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Park City Pride will hold an open house on April 19, 2015 from 1-4pm at their Sunday rehearsal at the Klein Memorial Auditorium, 910 Fairfield Ave., Bridggeport, CT 06605 Since being organized in 2004 the corps has been entertaining and exciting audiences throughout the Northeast with their recognizable songs from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. The corps is largely composed of alumni from numerous drum and bugle corps, bands, drum lines and color guards. But as an alumni corps, this time around it’s all about fun. Performing to the applause of appreciative audiences, renewing old friendships and making new ones is what it’s all about. Alumni corps perform in exhibition and leave the complex and demanding field maneuvers to the competitive units. New participants are often amazed at how quickly their skills return or new ones develop. Talk to members of Park City Pride and you will hear a common theme – “I never dreamed I’d be doing this again and I’m having a blast!”. For more information contact us at parkcitypride@the parkcitypride.org or visit us at TheParkCityPride.org and on Facebook. Park City Pride … Entertaining for the Fun of It!

We are proud to unveil our first uniform! Some of you may recognize it as Atlanta Quest's old uniform. It fits the bill perfectly for Solaris! Its sleek lines and modern look are a testament to our core values. A very sharp look to set the foundation of our group. Great things are happening here with Solaris. If you would like to help donate toward the corps and the purchase of our uniforms and equipment you can follow this link: gofund.me/Solaris.

Thank you to everyone who came to our Open House on March 1st!! We had a great turn out and are excited about the potential of this year's corps! We would like to see everyone again at our next full corps rehearsal - Sunday, March 15th from 9AM - 6PM at Gahr High School. PERFORM IN THE ROSE BOWL THIS SUMMER WITH CITY SOUND!! www.City-Sound.org

2015 OPEN CLASS Atlanta CV "EYEconic" Symphony No. 1 (Alfred Reed), In Your Eyes (Peter Gabriel), Nessun Dorma (from Turandot, by Giacomo Puccini) The Heat of the Day (Pat Metheny Group) Link Bushwackers "Industrial ®evolution" Industrial ®evolution (Robert W. Smith), The Factory (Robert W Smith), Wild Ride (Robert W. Smith), Tempered Steel (Charles Young), Nimrod (from Enigma Variations, by Edward Elgar) Link Cadets² "The Red Square" Russian Christmas Music (Alfred Reed), Lullaby (from The Gayne Ballet Suite, by Aram Khachaturian), Dance of the Tumblers (Nikolai Rimsky Korsokov), Russian Sailor’s Dance (Reinhold Glière) Link Carolina Gold "Let It Snow" Palladio (Karl Jenkins), Let It Go (from Frozen, by Robert Lopez, Kristen Anderson-Lopez), L’Inverno (Antonio Vivaldi), The Frozen Cathedral (John Mackey) Link Connecticut Hurricanes "After Hours" Since I Don’t Have You (Brian Seltzer), Nutville (Buddy Rich), Harlem Nocturne (Earle Hagen), Jump Jive and Wail (Louis Prima) Link Fusion Core "All Aboard" Empire State of Mind (Jay-Z), Jungstaposed (Craig Fitzpatrick), Hot Honey Rag (from Chicago, by John Kander), Sing Sing Sing (Louis Prima), And Hope Led Them Home (Patrick Roszell, Justin Williams) Link Hawthorne Caballeros "Unchained" Original compositions by Key Poulan Link Kidsgrove Scouts "The Stone Circle: The Myths and Magic of Stonehenge" Featuring Music from Medea’s Dance of Vengeance (Samuel Barber) Link Long Island Sunrisers "Come Fly With Me" Come Fly With Me (Frank Sinatra), El Camino Real (Alfred Reed), Cavalleria Rusticana (Pietro Mascagni), Jai Ho (from Slumdog Millionaire, by A.R. Rahman), La Marseillaise (Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle) Link Minnesota Brass "Mad Circus" Featuring the music of Emerson Lake and Palmer, Danny Elfman, Rufus Wainwright, Beats Antique, Queen Link Reading Buccaneers "Twist-It" Pagliacci (Ruggero Leoncavallo), Palladio (Karl Jenkins), Moonlight Sonata (Ludwig van Beethoven), Going The Distance (from Rocky, by Bill Conti), William Tell Overture (Gioachino Rossini) Link Skyliners "Whatever Lola Wants" Meglio Stasera (from The Pink Panther, by Henry Mancini), Whatever Lola Wants (from #### Yankees, by Richard Adler, Jerry Ross), Ain’t No Sunshine (Bill Withers), Tonight Quintet (from West Side Story, by Leonard Bernstein) Link White Sabers "Incantation and Ritual" Incantation and Dance (John Barnes Chance), The Rite of Spring (Igor Stravinsky), Incantation (from Quidam/Cirque Du Soleil, by Benoit Jutras), Uninvited (Alanis Morissette), O Magnum Mysterium (Morten Lauridsen), Danse Bachhanale (from Samson et Dalila, by Camille Saint-Saëns) Link 2015 CLASS A Alliance "Sub-Zero: Overcome the Elements" Ice Dance (Danny Elfman), Avalanche (James Newton Howard), Coronation (from Boris Goduvov by Modest Mussorgsky), Music of Progue (Karl Husa), Frozen Cathedral (John Mackey) Link Chops "OUTATIME" Times Like These (Foo Fighters), Johnny B. Goode (Chuck Berry), Music from Back To The Future (Alan Silvestri) Link Cincinnati Tradition "Both Sides" Thnks Fr Th Mmrs (Fall Out Boy), Both Sides Now (Joni Mitchell), The Pretender (Foo Fighters) Erie Thunderbirds "The Show Must Go On" Music by Queen: Under Pressure, Fat Bottomed Girls, Another One Bites the Dust, Somebody to Love, Bohemian Rhapsody Link Excelsior "Destination 'U'" Stay With Me (Sam Smith), Maps (Maroon 5), Payphone (Maroon 5), I Just Can't Stop Loving You (Michael Jackson), Signed, Sealed, Delivered (Stevie Wonder) Link Govenaires "Outlaw" Battle Without Honor or Humanity (Tomoyasu Hotei), The Magnificent Seven (Elmer Bernstein), The Ecstasy of Gold (Ennio Morricone), Enemy Guns (DeVotchKa), Kashmir (Led Zeppelin) Link Kilties "A Tour of Time: Old Friends. New Adventures." My Favorite Things (Richard Rogers), First Suite in E Flat (Gustav Holst), English Dances (Malcolm Arnold), Skye Boat Song (Harold Bouldon), Loch Lomand (Norman Luboff) Link

