancing to the Semifinals. The field is then narrowed down to 12 finalists, who will compete for the World Championship title on STREET BEAT 5K: Kick off Saturday morning in Indy Saturday night. with this annual 5K run/walk. Featuring a new route for 2018, race participants will hit the starting line at Lucas Oil Military Park Stadium before the race heads through downtown streets, doubles back at Military Park and ends at Pan Am Plaza, the site of the SoundSport International Music & Food Festival. Go to streetbeat5k.com for more details. THE WARMUP ZONE: Historic Military Park is the place to be to see drum corps warm up before taking the field at Lucas Oil Stadium each day during the World Championships in Indy. Spectator shuttles typically run between the stadium and Military Park at select times during the Semifinals and Finals events. Street Beat 5K FESTIVAL MARKETPLACE: As soon as they enter Lucas Oil Stadium, fans will find themselves in the midst of the Festival Marketplace. Check out the Drum Corps International Team Store, featuring DCI and Championship merchandise and apparel. All of the individual corps and DCI sponsors will have their own booths lining the con- course that leads to all of the stadium’s seating areas. 26 2018 Souvenir Yearbook

MICHIGAN CITY AMES FIELD, MICHIGAN CITY OPEN CLASS FINALS Tuesday, August 7 AMES FIELD Michigan City, IN SCORE 1. _______________________________________ __________ 2. _______________________________________ __________ 3. _______________________________________ __________ 4. _______________________________________ __________ 5. _______________________________________ __________ 6. _______________________________________ __________ 7. _______________________________________ __________ 8. _______________________________________ __________ 9. _______________________________________ __________ 10. _______________________________________ __________ 11. _______________________________________ __________ 12. _______________________________________ __________ THE OPEN CLASS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: Two days of intense competition will take place in Michigan City on August 6-7. International and Open Class corps will also be eligible to compete in Indianapolis beginning with the World Championship Prelims on August 9. OPEN CLASS PRELIMS Monday, August 6 AMES FIELD Michigan City, IN OPEN CLASS CAPTION AWARDS SCORE 1. _______________________________________ __________ BEST BRASS PERFORMANCE 2. _______________________________________ __________ ___________________________________________________________________ 3. _______________________________________ __________ BEST GENERAL EFFECT 4. _______________________________________ __________ 5. _______________________________________ __________ ___________________________________________________________________ 6. _______________________________________ __________ BEST VISUAL PERFORMANCE 7. _______________________________________ __________ 8. _______________________________________ __________ ___________________________________________________________________ 9. _______________________________________ __________ BEST PERCUSSION PERFORMANCE 10. _______________________________________ __________ ___________________________________________________________________ 11. _______________________________________ __________ 12. _______________________________________ __________ BEST COLOR GUARD PERFORMANCE 13. _______________________________________ __________ ___________________________________________________________________ 14. _______________________________________ __________ 15. _______________________________________ __________ MOST IMPROVED CORPS 16. _______________________________________ __________ ___________________________________________________________________ 17. _______________________________________ __________ (SEE PAGE 134 FOR 2017 WINNERS) 2018 Souvenir Yearbook 27

INDIANAPOLIS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP PRELIMS Wednesday, August 8 INDIANA CONVENTION CENTER Indianapolis, IN Presented by Gary P. Gilroy Publications Thursday, August 9 PRESENTED BY SYSTEM BLUE, the educational arm LUCAS OIL STADIUM Indianapolis, IN of the Blue Devils organization, the DCI Performers SCORE Showcase comes to the Indiana Convention Center in 2018 to kick off the World Championships Week action in 1. _______________________________________ __________ Indianapolis. World, Open and International Class corps 2. _______________________________________ __________ members, and even DrumLine Battle and SoundSport 3. _______________________________________ __________ teams, have the opportunity to come together to demon- 4. _______________________________________ __________ strate their individual and group talents by performing 5. _______________________________________ __________ solo and ensemble pieces perfected outside of their normal rehearsal schedules. Thanks to the inclusion of 6. _______________________________________ __________ vocal and woodwind categories, members wishing to do 7. _______________________________________ __________ so can display their talents on instruments that are not 8. _______________________________________ __________ normally used on the field in drum corps competition. 9. _______________________________________ __________ 10. _______________________________________ __________ 11. _______________________________________ __________ 12. _______________________________________ __________ 13. _______________________________________ __________ 14. _______________________________________ __________ 15. _______________________________________ __________ 16. _______________________________________ __________ 17. _______________________________________ __________ 18. _______________________________________ __________ 19. _______________________________________ __________ 20. _______________________________________ __________ 21. _______________________________________ __________ 22. _______________________________________ __________ 23. _______________________________________ __________ 24. _______________________________________ __________ 25. _______________________________________ __________ 26. _______________________________________ __________ INDIVIDUALS Visual: Flag, Auxiliary, Dance 27. _______________________________________ __________ Brass: Trumpet, ENSEMBLES 28. _______________________________________ __________ Mellophone, French Horn, Brass, Percussion, Cymbal, 29. _______________________________________ __________ Trombone, Baritone/ Bass Drum, Woodwind, Euphonium, Tuba Auxiliary, Flag, Dance, 30. _______________________________________ __________ Percussion: Snare, Multi- Vocal, Mixed 31. _______________________________________ __________ Tenor, Timpani, Keyboard, EXHIBITION 32. _______________________________________ __________ Multi-Percussion For instrumentation or Woodwind: Flute, Clarinet/ ensembles not covered 33. _______________________________________ __________ Double Reed, Saxophone under DCI Performers 34. _______________________________________ __________ Showcase rules. Vocal 35. _______________________________________ __________ 36. _______________________________________ __________ 28 2018 Souvenir Yearbook

