mcjordansc

Interesting addition to the staff. René Gonzalez - Latin Music Specialist René Gonzalez is a Lecturer at Texas State University in the Latin Music Studies program, where he teaches Applied Latin Percussion, Salsa Rehearsal Techniques and Literature, Jazz and Latin Ensemble Techniques, and Afro-Cuban Percussion. He also serves as director of the Texas State Latin Ensemble.

The brass sounds awesome. They are marching nine snares and five quads. It’s been many years since they last did that. And the word is they have a very talented guard again. I expect big things from the Stars this summer. https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1D51EK1D89/

There is a wisp of truth in this post, but many inaccuracies. In 1976, the Blue Stars had many members from Eastern WI, so, during the winter, they had half the corps camp in the east, the other half in La Crosse. The east side kids were less experienced, so they sprinkled a few vets into the group in an attempt to improve. In May, they brought the two sides together to prepare for the season. The results were not good. The corps got off to a rough start, losing to corps they were not used to losing to, including the Gaurdsmen and the Marquis. In the end, the Blue Stars did what they always did in the 1970s. They worked hard, cleaned up, and finished 9th at finals.

I would bet that 80% of respondents did not watch either performance. BOT city.

For those wondering how people in the stadium viewed the show, they saw it like we did at home, but on much larger screens.

Does anyone posting here really believe the judges regularly get the placements wrong? I understand picking a nit when it comes to one place decided by a few tenths of a point, but is there truly a problem for which a solution is needed? I do not think so. I cannot think of a year when the judges really screwed up for the past 40-45 years. Probably not since the tick system went away.

Jethro Tull incoming

I don’t recall any hazing or rookie talent shows back in the 70s when (and where) I marched. We did drink a lot of beer in La Crosse, which was legal at age 18.

He is a significant loss for his family, friends, and the Blue Stars. RIP, Kevin.

I am just looking to start a discussion. I, too, enjoy prelims, but maybe we can find something just as interesting to fill that day. Maybe Open Class Corps rotates into Indianapolis using a two or three-year cycle. I don't have all the answers, but I do know a shake-up is needed. Regarding World Class, I would love to see 20 or more, but, considering the cost of touring, I am not sure that is feasible.

This is what I think needs to be done. Create a unified parent organization—“Marching Arts Alliance”—combining DCI, WGI, BOA, and SoundSport for shared resources, media, and sponsorship. Restructure DCI into two competitive tiers: Premier Division (17–18 corps) as the “Major League.” Championship Division (Open Class) as a developmental league with reduced touring costs. Adopt a promotion/relegation system similar to Major League Soccer or European football: bottom corps in Premier move down; top corps in Championship move up (pending readiness standards). Expand SoundSport into true regional leagues that act as feeders for Open Class—low cost, flexible instrumentation, festival-style events. Implement regional touring pods for the first half of the season to drastically reduce travel expenses for all divisions. Shift only the top corps into a shorter national tour window (mid-July to championships), while others finish their seasons at regional championships. Create shared housing networks and fleet co-ops to reduce bus, truck, and housing costs across all corps. Launch a unified streaming platform offering DCI/WGI/BOA/SoundSport under one subscription with docuseries, behind-the-scenes content, and interactive features. Develop a “Marching Arts Academy” to certify staff, support member safety, and promote consistent educational standards across all circuits. Use a clear “talent ladder” to grow participation: SoundSport → Open Class → Premier Division, giving every group a pathway upward and creating a healthier, more sustainable marching-arts ecosystem.

You can still notice the step up in quality when a drum and bugle corps comes on screen. Nice job, Spartans.

More saxophones.

The Blue Stars are quietly having a great fall. They have certainly strengthened their staff. They are showing a desire to move up, even if the Mandarins were still active.

I imagine they pulled a lot of kids from around the country, not just California. California kids might attend PC, but others, seeking the same competitive experience, might look to the corps just behind or above the Maderins in 2025. I think you will see former members who can march again end up in PR, BS, Cavaliers, and Troopers.