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I voted yes, but I would like to qualify my answer. From an organizational standpoint, they do an excellent job. Shows are scheduled broadly to give exposure to a wide audience. DCI events are always organized and if you go to Indy especially, you see how organized and knowledgeable they are. Drum Line Challenge and Soundsport may or may not work, but it's an effort and one that is not costly. As far as the direction of the activity, the corps directors really determine that and the folks employed by DCI make it happen. The directors decide how corps will be judged, what accounts for excellence, use of amplification, instrumentation, etc. So if people either like or dislike the direction of the corps, praise and accuse the corps, not DCI. We also expect DCI to save drum corps, and while I wish it could, poor financial decisions, lack of judgment, or a lack of interest is not the fault of DCI, and quite frankly, if we did not have DCI as an umbrella organization, we probably would not have competitive drum corps today.

Not me - I'll be in Orlando for the next few days on business.

I thought it would be useful to have a list of the key staff of the top corps, so here it is. I removed people who appear to be techs (sorry techs). I will update this with corrections if you post them, and I'll try to link to bios as I have time. Also, post any info about recent staff changes or other major points of note and I'll try to include it. DCI Top 12 Key Staff 2014 Carolina Crown - Website - Wikipedia - FB - Twitter - YouTube (Crown has condensed bio pages: Percussion only at the moment.) Jim Coates (Director) - DCW Interview - Interview Michael Klesch (Music Director / Arranger) - HOF - Inteview - Bio - Interview Keith Potter (Program Concept / Visual Coordinator) - FB Page - Article Leon May (Visual Designer) - Bio at PC - Interview Thom Hannum (Percussion Director / Arranger) - HOF - Clinic - Wikipedia - Bio - Website - Bio - Promo Andrew Markworth (Arranger - Front Ensemble/Supervisor) - Bio (Crossmen) - Product promo - Website Michael Townsend (Guard Director / Choreographer) - Bio (Academy. Scroll to bottom of page) David Starnes (Design / Music Consultant) - Bio (WCU) Matt Harloff (Brass Caption Supervisor) - Bio Glen Crosby (Percussion Technique Manager) - Bio Ron Hardin (Visual Caption Supervisor) - Website - Bio Blue Devils - Website - Wikipedia - Facebook - Twitter - YouTube - Instagram David Gibbs (Executive Director) - HOF - Bio - Interview Pete Emmons (Corps Director) - HOF - Bio Scott Chandler (Guard Program Coordinator - Choreographer) - HOF - Bio - Interview David G Glyde (Percussion Music Coordinator/Arranger) - Bio - Interview Jay Murphy (Visual Designer and Caption Head) - Bio - DCP Thread Wayne R. Downey (Brass Arranger/Supervisor) - HOF - Bio - Great page at XtremeBrass - 1980 Interview - Interview Scott Howard Johnson (Percussion Arranger/Caption Head) - HOF - Bio - Interview - Wikipedia - Bio Jim Wunderlich (Percussion Front Field Arranger - Pit Instructor) - Bio - Article - Website - Bio - Interview Tony Smith (Visual Consultant/Designer) - Article - Thread Karl Lowe (Visual Consultant/Designer) - Bio - Article John Matthew Meehan (Brass Caption Head) - Website - Bio - Wikipedia - Interview Todd Ryan (Visual Caption Head/Marching Instructor) - HOF - Bio - Teaching - Interview: Part 1 - Part 2 Jaime Holly (Visual Instructor / Designer) - Bio - Bio Cadets - Website - Wikipedia - Facebook - Twitter - YouTube George Hopkins (Corps Director, Program Coordinator) - HOF - Bio - Bio - 84 Interview - 90 Interview - '12 Interview Rich Hammond (Director of Performing Ensembles) Marc Sylvester (Programming Associate) - HOF - Bio Bruno Zuccala (Programming Associate) - Bio - Bio (PDF)- Interview Greg Lagola (CG Designer/Programming Associate) - Bio - Bio - Interview - Interview - Nomination Wayne Harris (Programming Associate) - Website - Bio - Performance - HuffPost - CDs Curtis Uhlemann (CG Designer/Programming Associate) - Bio - Bio - ARCOS Video Jeff Sacktig (Visual Designer/Drill Designer/Caption Supervisor/Programming Associate) - Bio - Wiki Jay Bocook (Brass Arranger) - HOF - Bio - Bio - Wikipedia - Hal Leonard - Interview (w/ Colin McNutt) Colin McNutt (Battery Percussion Arranger/Caption Supervisor) - Clinic - Bio Iain Moyer (Front Ensemble Arranger/Supervisor) - Bio - Bio Gino Cipriani (Brass Caption Supervisor) - Bio - Bio - Interview Eric Babula (CG Caption Supervisor) - Bio Austin Greene (Marching Caption Supervisor) - Bio - Bio (scroll down) - Bio - Website Santa Clara Vanguard - Website - Wikipedia - Facebook - Twitter - YouTube Jeff Fiedler (Program Manager) - HOF - Bio - Interview - Interview - Interview - Interview - Interview Mike McCool (Program Coordinator) - Interview Pete Weber (Visual Designer/Drill Writer) - Bio J.D. Shaw (Brass Arranger/Composer) - Bio Paul Rennick (Percussion Arranger/Composer/Caption Manager) - Bio - Bio - Bio - Bio - Interview - Interview Sandi Rennick (Percussion Arranger/Composer) - Bio - Bio - Bio - Bio Sal Salas (Color Guard Coordinator) - Bio - Bio - Interview - Interview - Announcement George Wozniak (Brass Caption Manager) - Bio - Bio - Announcement - Nice Quote! Bob Higgins (Assistant Brass Caption Manager) - Bio - Bio Daniel Riley (CG Caption Manager) - Announcement Brittany McMillan (Asst. CG Caption Manager) Christopher Alexander (Visual Caption Manager) Levi Chavis (Asst. Visual Caption Manager) - Bio - Bio - Bio Bluecoats - Website - Wikipedia - Facebook - Twitter - YouTube David Glasgow (Executive Director) - Bio - Article - Interview - Interview (He is at 1:18) Dean Westman (Program Coordinator) - Bio - Open Letter from 2005 - Website - Interview - Interview Jonathan Vanderkolff (Visual Designer) - Bio - Bio - Bio - MEG Jim Moore (Guard Caption Supervisor, Designer, Choreographer) - Bio - Bio - Bio Greg Lagola (Guard Designer/ Choreographer) - Bio - Bio - Interview - Interview - Nomination Tom Rarick (Percussion Arranger/ Composer) - Bio - Bio - Bio - Bio Doug Thrower (Brass Arranger/ Composer) - Bio - Interview - Thread Vince Oliver (Electronics Designer) - Bio - Website - Bio - Bio - Bio (bottom) Dave MacKinnon (Brass Supervisor) - Bio - Bio Derek Gipson (Brass Caption Head) - Bio Roger Carter (Percussion Caption Head) - Bio - Bio - Bio - Lesson - Demo - Thread - BD I&E Brad Palmer (Front Ensemble Coordinator) - Bio (Matthew) Ryan Kilgore (Music Ensemble Coordinator/ Front Ensemble Instructor) - Bio - Website - Bio - Bio - Bio - Bio Shavon Garcia Stack (Guard Caption Head) - Bio - Article Mike Fanning (Visual Caption Head) - Bio - Nominating Daniel Benton - Article Phantom Regiment - Website - Wikipedia - Facebook - Twitter - YouTube Rick Valenzuela (Executive Director) - Bio - Interview - Interview Dan Farrell (Corps Director/Program Coordinator) - Bio - Interview - Interview Dr. Dan Richardson (Program Advisor) - HOF - Article - Interview - Interview (Biomedical Program) - Interview Jeremy Earnhart (Music Coordinator ) - Bio - Article - Interview - Alan Spaeth (Visual Coordinator) - Bio - Flag Design Tips Don Hill (Brass Arranger) - Bio - Article - Christian Carichner (Brass Caption