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Are you hinting that they rehearse as an ensemble 7 days a week, or as individuals? Just checking their schedule from last year, I see that (providing they stuck to this schedule) they only rehearsed on weekends like the rest of DCA. https://yea.org/programs/cadets/cadets2/news/655-2015-schedule If you're in a weekend only corps, and NOT practicing your charts everyday to get better on your own, you're doing the WRONG THING. seriously. That doesn't matter your age. Same as I practice my charts for whatever gig I have coming up. Honestly I don't think they're doing anything that's out of the league of what Reading, MN Brass, or Cabs could accomplish. The time constraints of weekend only corps seem to max out what is possible on the field. I do believe that Cabs stepped up their demand visually to the level of Reading, MB, and C2. I've not marched DCA, but I would guess that as the activity evolves, members cut themselves in regards to being able to do what is asked of them during performances. While the age cap may give them an advantage from a performer stamina or body durability perspective, I think the time restraint keeps them with everyone else. But is this really an elephant in a room at this point? Considering their placement since coming onto the scene? Had they come into DCA and won 4 straight, I would agree that this could be a concern. Or if their schedule was listed as 7 days a week, I could see a concern. Unless you know something the rest of the activity doesn't...

Wrong, while the overall age group was somewhat younger, most of the corps was adults, I'd say mid 20's to late avg might be more like it. And yes I was there

It's been played a total of 3 times in DCI and never were they back 2 back. (2000,2008,and 2014) SO MANY TIMES GOOD GRIEF </sarcasm>

It was written by Phillippe Rombi. COGEN is the acronym of the orchestra that performed it in one version out on YouTube that was originally posted here. I do admit that that performance isn't very good.Here is the original version that is from the soundtrack to Joyeux Noël, a French film about the Christmas Eve Truce of 1914. (Now that I think of it, it sounds kind of like something out of a Christmas movie...)

You think it's trouble finding quality Tuba performers, or that they can just replace it with the synth and use those spots for other positions?

300+ at auditions this weekend and another in two weeks. Very impressed with the attitude, excitement and environment surrounding the corps. Tons of alumni from the early days of the corps. Tons of alumni from the last few years. Very cool to witness. Best part of the day? Listening to Spirit of Atlanta playing Georgia while Freddy Martin conducted. You think those kids had a great experience this weekend? I know mine did! Can't wait to see them develop as the summer rolls in. Dan

I am a fan of Cadets2. I had suggested they might well win DCA last year. Solid, solid corps. An asset to any DCA show, but . . . . . there's an unanswered question, I think. With such a low upper age limit to perform, does Cadets2 enjoy a unique competitive advantage? In today's America, most young people under the age of 25 are unmarried, still in school, unemployed, not encumbered by the demands of home ownership, family management, etc. In other words, they are ALWAYS available. Therefore, practicing 7 days a week is doable for just about the entire membership. Besides the youthful ability to 'run and gun' better than much older members, the ability to participate in repeated, possibly nightly, practice (as in DCI) would likely produce a more proficient performance than we normally see. Is there some official control in place in this regard, an equalizer of sorts? Thoughts?

licensing.

Their age requirements serve the purposes of the organization as a whole as they see it...whatever those are. As a member of a direct competitor I feel that they, as well as all the other corps out there, make decisions that best suit what they want to accomplish. Otherwise those stipulations and policies wouldn't be in place. I look forward to their continued growth and success. It only serves to further motivate the staff, administration and membership of my corps, as does the success of all of our direct competitors. This IS a competitive activity after all and that healthy competitive drive is one of the things that continues to motivate the activity and its member corps to new heights of achievement and excellence. C2 is C2, just like Bucs are Bucs and CV is CV. We all do what we do in our own way to better serve the goals of our organizations. I am sure if someone from Cabs or MBI or Bucs or whoever came to one of our rehearsal camps they would leave scratching their heads wondering why we do some of the things we do. Same if I went to one of theirs. Mine is not to question why. We are all looking to better our own organizations in our own way to become better next year than we were the last. Many, many different ways to skin a cat. I have nothing but respect for all of our competitors if for no other reason than they are out there every year going through the same grind we are. Trying to find the right combination that will make us better. That's all we can do. As always, just my two cents. CV16 All. In. Dan

They definitely need some new blood for show design. New ideas could help push them higher with their excellence in performance musically. They used to be the corps that could make a late season surge but the least few seasons saw them lose ground instead of gain.

...or, by instituting such a low upper-age limit, does Cadets2 put themselves at a unique competitive disadvantage?

Yah, I forgetfully left out the word "modern" and corrected myself in post 246 later.

So much of DCI and DCP discussion about show theme, depth of show, the show beyond the notes of the musical score has brought the discussion of meaning. appropriateness, accessibility, multi-layering, understanding of the challenge to each performer, etc., etc. Even if this piece is too schmaltzy (good Yiddish word,) for some it may be most appropriate for the World situation of this summer and the various perspectives so many have about our times. Knowing Will Pitts, a most genuine person, he never leaves things just at surface level.

Adding onto this, I was in your position last year! I got a 1 in music but they couldn't take me because of a low visual score. I went and marched with another corps, and taking what I learned, got a spot at the first camp this year. Do this for yourself, or you'll always wonder what could've been. There are plenty of spots to be filled in other corps.

Wait, they didn't title their program "Killing DCA, One Championship at a Time"? (Anyway, I look forward to this show. Based strictly on the musical repertoire indicated, it seems that Reading's "ConZENtric:Mind, Body, Soul" will be nothing like SCV's "3: Mind, Body, and Soul" from 2008.)

