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They haven't totally erased me yet: https://ascendperformingarts.org/blue-knights-announce-2017-brass-staff-2/ It is amusing to me how this is considered "news", it is irritating to me that there seems to be some implication that I should have been/have been let go. The amusement comes from the fact that I came home a little after Memorial Day. It seems a combination of altitude and blood pressure was making both ankles swell significantly, and the next week the corps was going to be a few thousand feet higher in elevation. So I went home for awhile. After getting home, I found out one of my cats has inoperable cancer in his sinus passages (He's fine and happy right now, as long as one of us is here to give him his pain medication exactly every 8 hours). The Blue Knights is a wonderful organization, with wonderful kids (Let's face it, EVERY corps has wonderful kids!), and a great administration! I enjoyed my time there immensely. That said, I am looking for a new home that does not require spending large amounts of time at 5,280 feet above sea level. If any of you have read this far, please remember folks that you are not only discussing real human beings here, but real human beings with real lives, and involved in an activity that they are very passionate about.

To me, it's a clear message that, "In the midst of our self-congratulating celebration of the activity, we must not forget what was done to these women and ensure that it is not currently happening to others and guard against it happening again."

I will never forget tonight. My life is changed forever after this summer.

I saw this on Reddit but apparently a member of Music City performed a vocal solo at I&E this year. What was the vocal solo you may ask? George Hopkins' indictment The member was DQ'd for breaking the code of conduct and apparently Dan Acheson is not pleased with the Music City admin for allowing the member to read it out I wanna give that MC member a medal

Oh come now, you know it was the best 7 years of your life.

I don’t mind people protesting, just do it in a way that doesn’t make me uncomfortable! Smh

Last comment here. I wiukd coubter that I’m arguing both from logic and emotion. The two don’t preclude one another. My main point is that something said by the powers that be while the spotlight is on can be a powerful and important way to move forwArd not only organizationally, but with the necessary healing that victims are seeking. When that opportunity is missed, it’s not unreasonable to expect others to do it for you. Suppressing those others in that context creates a silence that continues harm. As for whistle blowing, I don’t have direct knowledge. But, part of my training as a minister involves recognizing pain and people in pain. I see it all over comments and threads on this topic. George is certainly not the only one. Without direct knowledge the closest I can get to whistle blowing is to work for a transparent environment where people who need to speak on things that are painful, can do so without the pressure to remain silent. If the Music City performer made us uncomfortable, maybe it should. That we’re talking means their performance achieved something

My apologies if any of these has been covered in other threads (too busy/tired to read all of them). Congrats to SCV for winning their 7th overall title to tie the Cavaliers for third most all time. They also received their 23rd overall medal to tie the Cadets for 2nd most all time. The Blue Devils received the silver for the record 11th time. The Bluecoats won their 3rd bronze and 5th overall medal to tie the Madison Scouts for 7th most all time. Boston wins their first caption award of any kind. SCV wins their first Brass trophy since 1987, and only 3rd all time (also won in '84). SCV wins their 14th percussion title breaking a tie with the Blue Devils for most all time. Crossmen's 86.75 was the highest 12th place score ever at finals (previous was also Crossmen in 2014) And finally, here are our current 10 years averages for finals placements: 1 - Blue Devils (1.4) 2 - Carolina Crown (3.0) 3 - Bluecoats (4.1) 4 - Cadets (4.3) 4 - Vanguard (4.3) 6 - Cavaliers (5.4) 7- Phantom Regiment (7.1) 8 - BAC (8.2) 9 - Blue Knights (8.9) 10 - Blue Stars (9.9) 11 - Madison Scouts (11.3) 12 - Crossmen (13.3)

WTG TEAM BAC!

I have this organization to thank for the start of a new chapter in my life. I’ll keep it simple. THANK YOU!!! <3

A friend, who does not have a DCP account, has a good idea for finals. I told him I would share it with the group. At finals only, add a minute between corps to give the finalists a little extra time in front of the crowd. Call it a curtain call. Allow the audience a little more to time to thank the finalists corps for a season well done. This adds 12 minutes to the show, so not a big deal. We both felt last night that show end applause was cut off too quickly because the corps has to start the switch within a few seconds of show end.