Pacific Crest have just announced that they will be hosting their Corps at the Crest - Los Angeles show at the storied Rose Bowl stadium in Pasadena this summer. Get all of the details here See you there! -john

SDCA Texas is announcing the formation of a The Texas All Stars Alumni corps. This will be a parade corps comprised of former members of any corps. The corps will perform at parades around Texas, and is open to anyone who wants to participate. The first performance of the corps will be on May 2, in Corpus Christi Texas(on the Gulf of Mexico), for the Buccaneer Days Night Parade. The Buccaneer Days Night parade, draws approximately 200,000 people, and would be a good way to gain exposure for Drum and Bugle corps in Texas. We are planning a entire weekend of fun for anyone who wants to join us. We are planning to participate in other parades/events, in other parts of the state. if you are interested , send me a private message, for more info.

SouthSong Drum and Bugle Corps is proud to announce those we have hired so far for our 2015 staff! Corps Director: Robert Lee Worthey Visuals Staff: Michael Hanawalt, Stellarae Dorman Color Guard Techs: Trey Hughes, Stephanie Turpin Brass Techs: Clark Bell, Francis Headrick Drumline Techs: Jon Bernreuter, Megan Ramirez We are still looking for Front Ensemble techs, and brass techs to handle the Tuba/Contra section and the Euphonium section! We are based out of Rainsville, Alabama and will be serving musicians of the Northeast Alabama/Southern Tennessee/Northwest Georgia region. Anyone interested in the currently available staff positions need to contact our corps director at robertleeworthey@gmail.com Our auditions will be Sunday, March 1st at Northeast Alabama Community College in Rainsville, AL starting at 12 noon CST.

SouthSong is a grassroots, all-age drum and bugle corps based in the Northeast Alabama/Southeast Tennessee/Northwest Georgia region. Our surplus proceeds will be going to low income, at risk music programs and those in the process of rebuilding across the area, as Alabama(particularly) has been cutting band programs for financial reasons for the last several years. We are hosting auditions March 1, 2015 at Northeast Alabama Community College in Rainsville, AL at 12pm CST. We are hopeful for a great turnout and an exciting journey for this area seeing its first ever DCA Corps. You may find our facebook page at www.facebook.com/SouthSongMusic Our show this year is entitled, "Death Metal Symphony," which feature the clashing duality of classical symphony and heavy metal rock as these genres duke it out for the prize of getting to finish the show. We are excited to bring our own taste of the South to DCA and hope to show the world of DCA what Alabama musicians are made of! Best of luck to all DCA Corps this year, and we wish you all the best of luck with your season!