Chris, I don't know anything more about this topic than you do, even with living 4 miles from where they practice! I have heard this concern expressed by others, however. No doubt, if Cadets2 does begin to actually win on a regular basis (and I believe they will) this WILL become an issue. Just seems like a good topic to induce some 'off season' chatter. Thanks for your contribution.

Maybe...Speaking of George here's a hilarious little thing I found on Twitter the other day. It took me a second to see it but when I did.... https://twitter.com/CouchmenDBC/status/663752827114655745?s=09

For those who truly enjoy sources of music... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2wktbLNJHM It will probably be most special the last ten days of tour...

Nice music choices, except for the Cogen, which sounds like a bad Methodist church Sunday morning choir anthem. If they end up using it I hope it is seriously rewritten.

For some reason, this is one thing that I can't stand. I don't even have a reason for disliking it - I just can't get over it when pit members are head-bobbing with big grins on their faces. I really hope it's not a trend that continues.

I don't think BDI was ever intended to be permanent corp touring Europe every year. I can see them doing this every few years.

.... true... and following along the same logic, if this was the standard, DCI would have DCI Championships on the West Coast every 4 years too.

Hey Screamer! Don't give up! I'm so happy you did what so many fail to do. You followed your dream. Learn from this and come back next year with guns blazing!

The St Rose quartet members were Bob Gaff, Jim Wedge, Jordan Tuller and Howie Darish. They modestly billed themselves as "The Magnificent Four Roses Quartet". I'd post pictures of the quartet, and their special jacket patch if I had any clue how to post a photo on this forum

>>St Rose was taught by another Prince guy. Bernie Johnson, through 1961. Scotty Chappelle taught brass in 1962. Jim Wedge played baritone alongside Bob Gaff. The broke up after the 1962 season. Many of the members went to the IC Reveries in Revere, the next town over. Cambridge Caballeros broke up after the 1962 season. They had very many simultaneous age outs, and no feeder corps system backing them up.<< Funny story Gaff tells about St. Rose & Cambridge ... Cambridge was going to the 61 VFW Nats in Miami and didn't have a horn quartet, so they asked Gaff et al to suit up in the Cabs garb to go up against St. Kevin's ... they both got skunked by the Kilties ... Kevin's wound up 2nd and St. Rose ... er ... Cambridge 5th ... Gaff says it was the best free trip a teenager could have had in the 60's ... and to MIAMI yet! ... he went to Kevin's after St. Rose ... not sure if it was for the 62 or 63 season ... :-)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylfUpERbOzU

St Rose was taught by another Prince guy. Bernie Johnson, through 1961. Scotty Chappelle taught brass in 1962. Jim Wedge played baritone alongside Bob Gaff. The broke up after the 1962 season. Many of the members went to the IC Reveries in Revere, the next town over. Cambridge Caballeros broke up after the 1962 season. They had very many simultaneous age outs, and no feeder corps system backing them up.

Oh yeah - the main lesson to take away - drum corps is fun! We get caught up in the placements and the trends, but honestly, these kids are friggin rock stars and they push themselves harder than anyone outside could push em. That is all. Mike

Great lineup! Can't wait to see how they tie it all together. (Some of my most favorite (ahem 2003, 1993) shows are when they throw a seemingly disparate group of tunes in a blender.) Mike

You mean this? (Actual recording of Sousa's band conducted by the Man himself.)

Phantom Regiment 2016 music selections: "Preludes Op. 34, No. 14" by Dmitri Shostakovich https://twitter.com/phantomregiment/status/671019985209282561 "The Chairman Dances" by John Adams https://twitter.com/phantomregiment/status/671021575710351360 "Ave Verum Corpus" by Colin Mawby https://twitter.com/phantomregiment/status/671022326625001472 "Toccata Op. 11" by Sergei Prokofiev https://twitter.com/phantomregiment/status/671023715229016064 "Hymne des Fraternisés: I'm Dreaming of Home" by Phillippe Rombi https://twitter.com/phantomregiment/status/671024924098719744 "Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra" by Benjamin Britten https://twitter.com/phantomregiment/status/671026772083941376

I had completely pulled out a brown one on the visual portion of my audition but otherwise it was enlightening, I'm going to march elsewhere then acquire my spot next year :)

Here's my deal with cd's vs. dvd's... I listen to drum corps 1000x more than I watch it. I listen in the car, at work, while I'm doing yard work, etc... I've always been more about the music than the visuals. I really just want cd's of the music now and I'll wait months or years before I care about watching the shows.

I like the current C2 uniforms quite a bit. They really stand out under the lights.

I skew old school! 1974 Anaheim Kingsmen-unbelievable 1975 Madison Scouts-power! 1976 Blue Devils-changed the game 1976 Bridgemen-changed the game, well in a different way 1984 Garfield-probably best show I have seen on the field 1984 Blue Devils-probably the second best show I have seen on the field 1986 Blue Devils-so clean 1989 Phantom-still remember the power! 1993 Star-changed the game 1995 Madison Scouts-pure emotion

Naming winter storms is the stupidest idea ever. It needs to stop. Now. Thank You. </soapbox>

Charlie Poole the Infant...oh, that's a great image. I see him with a set of chopsticks, playing paradiddles on the kitchen floor.

>>Wasn't St. Rose the corps in which Chick Corea played?<< ... and Bob Gaff ... he went to Kevin's after St. Rose ... Poole was but an infant with the Prospect Fife & Drum corps at the time ... under the tutelage of Bob Redican ... another Sturtze disciple :-)

Madison Scouts 2016: "Judas" Featuring music from Jesus Christ Superstar http://www.madisonscoutslive.com/mainsite/2015/09/madison-scouts-announce-their-2016-production/

GH is not happy about this!