INDIANAPOLIS 37. _______________________________________ __________ 7. _______________________________________ __________ 38. _______________________________________ __________ 8. _______________________________________ __________ 39. _______________________________________ __________ 9. _______________________________________ __________ 40. _______________________________________ __________ 10. _______________________________________ __________ 41. _______________________________________ __________ 11. _______________________________________ __________ 12. _______________________________________ __________ WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP 13. _______________________________________ __________ SEMIFINALS 14. _______________________________________ __________ Presented by EARasers & InEarz Audio 15. _______________________________________ __________ 16. _______________________________________ __________ Friday, August 10 17. _______________________________________ __________ LUCAS OIL STADIUM Indianapolis, IN 18. _______________________________________ __________ SCORE 19. _______________________________________ __________ 1. _______________________________________ __________ 20. _______________________________________ __________ 2. _______________________________________ __________ 21. _______________________________________ __________ 3. _______________________________________ __________ 22. _______________________________________ __________ 4. _______________________________________ __________ 23. _______________________________________ __________ 5. _______________________________________ __________ 24. _______________________________________ __________ 6. _______________________________________ __________ 25. _______________________________________ __________ 2018 Souvenir Yearbook 29

INDIANAPOLIS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS Saturday, August 11 LUCAS OIL STADIUM Indianapolis, IN SCORE 1. _______________________________________ __________ 2. _______________________________________ __________ 3. _______________________________________ __________ 4. _______________________________________ __________ 5. _______________________________________ __________ 6. _______________________________________ __________ 7. _______________________________________ __________ 8. _______________________________________ __________ 9. _______________________________________ __________ 10. _______________________________________ __________ 11. _______________________________________ __________ 12. _______________________________________ __________ WORLD CLASS CAPTION AWARDS Determined by the average scores in each category over the three days of World Championship competition. GEORGE ZINGALI AWARD for Best Color Guard ___________________________________________________________________ JOHN BRAZALE AWARD for Best Visual Performance ___________________________________________________________________ DON ANGELICA AWARD for Best Overall General Effect ___________________________________________________________________ JIM OTT AWARD for Best Brass Performance ___________________________________________________________________ FRED SANFORD AWARD for Best Percussion Performance ___________________________________________________________________ (SEE PAGE 134 FOR 2017 WINNERS) 30 2018 Souvenir Yearbook

VisitIndy_DCI_052316.pdf 1 5/23/16 9:43 AM C M Y CM MY CY CMY K Indianapolis is proud home to the Drum Corp International World Championships. Make the most of your visit. Take in the pageantry of competition, then get out and see the city. Better yet, add a day or two to your trip. The city offers a collection of museums and attractions to keep you entertained all day, and a food scene with options to please every palette. For what to see, do, and eat, go to VisitIndy.com | FOLLOW US: @VisitIndy

Leading Ladies “There are definitely more opportunities for women now than when I started.” —Vicki MacFarlane, Corps Director, Colts 32 2018 Souvenir Yearbook

LeADINg Ladies By Susan Poliniak Female leaders are helping drum corps march with the times—and into a stronger future. in 2013, Vicki MacFarlane was appointed corps director of the DCI World Class Colts, becoming the first woman to lead the unit and one of the first to lead any World Class DCI group. Five years into her tenure, MacFarlane is still the only female corps director in the World Class. Yet today, she can look across the field to see a growing number of women in prominent roles—from the Academy’s pro- gram coordinator Lindsey Vento to Oregon Crusaders brass caption head Lisa Tatum to judge Dr. Nola Jones— and many others. “I’ve never seen myself as representing an entire gender,” MacFarlane says. “There are definitely more opportunities for women now than when I started. We carry more people in more roles across the board. And I do think that organizations are stronger when there’s a balance.” MacFarlane notes, however, that creating that bal- ance isn’t as simple as deciding to hire more women. “Ultimately, we want our staff to be the best team of music educators we can find—male or female,” she says. “And we get way more applications from men than we do from women. One way to change that is to make qual- ified women aware that the opportunities are there and to encourage them not to shy away from applying.” Training Future Leaders From the grassroots to the boardroom, from individual corps to DCI as a whole, the drum corps community is more committed than ever to diversifying its leadership at all levels of the activity—from directorships to design, from instructors to tech staff. “I believe that drum corps is leadership training,” MacFarlane says. “And that training has very much to do with understanding and responding to all types of peo- ple.” Many drum corps members go on to careers in 2018 Souvenir Yearbook 33