The Bluecoats just recently released this video about their January camp and a (verbal) preview of their 2015 show music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ORD-rl4sSw For me, the Bluecoats are my "corps to watch" this upcoming season. The direction they're going to take after such a memorable season they had with TILT is going to be interesting. Thoughts? Comments? Any other news from Canton? Is it June 17 yet?

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 16, 2015. The Skyliners Drum & Bugle Corps is proud to announce the Percussion Staff for the 2015 season. With Percussion Arranger Eric Boylan returning to the Skyliners for a second year to arrange and design their 2015 percussion show, the Skyliners promise another entertaining and crowd pleasing show! The Skyliners are excited to welcome Thomas Siegfried as Percussion Caption Head, a position he has held previously with the Skyliners. Dr. AJ Merlino joins the Skyliners as Front Ensemble Technician/Coordinator. Patsy Vankirk, Mike Nederhood, Brendan Carter, and Cecily Siegfried are Skyliner Percussion Technicians. Thomas Siegfried is pleased to be back as the 2015 Percussion Caption Head for the Skyliners Drum and Bugle Corps. Thomas, a graduate of the Buffalo School of Performing Arts with percussion as his major has worked with Robbie Robison, Dan Delong, Rob Patterson, Billy Kaufman, John Reilly, Chris Feist and a host of others. Thomas has been involved in the Drum Corps activity for well over 25 years and has marched with the Reading Buccaneer, the Westshoremen, the Lehigh Valley Chieftians, the Buccaneer Alumni Corps, the Emmaus Sentinels, and the Reilly Raiders. He has served as Caption head and Percussion Arranger for the New York Skyliners, the Westshoremen, the Lehigh Valley Chieftain, the Emmaus Sentinels, the Buccaneer Alumni Corps, Wilson Central and Southern Junior High Schools, Muhlenburg High School and Kutztown High School. Thomas presently is the Assistant band director and percussion arranger for the Kutztown Senior High School. In addition, Thomas has done work for the undergraduate music program at Kutztown University and most recently has been involved with the graduate program at Indiana University. In 2008 he was given the honor of being inducted into the Pennsylvania Drum Corps Hall of Fame. Helping to get the Skyliners back on the field in 2014 was a deep heartfelt accomplishment and a very proud moment in his Drum Corps career. Thomas is looking forward to a positive year filled with many more accomplishments for the Skyliner organization. Mike Nederhood, Tenor Technician, grew up in Olympia, WA, and has lived and taught in both Seattle, WA, and eastern Pennsylvania. Mike has been playing all areas of percussion for 25 years. He has been teaching, arranging, and composing for 15. Mike moved to Pennsylvania to be in the heart of the drum corps activity, and he had the privilege of winning three world championships with the Reading Buccaneers, where he marched tenors and played in the pit. Mike is very excited to be in his second year as tenor technician with The Skyliners. During his first year with Sky, he was the DCA tenor individual champion. Mike credits much of his success to the fantastic instruction he has received, especially from his private instructors, Dan Adams, David Reeves, Frank Kumor and Will Rapp. Mike has been a member of the University of Washington marching band, the Seahawk's Blue Thunder drum line, and the Seattle Sounder's Soundwave band; he has performed at Lincoln Center, Benaroya Hall, Super Bowl XL, the Rose Bowl, and on a tour of China. Some highlights of his teaching career include winning two championships as director of the Whitehall indoor percussion ensemble, a silver medal finish as tenor tech with the North Penn Marching Knights, a gold medal finish as a percussion instructor with the Warwick marching band, and winning the Puget Sound Festival of Bands as pit tech with the Kamiak Show Band. Mike currently works with Lake-Lehman high school and the Wilkes University Marching Colonels. Mike holds an AA degree from Seattle Central Community College and a BA in Comparative History of Ideas from the University of Washington. He also attended Kutztown University in music performance. Dr. A.J. Merlino received his DMA (Doctor of Musical Arts) Degree from UNLV (University of Nevada Las Vegas) in 2014. He received his MM (Master of Music) Degree at UNLV in 2012, and his BA (Bachelor of Arts in Music) in 2010 at Kutztown University. A.J. is the author of The Percussionist Bodybuilder: Optimizing Performance Through Exercise and Nutrition. He is a member of the Percussive Arts Society; National Academy of Sports Medicine; and Performing Arts Medicine Association College Music Society. A.J. Merlino’s intense and versatile performing style has made him a highly sought after percussionist for the past decade. His playing has taken him around the world including Scotland, Croatia, Greece, Thailand, Australia, and Argentina. He has