Reading Buccaneers To Perform At 2007 DCI Eastern Classic
The two-time defending Drum Corps Associates (“DCA”) world champion Reading Buccaneers Drum & Bugle Corps today announced that the corps will perform in exhibition at the 2007 Drum Corps International (“DCI”) Eastern Classic on Saturday, July 7. The performance will mark the second consecutive year the Buccaneers have performed at this major event, which will take place at J. Birney Crum Stadium in Allentown, PA July 7 and 8.
The Buccaneers will open the evening’s competition with a performance of their 50th anniversary production, entitled BLUE ERA. The repertoire features 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.
DCI is a non-profit youth organization serving the junior drum and bugle corps activity around the world. Young men and women must be twenty-one years of age or younger on June 1 to be eligible for membership in a DCI corps for that year. The Buccaneers are a founding member corps of DCA, which serves the all-age drum and bugle corps activity. Members of the 2007 Buccaneers range in age from their teens to their fifties.
This year, the DCI Eastern Classic is the first major regional competition at which all of DCI’s top corps will appear over two days, as part of DCI’s Summer Music Games tour, culminating with the DCI World Championships in Pasadena, CA August 7-11.
“This year marks the Buccaneers’ 50th anniversary,” said Buccaneers corps director James C. Gruber. “We’re honored that Dan Acheson and the Eastern Classic committee invited us to perform at this great event again this year, which is in our own backyard. The corps is excited to be performing again for what we know will be a large, enthusiastic and knowledgeable drum corps crowd. We’re looking forward to showcasing our unique style and giving the fans a great show. Our design team has put together a fantastic production this year, and the corps is having a terrific winter.”
“Drum Corps International is delighted to have the 2006 DCA world champion Reading Buccaneers return to Allentown at the 2007 DCI Eastern Classic for a guest appearance,” said DCI Executive Director Dan Acheson. “The audience was thrilled by their performance last year. Also, I think it important to mention the DCI East committee and DCI staff were extremely impressed with the class and professionalism everyone associated with the organization displayed.”
According to DCA President Gil Silva, the Buccaneers’ performance presents a unique opportunity to showcase how much all-age corps can achieve, with rehearsals and competitions taking place only on weekends. “Drum Corps Associates is proud to have our champion Reading Buccaneers perform at the DCI Eastern Classic. DCI could not have chosen a more deserving all-age corps to perform, exhibiting what DCA’s corps can do with a limited rehearsal schedule. Fans will be treated to an entertaining show and a professional organization.”
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 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 additional information about Drum Corps International, including ticket information for the 2007 DCI Eastern Classic, visit www.dci.org. For more information about Drum Corps Associates, visit www.dcacorps.org. To learn more about the Reading Buccaneers, visit the corps’ web site at www.readingbuccaneers.org.