“I have trained and prepped my whole career for this.” —Lindsey Vento, Program Coordinator, The Academy music education, and MacFarlane considers teaching to be an important part of her role. “I’m still certified as a K-12 music teacher, and educa- tion remains my main focus as corps director.” Lindsey Vento credits her background in music education for helping her settle quickly into her design role with the Academy. “This year is actually the first time for me to hold a leadership role in a DCI corps and, though it seems that it was a fast leap into leadership after only being involved with drum corps for a year, I have trained and prepped my whole career for this,” she says. “I’ve been an active designer, adjudicator, and instructor at the high school and collegiate level for 19 years. When the opportunity came up last year to become a staff member at Carolina Crown—thank you, Ron Hardin!— I just couldn’t pass it up. It was a natu- ral transition for me to become the artistic direc- tor and program coordinator at the Academy, as that is the role I play with my numerous scholas- tic teams.” Rising Through the Ranks While Vento is in her first year with the Academy, MacFarlane assumed the Colts leadership after a long tenure in the organization, which she joined as a lead the Colt Cadets, a position she held through 2012. “I corps member in 1994. After aging out and earning her loved working with the Open Class corps because I love bachelors in music education from Wartburg College in music education and activities that enhance lives,” she Waverly, Iowa, in 1998, she began working with the Colts’ says. “I was really proud to be on DCI’s Open Class brass section in 2001. A year later she was appointed to Advisory Committee.” Along the way, MacFarlane held a number of other administrative posts within the Colts organization, finding encouragement every step of the way. That helped when she was suddenly presented with a chance to run the World Class corps. Being elected “I didn’t seek the role of Colts director,” she says. “I was chair was not offered the position and then had to make a decision. something I Sometimes, you just have to be willing to take the risk.” expected, but I am The leap into leadership doesn’t mean starting at the happy to serve. top. Like MacFarlane, most of today’s drum corps leaders —Kathy Black, Chair, developed their skills over time, and many started as staff DCI Board of Directors instructors and worked their way up. Lisa Tatum, in her first year as brass caption head for the Oregon Crusaders, has been an instructor since 2009 and spent 2006-08 on baritone horn with Carolina Crown. “My time in the Crown was priceless,” Tatum says. “I learned so many things about pedagogy, time management, sequencing, and how to push myself. I had a completely new confidence that I had never experienced before.” 34 2018 Souvenir Yearbook

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Nola Jones Judging Confidence other marching arts nonprofits,” says Black, who joined the Confidence is a core ingredient of leadership, but it’s also a board in 2016. “Being elected chair was not something I quality that develops over time. While it’s easy to say that expected, but I am happy to serve— and I fully recognize confidence comes from within, it’s only human to be affect- the importance of being the first woman in that role.” ed by the expectations of others. Jones was already highly “Having Kathy Black on the board is important because qualified to be a DCI judge when she was recruited by chief it can make it easier for some of us to pick up the phone and judge Frankie Morris in 1999, yet still felt a lit- call, where maybe some women might not tle unsure of herself. “At first, I was intimidat- have done so before,” MacFarlane says. ed to be one of a handful of female judges on “The men on the board recognize this too— the DCI roster,” she admits. “That insecurity that both sides benefit when there’s a bal- dissipated on my first judging swing when I ance. For example, we have a female snare found my male colleagues to be supportive, tech and two girls in the snare line. While the respectful, professional, and kind.” balance can improve on its own naturally, Today, Jones—who has judged both invested focus helps us accomplish goals music and visual captions for DCI—is the faster—so the focus on finding balance director of visual and performing arts in the helps more females access the activity.” Metropolitan Nashville Public school district MacFarlane adds that adjusting the bal- and assists with training new music judges “At first, I was ance doesn’t necessarily mean taking roles in the DCI philosophy. Her advice for those intimidated to be away from males. It can be even more effec- who want to follow in her footsteps is to be one of a handful of tive to have men and women share roles and proactive. “Prepare for leadership roles [by] female judges on responsibilities. “Fran Kick, who runs DCI’s becoming active in local and regional com- the DCI roster.” leadership training programs, suggested petitions,” she says. “Many local associa- —Nola Jones, DCI Judge having both male and female leaders for tions offer training. Gain experience by judging as many each section. We also have both male and female bus cap- shows as possible.” tains. Our goal is for everyone to feel like they have some- one they can turn to, someone they feel comfortable Making Room in the Boardroom speaking with.” As instructors, drum majors, judges, and corps leaders bring more diversity to the field, DCI has also sought to Showing What’s Possible expand its perspective on a more organizational level. Although most women in leadership roles focus more on Earlier this year, Kathy Black was named chair of the Drum getting the job done than representing gender equality, Corps International Board of Directors. She is the first their presence does send a message—and seeing them woman to hold that post. succeed can inspire others to follow their example. “I For Black, it’s an opportunity to give back to an activity remember being in warm-up when I marched and seeing she fell in love with as a high school student. For DCI, it’s a Joni Perez warming up the Blue Knights horn line,” says chance to draw on her acumen as a leader in arts organiza- Tatum. “I always thought that was amazing!” tions while bringing a fresh perspective to the activity’s In fact, each of the leaders we spoke with was quick governing body. “I’ve been eager to apply my experience to point out that women have been making an impact on from the corporate world and as an attorney and director of drum corps since before the founding of DCI. “David 36 2018 Souvenir Yearbook



