2014 Scout House ‘Bring A Friend’ Recruiting Day
Everyone is welcome to attend a preview of the 2014 field show concept when members of Preston Scout House, of Cambridge, Ontario bring a friend to practice on Sunday, February 2. The afternoon session will run from 1 to 4 pm at the Preston Knights of Columbus building, the Band’s indoor rehearsal facility, 333 Speedsville Road, in the Preston district of Cambridge.
During the afternoon arranger Dave MacKinnon will work with the brass section and full ensemble on two of his new arrangements for the 2014 Scout House field show. MacKinnon, a Kitchener resident, is also brass supervisor of the Bluecoats drum and bugle corps of Canton, Ohio. A member of the Bluecoats Hall of Fame since 2009, he has taught, written, and consulted for drum and bugle corps in Canada, the United States, Korea, and Japan for many years. He is an active music judge for the U.S. Scholastic Band Association, New York Field Band Conference, Michigan C.B.A., and Indiana State Music Association.
During the break between the separate brass and percussion sessions and the full ensemble performance, Scout House staff will outline the field show concept, rehearsal and performance schedules. Friends and visitors will have plenty of time for discussion and questions during the break and after rehearsal, with a cash bar available during further socializing, visiting old friends and making new acquaintances.
Because social bonding is an important part of the Scout House tradition, the Bring a Friend sessions have become a productive recruiting method: new members join not just because of the performance possibilities but because of the strong social ties between members. There’s plenty of room for those without marching music experience serving in various support and committee roles. Scout House has up to 20 committees working throughout the year on projects including event planning, recruiting, publicity, fund raising, community relations, business and service club relations. The organization includes the Preston Scout House Cadets drum and bugle corps for boys and girls ages 12 to 18.
In addition to the traditional colour guard, the 2014 field show will feature a new rifle/banner spin squad, now rehearsing under the direction of Rick Petherick, well-known in the drum corps community as a qualified, experienced stage actor and dancer. He has been associated with many groups across the continent, including Chicago Cavaliers, Casper Troopers and Suncoast Sound in the United States and Dutch Boy, Oakland Crusaders, Canadian Knights, Emerald Knights, Ventures, St. John’s Girls and Ridge Raiders in Canada.
Scout House has already confirmed a dozen parade and field show performances for 2014 in Ontario and New York state, including the Alumni Spectacular field show in Rochester during the 50th anniversary Drum Corps Associates championship tournament on Labour Day weekend.
Practice sessions resumed in early January, following the usual Christmas season break from all activity. The normal weekly practice sessions include Silver Leaves brass ensemble rehearsal Sunday morning; brass, percussion and spin rifle/banner practice Sunday afternoon; mini-corps practice Monday evenings, colour guard training Tuesday evening; extra brass and Preston Scout House Cadets practice on Wednesday evening and drill team practice on Thursday evening.
For more information about Preston Scout House, contact Activities Director Nancy Weiler at telephone (519) 653-3376, email prestonscouthouseband [dot] adm [at] sympatico [dot] ca or visit the Web site at http://www.scouthouseband.com/.