This thread is classic! Bloo honk: Crown shows are all the same BD honk: Bloo is ok but Crown is awful Crown honk: BD and Bloo shows are all the same Cappy: I hate triple tonguing Boston honk: We’re freaking coming for you all SCV honk: whatever we won

Matt Harloff won't let another Ott slip away.

I personally enjoyed Shanefield's work this year. I think Bocook's style matches the Blue Knights better. Bocook's writing for the Cadets was starting to feel stale

Very much reminds me of those who complain about NFL players peacefully protesting during the anthem. So stupid

Sorry for the double quote but I could not find the original...I was wondering how many Sanfords they’ve now collected— wow! As an alum who marched the aforementioned ‘84 line I am so happy to see SCV earn Ott #3 and Founder’s Trophy #7. As a proud SCVC parent who listened to his kid on the phone at 2:30AM Indy time today as he sat in the airport reflecting on his 5th season, earning his 2nd OC championship (they took Brass, GE & Perc too), playing Clowns in Michigan City, VC’s exhibition run last night (“...I still wish we’d gone on just before X-men, not over an hour before”), listening to the A-corps play Clowns in LOS (“...that was utterly surreal, Dad.”), school, plans to improve himself as a musician, his DC future (he has several seasons left)...it was kind of a drum corps version of a Circle of Life moment.

it's a topic because Cadets won something. Bottomline - and I learned this decades ago - there is a group of people who will and always will hate the Cadets She was a great DM, on and off to podium. The fact that "adults" have to no-so-subtly poo-poo her achievement is disgusting. The ONLY personal award given out that night and these "fans" have to attempt to undermine it.

Curious about what the rut is that Bluecoats is in. Of all the corps, they have been by far the most divergent from one season to the next, style wise. You could listen to Crown from one season to the next and copy and paste arrangement passages and not miss anything. Every successful Creative venture has their way of approaching creative solutions. This is true in every idiom. Movie directors, script writers, ad agencies, software developers, illustrators. Bluecoats has a clear creative path, so does Blue Devils. To deny that Crown doesn’t go back to the same well over and over again is just confirmation bias. Even Klesch would be the first to say there is a way he approaches brass arrangements and styling that is unique to him in dci.

The closest I saw the official events get to saying anything at all was 1) Cadets DM getting the leadership award (we all knew why, but it wasn't explicitly said) and 2) someone said something about safety of members was said by Dan A. at the Friends of DCI meeting, although that wasn't given much public detail at all. Considering that, this is a performer with a strong sense of performance art that they would take on the powers that be to make this sort of thing visible at such a time. I see it less as an "attack on GH" and more a "no, we're not going to pretend this didn't happen. This is DCI, warts and all."

If that's even true, it is a very dumb thing to do. What's the point? Is this just an attempt to be edgy? Is some sort of statement being made? This just seems very poorly thought out other than trying to get people like Cappybara to give high-fives. Nothing is being accomplished here. I'm not defending Hopkins. By all accounts he seems like he wasn't a very good person. I have no sympathy for him. But why would anyone feel that he is important enough to make part of the I&E event? Why is this a good thing? You have to draw the line somewhere. Would it be ok if he read something anti-trump? Anti-obama? What if he read Bill Cosby's indictment? You have to draw the line somewhere. It makes sense just to draw the line at performing competitive solos/ensembles.

Cadets will have a better drill writer Cavies will back of the cheese and props BD will have a chip on their shoulder Coats find a way to bring Olivia back SCV blows our minds even more Crown revamps their entire visual program Boston will contend for a medal

Bluecoats really push the bar creatively while Crown relies on gimmickry in desperation to do anything to win coupled with an in your face smugness by their fans who had the nerve to come here and boo us when we beat them at our home show which is why I simply can not stand them.

