Toronto Optimists Alumni “Good To Go” For 2012
It started on May 12th at the United Alumni’s “and the Bands Played on….8!” in Simcoe Ontario and will culminate on the Labour Day weekend at the DCA Alumni Spectacular in Annapolis, Maryland. The Optimists Alumni Drum & Bugle Corps is ready to go for the 2012 season. And at the earliest time ever! Thanks to an improved rehearsal facility and some spectacular Southern Ontario spring weather, the Optimists have been able to complete their entire show by the American Memorial Day weekend – a feat never accomplished in their nine year history.
There have been some significant repertoire changes this year: the Opener will be a Judy Garland Medley (nostalgic), including The Man That Got Away from ‘A Star is Born’, The Trolley Song from ‘Meet Me in St Louis’ and Over the Rainbow from ‘The Wizard of Oz’.
Next will be the popular ‘Big Band’ concert, which is comprised of: the Gene Krupa Theme (swingin’), Glenn Miller’s Tuxedo Junction (way cool) and will finish with Duke Ellington’s Caravan (hot…hot….hot)!
The Colour Presentation will include the American Civil War Hymn, Battle Cry of Freedom and the popular Canadian Regimental March, The Maple Leaf Forever (patriotic times two).
The Optimists will finish their show with the ‘60s anthem, Beautiful People (groovy) first performed by Melanie and later made famous by the New Seekers, concluding with a reprise of the Judy Garland Medley. Both the Judy Garland Medley and Beautiful People were the start and finish of the 1975 Toronto Optimists’ show, which was the last year that corps performed prior to the amalgamation with the Seneca Princemen, forming the formidable Seneca Optimists.
The brass book is arranged and instructed by Dave MacKinnon and the percussion is by Jeff MacKay. The Optimists are proud to announce the addition of Jackie Nicholls as Drum Major for 2012. Jackie, who came to the Optimists by way of the Kingston Grenadiers, is well experienced and is looking forward to leading the Corps on the field.
Stops along the way this season will include many performances in Ontario, including Welland, Woodstock, Cambridge, Simcoe, Waterloo, Bobcaygeon and Sudbury. On August 25th, the Optimists Alumni will host ‘Optimists Legends 4’ (details about this much anticipated show will follow). The following week the Corps will venture to the US Naval Academy for the DCA ‘Alumni Spectacular’.
If you wish to share in the fun (we’re always looking to spread the joy with new or experienced drum corps people!) you can get information on the Optimists Alumni web page: optimists-alumni.org. The Corps Director and Manager is Ric Brown and he can be contacted at: ricbrown [at] rogers [dot] com.
Two thousand twelve is off to a great start and promises to be a banner year for the Optimists Alumni. New music, new faces, same great Optimists traditions. Optimists Alumni – Good to Go!”
