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It is a little known fact that GH was fired because he raped women, not because of vocals in drum corps shows. Vocals in shows actually had nothing to do with it and isn't related in any way. People just can't help themselves but to try and use this terrible situation to try and advance their opinions of what a drum corps show should be.

The Phantom Regiment of the past 5 years, hopefully.

This is the silliest argument over vocals I've ever heard...you can't blame The Cadets for every single thing you dislike in this activity...regardless of whether their former director was a known cheerleader for vocals and regardless of how repugnant, repulsive and nauseating et alii he is to the world...this is a time for healing...it is NOT the time to blame the previously contracted singers...it just isn't...

Which is a bit silly considering most of the rules changes passed by unanimous or near-unanimous votes

I am so, so, happy for Cadets’ MMs that such respected and talented people are onboard and working hard to give them a great season. There is no shortage of challenges, but they are under capable leadership. Regardless of anything, this is likely to be a very memorable edition of The Cadets. Previously alienated alumni and benefactors will be returning. Audiences are going to give them the warmest of welcomes, and these young adults are going to remind us why we love this activity. Let’s get ready for a new era.

Lots and lots of benzene rings! Seriously, though, I’m really excited. I hope the title is indicative of the theme for the corps as a whole— time to turn things around! SUTA!

Completely agree. Glad the members are rid of him and his bad (now horrific) reputation in the activity

Quoting Jim Prime , Senior on this subject: "Anyone can do a tough chart badly."

The ride cymbals? ;) Listening on Spotify now. Me likey!

LOVE IT

I feel like this show is a good step for the corps. I'm getting some 2010ish vibes from the announcement, color scheme, and overall presentation, and I fell in love with Into the Light. Hopefully this works out well for them!

Same here. Even without the revelations of the things he did, the activity passed him by (idea-wise) and he wasn't helping the Cadets IMO.

Changes will continue with or without any one person. That's life

It's tone deaf to tell 4 members of the corps that they are cut because the director was fired? What's tone deaf is you not realizing these people were members already and not added in after the departure of GH.

Heck just losing GHs design ideas should add 2-3 placements lol

Happy Move Ins to the Crown Percussion 2018!!! Feed the Beast!!!

It's a good selection of music. This show seems a little more light than the last several years. Let's get back to you doing shows that I love, Phantom. Have a great season!

If the visual presentation matches the quality of the musical selections they've provided us with, this is going to be a fantastic show. Also, I hope there's no cheesy narration like that trailer has (especially after last year's show).

Yeah, I think narration is more annoying than singing.

Nice promotion! :)

Sam Watson named colorguard caption head for 2018 Congratulations to him!

Singing in Drum Corps ( both DCA and DCI ) has been incorporated into Corps shows to some extent or other for decades now. Long before Concert French horns, Trombones and the like have been utilized as a matter of fact. Since singing in Drum Corps been approved and with us for decades now, I'd imagine the ones that are ok with singing when utilized appropriately, will continue to do so, and the ones that don't like singing in Drum Corps no matter what, won't ever like it. But thats no different than any other changes, ie amplification, narration. spandex uniforms, conventional MB instrument utilizations , big props, and all the rest of the changes. You either like it, or you don't. Same as it ever was. Changes in Drum Corps were rapidly taking place well before George Hopkins even arrived on the scene. Changes will occur long after he's gone too.

Are you claiming GH was not the original and loudest advocate for vocals? I think there's pretty broad consensus that he was. So the earlier comment about this being an opportunity to break from vocals is understandable. Not saying I agree with it, but I understand it.

Um, it was just a joke. Sorry it didn't work for you. Your refund is in the mail.

Freelancers were 13th with 79.2, followed by Garfield, BAC, and Cavies, all within a point of each other. I enjoyed Guardsmen and 1978 in particular with the soldiers and "Poet and Peasant." I never saw Guardsmen live since Guardsmen didn't venture out to Boston. I did think I would be seeing all the corps in Birmingham in 1979 and saved enough money for a bus ticket from Boston to DC, DC to someplace, I don't recall, and that city to Birmingham, but parents, who I decided were too strict and overbearing, did not think a 16 year old traveling alone to Birmingham was a good idea and pointed out minor details like the money could pay for a one-way ticket only and I had no place to stay. So in 1979, the closest I got to finals was PBS, WGHB Channel 2. This memory of my parents is a reminder it's Mother's Day, so Happy Mother's Day to all the moms on DCP, especially the strict and overbearing ones who would not allow an absent minded 16 year old to travel by bus from Boston to Birmingham on his own with no place to stay and no return ticket.

GH has had nothing to do with the vocals in Boston's show, Carolina Crown's show for several seasons, Cavaliers attempts, Madison Scouts singing etc., etc. I suspect that the element of choir was more the artistic insight of Drew and Tom than GH. In fact, to sacrifice the mms of the Cadets' choir because of the previous' director's preferences is to let the previous director define the corps, DCI, and these mms' summers. No way, Jose. Because you associate something with him doesn't define DCI, The Cadets, or the mms.

SPLOOIE

First time I've heard this group perform. Very beautiful piece. As an old legacy fan, I'm hopeful the Cadets play this close to its original form. Will it flow gracefully, long enough to allow the comforting melody to take hold? SO many good reasons to be excited about this year's Cadets!

https://cavaliers.org/news-blog/cavaliers-partner-with-visceral-dance-chicago-for-training-intensive-2018 Love that they're doing this again. From my untrained eye it definitely made a difference last year.

Non-sequitur. The singers and GH's misdeeds don't match. I guess singers from other corps will remind them of him too?

So you don’t like singing? Who knew?