If we're to be serious about this (perish the thought) I don't know that SCV did anything especially new, if we're talking about visual design with emphasis on front and center staging and vertical levels. I think BD did that last year and Bluecoats did it this year. They won because they performed their ##### off.

Such a sweet award...

A whole freakin diner.

Wow I went to bed last night, excited about Vanguard's title and how great the Mandarins and Boston did. But today, after checking out a few threads here on DCP, I am finding some testiness. (Maybe I just happened to click on two especially testy threads?). I wish we could all just get along! This was another amazing season.

Blue Stars Brass is traveling to Youngstown State University from Indianapolis International Airport. 7 hrs · Indianapolis, IN · As I head to my gate at the Indianapolis Airport, I am so, so, SO proud of the 2018 #bluestarsbrass members and staff. We have walked a path together for 3 years with a goal, and we achieved that goal last night. This season was for us, but it was also for all that came before us, particularly the past couple of seasons. Rest assured that WE WILL NOT STOP. The 2019 audition etude is written, the camp dates are set, the staff is returning, and we are ready to begin again with eyes on a new, higher goal. Very soon, watch for announcements regarding the 2019 season auditions. And now, I’m off to clinic the Youngstown State University Marching Pride, leading into a fall filled with judging, clinicing, and RECRUITING FOR THE 2019 #BLUESILVER #bluestarsdbc #FCO

And why is this your decision, and your decision only to make? Was twitter the right place to discuss #metoo? Many people didn't think it was. Is the national anthem an appropriate place to raise attention to issues of racism? Many don't think it is. In my opinion (and yes you can disagree), DCI should have had a public service announcement before finals encouraging youth to speak up and report abuse. As much as anything that was the underlying issue with this Hopkins situation, and this would have been a tremendous platform to get that message out. I personally don't feel strongly about this stunt (if there really was one) at I&E - doesn't seem like a tremendously effective way to highlight the issue, but I also don't feel like I can condemn it unless I understand the background and rationale for doing so. Was this person an abuse victim? Is this person aware that abuse is still happening in DCI? I don't know. Your obvious condescension, and attempt to be authoritative on this issue is what everyone is reacting to, not the fact that you want to share your opinion on this matter. But remember, it IS only an opinion. We all have 'em.

I just boarded my plane . A young man who marched with BAC has been asked if he was rescued, another said "SOS," and. Crossmen member wondered if we'd crash on a deserted island!

I had assumed so. If this was an artificial indictment, then yeah again I’m less enamored of it. I felt I answered the questions except perhaps the “where does it stop?” I’d add to what I’ve said, it should stop if it’s not something directly part of the activity. An anti Trump or Obama thing wouldn’t really have a place in my view. This does. As for “going home” I’m at a rally in town to counter the actual Nazis here today. Sorry if that means I can’t engage you as fully as you want right now. I get the sense you’re not fully considering my points either. Which is why I tend to avoid discussing these things with strangers on the internet.

Job 1 will be for YEA to seriously assess what it can reasonably raise and fund. Staff needs to be paid on time and they have to travel better. You can’t attract and retain good instructors without the accommodations the other top corps have. Design (music, drill, choreography, props, electronics) are winning DCI right now...all these things come down to dollars. Can YEA provide this for the Cadets AND support a DCA corps and other programs? Hard questions must be asked within YEA. Priorities must be set and decisions made. Personally, I do not think they can fund a top 5 corps AND continue their other offerings with the fundraising apparatus currently in place. Some achievable needs in the short term: 1. Program design coordinator. 2. Improved guard design and staging. 3. Improved design and teaching of non traditional movement. Similarly, smarter use of run and gun. If it’s gonna be hard, it should be great. 4. New music must be explored. 5. Stick with a costume vs. a wholesale return to the traditional uni. Retain nods to the old with use of color and pattern. As much as our highly competitive friend Tekk may not like to hear it, I think it’ll be a 3-5 year journey for the corps to medal again. And, that’s WITH good decisions and increased funding. As awesome as this season was, the administration of the corps and YEA are (understandingly) still getting their feet beneath them. The most important moves for the Cadets in 2019 will be ones that none of us see and few of us hear about. This season was a short term miracle ( thank you kids and staff). Now it’s time for the long term grind towards sustainability and competitive relevance. It will not bother me much to see the corps in 6th/7th the next couple years, so long as they make the much needed improvements off the field. FHNSAB