Head) - Bio - Website - Lessons Gordon Henderson (Brass Consultant) - Bio - Bio - Wikipedia - Teaching Bret Kuhn (Percussion Arranger/Caption Head) - Bio - Website - Article - Bio - Interview - Lesson - Lesson Matt Jordan (Front Ensemble Arranger) - Bio - Performance - Performance - Website Tony Nunez (Electronic Sound Design) - Bio - Bio - Website - Interview Huei-Yuan Pan (Percussion Co-Caption Head) - Bio - Bio - Blog - Article - Performance (percussionist) Nick Thomas (Percussion Co-Caption Head) - Bio Jamey Thompson (Visual Designer) - Bio - Interview - Interview - Interview Part 1 - Part 2 Josh Scott (Visual Caption Head) - Bio - Interview Annie Pelka (CG Caption Head) Bio - Bio - Interview - Bio (scroll down) Rob Billings (CG Designer) - Performance (Choreographer) - Performance (Choreographer) Michael James (CG Choreographer) - Bio - Interview - Bio - Interview Philip Traini (CG Designer) Cavaliers - Website - Wikipedia - Facebook - Twitter - YouTube Adolph DeGrauwe (Corps Director) - Bio - HOF - Interview Scott Koter (Program Coordinator) - Bio - Interview (2:30) Tommy Allen (Visual & Color Guard Designer) - Bio - Bio Michael McIntosh, (Percussion Caption Head, Composer, & Arranger) - Bio - Bio - Bio - Training DVD Alan Miller (Percussion Composer & Arranger) - Bio - Bio - Product (Arrangement) - Performance (Arranger) Mitch Rogers (Drill Designer) - Bio - Bio - Products - Designs - Website Drew Shanefield (Brass Composer & Arranger) - Bio - Bio - Website - Performance (Composer) Andrew Toth (Artistic Director & Color Guard Designer) - Bio Bart Woodley (Visual Coordinator) - Bio - Interview - Article - Interview David McGrath (Brass Caption Head) - Bio - Bio - Talk: Part 1 - Part 2 Dr. Chip Crotts (Associate Brass Caption Head) - Bio - Bio - Website - Bio Travis Speice (Color Guard Caption Head) - Bio - Corps Update - Bio (Scroll down) Tommy Allen (Visual & Color Guard Designer) - Bio - Bio (Scroll down) - Talk Sheldon Apo (Equipment Choreographer) - Bio Tom McGillen (Electronics / Sound Reinforcement Designer) - Bio - Bio - Bio - Paper Steven Estudillo (Visual Caption Head) - Bio - Bio - Interview - Boston Crusaders - Website - Wikipedia - Facebook - Twitter - YouTube Andy Waldukat (Corps Director) - Article Michael Lentz (Artistic Director) - Article - Interview - Bio - Bio (Scroll down) Matt James (Visual Designer) - Bio (Scroll down) Ryan George (Brass Arranger) - Bio - Website - Bio - Performance (Composer) Ellis Hampton (Percussion Arranger/Caption Head) - Bio - Interview - Bio - Bio - Performance (Composer) Jeffery Lamar Branson (Guard Director/Caption Head) Andy Smart (Brass Caption Head) - Website - Conducting Warmup - Blast! Solo Tommy Williams (Visual Caption Head) - Bio - Testimonial - Bio - Bio - Website Madison Scouts - Website - Wikipedia - Facebook - Twitter - YouTube Chris Komnick (Executive Director) - Bio - Interview - Article - Interview Dann Petersen (Director) - Bio - Article - Interview - Article James Mason (Artistic Director) - Bio - Interview - Interview - Website #1 - Website #2 Donnie VanDoren (Staff Coordinator, Brass Director) - HOF - Bio - Article - Interview - Thread Robert W. Smith (Brass Arranger) - HOF - Bio - Bio - Bio - Wikipedia - Website - Performance (Composer) - Performance (Conductor)- Speech Lee Beddis (Battery Arranger, Percussion Director & Arranger) - Bio - Bio - Bio - Article - Interview (Promo) - Interview (5:00) - Clinic James Sparling (Caption Head & Arranger) - Bio - Article Nick Pourcho (Front Ensemble Arranger) - Bio - Bio - Bio - Interview - Article (Author) Jeff Lee (Electronics Arranger) - Bio - Bio - Product - Bio Andy Ebert (Visual Caption Supervisor / Visual Designer) - Bio - Bio - Website Chad Duggan (Visual Coordinator) - Bio - Article - Website - Products - Article (Author) Adam Sage (Design & Choreography/CG Caption Head) - Bio - Bio - Audition Promo - Article Brad Green (Brass Caption Head) - Bio - Pep Talk - Website - Camp Prep - Soundtrack - Performance (Composer) Dr. Nick Williams (Sr. Brass Consultant) - Bio - Bio - Bio (Pg. 3) Alex Kluttz (Front Ensemble Coordinator) - Bio Adam Dalton (Assistant CG Caption Head) - Bio - Bio - Website - Performance (Conductor) Blake Daughtrey (Visual Caption Head) - Bio Taylor Harrell (Assistant Visual Caption Head) - Bio - Interview Blue Knights - Website - Wikipedia - Facebook - Twitter - YouTube Ralph Hardimon (Music Coordination / Consultant) - HOF - Award - Bio - Wikipedia - Interview - Interview Juan Caceres (Visual Design / Coordination) Jed Weeks (Program Coordination) Jay Bocook (Brass Arrangements) - HOF - Bio - Bio - Wikipedia - Hal Leonard - Interview (w/ Colin McNutt) Mike Jackson (Percussion Arranger) - Bio - Bio - Website - Article - Bio - WGI HOF Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 Kevin Shah (Front Ensemble / Sound Design) - Bio - Bio - Bio Brad Toth (Brass Caption Head) - Article - Bio Ronnie Pruitt (Asst. Brass Caption Head) - Performance Rod Kosterman (Front Ensemble Instruction) - Bio - Bio - Bio - Performance (Performer + Composer) - Performance (Composer) Angelo Outlaw (Front Ensemble Instruction) - Bio - Bio (Scroll down) - Performance (Performer) - Interview Mike Olsen (Front Ensemble Instruction) - Bio - Performance (Performer) Visual/CG staff info “coming soon” according to website Spirit of Atlanta - Website - Wikipedia - Facebook - Twitter - YouTube JW Koester (Director) - Bio - Bio - Article - Pep Talk - Update Tom Andrews (Program Coordinator) Scott Boerma (Brass Designer / Arranger) - Bio - Wikipedia - Website - Article - Performance (Composer) - Performance (Composer) Errick Prince (Brass Caption Co-Head) Michael Terry (Brass Caption Co-Head) - Bio - Interview - Interview - Performance - Performance (Composer) Omar Carmenates (Percussion Designer / Arranger) - Bio - Bio - Bio - Website (down) - CD Sample - Rehearsal Ben Pyles (Percussion Caption Head) - Bio - Clips - Recital Rob Jett (CG Designer / Coordinator) Ryan Valencia (CG Caption Head) - Bio Nick Scotella (Visual Designer) - Bio - Website - Drill Dan Adams (Visual Caption Head) - Update Bob Smith (Visual Consultant) - Article (DCP version, original link broken) Blue Stars - Website - Wikipedia - Facebook - Twitter - Vimeo Brad Furlano (Executive Director) - Bio - Interview - Interview Russ Gavin (Corps Director) - Bio - Bio - Article - Paper Richard Saucedo (Program Coordinator and Brass Composer/Arranger) - Bio - Bio - Wikipedia (Netherlands) - Performance (Composer) - Interview - Interview - Endorsement/Interview - Interview John Mapes (Percussion Composer/Arranger) - Bio - Bio - Website - Bio - Interview - Performance (Composer) Ian Grom (Percussion Composer/Arranger) - Bio - Bio - Website - Article - Performance (Composer) - Performance (Composer) Michael Shapiro (Color Guard Choreographer) - Bio - Bio - Article Tim Fairbanks (Drill Designer) - Bio - Bio - Interview - Bio Fred Feeney (Program Coordinator) - WGI HOF - Bio - Article Emery D. Craig (Brass Caption Head) - Bio - Bio Eric Shriver (Percussion Caption Head) - Bio - Bio - Bio - Bio - Interview Matthew Hernandez (Front Ensemble Supervisor) - Bio - Bio Chris Kaflik (Visual Caption Head) - Bio - Article CG staff “To Be Announced”