also collaborated with famed percussionists Michito Sanchez, Pepe Jimenez, Christian Tamburr, Bernie Dresel, and Kurt Rasmussen. Merlino has worked as music director, composer and performer for many projects held at The Venetian, Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand, and Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas as well as the production show Resurrecting Sin City, which premiered in Las Vegas and traveled to Adelaide, Australia in 2012. As a clinician, he has presented to numerous colleges, high schools, festivals and has worked for the International House of Blues with Kurt Rasmussen. A.J.’s Professional Employment resume includes being Instructor of Percussion Studies, Kutztown University, 2013-Present; Yocum Institute for Arts Education, Percussion Instructor, 2014-Present; Reading Music Foundation Instructor, Percussion Instructor, 2014-Present; Mexican Marimba Ensemble Director, New York Youth Musicians, 2014-Present; Skyliners Drum and Bugle Corp, Front Ensemble Instructor/Coordinator, 2014-Present; ESF Camps, Lead Instructor of Performing Arts, 2014; Front Ensemble Instructor, Kutztown University Marching Unit, 2014; Chamber Music Instructor, Kutztown University Chamber Festival, 2014; Percussion Graduate Assistant, UNLV, 2010-2013; Studio Manager, Kutztown University, Kutztown, PA, 2007-2010; and Conference Associate, Mostly Marimba Corporation, Neptune NJ, 2007-2010. AJ’s Endorsements include: Yamaha Percussion, Innovative Percussion, Paiste, Remo, DrumTacs, and Meinl Percussion. His Select Performance Experience, just since 2008, includes percussion and instructional performances from Cirque du Soleil’s One Night for One Drop, Percussionist, at Bellagio Las Vegas, 2013 to Percussion Festival, Percussionist and Instructor, Cordoba in Argentina, 2012. While the entire list is too long to include here, AJ Merlino’s Press Kit can be viewed at http://www.ajmerlino.com/press-kit. Patsy Vankirk, Snare Drum Technician, has been teaching percussion for 30 years. She began teaching at Shikellamy High School upon graduation from there. Other high schools she has worked with while living in Pennsylvania were Southwestern and Bloomsburg high schools. She also marched with the Reading Buccaneers from 1998 through 2000. She then moved to Rochester, NY and began performing and instructing with Empire Statesmen from 2002-2010. Patsy is currently in charge of the battery at Victor High School, Victor, NY. During her time there, the marching band has won 7 New York championships. She is also involved in the Victor Indoor Percussion Ensemble (VIPE) , who are a 4-time State Champion. In 2010, "VIPE" were a Scholastic A finalist at WGI championships in Dayton, Ohio. Brendan Carter, Bass Drum Technician, has been teaching percussion at local high schools since 2008. He began teaching at Lake-Lehman High School under the direction of former band director Greg Riley. While at Lake-Lehman Brendan also began working with the indoor percussion ensemble. During his time at Lake-Lehman the percussion consistently placed in the top 10 in TOB and in 2009 Lake-Lehman won the TIA Scholastic Middle School Percussion Championship. Since then Brendan has worked with Wyoming Area High School from 2009 to present, Pittston Area High School 2010-present, as well as Dallas High School 2013-present. In 2010 Brendan became a Vic Firth educator. At Wyoming Area, Brendan directs the Indoor Percussion ensemble which has won the 2012 Scholastic Novice Percussion and the 2012 Scholastic Middle School Stationary Percussion Championships in TIA. While at Pittston Area, the percussion has consistently achieved the high percussion award in the Independence Open conference at Cavalcade Championships. Brendan is currently the marching band director at Pittston Area High School. Cecily Siegfried is returning to the Skyliners as Cymbal Technician. Cecily Siegfried brings to the Skylines years of experience in performing and teaching bands and drum corps. She will be lending her talents once again to our cymbal line. Cecily has been a performance and musical educator for numerous Drum Corps and countless bands and indoor units including the Westshoremen, Buccaneers, Chieftains, Governor Mifflin, Parkland, Cumberland Valley, Blue Mountain, Whitehall and Northern Lebanon to name a few. As a 5 time DCA world champion and former member of Up with People, she brings the work ethic, knowledge and experience to encourage members to strive to exceed their own expectations. She was a member of the Macy’s All Star Drum Corps in 1991, 1992 and 1994, and was inducted as an associate member of the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame in 2002. In 2005, Cecily became the first inductee of the Pennsylvania Drum Corps Hall of Fame. Keep up-to-date with us via our website, http://www.MarchSky.org and the Skyliners Drum & Bugle Corps Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/skylinersdbc . For more information, please contact Adam Burdett at info@MarchSky.org.

