Magic Of Scout House Wins Third Consecutive Championship

| |

Magic of Scout House competitive winter guard crowned another undefeated season by winning the North East Color Guard Circuit (NECGC) senior division championship contest in Brockport, New York on April 2, for the third year in a row. Magic scored 77.650 to finish comfortably ahead of second place Lakeside guard with 71.650 and Geneseo with 64.100.

Magic’s undefeated streak stretches back three full seasons to the guard’s first-ever contest in Orchard Park, New York in January 2015. In 2016, Magic of Scout House also won the first-ever NECGC Showmanship Effectiveness Award. NECGC includes units from across southern Ontario and upstate New York. The guard, which received an enthusiastic standing ovation for its championship performance, is widely admired throughout NECGC for serving as a role model for the much younger members of other units.

The music of Magic’s 2017 show was Ballroom Blitz, by The Sweet, a very fast paced show that provided fun for both the audience and guard members. The Sweet was a British glam-rock band formed in London in 1968, becoming world famous in the 1970s. The band recorded 13 top 20 hits in the 1970s as their sound evolved into a hard rock style notable for high pitched backing vocals. Ballroom Blitz was one of three consecutive number 2 hits.

The 2017 Magic staff included Chris Bradshaw, who has served as director since first rehearsals began in autumn 2014. Craig Raymond, also heavily involved since the beginning, was in charge of program design and also served as staff coordinator. Instructors included Danielle Beckingham and Nadine Howell. Rehearsals for the 2017 autumn and Christmas season parades and the 2018 contest season will begin in late September or early October.

Preston Scout House Band, Inc. is a non-profit corporation with registered charity status able to issue tax receipts to donors, incorporated under the Corporations Act of the Province of Ontario on November 29, 1956.

The multi-unit organization offers individuals of any age the opportunity to “Arrange the soundtrack of your life” in marching arts activities starting as young as age 8 and continuing throughout life. These units are:

*Preston Scout House Cadets drum and bugle corps for young men and women up to age 22, Silver Award winners at the 2016 Drumline Ontario provincial championships;

*Preston Scout House Band, rebuilding in 2017 for resumption of full activity in 2018, for those over age 18, performing concerts, parades and field shows annually across southern Ontario and neighbouring states;

*Silver Leaves brass ensemble and percussion accompaniment, which rehearses in the winter for appearances at drum corps and community events throughout the year;

*Magic of Scout House competitive winter guard, established in the fall of 2014 and undefeated in its first three seasons of North East Color Guard Circuit contests;

*Heritage Drill Team, with members wearing tight black shorts, knee socks, short sleeved burgundy tunics, white gauntlets and Aussie hats as in the 1950 and ‘60s.

For more information about Preston Scout House Band Inc. activities, contact telephone (519) 653-3376, email prestonscouthouseband [dot] adm [at] sympatico [dot] ca or visit the website at: scouthouseband.com

Posted by on Wednesday, April 5th, 2017. Filed under Current News, FrontPage Feature, Winter Guard International News.