Star United and the Finals Exhibition

[wishbonecav]

I am a dca fan.

I am an unabashed promoter of the mini-corps and the mini-corps concept.

I reserve my Friday night on Labor Day weekend to sit front and center at Mini-Corps Championships.

I respect every corps' preparation and motivations.

I believe the mini-corps program their shows with audience first (they gotta have fun), members second (we gotta have fun) and judges third.

I have an opinion.

I am a fan of entertainment.

I am a fan of excellence.

I love Star United.

In all these things, I am not alone.

I was thrilled that the mini-corps champs changed their personal travel plans so they could perform the championship exhibition.

I was thrilled that the vast majority of the dca Finals crowd got to experience and appreciate Star on Sunday.

Star brings a gift to dca every year. It is excellence in technical ability and ensemble effect to the extreme.

And it is drums and bugles (that's us) played by a group of drum corps veterans (that's us, too) , all of whom are over 21 (that's us, three) and all of whom belong under the dca umbrella. They are who we are. And, yes, they are dam* good at it.

Some of us accept this gift in the spirit it is offered...in friendship, participation, cameraderie, competition and entertainment.

Some of us have trouble accepting the gift and that's too bad.

Are there mini-corps that offer different flavors than Rocky Point Holiday? Sure.

Are there mini-corps that are loud, fun and excellent in their own right? Sure.

Did we get to enjoy their performances on Friday night? In full effect.

But only one of them is the champ: Star United.

I, for one, am proud that they are part of this thing we call dca.

And they set the bar pretty high. Since when was that anything but a positive?

See you in '09...and bring the aussies with you!

[SaraNYC]

I am a dca fan.

I am an unabashed promoter of the mini-corps and the mini-corps concept.

I reserve my Friday night on Labor Day weekend to sit front and center at Mini-Corps Championships.

I respect every corps' preparation and motivations.

I believe the mini-corps program their shows with audience first (they gotta have fun), members second (we gotta have fun) and judges third.

I have an opinion.

I am a fan of entertainment.

I am a fan of excellence.

I love Star United.

In all these things, I am not alone.

I was thrilled that the mini-corps champs changed their personal travel plans so they could perform the championship exhibition.

I was thrilled that the vast majority of the dca Finals crowd got to experience and appreciate Star on Sunday.

Star brings a gift to dca every year. It is excellence in technical ability and ensemble effect to the extreme.

And it is drums and bugles (that's us) played by a group of drum corps veterans (that's us, too) , all of whom are over 21 (that's us, three) and all of whom belong under the dca umbrella. They are who we are. And, yes, they are dam* good at it.

Some of us accept this gift in the spirit it is offered...in friendship, participation, cameraderie, competition and entertainment.

Some of us have trouble accepting the gift and that's too bad.

Are there mini-corps that offer different flavors than Rocky Point Holiday? Sure.

Are there mini-corps that are loud, fun and excellent in their own right? Sure.

Did we get to enjoy their performances on Friday night? In full effect.

But only one of them is the champ: Star United.

I, for one, am proud that they are part of this thing we call dca.

And they set the bar pretty high. Since when was that anything but a positive?

See you in '09...and bring the aussies with you!

No, no aussies. Please. They were ditched after '85 for a reason.

[El_Chestus]

I am a dca fan.

I am an unabashed promoter of the mini-corps and the mini-corps concept.

I reserve my Friday night on Labor Day weekend to sit front and center at Mini-Corps Championships.

I respect every corps' preparation and motivations.

I believe the mini-corps program their shows with audience first (they gotta have fun), members second (we gotta have fun) and judges third.

I have an opinion.

I am a fan of entertainment.

I am a fan of excellence.

I love Star United.

In all these things, I am not alone.

I was thrilled that the mini-corps champs changed their personal travel plans so they could perform the championship exhibition.

I was thrilled that the vast majority of the dca Finals crowd got to experience and appreciate Star on Sunday.

Star brings a gift to dca every year. It is excellence in technical ability and ensemble effect to the extreme.

And it is drums and bugles (that's us) played by a group of drum corps veterans (that's us, too) , all of whom are over 21 (that's us, three) and all of whom belong under the dca umbrella. They are who we are. And, yes, they are dam* good at it.

Some of us accept this gift in the spirit it is offered...in friendship, participation, cameraderie, competition and entertainment.

Some of us have trouble accepting the gift and that's too bad.

Are there mini-corps that offer different flavors than Rocky Point Holiday? Sure.

Are there mini-corps that are loud, fun and excellent in their own right? Sure.

Did we get to enjoy their performances on Friday night? In full effect.

But only one of them is the champ: Star United.

I, for one, am proud that they are part of this thing we call dca.

And they set the bar pretty high. Since when was that anything but a positive?

See you in '09...and bring the aussies with you!

Ok.....since this is the greatest country in the world with FREE SPEECH as one of those benefits, allow me to retort.

STAR= DCI

Alum or not....they are still a DCI CORPS.

Yes, they raised the bar....and that's great.