Park City Pride announces their administrative staff for 2015. The Corps Director will be Mike Marella. Sissy McCarthy and Bob Bradley will serve as Co-Directors. Rich Warga returns as Business Manager. To quote Mike Marella as he addressed the membership at their 2015 kickoff event “There is a very exciting year ahead for us and we can't wait to get to work. Together we will make 2015 our best year yet.” Park City Pride ... Entertaining for the Fun of It! Visit us at TheParkCityPride.org and on Facebook

Reading Bucs Website http://readingbuccaneers.org/public_html/index.html NEW TRUCK CAMPAIGN IS UNDER WAY AND WE NEED YOUR HELP! While expenses in this activity continue to rise each season, our aging box trucks are beginning to take a larger toll on our budget than anticipated. Because of this we are kicking off this campaign to raise some much needed funds that will allow us to not only replace one of our trucks, but also provide some much needed preventative maintenance to the other. We take great pride in the fact that we are able to provide the highest quality educational experience this activity has to offer without a huge financial sacrifice from our members...THIS is one of the things that separates the Reading Buccaneers Drum & Bugle Corps from the rest. Please consider donating to this worthy cause and help us continue to provide a financially attainable, world class educational experience for our members that not only meets, but exceeds their expectations. The Reading Buccaneers, founded in 1957, are a 501c3 not for profit organization. Your donations to this great cause will not only be appreciated by every member of the organization, but are tax deductible as well. Please help us spread the word and give today! Thank you! **If you have a company looking to donate a truck, we have the followingminimum requirements: 24 Foot Box, Able to be Registered Non-CDL (26,000lbs), Curbside Door a plus Donations can be made on our website http://readingbuccaneers.org/public_html/index.html