DRUM CORPS INTERNATIONAL IN STEP | Logo Assets | V1.5/8/18 COLORS FOR REPRODUCTION PMS 1785 U PMS 3125 U Cool Grey 9 U “I remember… seeing Joni Perez warming up the Blue Knights horn line. COLOR LOGO I always thought that was amazing! —Lisa Tatum, Brass Caption Getting IN STEP Head, Oregon Crusaders. In March, Drum Corps International launched IN STEP: Women of DCI, an initiative to encourage more partici- pation by women. Newly appointed chair of the DCI ONE-COLOR LOGO Jones, one of the founders of board, Kathy Black, says the program’s purpose is “to the Oregon Crusaders, told highlight women in the DCI community, to push for me about Sandra Opie,” Tatum development of member-protection policies, guide- says. “Sandra led the brass at the Argonne Rebels and lines, and training consistent with the DCI strategic through her leadership, the Rebels quickly improved and plan, and to set up events for women at major DCI com- made strides in their playing. In 1971, her horn line was one petitions. The committee adopted the ‘IN STEP’ theme of only two in history to earn a perfect content analysis as a link to the marching arts, but also as symbolic of score. She was inducted into the DCI Hall of Fame in 1995.” DCI being in step with a changing society. There’s been “Shirley Whitcomb was very influential in the early stag- tremendous interest in the committee and its work, and es of DCI and actually helped write the visual criteria refer- we are excited about plans for this summer.” According to Black, one of the goals of the IN STEP ence initially used to evaluate drum corps,” Jones adds. initiative is to understand what works for women when “She was also a mentor and trained new judges in DCI and they seek leadership roles in DCI—and to identify barri- WGI. Shirley Dorritie and Marie Czapinski also helped pave ers they may encounter. “We want to knock down those the way, and Debbie Torchia served as a judge and judge barriers!” she says. “The committee quickly came to liaison for many years, and currently administrates the agreement on the key metric to measure our success— training for new DCI judges. Jackie Gilley is another the number of women assuming leadership roles woman who has judged for DCI for many years.” across all facets of the activity—marchers, volunteers, Do women in leadership positions feel extra pressure staff, board members, and fans.” to succeed? Some would say that everyone in drum corps is always pushing to be their best and set the gender issue Jones also points to the need for more funding to sup- aside. Yet it’s also hard to ignore the responsibility of get- port minority participation in DCI. “We need to actively ting the job done when you’re in the minority. Vento says recruit and train a diverse population,” she says. “The DCI she wasn’t aware that she was one of the only woman artis- member corps can recruit women and minorities for staff tic directors in the World Class until someone pointed it positions, leadership, and board positions. Like other out. “I felt an instant motivating pressure and responsibili- fields, if we want to promote diversity, we must grow lead- ty, which I was excited to embrace,” she says. “Until then, I ers of diverse backgrounds from within our ranks. We can’t hadn’t really processed the idea that so few women have just wait for these individuals to show up. The process must held design roles in DCI.” be intentional, strategic, and systemic.” “We are at a critical juncture in terms of promoting Ultimately, the most lasting impact may occur from a diversity in our leadership ranks,” observes Jones. “We see combination of strategic action—such as DCI’s recently the same issue nationally in education. It’s exciting to see launched IN STEP: Women of DCI initiative —and grass- more female battery percussionists and tuba players roots activity. because we are making strides. I am excited when judging “Sometimes, it’s really about raising awareness and critiques include more women brass and percussion focus,” MacFarlane concludes. “Last year, our corps wasn’t instructors.” as strong at transitions as we wanted to be. This year we What, then, can be done to encourage more diversity in made it a focus and things improved quickly. I think the drum corps leadership? “Guide, support, and develop our same is true with diversity in leadership. Getting people to future leaders,” MacFarlane says. “Encourage women to think about bringing more balance can lead them to natu- seek out roles, and not wait for the roles to happen. I wasn’t rally include women—or anyone who’s under represent- scared to take on roles I did not feel ready for, and had ed—the next time there’s an opportunity. By considering directors who taught me not to ‘wait until you feel ready.’ and accepting roles in the drum corps activity, you can Caption heads and directors can seek out women on staff serve as a model for our future youth, and we are all stron- and [assign them] leadership roles. We must all be inten- ger because of it. Give it a shot. We want you. We need you. tional about this—[change] doesn’t happen passively. We This is a very open and accepting community, and to me, all, myself included, can do a better job with this.” this is a very good time to become part of it.” 38 2018 Souvenir Yearbook



