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I find this point very interesting! One thing I'd like to ask is, What's wrong with being a spectacle as long as your organization brings joy to audiences and amazing life experiences for your members? After their America show, which I'm sure was emotionally and creatively taxing for the staff, then what's wrong with sacrificing some of their aesthetic sensibilities for a year? After all, the debate over whether drum corps is a sport or an art keeps coming up. Regardless of the answer, there's a blurred line there.... and sports have no concern with aesthetics. So I'd say drum corps have a choice between spectacle and aesthetics each year, and based on our opinions and our own aesthetic values, we can decide whether we enjoy the show or not.

Garfield, it pains me to point out that Aristotle was a Greek, and marched in the fourth century BC. The Greeks were basically G7 until about the first or second century AD, long after Aristotle aged out. They then dropped to open class for the next couple millennia. Now, the Romans were medaling until about 400AD, before going inactive due to poor management and Huns.

Overhyped, in my opinion.

.... not sure anyone wants to bring Rookie Talent Night to the field...

And as an update we went to Kris nephews wedding and reception yesterday in Harrisburg and then up county a way. Will post a pic when I get to it but she did great and (LOL) exhausted today. Used the walker at the wedding and half the reception then wheelchaired it because of distance and uneven footing as it got dark. Hoping to get a pic from the wedding photographer of Kris dancing with her nieces. Kris was in the chair and the nieces pulled her butt out on the floor. This AM the college aged niece came over and we went out to breakfast before she drove back to Appalachin State. Yeah I feel better..... PS - now officially related by marriage to a 1976 WSM color guard member. She is a aunt of the bride and Kris is the Aunt of the groom....

Company Drill Writer used to be my good friend Craig Sherratt. Although he may not have written for them in 2014.

If he was GREY, then he must have had a KIGHTly personality ... :-)

Geoff... as long as we have your attention... how's Tracy? I do miss you guys... and I would love to visit Vegas again and see you guys, but I too am suffering just a bit from terminal old age... and the lack of funds that goes with it... As for what happened with Don, considering his age and failing health, would it help if I spoke with John? I have made it clear that I'm not questioning that there was justification - but rather that all the circumstances may not have been considered before the execution was carried out. Finally, as one of the victims of Sal Chimera and several others back when... you know that I accept and welcome the comfort of a moderated forum... and the sanity it brings... as this thread approaches 40000 ... I would think that would give us at least the opportunity to discuss the situation further... even if it must be in private... Go to post #1 on this thread and open the picture... now if that doesn't bring a smile to your face, what will?

Buglers Hall of Fame member, Clark Terry, is the subject of a new film opening this week. "Keep O Keepin' On" focuses on his lifelong dedication to mentoring young players. Clark, who is 94, began his performance career as a member of the Tom Powell D&B Corps, which later became the legendary and nationally prominent Spirit of St. Louis, one of the great African-American drum corps, like the George Washington Carver Gay Blades, Carter Cadets, Minnisink Warriors, Page Park, Wynn Center Toppers...et al., that flourished throughout the 50's and '60s. The film is not about "drum corps", per se, but rather about how much positive influence can be brought about by somebody like Clark Terry, the bugler. http://keeponkeepinon.com/

Sorry Geoff, but... I've dealt with all these folks here for about 7 years or so. I've dealt with some doozies. Don is very opinionated as are we all... but we all work it out and end up getting along. I don't understand why he has been banned for life. Could you please explain it to us? This is crazy. We all get a bit passionate / mouthy here.... so what? Should we all be banned for life? Should you moderators just kill the thread all together?? I'm pointing the finger at you because you were the one that jumped in here. If you can't / won't explain it to me / us..... that's fine.... I'll relocate. No biggie. Just thought I'd give you folks the opportunity

HMMMMM smoke and mirrors to cover dirt? That used to be called smart programming. It's what a staff does. Not 1 corps says HEY LOOK HERE < THIS IS SOMETHING WE DON"T DO WELL. I don't care how far someone wants to go back, even in difficult moments, we all covered dirt one way or another. JMO Drum Corps is musical, visual, technical and yes smoke and mirrors.

Did you promise any steak dinners before last summer when you predicted them to finish in the top 5? And Blue Stars to not make Finals? Yeah, LOL.

