Drum Corps Returns to South Milwaukee
Continuing a tradition that spans more than six decades, the “Spectacle of Music” junior drum and bugle corps competition will once again be staged at South Milwaukee High School stadium on Wednesday, July 1. Co-sponsored by the “Spectacle of Music” committee and the Madison Drum & Bugle Corps Association, Inc., the event is sanctioned by Drum Corps International, the Indianapolis-based non-profit organization that governs the North American activity.
Seven groups from five states will make a tour stop in South Milwaukee as part of a 108-contest DCI schedule that spans from Washington to Florida and California to Massachusetts during the seven-week summer season.
Headlining this year’s show will be the Madison Scouts, Madison, WI; the Colts, Dubuque, IA; and Spirit, Jacksonville, AL. Filling out the four-corps World Class portion of the evening will be the Milwaukee-based Pioneer. Three Open Class units will also compete, including Capital Regiment, Columbus, OH; Revolution, San Antonio, TX; and the Colt Cadets, Dubuque, IA.
Drum and bugle corps have been competing around the United States and Canada since the activity was started by returning veterans following World War I, organized through the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars as senior corps. The junior corps (young people under the age of 22) segment began in the late 1930s when Legion and VFW posts expanded their musical programs.
The “Spectacle of Music” traces its history back to 1946 when the week-long event included not only drum and bugle corps, but marching bands and various other marching groups. The competition has been held almost continuously ever since and has showcased literally hundreds of different groups and thousands young people who have marched the streets and football fields of South Milwaukee.
Often called “Broadway on a football field,” the drum corps activity demonstrates the incredible talent of young men and women who work all winter to perfect 11 minutes of intricate music that is then put to a drill, using bugles, percussion instruments and colorful flags to cover the 100-yard stage.
Proceeds from the competition will benefit local young people through a “Spectacle of Music” scholarship program, as well as the Madison Scouts, a group that celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2008.
This is entertainment for the entire family! Tickets are $25.00 in the reserved VIP center section and $17.00 (advance purchase) outside the VIP area ($20.00 at the gate). On-line orders can be placed by going to www.dci.org/tickets (use code “MUSIC09”), by calling 317-275-1212, ext. 3, or visiting the local box office at Parkway Floral, 1001 Milwaukee Avenue, South Milwaukee, WI. Groups of 15 or more can receive discounted tickets by calling 317-275-1212, ext. 3.
For information, call 608-249-2590 (8:00 AM and 9:00 PM, seven days a week).
