Music City Prepares For Inaugural Season
Music City Drum & Bugle Corps from Nashville, Tennessee is preparing to enter its first season of Drum Corps International competition in 2009.
The corps is the primary performing unit of the non-profit Music City Youth In The Arts, which was founded in 2008 by a group of music educators and enthusiasts.
The corps held its first audition in November and has continued with monthly rehearsals. A representative from DCI attended the corps’ rehearsal in February to observe the progress and meet with the board of directors. Pending a successful report and review by the DCI Participation Committee, Music City anticipates competing as an Open Class corps in approximately 10 DCI shows from late July to early August, including an appearance at the DCI World Championships.
For the inaugural season, Music City will have a limited rehearsal and touring schedule. The corps will rehearse on weekends in June, and will begin every day rehearsals in mid-July. This schedule allows performing members to keep their summer jobs for much of the summer, and also keeps tour costs low. Member dues for 2009 are only $900.
The corps is scheduled to make its public debut on Wednesday, June 10, when it will lead the Country Music Association’s CMA Music Festival Kick-Off Parade in downtown Nashville. The CMA parade includes dozens of country music celebrities as part of the opening day festivities for Nashville’s largest summer music festival. The corps will also perform a standstill in Nashville at the Centennial Park band shell on June 21 in conjunction with the Nashville Community Concert Band’s annual performance there.
The corps’ 2009 production is titled "Strike It Up … A Celebration!" The show theme for this inaugural season was designed to help the corps celebrate its birth and give a nod to its home state. The show will feature fresh arrangements of Strike Up The Band, Tennessee Waltz and Appalachian Morning presented in a style reminiscent of The Music Man.
It’s not too late to join Music City Drum Corps for the 2009 season. There are positions available in all sections. The next rehearsal/audition will be held on Saturday, April 11 at Hillwood High School in Nashville. If you’re interested in more information, send email to "Info [at] MusicCityDrumCorps [dot] org" or complete the online membership application at www.MusicCityDrumCorps.org.
It should be noted that Music City only permits graduating high school seniors and older to audition for the corps. The reason is that high schools in the area start the school year earlier than most others around the country, and the corps does not want to cause high school bands to be without their more skilled members during pre-school band camps.
The corps is also seeking volunteers to help with food preparation and other drum corps necessities. If you would like to offer your services or even if you would just like to be placed on the corps’ fan mailing list, please send email to Info [at] MusicCityDrumCorps [dot] org to express your area of interest. And as is the case with all non-profit organizations, your financial support is welcomed as well.
The corps hopes you will visit a stadium near you this summer to witness the sights and sounds of Music City Drum and Bugle Corps!