The Skyliners Drum & Bugle Corps is pleased to announce the appointment of the following 2015 design staff for the corps’ 70th Anniversary: Brass Arranger: Joey Pero; Drill Designer: Adam Burdett; and Percussion Arranger: Eric Boylan. The Skyliners welcome Joey Pero, Buglers Hall of Fame Member and virtuoso master of the trumpet in the jazz and classical genres, as Brass Arranger. Joey spent a couple of weekends in August working with the Skyliners brass staff and horn line. A highlight of Joey’s drum corps teaching, playing and writing career has surely been working with and inspiring performers, young and mature, in this arena. His passion, talent, flair, high energy performance approach, amazing technicality and the ability to share his expertise with students comes through wherever he teaches. Joey was the DCA Soprano Individual Champion in 2000, 2001 & 2002; DCA Best Soloist in 2002 and 2004; and won the DCA Best Showmanship Award in 2001. He has performed with drum corps such as the Genesee Quest, Ghost Riders, Empire Statesmen and the performance ensemble, The Edge. Indeed, his drum corps soloist debut at the age of 12 caused a sensation. He arranged music for and taught the Renegades. In addition to his classical trumpet training at Juilliard School at Lincoln Center in New York City, Joey Pero also counts music greats such as Wynton Marsalis, Ray Mase, and Charles Schlueter, former principal trumpet of the Boston Symphony, as his mentors. Maynard Ferguson hired him to play second chair on his Big Bop Nouveau Band Tour. Joey Pero’s performance venues include the Los Angeles Coliseum, Berklee College of Music, New England Conservatory, Las Vegas and stages around the world. Joey released his debut album “Resonance” in 2008 and has been hard at work on his next release. He returned to New York City over the summer to work on a Broadway project called “Bandstand”. According to a report by the New York Post’s Michael Riedel, “Broadway’s next hit could be ‘Bandstand’. His list of accomplishments and performance venues and successes would be too many to list here. For the Skyliners, historically known as a performance corps who always plays for the audience, Joey’s focus on entertainment and how to bring one’s performance to that next level, will provide an exciting and dynamic brass show. Adam Burdett is returning for his second year as Drill Designer, Drum Major, and Director of Recruiting. He is currently a music teacher in the Pittston Area School District, and has been for the past 12 years. He teaches the Senior High School Concert Band, 9th Grade General Music, and the 4th Grade Intermediate Center beginning band. Adam has been involved as a marching band instructor for the past 20 years, beginning as a percussion instructor upon graduation from High School in 1993. He was the band director of the Award Winning Pittston Area Marching Patriots from 2002-2010. During this time, Adam was also a co-music arranger from 2002-2007, Percussion Arranger in 2002, 2004-2010, and drill designer from 2008-2010. Under his direction, the Marching Patriots were the Cavalcade of Bands Independence Conference Champions from 2008-2010, and Tournament of Band Group 1 Atlantic Coast Champions in 2009. Adam is still the drill designer for the Pittston Area Marching Patriots, who won the Cavalcade of Bands Championship once again in 2011. Adam has been the drill designer for the East Stroudsburg North High School Marching Band since 2011. ESN was the winner of the Cavalcade of Bands Championship in 2012 and in 2013. He also designs drill for the Shikellamy High School Marching Braves, a Tournament of Bands Atlantic Coast Finalist in 2012 and for the Wyoming Area High School Marching Band in 2012, a TOB Atlantic Coast Finalist in 2012, as well as Pocono Mountain West, Lackawanna Trail, Montrose and Abington Heights. In addition to his responsibilities as a director and instructor, Adam is currently the Executive Vice-President of Cavalcade of Bands since 2009, and an adjudicator for Cavalcade of Bands since 2011. He is the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association District 9 Treasurer, a position he has held since 2008. Adam resides in Edwardsville, Pennsylvania with his lovely wife Becky and their three cats. Eric Boylan is also returning to the Skyliners as Percussion Arranger for his second year. He lives locally, and is currently the Band Director at Abington Heights. A Lebanon Valley College Music Education graduate, Eric performed professional compositions on marimba, vibraphone and drums. In addition to his experience as a Music Adjudicator with the National Judges Association (NJA), Eric was also the Marching Band Director at Pittson Area High school. Eric has worked as Indoor Percussion Arranger, Director, Consultant and Instructor; Percussion Arranger; Percussion Instructor; and Marching Band Instructor of various local school district programs and several competitive corps in Drum Corps Associates (DCA), such as the Connecticut Hurricanes, Fusion and Hawthorne Caballeros. Awards include the Pittson Area Marching Band being named the 2011 Cavalcade of Bands Independence Open Champions; winning 2010 DCA Class “A” Championship with Fusion; and Lake Lehman winning the 2009 Indoor Percussion (TIA) Championship, the 2007 Group 1 TOB Atlantic Coast Championship. We look forward to working with the design staff as we prepare for the 2015 DCA Season! The Skyliners’ Open House will take place: Date: Saturday, November 22, 2014 ~ 12:00 - 6:00 P.M. Location: Wyoming Valley West High School 150 Wadham Street, Plymouth, PA 18651 Directions: http://tinyurl.com/Wyoming-West-HS-Directions-Sky 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 Skyliners 2015 Interest Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/712736618762089. For more information, please contact Adam Burdett at info@skylinersdbc.org.

That is the most pretentious possible way of saying Bluecoats' 2014 show was overrated, but I agree that it was.

We did a college clinic together about 10 years ago, and Clark told the story of his corps winning the state championship as little kids, playing blues tunes on the valveless G bugle. They didn't realize that all those notes weren't actually "in the horn". The details are in his book.

cymbal lines are way less distracting that narration and super synths...

Great story! Great pub for a great organization. Rockford has great reason to be proud. See that photo? It's one of 30 taken and each is 40x60 inches. They'll be displayed regionally until January, 2015, then auctioned off. It's likely that Phantom will get great benefit if the photos are all sold in the auction. Got a Man Cave with a blank wall? Yes, it's Phantom, but doesn't that photo represent so much more about drum corps that you love? Would be a great conversation-starter. Details at their website, I'm sure.

Mentioned in another topic, but I think the end of Crown 2011 was probably one of the best melding visual and music especially for the style of music.

there are many talents not seen in drum corps that I am very sure we are about to.

I've spent a lot of time this week watching various clips of the end of Crown's 2011 Rachstar show. The ending they put n for finals is one of the most energetic and "Rockin'" endings I've ever seen. Some similar elements from earlier in the year (check out the ending from the WCU run-thru), but MUCH different feel to it. Plus, you gotta love the smashing guitar.

I've only seen a number of the DCE corps on video (other than Kidsgrove and Heartliner at DCA shows) in recent years , at their championships and during the regular season ... but of the corps I've seen, I find a lot of their programs very refreshing... a bit of a different take on marching music programming than what the corps here in North America are doing.