First, a brief history lesson: On December 1, 1996, paperwork was filed in the State of Florida to create Heat Wave of Orlando Drum & Bugle Corps, Inc., the first DCA corps to come out of the Sunshine State. Heat Wave would go on to win or share the DCA Class A Championship twice. Skip ahead to 2009, when a change of direction led to a NEW name, Sun Devils, Inc. The Sun Devils took a more “serious” approach to programming than their fun-loving Florida-themed predecessors. Through a series of ups and downs, the Sun Devils would ultimately go on to become DCA Class A Finalists twice amid numerous DCA South Class A titles. Following the 2014 DCA season, there were philosophical differences that led to a split between the Sun Devils’ staff and administration. On October 1, 2014, the Board of Sun Devils, Inc. voted to change the name to Florida Marching Arts, Inc. The name change was part of a marketing decision based on the fact that we support more than one performing unit. On October 7, 2014, a group of former Sun Devils staff members founded Solaris Performing Arts, Inc. as a not-for-profit corporation in the State of Florida. You can read more about them here: http://www.solarisdrumcorps.org. To be clear, these are two separate groups operated by two separate organizations. So then you may be asking yourself, “well what happens to the Sun Devils?” That’s a very important question. There was much discussion on this topic and it was decided that, given recent events, it would be wise to forego competition in 2015 in order to firm up the corps’ infrastructure and ensure its long-term success. That said, the group is not experiencing financial woes (as is often the case in drum corps today). Additionally, the team in place has already made huge strides in repairing and/or replacing aging equipment and resources. And to be clear, the group is FAR from “inactive.” In fact, the group will be rehearsing in coming months in order to prepare for summer performances as well as solidify the nucleus that will help bring the corps BACK to competition in 2016 and beyond. Our new website is being developed at this time, but you can look for updates periodically athttp://sundevilspag.org. Moving forward, Florida Marching Arts, Inc. endeavors to create and foster more performance opportunities in the State of Florida. Our mission is first and foremost, to give back to the community by providing a positive atmosphere in which our young people receive an education in the performing arts and develop life-enriching character traits such as discipline, teamwork, integrity, leadership, dedication, and good citizenship. Our newest program offering is called PHOENIX. PHOENIX is a mixed ensemble that will perform in WGI’s Winter Winds circuit and possibly DCI’s new SoundSport division. By now you may be asking yourself, “so what is WGI Winds?” Glad you asked! “Continuing the Sport of the Arts tradition of performance and competition, WGI Winds is a unique form of the marching music activity. In fact, winds doesn’t mean “winds only.” Groups can include anything found in a concert band or orchestra as well as color guard and percussion performers. Winds is a natural extension of the WGI organization and will complete WGI’s support of the total band program.” What this means, is a unique and exciting performance opportunity that is open to literally EVERYONE! PHOENIX is open to all ages, ability levels, and instrumentation. Anyone with a great attitude and a desire to participate is welcome. The first organizational meeting for PHOENIX is scheduled for January 17th. More information will be available at their website: http://www.phoenixcorps.org/ PHOENIX is currently looking for staff and member applicants for their 2015 campaign. This first exploration of a new circuit(s) will start small – staying primarily local – with minimal fees and expenses. This is an excellent opportunity for those who have always wanted to check out the activity to “get their feet wet” so-to-speak without the exorbitant financial commitment normally associated with drum corps today. Please go to our website for more information on how you can become a performer or staff member today! We would be remiss if we did not offer a mention of our sister organization – Impact Drum & Bugle Corps. Impact has been performing at DCA’s mini corps championships and entertaining audiences all over for the past three seasons. The corps has shifted gears a bit this year with regards to programming and has taken on a very challenging but extremely fun and modern book. Impact welcomes all players ages 18 and up. You can find out more about Impact here: http://www.impactoforlando.org. In addition to the groups mentioned above, there are many more WGI Winds, DCI SoundSport, and other groups in development all over the state – probably the most exciting of which is the return of junior corps to the Sunshine State! Our friends at Heat Wave of Florida are bringing DCI-aged drum corps back to Florida. You can check them out here:http://www.heatwaveofflorida.com. In summary, drum corps/the marching arts are not dead in Florida. In fact, they’re very much alive AND GROWING! If you’ve read this far, we want to sincerely thank you for taking the time to read and understand what has been going on. We appreciate your patience while we went “silent.” During any transition period emotions and tensions understandably tend to run high. It was our intent to stay quiet until emotions calmed and details were worked out and ready to share. We invite you to follow ALL the goings on at Florida Marching Arts, Inc. by visiting our website at http://www.fmainc.org. From there you can find information on all of our performing units, make a donation, learn more about joining, volunteer, or inquire about joining our staff. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your continued support. We’ll see you on the 50. Florida Marching Arts, Inc. is the longest running active drum corps organization in the State of Florida. Florida Marching Arts, Inc. is incorporated in the State of Florida and is registered with the United States Internal Revenue Service as a 501©3 not-for-profit corporation, governed by a board of directors.

Now that the holidays are over, its time to get back to drum corps! Our first camp of 2015 is coming up in just over a week. We will continue work on our program "A Roman Legion's Tale." We will be getting a first read of our second part "Mars (from the Planets)." We are looking for members in all sections. When: Saturday, January 17, 12:00-6:00pm Sunday, January 18, 11:00am-5:00pm Where: Sacred Heart Parish Center 1061 Springfield St., Agawam, MA 01030 For more information, visit our website or Facebook page. Join the Legion!