Fr Fr Fr From cooking to comedy to playing the stock market, timing is everything. om cooking to comedy to playing the stock market, timing is everything. om cooking to comedy to playing the stock market, timing is everything. om cooking to comedy to playing the stock market, timing is everything. om cooking to comedy to playing the stock market, timing is everything. Fr But it’s hard to imagine another undertaking to which that phrase is more ’s hard to imagine another undertaking to which that phrase is more ’s hard to imagine another undertaking to which that phrase is more ’s hard to imagine another undertaking to which that phrase is more But it But it’s hard to imagine another undertaking to which that phrase is more But it But it meaningful than the Drum Corps International Summer Tour. 110 90 120 70 80 Members Multitasking: The EPL period typically 100 begins with (or right after) a 10-15-minute post-rehearsal meeting. In this fi rst block of time, several things must Pack Rats: The breakdown of responsibilities happen all at once. Everyone has often varies by section. Drum majors typically to eat, shower, pack instruments handle the podium, ladders, metronomes, etc. and equipment, and help out Color guard members will pack their equipment with any other tasks assigned and may also help with props and the large bank to their respective sections. In of instruments and electronics used by the front order to pull this off effi ciently, ensemble. In addition to their own instruments, members have to manage the brass and battery players may also help with their time in a rotation so that props, stands, and other gear. Members of the pit everyone has a chance to eat, have their hands full with their front-ensemble pack, and load. gear, which—in today’s more tech-reliant shows—often includes electronic instruments and sound reinforcement equipment. 40 2018 Souvenir Yearbook

ANYONE WHO’S WITNESSED A DRUM CORPS SHOW can attest to the performers’ pinpoint timing on the fi eld. But unless you’ve been part of a touring corps, you may not realize how closely timed every part of the day must be to fi t in rehearsal, meals, sleep, travel, and the show prep necessary to get the group into the arena and onto the fi eld. Every minute is precious during the season, but one block of time is especially crucial on show days; a roughly two-hour window known as EPL—Eat, Pack and Load. While the specifi c EPL timeline may vary among different drum corps organizations, the basic chain of events is universal: break down, clean and pack the gear, shower, eat, clean the facility, get ready to put your uniform on, and get to the bus in time to make it to the show. From cooking to comedy to playing the stock market, timing is everything. But it’s hard to imagine another undertaking to which that phrase is more meaningful than the Drum Corps International Summer Tour. Major Communications: While the cleanup is underway, drum majors are at the 10 equipment trucks making sure everything is loaded and BIS on the Bus: BIS is drum accounted for. They also keep corps shorthand for “butts in the staff updated so the corps seats.” By the time the cheeks can get ready to roll. hit the cushions, all members should be in their pre-show attire—athletic wear that goes 20 under their uniforms—and ready to move. 50 0 40 Earning Some Props: Because props are On With the Show: shared by the show 30 A mere 120 minutes ago, as a whole, many the drum corps was a hungry, organizations will rehearsal-weary, sweating appoint a props-packing mass. Now, they’re clean, crew culled from every prepped and primed to take section of the corps. on all comers. When the bus This group has to spend gets to the arena, they’ll hit time at the props truck the ground for stretches, while everyone else get in uniform, warm up, is eating, showering, and march onto the fi eld to and packing—so they Leaving Things Cleaner: DCI groups sleep on gym fl oors compete. A few hours later, usually get a little extra and use school facilities during their stay, and one way they’ll be back on the bus, mealtime after the rest they repay the hospitality is by cleaning everything heading to the next tour stop of the corps has moved they’ve used. It’s a process that starts as soon as and ready to start the cycle all onto the next stage. possible but really picks up about 30 minutes before over again. the buses pull out. Different corps sections are typically assigned specifi c cleaning responsibilities (gym, bathrooms, etc.), and they all share the goal of leaving the schools cleaner than they found them. 2018 Souvenir Yearbook 41