Jesus, why is this a topic? There is no DM number score or ranking anywhere in the score sheets! Congratulations to the applicants and the receiver of the award. Focus people, we have way bigger fish to fry! Boston Crusader won guard! Blue Devils won no captions! Phantom Regiment produced a sleeper show! Mandarins BEAT Phantom Regiment (let that sink in), Carolina Crown brass in the last week of tour, what happened?And Santa Clara Vanguard won GE, VISUAL, MUSIC, BRASS and PERCUSSION with an abstract show! FOCUS PEOPLE!

If you are more upset at a MM bringing more attention to a staff member who raped those in his organization than a Corps Director who engaged in decades of sexual abuse, than you are part of the problem.

I'm not about to stifle valid artistic impression because of what "might happen" by someone taking it "too far." I"m sure the same hand wringing was made when the Garfield Cadets marched a Peace symbol in the "no more war" show.

very few (less than 5) followed the staff from Cadets to Boston, but a large number of guard followed the guard team to Boston from Crown Boston wisely recruited heavy and waited late into spring to lock in the last few brass spots, continue to recruit the best available talent As far as vets in Boston - I didn't hear of much "kicking folks out" going on. But that does happen each year in a drum corps with members who, frankly, have worn out their welcome - but it wasn't some unusual large number thing the talent in that 2016 Boston corps wasn't the issue - but then again, the members are rarely the issue. The "adults" tend to be

Boston will medal.

Gino and staff! What a fantastic job you have done with this hornline this season....You guys may not have won the OTT this season....but I see GREAT things in the not too distant future. ...and to the members of this BAC hornline...You are GIANTS!!!

Personal Entertainment Tiers Loved it all: SCV, Boston, Bluecoats, Mandarins Liked most moments: Cadets, Cavies, Blue Stars, Blue Devils, Blue Knights Meh, some moments: Crossmen, Phantom, Crown

she provided leadership in ways no other DCI DM ever had to do. so well deserved

As others have mentioned, it is a leadership award. It’s wonderful for all of us to applaud and praise Cadets for their fine performances, hard work, grit, etc. we forget that it’s not about picking up instruments and giving it your all. Momentum had to be kept up all season. Morale had to be low at many moments. Down days had the potential to be worse for Cadets. Illnesses which can spread with a vengeance but for Cadets, it was probably a “what else can go wrong?” Keeping Cadets on track and upbeat was a huge job, and off the field the drum major is expected to play a huge role in this effort.

ONE PROUD MOMMA HERE!!!! WAY TO GO SCV!!! WHAT A WAY TO END MY SONS AGE OUT YEAR!!! WHAT AN EMOTIONAL NIGHT!!! posted from the DrumScorps app

No idea but I hear Hop is secretly planning to bring the Shawshank Redemption to the field.

I finally caught up reading through this ENTIRE thread (*whew!*). So, this comment will seem waaaaaay out of left field because it's responding to some comments that came up throughout during corps performances but it bugged me so much I needed to respond: Some folks need to remind themselves that a field percussion judge is evaluating the battery AND the pit. I saw several times, "Where's Allan? I guess he planted himself on the front sideline." Ummmm, how about maybe he's doing his job and sampling the pit as well.

The line is drawn when it becomes irrelevant to the activity. This was very much relevant to DCI

The stage was massively important to me because it covered up that stupid Colts helmet.

So, BD's performance was too hot for your TV? :D

Because real men wear white pants and shoes with a green top with a lame/sequin sash and an aussie hat....LOL