Okay, here's the scenario... You are in the lot after a show and some unenlightened person has dropped a plastic soda bottle. You pick it up to recycle it and out comes...a drum corps genie. The genie tells you that because you are responsible and realize how fragile we are, he is going to grant you three drum corps wishes. You may go back in time and be a witness to three (and ONLY three) corps performances in all of drum corps history. You will get to witness these performances only once. You may sit anywhere in the stadium and be assured of perfect viewing/listening conditions (no one around you talking or screaming for their friends.) You may choose shows you have seen before, shows you have participated in, or shows you have never seen live. IF you attempt to wish for anything else, for more wishes, or wish for MORE than three performances, the drum corps genie will disappear and you will be immediately transported to a basics block of unspecified duration to do your penance. What are your three wishes?

Tim, Even though before my time (and please, no inherent intent to make you feel "old" ), you've made me want to build my own time machine and go back to those days. Thank You.

Heartfelt congratulations to Frank Ponzo, one of the folks that have continued the legacy of the great DCA soprano (or trumpet depending on your religious and cultural leanings) soloists of the past 50 years. One of the very few people that can command a stadium with just one bell. In my opinion long overdue for induction, but bottom line, an honor that he deserves as well as anyone ever inducted to any hall of fame. And of course like so many I'll be in the crowd saying "yeah, I knew him back then... before he was a big star."

First: St. Kevin' Emerald Knights any year they were at their peak. I taught at St. Kevin's School long after the corps disbanded, but I always heard such rave reviews about them and their founder, the one and only Fr. J. Joseph Kierce was a friend and mentor, even if he did wish Catholic School teachers did so voluntarily out of love of God. Of course the teachers did all get paid--the man was generous to a fault to everyone but himself. Second: The Chicago Royal-Aires any time their were at their height. A bit before my time, and even though I can talk the old school game pretty well, I would have only been two or three at their height. They are just one of those great, fabled corps that I wish I had seen. Third: Genie's Choice: Any performance from the 1976 CYO Nationals--my first live exposure to nationally competitive corps. I loved that night and would enjoy seeing any of them again. And if the genie has limitations and cannot fulfill the above requests, any 27th Lancer or BAC that is not currently available through DCI will do.

Since we all, through youtube or Fan Network, can see a good many shows which we choose based on excellence, my choices are made simply to experience the level of emotion or crowd response inherent in that particular performance. 1) 1980 Spirit of Atlanta -- July 1980, Memphis, Tennessee (And no, I don't think of myself as being a "sick puppy") 2) 1988 Madison Scouts -- DCI Finals 3) 2009 Troopers -- DCI Finals

Ironically, the narrator thereof commented on the artistic nature of a sort of specific form of narration: "My father worked in profanity the way other artists might work in oils or clay."

I'd support them, because they're my brothers and I'm not an elitist who thinks my generation and the type of horns I played on, or what new rules are passed do not make me love my corps less.

2002 Cadets, American Revival The guard, on two occasions, made vocals that mimicked military life, mostly parade chants. Were they vocal effects or narration? I do like your comparison although I see it a little differently. I envision Crown '13 as it existed without the narration in the ballad as the guard worked, the horns blew, and the two exceptional guard members were showcasing their talent, and I think the effect and impact of their performance would not have been the same without the story line of the love story. Beautiful and well done, to be sure, but without the love aspect so well expressed, which led - beautifully - into "Impossible you say?" and back into the analytical style of The Light Fantastic. The love story was a nice segue between EOTB and Cooper and carried the storyline through the show, IMO. Narration, to me, IS a vocal effect whether its telling a love story or counting steps or random numbers.

