Reading Buccaneers Announce Drum Majors
The two-time defending Drum Corps Associates (“DCA”) world champion Reading Buccaneers Drum & Bugle Corps today announced its drum majors for the upcoming season. The corps will celebrate its fiftieth anniversary in 2007.
Returning to field leadership positions will be drum majors Josh Decker, Nigel Jeffery and Diane Koenig. 2007 will mark the third consecutive season this trio of Buccaneers will lead the Balance in Blue on the field. Josh Decker will reprise his role as lead drum major, and will bring his considerable conducting skills to the podium for this milestone year in the long history of the corps.
“Josh, Nigel and Diane are an excellent team,” said corps director James C. Gruber. “When the Buccaneers perform, fans see three capable conductors and field leaders. I’m biased, of course, but I think they’re among the best in the activity. But what fans don’t often see is the incredible leadership they bring to the corps off the field. As a director, I can’t begin to tell you how much Josh, Nigel and Diane contribute to the strength of this drum corps. It’s going to be a special year for us, and I’m thrilled to have this group at the head of the corps.”
Josh Decker is in his seventh season as a Buccaneer, all as drum major. He is band director at Conestoga Valley High School in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where he guided his marching band to the 2006 Cavalcade of Bands Liberty Class A championship. 2007 will be Nigel Jeffery’s third year as Buccaneers drum major. Diane Koenig has been a member of the Buccaneers since 1977, and 2007 will be her 11th year as drum major.
In November, 2006, the Buccaneers announced the corps’ 50th anniversary program, entitled BLUE ERA, which will feature New Era Dance, by Aaron Jay Kernis, The Promise of Living, from The Tender Land, by Aaron Copland, Danza Final: Malambo, from Estancia, by Alberto Ginastera, and Rhapsody in Blue, by George Gershwin.
Founded in 1957, the Buccaneers are a non-profit, education-oriented musical organization. The Buccaneers are a charter member of Drum Corps Associates and won the first-ever DCA world championships in 1965. Additional titles followed in 1968, 1979, 1980 and, most recently, in 2005 and 2006, both undefeated championship seasons. In 2006-2007, the corps will celebrate its 50th anniversary. All Buccaneers alumni are encouraged to visit the corps’ web site to register to receive anniversary information.
The Buccaneers are sponsored in part by Behler-Hein American Legion Post 637, Hamburg, Pennsylvania, and Roy A. Master American Legion Post 217, Topton, Pennsylvania.
For more information, visit the corps’ web site at www.readingbuccaneers.org.