Judgment DAYS To the typical DCI spectator, the judges’ approach to marching. responsibility might seem quite straight- If you think visual judges have a tough forward—to determine which group job, consider the percussion judge. He or marched with the most precision, per- she must keep pace with fast-moving formed the music with greatest accuracy, drummers and make split-second deci- and had the most appealing program. If sions about how well the musicians are only it were that simple. executing complex material—while trying DCI judges do not merely look for to anticipate where the marching require- errors. Every judging panel examines each ments might take the next twist or turn. performance from a 360-degree perspec- The brass judge not only considers how Drum Corps tive to determine both the quality of execu- well the performers play their instruments, International tion and the degree of difficulty in the but also looks at musical demands such as extended range, endurance, depth and show’s design. The DCI judging philosophy focuses judge on what we call the “What” and “How.” breadth of expression, technical challeng- es, and more. administrator “What” considers the performance chal- staging of the group from player to player, The judge must also be aware of the lenges inherent in each show’s design. John Phillips “How” evaluates how well the performers known as environmental responsibility. explains the meet those challenges. Field judges simultaneously consider what performers are achieving as musicians, Each caption breaks these elements art and science down in specific detail. For example, the where they’re staged relative to others, the physical responsibility demanded by the marching caption, or Visual Proficiency, not of assessing only considers how the individuals align movement, and the number of performers and ranking within the form and move from one posi- involved in the musical or visual state- tion to another, but also the way each per- ment. That’s a lot more than just asking if DCI shows. former’s entire body and feet articulate this they are playing together or marching in movement. Like musicians, marching step! members need to “express” the movement through correct physiological techniques. Judging Progress With the infusion of dance and other cho- In the cycle of a drum corps season, the reographic gestures over the past decade, pursuit of excellence requires growth over today’s judges must also consider the time. When the DCI Summer Tour starts in physical effort required to perform such June, most groups have just finished their complexities. In the past, such movement show design. Because many groups must was primarily relegated to the color guard. work indoors during the offseason, their Today’s drum corps groups require every first chance to stage the show on a full- performer to be expressive in their move- sized field often comes only a month or so ment—often going beyond the traditional before their first competitive event. 42 2018 Souvenir Yearbook

Judgement 2018 Souvenir Yearbook 43

tion, and keeping pace with the changes ? Fielding One thing judges don’t do is compare today’s performances to those of the past. DCI rules are in an ongoing state of evolu- requires rigorous training and study. Quesitons We receive a lot of One obvious change has been in instru- questions from mentation. We now have multi-key brass fans. The most instruments like trombone and French common is “How horn, exotic percussion, and vocals. do I become a DCI Most recently, an influx of elec- judge?” We’ve tronic instruments and the use recently posted of amplification allows drum the requirements corps groups to present a and training pro- From there, each group’s sonic palette comparable to cess at DCI.org. If show goes through a creative large-scale arena stage produc- someone believes process. The first few stages of tions. Therefore, orchestration they have what it this process involve applying and sound design now also play a takes, we wel- imagination, generating an initial role in the judges’ assessment. come them to idea, developing that idea, and produc- On the visual side, the recent trend apply. It is import- ing a preliminary draft. In the early weeks of towards large scale props and set pieces, ant to note that the season, judges know that aspects of the the expanded use of color, more elaborate judges cannot show design and execution are works in costumes, innovations in narrative and simply make their progress—which is why scores tend to be staging all speak to the innovation that decision based on lower in June, gradually rise in July, and corps now bring to the field. what they like. often peak in August. Finally, there’s the human factor. We may Through effective rehearsal and well be seeing the most technically profi- The assessment well-conceived changes in show design, cient and artistically expressive drum corps must be based on some groups can improve very quickly. performers in history. Just when you think the philosophy As the performances get tighter, the clarity a corps can’t get better, they do. There is and criteria of the of the content becomes more evident and unbelievable talent in all tiers of the com- DCI judging sys- the scores rise. petitive strata. Judges must understand tem. DCI judges don’t just fill out a score how the performers are able to achieve We also get a sheet. They record their observations in real such high standards, and fans should rec- lot of questions time and give these recordings to each ognize that the lowest score at any given about why group corps after every performance. A judge’s contest still reflects amazing achievement. X was rated high- ability to communicate is vital because it So while our job is to assess their excel- er than group Y. helps the staff and performers focus their lence, we judges also apply rigorous stan- Many factors attention on areas needing improvement dards to ourselves. Gone are the days when come into play. and build from there. drum corps judges simply responded to the DCI judges are the Of course, a score doesn’t just gauge performance as either “precise” or “incor- most informed how well a corps has executed its own rect.” Organizers, members, and fans expect members of the design. It also determines the group’s rank- the best from every judge, and to achieve audience. They ing. Judges rank each night’s competitors that, we must understand the details and have years of through a three-step process: impression, intricacies of design at the highest level. experience as per- analysis, and comparison. But in the end, judging is not purely formers, educa- Studies of musical assessment have objective—there’s no immediate right or tors, and design- shown that a judge usually has a good wrong. It’s more art than science to get the ers in the march- sense of where the performer might score groups in the right order and with point ing music realm. within the first 30 seconds—known as the totals that accurately reflect the differences They have studied impression stage. Through analysis, the among them. DCI has a judging system in the judging sys- judge develops a deeper understanding of which the combined scores of all the judges tem in depth and the design and the performers’ interpreta- determine the final outcome. A corps must reviewed all tion of the material. Together, impression have most—but not necessarily all—of the aspects at our and understanding give the basis when pieces of the puzzle in place to garner the annual judge comparing the groups at each event. World Championship title. training sessions. 44 2018 Souvenir Yearbook