Also, doesn't mean singers have to be associated with GH.. It's not like other corps haven't used singers lately.

no, I like this one already

Regarding membership recruiting… One of the problems I see with the current DCA model is that we’ve built a program that requires our members to be more like gymnasts and less of a musician. I tell the younger kids that back in the early 80’s, drum corps was a musical organization that marched. Today, we are more like a theatrical production that plays a few notes during a 40-yard dash. What that change has done is effectively weeded out many of the middle age players who are 40 and older who are no longer physically able to handle the physical requirements of the show. I have so many friends who would love to go back and march but with the new gold tempo standard of 160 beats per minute instead of 140 twenty years, they tell me their body simply cannot handle the physical punishment the new drum corps standard now dishes out. What’s the solution to keeping membership strong and active and more age representative of the general populace? Not sure, but I’ll let others debate that topic for now. Like every other corps in DCA, Chops is also having our challenges with membership but we’ve been lucky enough through our aggressive recruiting efforts in the school system and word-of-mouth from members that has helped to nearly filling out our horn line – and no, we have zero new members that came over from MBI, it’s all grassroots. We also pride ourselves foremost as a musical education group. We accept members who have zero experience in drum corps and limited musical experience. My section is not unique – but half my trumpet section is made up of high school woodwind players. They are wonderful kids to work with, enthusiastic, and have a true desire to learn to play the horn as well as get on the field and enjoy the rewards of drum corps -- and they are improving very fast. Would they get a DCI contract? Not even close. But we allow them the opportunity to train and develop under our professional staff and our seasoned veterans who really enjoy teaching the marching arts. We all have a true desire to provide the best show we can with the members we have at all skill levels. I’m not an official spokesman for my corps but I do take pride that in that I measure success in how well my kids progress, how much they contribute to the team, how much they advance musically, how much drum corps make them grow personally, and how much enjoyment they get back out of the program. Will we make Class “A” finals, we hope so – but if my kids work hard, improve with each practice, respect their corps brethren, grow musically, mature as a person, and hold their head high as they march off the field knowing that they’ve put on the best show for the paying audience they can, finals isn’t that important to me as we’ve already won something worth more valuable than any participation medal around our neck. How does this all tie back to recruiting? It all depends what you are recruiting for and what your goals are for success.

mu hunch is New World is weaved in and out of the show

I agree with the statement that these changes are happening independent of any one person, although obviously over nearly 40 years GH had more influence than some others who were not around as long. The use of vocals last year was an interesting contrast. Crusaders and Crown both made their ballad a vocal solo backed up by the corps. It was beautiful, but IMO it distracts from the corps for one third of the show, which kind of diminishes the other 149 performers. By contrast, Drew Shanefield interwove the choir into the piece, and the vocals were never the focus for more than a few seconds at a time. However, The Cadets used 8 out of their 150 spots. This year I suspect we will see at least one or two soloists like BC and Crown. The Cadets are still interweaving the vocals, but with only 4 instead of 8, and the corps size has grown. If vocals are going to be in the production, I kind of like Drew's approach better because it keeps the focus on the whole corps, but obviously it's completely subjective.

Good point. My assumption may have been off on that. (Though I hope not.)

Ok so who dies?

"AAAAAAAAAAMEN!" "It's a small world after all..." Anybody remember these? ... Probably not.

I do too. ( ie. Boston's " Conquest " arrangement ) I like most Corps encore pieces played as a matter of fact. If time permits, I try and hang around for the post shows to listen to all these Corps play their encore/signature songs. Its in a standstill venue, and the MM's look like they're having a lot of fun playing these songs in these relaxed environments too.

This sounds like it could be a BIG brass moment.

As a big Sigur Ros fan, looking forward to Ara Batur. Here is the Music Vid.

I wonder if they can be given a new role in the production. Perhaps if they played a brass instrument (or could be taught...very quickly)? Four singers= one additional brass player in each section. -Yes, I totally realize that is a horribly impractical idea...

I’m no fan of singers. Simply because the acoustics can never be controlled in different stadiums. It takes hours for bands to setup for venues and that’s something corps don’t have time to do. In addition, the quality of voice, electronics and ensemble are never ever consistent. Frankly I have yet to see the value of narrative or voice in any production on a football field.

Seriously?? Considering the show title, that's ironic. If ever there was a summer when Cadets could have used a bounce from audiences united and pulling for them, 2018 was it. So why on earth would new people design a show with four presumably amplified singers which, right off the bat, reminds people of the fired director and turns some in the audience completely off? Tone deaf.

I really hope they do well and have a great season regardless of placement.

So many Junior Corps kids were at that show. Their seasons were over, for the most part. It was "date night". Reading won, deservedly, but the Hurcs represented the home town fans with a very strong challenge, based on superior marching, if I recall. Personally, I thought NY was best, but I was always a sucker for Dreitzer charts and Tommy and Bucky solos. No one knew it yet, but the whole world was beginning to change because Juniors were figuring out touring, with the Troopers in the lead. Once that became the norm, the old guys, who only rehearsed once a week, would eventually be eclipsed skill-wise by kids who went on the road for a month at a clip. It took a few years, but was inevitable. Still, that night, the giants still ruled the earth, and we all knew it.

Excited to hear the Cadets' take on Holsinger's Ballet Sacra, 25 years after its inclusion in their championship-winning "In the Spring..." show.

Well, here ya go then... people are finding out that Michael Gaines will be writing the Visuals for SCV this summer !

Wait until you guys hear the Bruckner opener. From the opening that hornline will grab you by the balls and unleash the power of the drum corps Gods. Kinda like they’re saying, “Eff this, we’re just going to blow your face off from the opening downbeat, hope you don’t mind.” Much percussion, many many tympanies, extremely majestic, and oh my God powerfully loud. When I heard it at the January camp I nearly wept.