2015 Sunrisers Show Announcement - “COME FLY WITH ME” How would you respond if someone said, “You can travel the world for the price of a seat at a drum corps contest?” That is the option available to those who will see the Long Island Sunrisers in 2015. The journey is called “Come Fly With Me.” “When we sat down to map out the course of the corps, we wanted to choose a show that was audience-friendly, artistic and true to the identity of the Sunrisers,” program coordinator Gene O’Brien states. “Many routes were open to us, but this one really excited the staff as being a Sunrisers production, with a twist.” “The concept was chosen because the staff felt that a travelogue would present excellent opportunities visually combined with a limitless array of music,”O’Brien states. “During a conference call in the early fall, one participant said that the concept reminded him of an iconic Frank Sinatra travelogue concept album from the 1950s ‘Come Fly With Me’. JD Shaw, our brass arranger, thought that tune would be a perfect launching pad for this international journey.” The show opening evolved into a flight from New York’s JFK Airport to Europe. Keep your eye on the Sunrisers color guard this year, led by Nick Ashley and Budd Williams as they take us on this visual journey with the first stop being Spain. “The paso doble is a great Spanish dance form, so Alfred Reed’s ‘El Camino Real’ seemed a perfect choice,”O’Brien said. “This is music with lots of fire and drive. What really excites me is the opportunity for the front ensemble and brass to engage in a conversation. Organic design is important to us,”he states. From Spain, the Sunrisers will bring the audience to Italy. “So many pieces could fit this bill, but JD gravitated to Mascagni’s ‘Cavalleria Rusticana.’ This was an excellent selection, because it is such a great tune that has so far flown under the drum corps radar. It is so difficult to find material that hasn’t been picked over by drum corps, but this piece is a gem,’ O’Brien says. The Sunrisers entourage then travels to India, in which the percussion features within “Jai Ho” from the hit movie franchise “Slumdog Millionaire.” This film is the Indian version of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.” states O’Brien: “This is a great opportunity for us to explore ethnic percussion. Kevin Murphy, our new percussion writer and caption head, presented this material and is very excited about producing it for the field. We are equally excited.” The journey so far has been fun, but the Sunrisers are working their way back to the mainland. France, in the form of “Marseilles” is the conclusion of the European trek and springboard for the return to the mainland. Staff coordinator, Frank Mauriello states, “We as a staff are extremely excited about this upcoming season and it is one of the most anticipated seasons to date for the Sunrisers. We have assembled one of the most experienced rosters of staff that we have ever had, with JD Shaw, Bobby Jones, and Kevin Murphy taking the lead on the design team.” The design team and instructional staff have many years of experience and knowledge coming from all over the drum corps landscape; ranging from The Santa Clara Vanguard, The Cadets, The Blue Devils, The Blue Stars, Syracuse Brigadiers, Reading Buccaneers, and Phantom Regiment and more. Frank Mauriello continues, “Obviously, this top notch team is no stranger to success and we’re looking forward to having them share their wealth of knowledge with our members, as well as help the Sunrisers soar to new heights in their 2015 production, ‘Come Fly With Me.’”

If you haven't heard (and if you're a drum corps fan, i don't know how you couldn't have), screenings of "Scouts Honor: Inside A Marching Brotherhood", the award-winning documentary filmed and recorded during the Scouts 2012 season, has started screenings across the country. If possible, can we pin this post so screening sponsors can list their events? I'll start... The Velvet Knights Alumni Corps is sponsoring the only Southern California screening of the award winning documentary, "Scouts Honor: Inside a Marching Brotherhood". The screening is scheduled for Thursday, January 15, 2015, at the Edwards Anaheim Hills 14 in Anaheim Hills, CA. TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE BY ADVANCE PURCHASE ONLY! THERE ARE NO WALK-UP TICKET SALES! Tickets are $10.50. To reserve tickets, go to: http://gathr.us/screening/9782 This is a fundraiser for the Velvet Knights Alumni Corps. But we need a minimum number of tickets sold to make this happen. Even when you pre-purchase you tickets, your credit card will NOT be charged until the minimum number of tickets are sold. Filmed over the course of the 2012 season and recorded in 5.1 Surround Sound, this theater event is the closest you'll come to hearing a drum corps show live. To see the trailer, go to this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQeQDbRbRt0&feature=youtu.be

After an exciting end to the 2014 season, coupled with the kick off of 2015 this past weekend, the Hurricanes are excited to announce our 2015 Program. Tonight, join the Hurricanes as we hit a few of the City’s hippest “After Hours” clubs, on a Saturday night to remember! Hearing Brian Setzer’s dramatic ballad, “Since I Don’t Have You”, coming from a place just down the street, we set the adventure in motion. Our evening blasts to life in a high-octane jazz club where “Nutville”, one of our favorite big band productions, begins. Killer horn riffs and relentless energy deliver the wild ride of this Buddy Rich classic. We need a breath of air and escape outside, only to catch the plaintive sounds of “Harlem Nocturne” echoing from a smoky club down the block. Thinking we might catch a break, we're in for a big surprise when the band suddenly lights up the joint with “Jump, Jive and Wail”, Louis Prima’s dynamite up-tempo hit. Jammed with driving drums, pulsing rhythm, and dynamic horn moments, this iconic swing tune leaves us exhausted. But just as we're ready to leave, the haunting, dramatic “Since I Don’t Have You” begins to weave its spell again. The bold, textured, familiar melody welcomes the dawn, capping off a night of entertainment and emotion, cruising the jazz scene “After Hours”.

