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PR reached their fundraising goal, so as promised, here is the Design Team discussing the 2022 show.

I said the same, but we should know we're going to be so wrong Lol

Yeah for sure, i agree. I'm always intrigued and curious because, i just never know what they'll do. it's always not about worrying if the show is going to be good, it's the opposite, like on how good are they going to be, what treats have they in store for us. I'm so excited for BD! Daaaam i'm excited for all the corps.

For sure. If this were a number of other corps, I’d be concerned. BD’s track record is solid so I’m sure we’re in for a treat.

It looks like Cavies might be announcing their show tomorrow. I..... I need it right now! Hahahaha!

I keep sayin’. That show has a cult following.

Watching it now with my Dr Dre headphones. It's a masterpiece!

Good stuff. We ❤️Tony and the entire design staff.

Ray Chen was great, and my wife said he was easy on the eyes. Funny … she has never said that about me. Either things.

It's on my list of must hear live's. I've heard it once in concert but the orchestra wasn't quite what I was hoping for, so I want to see a better ensemble with a soloist that is at least as good.

This season is probably the closest the show design has been to 2012 than at any time since that show (music wise). I don’t get the vibe that it’s dark at all.

Earlier in he season, I saw Ray Chen play the Sibelius Violin Concerto. He is a rising star. It was the very first live concert for the DSO since COVID.

Hilary Hahn is amazing. She has my favorite recording of The Lark Ascending, hands down. I think I've also heard her play Sibelius's Violin Concerto, which also is absolutely amazing

Yeah it feels like it’s been forever since we’ve last seen BD. I know they won’t disappoint! It’s a real shame they aren’t doing a full Texas tour this year. I know everyone is doing fewer shows this year but Texas is bursting at the seams with very talented high school band kids. So that was an odd choice. Nonetheless, I’m just glad to have a normal feeling your again this year.

Definitely getting 2016 vibes from the teaser. I’m intrigued.

I hear the DUNE soundtrack …. 👀 I’m just hoping the vibe is more 2014/17 than, say, ‘16. Gives me hope that ‘17 (60th anniversary) was a diamond show and this already being called a sapphire (65th) show. I’m sure they’ll do us proud. BTW, pretty incredible that this thread was already getting buckwild back in, like, September LOL. Going to be a fuuuuuuuuuuun summer.

But I, being poor, have only my dreams

Hey! You saw me! And you didn’t even say “Hi”

I truly can’t remember the last time I was this optimistic about Phantom’s future. Super excited to see this show!!

A gentleman in the North End of Boston wants to know how many horns ya got?

All corps are better than last season but some corps are more better than last season than others?

#SapphireSummer https://www.instagram.com/p/CdynJjDvrQE/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY=

It’s a screened in porch for us midwesterners but down here, it’s a lanai. When we looked at the floor plan of the build, I said what’s a lanai? They told me and I said oh, a screened in porch. 😂

Blue Devils gave a tease of show announcement on instagram. Coming Soon

The greatest old-time, hotter than blazes afternoon regular run-through rehearsals I ever saw were all in a single day in Birmingham in 1979. We did a "tour" of BD, 27th, SOA and SCV rehearsals. That was one very memorable day.

i am so over standing in the lot watching lines play all this crazy stuff then later seeing them blow a tap roll on the field

I’d much rather be in the stands watching the finished product of the smaller corps than watching the “big boys” practice. Plus, it’s a lot of people preening around in their corps jacket trying to look important.

I hope they can come back stronger than ever. Their design team put together a fantastic show last summer. They didn’t compromise quality because of the abbreviated season. They showed us you could put on a show that was southern to the core without having to blast Georgia or Swanee. Are they the first corps to bring American Folk Art to the field?

Just saw this for the first time, and I will say I’m more hopeful today than I was 5 months ago. If they stick to what they say they’re going to do, I full expect this corps to be back on the field next season. Good job SOA.

I live in Virginia on the West coast of the Atlantic. California is on the East coast of the Pacific. My California relatives do not agree with this analysis 🙂

Bobby Hoffman. Next question.

I was walking to my job today and the smell of fresh-cut grass entered my nose. It brought back some great memories of drum corps. Today was a GOOD day.

If there's no Nirvana source music...I riot. If they give it the same treatment as they did Metallica...I riot again.

George Zingali, Steve Brubaker, John Brazale, Michael Gains, Ralph Pace, Marc Sylvester, Myron Rosander, Pete Weber

Regarding the 2014 show by Cadets, I think this performance in July in North Carolina is really good and incredibly well performed version of the show that I really liked. Maybe take out the big stage and ramps up front and have the narrator use a smaller platform, and try to keep the narration to the original Lincoln material used in Copland's "Lincoln Portrait." If it were me I might have changed the Simple Gifts ending to that fanfare from the beginning of the show but arrange it to lead into a finale. This show worked and worked well when it was in a more stately, reverent nature while staying away from partisan bias and simply adhering to history and Lincoln's words. As you will see from this video The Cadets, while not quite at the level of the Blue Devils 2014 (who the heck is?), were pretty darn good. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofZIAmNG9yY

Saggy Capitol building. I couldn’t figure out how that building figured in with a show about Presidents. Or the Oprah tarp. And changing the narration. It was more coherent before the changes… oh don’t get me started… and that stage. I’m done.

Another great corps squandered by Hop’s BS.

I thought it was pretty good. Always easy just to say these things - and many organizations and companies in trouble do about the same. Here's hoping SOA finds practical ways to make this work.

Listed to the training that will be given to the members. 👍 That’s a piece I seldom see discussed by DCI. Training has to be for all and tailored to the needs of each group so at least Spirit recognizes this:

In case you missed it - here's the first update on the progress of SOA:

Although I don't for one second expect DCI to acknowledge it, 2022 is more of a wake than a celebration. Consider the Corps the activity has lost over the years - here is a list of just DCI finalists that are no longer with us: Anaheim Kingsmen 27th Lancers Argonne Rebels Des Plaines Vanguard Kilties Muchachos Bleu Raiders Bridgemen Belleville Black Knights Stockton Commodores De LaSalle Oaklands Purple Lancers Royal Crusaders Oakland crusaders Seneca Optimists Sacramento Freelancers Guardsmen North Star Sky Ryders Suncoast Sound Star of Indiana Velvet Knights Dutch Boy Glassmen Magic of Orlando I have intentionally left Seattle Cascades & Spirit of Atlanta off this list as it is TBD if they will be active in 2023. 2022 isn't a celebration - as I said - 2022 is a wake.

As the Corps began its 61st year, we celebrated with a wonderful St. Patrick’s Day party. As we all repeated in the Corps Prayer, “The Togetherness and Friendship we share” was renewed by the 75 members of our Corps Family from many seasons. They shared memories, renewed friendships, and viewed displays of our Corps’ history. […]View the full article

Cavies did take visual performance on finals night with a 19.80, BD was right behind them at 19.70. But if the captions in 2008 was averaged all three nights, then BD won visual performance by a landslide. Quarterfinals BD won with a 19.90 to Cavies 19.60............and Semi's BD popped a 20.00 to Cavies 19.80. So even with Cavies winning the caption finals night, BD would have still won by a comfortable margin. So if it was just finals night, than yes Cavies won. But again if it was a three night average, than BD would have taken it. Hope that helps a little brother.

This could make an interesting ballad……