Yes, they got four championships.....outstanding!(still not top dog tho......they got at least 3 more titles to go to reach that....does the number 105 mean anything?!)

Now, being a drum corps nut , I know what I like.

What Star played I didn't like.

I like SONGS.

I like to be entertained.

What I don't like are elevator muzak selections and bedtime story music.

Star played the hell out of their show....clean, melodic, dynamic........however, entertaining they were not to me.

The mini-corps competition didn't NEED to have Star participate to have the "bar raised".....that would have happened all by itself without their "help".

Now that they are top dog for the meantime everyone is just raining accolades because they "raised the bar" or because they "shook up the status quo".

Whatever.

You don't see ANY DCA factions competiting in DCI I&E do you?!

So then why is a DCI faction allowed to compete in a uniquely DCA competition?

How many professional musicians are in Star?..............bueller.............bueller...........

I hope the day is comming soon where someone in the mini-corps world knocks Star off the top of the mountain.

[Donny Drum Corps]

Tell us how you really feel Cheez.

[Mike_B]

Before the firestorm hits you cheez, I agree with you about their show this year. Loved last years tho.....

[Kamarag]

So then why is a DCI faction allowed to compete in a uniquely DCA competition?

Probably for the same reason the Bridgemen are allowed into the Alumni show.

[DMCK]

I watched Star United in the lot and was beside myself. I was in awe of their ridiculous awesomeness...and I was completely entertained.

Thank you, Star United. You have a new fan.

[LegalEagle50]

Probably for the same reason the Bridgemen are allowed into the Alumni show.

guess we probably shouldn't consider starting a mini-corps then either huh?

[pmaustin]

I am a dca fan.

I am an unabashed promoter of the mini-corps and the mini-corps concept.

I reserve my Friday night on Labor Day weekend to sit front and center at Mini-Corps Championships.

I respect every corps' preparation and motivations.

I believe the mini-corps program their shows with audience first (they gotta have fun), members second (we gotta have fun) and judges third.

I have an opinion.

I am a fan of entertainment.

I am a fan of excellence.

I love Star United.

In all these things, I am not alone.

I was thrilled that the mini-corps champs changed their personal travel plans so they could perform the championship exhibition.

I was thrilled that the vast majority of the dca Finals crowd got to experience and appreciate Star on Sunday.

Star brings a gift to dca every year. It is excellence in technical ability and ensemble effect to the extreme.

And it is drums and bugles (that's us) played by a group of drum corps veterans (that's us, too) , all of whom are over 21 (that's us, three) and all of whom belong under the dca umbrella. They are who we are. And, yes, they are dam* good at it.

Some of us accept this gift in the spirit it is offered...in friendship, participation, cameraderie, competition and entertainment.

Some of us have trouble accepting the gift and that's too bad.

Are there mini-corps that offer different flavors than Rocky Point Holiday? Sure.

Are there mini-corps that are loud, fun and excellent in their own right? Sure.

Did we get to enjoy their performances on Friday night? In full effect.

But only one of them is the champ: Star United.

I, for one, am proud that they are part of this thing we call dca.

And they set the bar pretty high. Since when was that anything but a positive?

See you in '09...and bring the aussies with you!

Joey,

I'm in agreement with you. Star could bring their Aussie's as you've suggested, or even dress up in Kangaroo costumes, the fact remains that they are the three time, undefeated DCA MiniCorps champions for a reason.

They have consistently displayed a high level of performance, show design, excellence, and last but not least, Class. They are deserving of every accolade that they have received and in my opinion, continue to represent the very best in our little corner of the drum corps activity.

There are many different types and styles of corps represented, and it is this reality that makes this segment of the activity so popular and fast growing. There was a style for everyone in the audience on Friday evening to enjoy and embrace.

Competition and diversity in all walks of life is healthy and beneficial as it forces those with the desire, to adapt and improve in order to achieve excellence.

You would be hard pressed to find two more contrasting styles of show design than Star United and Mass Brass, and yet the overall intent of both corps was to Entertain, to Excel, and to Enjoy. Mission Accomplished I believe!!!

At Mass Brass, we felt that we left our best performance out there when we needed it, and still came up a little short in the end. No apologies or regrets from us, Star came out and did what they had to do and won the day. Mass Brass will be back next year, and look we forward to the challenge of improving upon our second place finish.

It was an absolute pleasure to share the stage on Friday night with so many talented and dedicated musicians from each of the competing corps. I think that looking towards next year, many if not all competing corps will be aiming towards the bar set by Star United as a standard by which to set their goals.

Congratulations to all competing corps for terrific performances at the show, and special congratulations to Star United for a well earned victory.

[Donny Drum Corps]

I am going to keep trying to get them as well. Ghost Riders did a great job on Friday night and have nothing to ashamed of. I dont have any problem being behind Star or Mass Brass in placement. We just to keep working at finding a way back to the winners circle. We also feel that we have been constantly attempting to raise the level of design in the mini corps venue and will continue to do so.

Star won, and they can play! We have all raised the bar IMHO...

Donny