November 25, 2014. The Skyliners Drum & Bugle Corps’ Open House this past weekend was a tremendous success, and an exciting beginning for the corps’ 70th Anniversary season. After the Skyliners’ return to the field of DCA Competition last season, the corps is looking forward to continued growth and more opportunities to entertain its stalwart fans and alumni. Scott Carey, Brass Caption Head, assisted by Ryan Lamoreux, Assistant Brass Caption Head, led the brass instruction, supported by the 2015 Brass Staff. After warm-ups, the horn line worked through the beginning of “It Better Be Tonight”, from their 2015 show “Whatever Lola Wants.” Although composed for the 1963 film ‘The Pink Panther’, the Skyliners have chosen Michael Bublé’s treatment of this song, which is an adaptation of the musical arrangement made for the great songstress, Lena Horne. Percussion Caption Head Tom Siegfried and Percussion Arranger Eric Boylan, together with the Percussion staff, led the Percussion line through percussion warm-ups. They also embarked on music for “It Better Be Tonight”. The color guard members in attendance were led by Michele Fadden, Color Guard Caption Head, and the Color Guard Staff. They stretched, danced, spun and did jazz runs. Throughout the day Andrew Hayward, Visual Caption Head, and the Visual Staff visited each section to help focus on visual basics during sectionals. The Skyliners unveiled a new uniform for the 2015 season to the attendees of the Open House. SKY OPEN HOUSE VIDEO REPORT - http://youtu.be/1OsHCYo0PBQ The Skyliners thank everyone who attended today, everyone who helped set up or clean up for the Open House, those who baked or cooked, or helped in many ways to make it such a success. To those who were not able to attend due to school/family commitments, please mark the Skyliners’ next rehearsal on your schedule: SKYLINERS DECEMBER CAMP WEEKEND Dates/Times: Saturday, December 13th, 2014 ~ 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 P.M. Sunday, December 14th, 2014 ~ 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 P.M. Location: Wyoming Valley West High School 150 Wadham Street, Plymouth, PA 18651 Directions: http://www.mapquest.com/places/wyoming-valley-west-hs-plymouth-pa-2216650/ Keep up-to-date with us via our website, http://www.MarchSky.org, the Skyliners Drum & Bugle Corps Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/skylinersdbc and the Skyliners 2015 Interest Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/712736618762089. For more information, please contact Adam Burdett at info@MarchSky.org.

November 25, 2014. The Skyliners Drum & Bugle Corps’ Open House this past weekend was a tremendous success, and an exciting beginning for the corps’ 70th Anniversary season. After the Skyliners’ return to the field of DCA Competition last season, the corps is looking forward to continued growth and more opportunities to entertain its stalwart fans and alumni. Scott Carey, Brass Caption Head, assisted by Ryan Lamoreux, Assistant Brass Caption Head, led the brass instruction, supported by the 2015 Brass Staff. After warm-ups, the horn line worked through the beginning of “It Better Be Tonight”, from their 2015 show “Whatever Lola Wants.” Although composed for the 1963 film ‘The Pink Panther’, the Skyliners have chosen Michael Bublé’s treatment of this song, which is an adaptation of the musical arrangement made for the great songstress, Lena Horne. Percussion Caption Head Tom Siegfried and Percussion Arranger Eric Boylan, together with the Percussion staff, led the Percussion line through percussion warm-ups. They also embarked on music for “It Better Be Tonight”. The color guard members in attendance were led by Michele Fadden, Color Guard Caption Head, and the Color Guard Staff. They stretched, danced, spun and did jazz runs. Throughout the day Andrew Hayward, Visual Caption Head, and the Visual Staff visited each section to help focus on visual basics during sectionals. The Skyliners unveiled a new uniform for the 2015 season to the attendees of the Open House. SKY OPEN HOUSE VIDEO REPORT - http://youtu.be/1OsHCYo0PBQ The Skyliners thank everyone who attended today, everyone who helped set up or clean up for the Open House, those who baked or cooked, or helped in many ways to make it such a success. To those who were not able to attend due to school/family commitments, please mark the Skyliners’ next rehearsal on your schedule: SKYLINERS DECEMBER CAMP WEEKEND Dates/Times: Saturday, December 13th, 2014 ~ 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 P.M. Sunday, December 14th, 2014 ~ 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 P.M. Location: Wyoming Valley West High School 150 Wadham Street, Plymouth, PA 18651 Directions: http://www.mapquest.com/places/wyoming-valley-west-hs-plymouth-pa-2216650/ Keep up-to-date with us via our website, http://www.MarchSky.org, the Skyliners Drum & Bugle Corps Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/skylinersdbc and the Skyliners 2015 Interest Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/712736618762089. For more information, please contact Adam Burdett at info@MarchSky.org.