Raiders Finish Season Without Drum Major

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In what seems like Deja Vu from last season, the Raiders of Wayne, New Jersey announced today they will continue the remainder of the 2006 DCI competitive season without a Drum Major.

As some may recall, last season, the Raiders lost their Drum Major at this same time last year due to personal and family reasons. The corps spent the remainder of the season without a Drum Major, but successfully captured the DCI Division III World Championship Title.

This year, the situation is not as devastating for the Raiders family. Early this season, Drum Major Scott Farkas informed the corps that he would not return to the organization due to His Brother’s Wedding. His Brother’s Wedding is on August 12th, 2006, the same day as the Division 2/3 Finals being held in Madison, Wisconsin. He is also the best man in the wedding. Events and Travel prior to the week before finals would have prevented Scott from finishing out the season.

Corps Director Tom Maiello came up with an idea. “Seeing how this would have been Scott’s age out in year in DCI, We wanted to find a way to give Scott his final year in drum corps and still be involved with his family”. Tom and Scott came up with a plan. Scott would remain as Drum Major for the Raiders until July 22nd. He would be able to participate in his age out year and still leave junior drum corps on a positive note.

Scott conducted his last show on July 22nd, 2006 in New London, Connecticut where the corps picked up a 1st place finish. Scott left his shoes on the field after retreat, just like so many other age out have done over the years.

Now knowing that the corps would be without a Drum Major, the Raiders Staff decided, “we did this once, we can do it again”. The corps started their traditional “Death Camp” week of Practice on July 23rd. All week from sunrise to sunset, the corps has been working on starting and finishing the show without a drum major. So on Friday July 28th, the corps pulled out of Trenton, New Jersey without a drum major on their way to a show in Bridgeport, Connecticut on July 29th.

On Saturday Night the Raiders went out on to the field without a drum major and won that show with a score of 77.65.

The entire Raiders Organization would like to thank Scott Farkas for his dedication throughout this season, we all wish he and his family the best of luck during this time.

Posted by on Monday, July 31st, 2006. Filed under DCI World.