Nice interview with April Gilligan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-yCXS1yhZ4

Thanx! I saw a couple of submissions... I just can't get to them just yet. I'll check them out as soon as I can. I'm sorry folks... I'm a bit overwhelmed here lately. Hang in there.

CONGRATULATIONS Frank!!! Most deserving my friend!! World Drum Corps Hall of Fame www.worlddrumcorpshof.org/news.htm April 29, 2014 The World Drum Corps Hall of Fame announces the Class of 2014 Since 1976 The World Drum Corps Hall of Fame has honored individuals who have contributed significantly to the drum and bugle corps activity. Please welcome and congratulate these newest members who will be inducted on Friday evening August 29th in Rochester, New York. Pete Emmons It is next to impossible to overstate the influence Pete Emmons has had on the visual aspect of drum corps. Garfield's "Peace Sign", Vanguard's "Bottle Dance", the concept that drill could be asymmetrical, all came from the imagination of Pete. Since 1988 and to this day Pete Emmons has been an important part of the Blue Devil's organization. Pete was previously inducted into the DCI Hall of Fame. Frank Ponzo When people talk of a soloist who can fill a stadium the name Frank Ponzo will always be prevalent. Frank's career as a soloist spans more than three decades and includes The Sunrisers, Caballeros, Caballero Alumni and the Golden Eagles. His teaching career is equally impressive. Of those who have had the privilege of working with Frank, the phrase 'team player' is common. Frank was previously inducted into the Buglers Hall of Fame. Scott Stewart For more than three decades the name Scott Stewart was synonymous with the Madison Scouts. He joined The Scouts as a baritone player in 1968 then went on to become a staff member and eventually Corps Director, a position he held for more than twenty years. Under his directorship the Madison Drum Corps Association sponsored three drum and bugle corps and was a beacon for fiscal responsibility. Scott was previously inducted into the DCI Hall of Fame. Mark Thurston Be it Junior Corps, Senior Corps or Indoor Percussion, Mark Thurston has enjoyed tremendous success. The Crossmen, Spirit of Atlanta, Westshoremen and Buccaneers have all benefited from his teaching and writing skills. In 1999 WGI named Mark as their Director of Percussion, a position he holds today. Mark was previously inducted into the WGI Percussion Hall of Fame. Robert Vitti Spanning more than 30 years Bob Vitti's instructional history has taken him from The Sky Riders of Hutchinson, Kansas to The Skyliners of New York City to the 5 time DCA World Champion Brigadiers of Syracuse, New York. Those that know Bob well speak highly of his ability to infuse excitement and enthusiasm in his teaching both in drum corps and as an educator. Robert Zazzara Certainly an accomplished and highly respected brass arranger and instructor in the drum and bugle corps arena, Bob Zazzara's significant influence has been felt throughout not only drum corps but in education and adjudication. Bob earned his Bachelor's Degree as a trumpet major but then went on to a Master’s Degree in vocal music. Bob's talent was and is recognized by virtually every adjudication association from DCA to DCI.

You know, they could play "Music of Stan Kenton and Don Ellis" for about the next decade (and, sure, for you Malag(uen)a haters, not play Malag(uen)a at all) and still have at least 10 great shows.

1980 Spirit of Atlanta - Just to hear that horn line play it's heart out 1982 Santa Clara Vanguard - Yeah, I know they messed up the bottle dance, but I just want to be in the middle of that crowd going crazy and tossing those 2008 Phantom - Yeah, I saw them in San Antonio... but it wasn't a finished product.

That was awesome and all, but I think this topic is about tone quality. And uh...yeah...

Glassmen '98, though a bit dirtier IMO, also projected extremely well. Anyone who marched either of those years; was there anything overly unique about the lines aside from either lot of talent, or great instruction?