The inspiring performers of The inspiring performers of FREE Players and Community Living yers and Community Living yers and Community Living FREE Pla FREE Pla FREE Players and Community Living FREE Players and Community Living DEDICATIONEDICATIONEDICATIONEDICATION D D D DEDICATION Hamilton are marching into Indy Hamilton are marching into Indy for World Championships Week. for World Championships Week. 1 2 3 ALK TO ANY DRUM CORPS performer, and TO ANY DRUM CORPS performer, and ALK you’ll find a person who loves a challenge. By you’ll find a person who loves a challenge. By the time they reach the World Championships the time they reach the World Championships in Indianapolis each year, every member has in Indianapolis each year, every member has conquered his or her personal limitations conquered his or her personal limitations countless times. On August 9-11, DCI’s elite will get a chance On August 9-11, DCI’s elite will get a chance to share the Championship Week spotlight with to share the Championship Week spotlight with marching musicians who must overcome their marching musicians who must overcome their own set of challenges. Comprised of T own set of challenges. Comprised of performers with special needs, Old Bethpage, N.Y.’s performers with special needs, Old Bethpage, N.Y.’s FREE Players Drum & Bugle Corps and Hamilton FREE Players Drum & Bugle Corps and Hamilton Ontario’s Community Living Hamilton (CLH) Drum Ontario’s Community Living Hamilton (CLH) Drum 4 Corps are coming to Indianapolis to take part in Corps are coming to Indianapolis to take part in several exhibitions and Saturday’s SoundSport several exhibitions and Saturday’s SoundSport several exhibitions and Saturday’s SoundSport International Music and Food Festival. International Music and Food Festival. International Music and Food Festival. “We are so honored that DCI looked north “We are so honored that DCI looked north “We are so honored that DCI looked north into Canada and were impressed enough into Canada and were impressed enough into Canada and were impressed enough to invite us down to compete in to invite us down to compete in to invite us down to compete in DrumLine Battle,” says CLH director DrumLine Battle,” says CLH director DrumLine Battle,” says CLH director Robyn Garnier. “Ever since we Robyn Garnier. “Ever since we Robyn Garnier. “Ever since we received the invitation, it’s been received the invitation, it’s been received the invitation, it’s been countdown to Indy. Our members countdown to Indy. Our members countdown to Indy. Our members are super stoked.” are super stoked.” “Since the beginning, “Since the beginning, DrumLine Battle and SoundSport DrumLine Battle and SoundSport DrumLine Battle and SoundSport have been about giving more ving more have been about giving more have been about gi have been about giving more performers a chance to become part of performer performers a chance to become part of s a chance to become part of performers a chance to become part of our wider musical community,” says DCI our wider musical community,” says DCI our wider musical community,” says DCI senior director of business development John senior director of business development John senior director of business development John 46 2018 Souvenir Yearbook

B B B B B DEDICATIONEDICATIONEDICATIONEDICATIONEDICATIONEDICATION D D D D D By Stephanie Susnjara y Stephanie Susnjara y Stephanie Susnjara y Stephanie Susnjara y Stephanie Susnjara y Stephanie Susnjara DeNovi. “These outstanding ensembles show that The FREE Players was the first drum & bugle corps of its differently abled performers have plenty to contribute to the kind in the United States. Founded by Calhoun in 2010, the marching arts— we can’t wait to see them in Indy.” corps started out with five members as part of the theater While the World Championships in August will mark the program at Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc. first DCI event for the CLH Drum Corps, the FREE Players (FREE), a not-for-profit agency for people with autism, Down made their DCI debut in 2015 at the Eastern Classic in Syndrome, cerebral palsy, traumatic injury, and other Allentown, Pa., where they performed their program, The Ice disabilities. Eight years later, the FREE Players have Kingdom, inspired by the Disney film Frozen. “We got to expanded to 70-80 members, 90 percent of whom are in their expanded to 70-80 members, 90 percent of whom are in their perform right after the [18-time World Champion] Blue Devils,” 20s to early 30s. The corps is comprised of five sections: a says FREE Players director Brian Calhoun. “It was an drum line, color guard, front ensemble, woodwinds, and, brand new to 20 incredible experience.” brand new to 2018, a brass section, which will be debuting at incredible experience.” brand new to 2018, a brass section, which will be debuting at 18, a brass section, which will be debuting at the August event. the August event. “We have traveled and performed at world class events “We have traveled and performed at world class events across the country, making history each and every time we go, across the country, making history each and every time we go, breaking down boundaries and raising the bar for human breaking down boundaries and raising the bar for human potential,” says Calhoun, noting that the group has performed potential,” says Calhoun, noting that the group has performed at the WGI Percussion World Championships, the DCI Eastern at the WGI Percussion World Championships, the DCI Eastern Classic, the US Bands NY State Championships, the Newsday Classic, the US Bands NY State Championships, the Marching Band Festival, the Roxbury Marching Band Classic, Marching Band Festival, the Roxbury Marching Band Classic, the WGI Eastern Color Guard Championships, the NYC the WGI Eastern Color Guard Championships, the NYC Columbus Day Parade, the Battle in the Apple, and at Walt Columbus Day Parade, the Battle in the Apple, and at Walt Disney World. “It’s just been such an incredible journey.” Disney World. “It’s just been such an incredible journey.” 5 Like the FREE Players, the CLH Drum Corps is also Like the FREE Players, the CLH Drum Corps is also affiliated with a not-for-profit parent organization. affiliated with a not-for-profit parent organization. Community Living Hamilton is an agency that works with Community Living Hamilton is an agency that works with and on behalf of individuals with intellectual disabilities. The and on behalf of individuals with intellectual disabilities. The CLH Drum Corps is an all-inclusive competitive drum CLH Drum Corps is an all-inclusive competitive drum corps—that is, it’s comprised of members both with and corps—that is, it’s comprised of members both with and without disabilities—and is the longest running without disabilities—and is the longest running organization of its kind. organization of its kind. “We are one,” says Garnier, who has been Direct Support “We are one,” says Garnier, who has been Direct Support Facilitator at Community Living Hamilton since 1989. “And we Facilitator at Community Living Hamilton since 1989. “And we always hold true to our philosophy—to celebrate life always hold true to our philosophy—to celebrate life experience, inclusion, and fun.” The drum corps program’s experience, inclusion, and fun.” The drum corps program’s roots go back to 2003, when Garnier put a drum line of six roots go back to 2003, when Garnier put a drum line of six special needs individuals together to help celebrate special needs individuals together to help celebrate Community Living Hamilton’s 50th Anniversary. Community Living Hamilton’s 50th Anniversary. Images 1, 3, 4, 6: The FREE Players prepare for Indianapolis 2018, the group’s first DCI appearance since performing at Allentown in 2015 (6). Images 2 and 5: Community Living Hamilton’s award-winning drum corps prepares to travel from Canada for its first DCI appearance. 6 2018 Souvenir Yearbook 47

