skydrumrangel

Congratulations on hosting an awesome open house! It had to have been one of the best organized I had ever seen from any corps. While I was excited to see the huge crowd in attendance and stoked at hearing the corps play through the opener; I was most impressed with the care that was taken to pay homage to Sky’s past while reinforcing that this is a new, rejuvenated organization. If the focus, care and attention of the staff, that I witnessed yesterday, is any indication, I see many good things destined to come to the Skyliners. Thank you - to you and your team Larry, for such an enjoyable day for me. I’m looking forward to going to next Saturday’s rehearsal.

For those of you riding in with me from the Hudson Valley I will not be stopping in Poughkeepsie this Sunday. Please meet me in Wappingers Falls; I'll be leaving for the city at 9am. email me for more information, director@nyskyliners.org

Patsie Peters, long time member and supporter of the New York Skyliners passed away earlier today. Patsie will be remembered for her unwavering support of the corps, and for the many happy greetings she had for all guests of the New York Skyliners’ souvenir table. The New York Skyliners family mourns the loss of Patsie and our thoughts and prayers are with her husband Ray and the Peters’ family during this sad time. Details of services will be posted as soon as they become available.

REHEARSAL'S ON TODAY We'll be passing out the third movement of this years production today. Bring your pencil and be ready to pound it out because we intend to ensemble this piece today with the whole corps. GO GARBARINA!!!

There will be a meeting for active members in good standing during this rehearsal along with some new and exciting announcements.

When I joined the Skyliners in 1986 it was very obvious from my very first day with the corps that the Cabs were our nemesis. However the only real contention I had seen between two corps was between the Cabs and Matadors in the early eighties at the Allentown show. There was a banner on the back-field bleachers declaring “the bull is dead” or something of that nature. I don’t know who set it up, but I remember seeing four big guys from the Matadors taking it down. I was maybe 15 or 16 at the time so I didn’t really know who was who, but the older folks sitting next to me were more than happy to impart the scoop as they saw it. The only thing I remembered from the conversation was the impression they left me with that the Cabs and Matadors were not bosom buddies.

For those of you planning on riding down with me to rehearsal this weekend, I will not have time to stop in Poughkeepsie this Sunday as I had for past rehearsals. However, you're welcome to meet me in Wappingers Falls for the ride down. The bus will be leaving by 9am. Angel

Thanks for posting Glade. For the record, my last name is spelled MUNOZ. cya Sunday man

Thanks for posting Glade. For the record, my last name is spelled MUNOZ. cya Sunday man

I was just a young pup seeing my first senior show around 1980. "And I'm Telling You" from Dream Girls is one of my favorites. Every time I hear the Broadway tune I flashback to Bridgeport when I first heard Sky play it live.

LOL... that actually is the other name for this song. It's in the lyrics "The platypus is the lowest order of mammalian life It has a multi-purpose orifice and no teats Every year thirteen platypi are brutally slaughtered For their duck-like bill" If electronics are permitted next year we'll let you scream the lyrics into the mic.

Thanks Frank. I couldn't agree with you more.

Thanks Glade. I almost got it posted by Saturday. Honest - I did try.

LOL... thank you. We love playing on the float too. It allows our more experienced players to continue participating in the Skyliners, and makes for a real easy paycheck. You can expect to see some more float work in the coming year in addition to the return of the street corps. Some of our members expressed a keen interest in continuing to invite folks to participate in the performance ensemble, because its just plain ol'fun.

That is the plan. And I agree with you that DCA isn't DCA without Sky. I haven't been able to watch a full DCA show since 2006 because Sky hasn't been in them.

Thank you stuckvalve. It's going to feel real nostalgic for me. My first rehearsal with Sky was on Randalls Island 25 years ago. My then girlfriend, now wife, and a bunch of our friends joined Sky on Randalls at the same time. I walked the grounds with the Director of the facility and boy have things changed since I last rehearsed there. There are a ton of fields there now, most in use when I visited. It's a lot cleaner now. Almost too clean for drum corps in New York City. I don't know why, but I always get excited when I rehearse or perform in NYC. Is it the appreciative crowds that always gather around us? The hustle and bustle? Or is it just being able to play late into the evening without anyone throwing a brick out the window because they can't hear Jeopardy? It doesn't matter. All seems right - now that the New York Skyliners are back home.

Thanks Leo. We're working on it. One thing is certain, when we compete again all will be proud of the product we put out.

Drummers please bring a music stand, and pencil. We wont have spare music stands to go around this weekend.

Thanks Ray! I didn't mean to leave them out. I just posted the corps that competed in the first DCA Championship. Much love for Archie too!!!

I couldn't agree with you more Fran. It's like a huge hole is missing from DCA, especially considering the Skyliners were one of key member corps that helped create the DCA circuit over forty-four years ago at the request of Doc Sebastianelli. Henry "Lefty" Mayer, Sky's Director, was elected the first president of DCA. To this day, the championship trophy is handed out in Lefty's honor. I'm very proud of the Skyliner's history and the corps' impact on drum corps in general, and look forward to the day when we entertain and capture the crowd again in that unique way that only the Skyliners could do. I have lots of love for all the corps that took the huge gamble on the DCA circuit that first year: Reading Buccaneers of Reading, PA Connecticut Hurricanes of Shelton, CT New York Skyliners of New York, NY Yankee Rebels of Baltimore, MD Interstatesmen of Albany, NY Pittsburgh Rockets of Pittsburgh, PA

Thank you Ray. One thing you can be certain of, when we come back we'll be bringing a corps all can be proud of.

And we'd welcome you with open arms Nick; everyone's welcome at the Skyliners. A bunch of my friends and I from the Beacon and Poughkeepsie areas joined the Skyliners in 1986 and we commuted to rehearsals on Randalls Island together. Ray Priester stopped by our open house in December and imparted some Sky lore to the recruits in attendance and even picked up some sticks and played with some of the drummers. It's always good to have some Sky blood around the new members.

Oops... forgot to mention lunch ... food and drinks will be provided for $2 meat eaters and vegan option available

New York Skyliners - First Rehearsal of the 2010 Season for Brass and Percussion When: Saturday, Jan 9 from 11am-6pm Where: Camp Mariah on the Sharpe Reservation 350 Van Wyck Lake Road, Fishkill, NY Recruiting for all sections and support staff. For more information, visit the NY Skyliners Website. Join Us for our first rehearsal of the season.

Thanks all for the well wishes we've received. In answer to a common question from some folks, the Skyliner float is handicap accessible. Wheelchair bound members are encouraged to participate as this performance opportunity was designed to be all inclusive.