DEDICATION Robyn Garnier (top) rekindled her lifelong love of marching music by launching the CLH Drum Corps program. For Garnier, bringing drum corps to or Garnier, bringing drum corps to members presents logistical challenges F CLH stems from deep roots. Her parents not faced by typical drum corps met while marching in competing corps, groups—like additional support staff, and she marched with a number of nurses, and more. highly competitive corps, culminating “It’s not just get on a bus and go,” with the Royal Canadian Air Force Band, adds Garnier, “We have a lot of things to where she played quads. “Then work life think about, such as managing chronic happened, and marching ended,” medical issues.” Garnier says. “But then I thought To cover expenses, not to marching could be a great way for mention equipment and our population at Community instrument costs, both of the FREE Living to get out from behind Players and CLH Drum Corps’ closed doors and participate in the programs rely on sponsorships, mainstream.” donations, and fundraising efforts. Today, the CLH Drum Corps has While Calhoun and Garnier 50 members, ranging in age from have spoken on the phone in the 23-71. They perform as a full corps past, the 2018 World Championships that includes a banner, honor guard, will be their first in-person spinning flag line, and small waving encounter. “We are excited to meet flag line. The drum line consists of up with the FREE Players,” says eight snares, two quints, five Garnier. “Although we are going tenors, five basses, and 11 there to compete, it is also about cymbals. The front ensemble exposure and meeting new includes a xylophone, a people. Hopefullysome vibraphone, and some friendships can develop between Glockenspiels. our members.” Frequently in demand at events In addition to competing in throughout the area, the group has DrumLine Battle, both groups will won several competitions in perform in exhibitions throughout southern Ontario and was the week—including at several recognized as the 2015, 2016, and special events in and around 2017 DrumLine Ontario Festival Lucas Oil Stadium. Champions as well as the SO-MAC CLH will play their award- 2018 Percussion Independent “A” winning show, Through the Stand Still Provincial Champions. Years, which celebrates their 15th Like Garnier, Calhoun’s work at FREE was influenced by anniversary and features the musical selections “Ode to both music and family background. He spent his early Joy,” “Land of Oz,” “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” “Ding career as a touring drummer. Inspired by his brother, who Dong the Witch Is Dead,” “Yo De Oh,” and “Colonel Bogey.” has autism, he often volunteered with special needs The FREE Players will be performing their 2018 individuals. When he decided to get off the road and settle program, “Against All Odds,” inspired by the movie Rocky. down to family life, Calhoun discovered FREE’s theater “Instead of the story being told through the eyes of a program and found a new musical home. “It’s been the boxer, our story’s going to be told through the eyes of a perfect marriage for me,” he says. “While we have other musician,” says Calhoun. “It’s the classic underdog story instructors on staff, I am still very hands-on with every of somebody nobody believed in, somebody whom section of the corps.” society shunned and never had a chance to succeed in Thanks to the success of the FREE Players, Calhoun has their life or told they belong.” been invited to advise drum corps programs for people with For Calhoun, it’s a perfect metaphor for both groups. special needs in other states and overseas. “In real life, we are the Rocky underdog story,” he says. “This [the DCI World Championships] is by far our biggest “And we are making history, performing at the DCI undertaking, to fly 80-90 members halfway across the Championships amongst the greatest marching artists country,” says Calhoun, who notes that traveling with FREE in the world.” 48 2018 Souvenir Yearbook