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AFTERMATH PERCUSSION (Lehigh Valley, PA area) is looking to round out the teaching faculty, as we are in need of a very qualified cymbal tech. A strong background in marching band/drum corps/indoor percussion is highly desired. This is the last position that needs to be filled--are YOU the one to fill it? If so, please leave a PM on the AP Facebook page, or go to the website for contact info. We would like to have this filled as soon as possible, as the battery technique book is almost completed... Thanks, you're nice www.facebook.com/AftermathPercussion www.aftermathpercussion.com Twitter: @aftermathperc

CHESAPEAKE PERCUSSION (Baltimore, MD) is still looking to find quality musicians who would like an opportunity to perform with an outstanding organization! The 2012 edition of the indoor percussion ensemble has the following spots still available: 1-snare drummer 1-tenor/quad drummer 2-marimba players 1-xylophone/bell/crotales player 1-synthesizer/piano player 1-bass guitar player 1-guitar player All positions require the players to have strong reading and playing skills, as well as experience in the DCI-DCA-WGI environments. For the keyboard/bass guitar/guitar positions: if you do not have experience in the DCI-DCA-WGI environment, a strong background in live performance will definitely suffice! The music for the show is almost completed, and drill is underway! Our first show is February 25th--come be a part of the next chapter in Maryland's only premier, independent indoor percussion ensemble! For more information, please visit our website: www.chesapeakeindoor.org Thanks!

Thanks for the all the compliments from everyone we ran into Saturday nite at the Toms River East show! Fusion Core is slowly but surely making positive progress with this year's show. There is work yet to be done, but we are happy with the results thus far. I know that Class A is going to be a great competition between ALL of the corps! (BTW--I was a member of Sun's drum staff and the tenor line anchor in 2007--a great staff, great membership, good timing and lots of luck helped us achieve the title...)

Just wanted to remind everyone out there that FUSION-Core is still looking to fill spots in all sections of the corps, especially lower brass and color guard. They have a great staff that really knows their stuff, and the membership is outstanding! If you are still looking to march in a quality organization, you really should check them out! Hey, drummers! Are you looking to get some real-time experience as an instructor? The percussion staff is looking for a bass drum tech and a snare tech that can motivate their respective sections to reach beyond what they have accomplished thus far. The membership works hard, but smart--can you be the one that gets them to the next level? The percussion staff is also looking to fill one snare drum, one bass drum and two mallet player spots. If you would like to join a great group of people who are working hard but having fun putting a great show together, please visit the corps website for more information: fusioncorenj.homestead.com Thanks!

My heartfelt condolences to you, Cakes, and to your entire family. Tex Hurcs 2000 visual and percussion staff

For any recent age-out who still has the desire, for someone who has always wanted to march but never had the opportunity, for anyone wanting to be a part of a great group of people, here's your invitation to come check out FUSION-Core! The next weekend camp is January 17th and 18th. Stop on by, meet the staff, volunteers and the members, see and hear what the corps is all about! There are spots open in ALL SECTIONS!! (Finding an extra visual tech, along with a snare tech and bass drum tech, would also be great!)

Congrats, Jim! Tex

He needed the exercise anyway!!!! HIM...HIM... Best wishes to Barb on her continued recovery, and it was great to see you again before Sun's victory concert.

Not only do I believe that Renegades will make Finals in '08, but they will win it all by doing the entire Monty Python and the Holy Grail soundtrack! The entire percussion line will exclusively use Dynasty's new free-floating coconuts, complete with built-in wireless mike/mini PA's for true HD sound. Mad props for the Skyliner tribute... LEFT COAST!

Andrea JUST ROCKS, plain and simple. Congrats on a great season, my friend...and, yes, my vote goes to you for B.O.T.Y.

Rockin, Andrea!!!! She has my vote.

looookeeeng gooooooood!! FLAT TO THA BLACK Congrats on an awesome season, my brother...

Personally, the entire weekend was one of the greatest experiences of my life! But, I have to admit that sharing the emotions with The Sunrisers on the field during retreat was the best...to have come so far to achieve so much is still beyond words! And let me say something about retreat: just to be able to line up with all of the competing corps in both classes, and just enjoying the sights and sounds BEFORE,DURING AND AFTER--all I can say is, WOW!!!!!!!! Major props to the entire SO CAL DREAM battery, as well as to our friends in GOVIES...taking a picture of our entire snare line with the great Kelly of The Renegades' snare line (please forgive me if I have your name wrong)...sharing the moment of winning a world championship with my bud, Emily (aka STAFF--Em, there were 5 PHOENIX alumni crowned world champions that evening!)...finally getting to see Taryn (cymbal player at BUCS and former snare drummer for PHOENIX) and congratulating her on the 3-peat...watching Taryn, along with Matt Speilmann of BUCS perform their victory concert (congrats to friends Rich Hammond, Frank Franko, Tollie Contento and Johnny Trujillo of BUCS on a great season, as well as scoring a perfect 20 in ensemble perc!!)...having my picture taken with Andrea of BUSH (former SUNRISER color guard and drum major)...having all of the corps congratulate us as they passed us during retreat, and again while we made our way to the equipment trucks: man, what an honor--thank you, thank you, thank you...receiving congratulatory handshakes and compliments from the other corps DURING retreat...to finally meet up again with the entire Irondale High School (New Brighton, MN) crew that marched and taught MBI: seeing all of you truly made my weekend complete! (Hey--send pics to me if you can!! Momma Schmidt and Momma Skalicky have my e-mail addy...) To all that supported SUN this entire season--my never-ending thanks. To the entire SUN '07 staff, administration and membership: I love you all and I will miss being with you in '08. Special thanks to Rich, Gary, Stan, Dan (aka 2-7), John C, Robbie C, Hey-Ray, The China's, Robert (aka BOB VILLANOVA!!!!!), Larry (aka OGS--all you have to do now is win as a member of the color guard!!), Stephaine, DJ (North Philly represent, yo!!), Shannon, Luke, Neil, Darick, Derrick, Dave Scozzaro in Cali (our bass tech for the last 2 years, now doing it big-time in his PhD program), the entire percussion section (especially my tenor comrades, John and Alex, aka Skittles), my bud Sarah, Susanne (this championship is for you!), Sean, Jessica (PARTNER!). I hope to see all of you somewhere down the road... Tex

I truly do not know where to begin...this will take awhile, so grab a cup of coffee, sit back and enjoy. I hope others will tell their stories, too... After what was one of the most intense and emotionally draining 2 weeks of my life, the stars somehow lined up...I originally wasn't attending DCA weekend due to work issues, but the bosses at work actually gave me the weekend off--AT THE LAST POSSIBLE SECOND!! Talk about scrambling to get to Rochester...I am now glad that I am on vacation this week!! (Ha-ha!!) It has definitely been a very adventurous season, to say the least. From a very successful Open House, through the winter and spring where membership started dwindling at an alarming rate, putting the show together, gaining a couple of people here and there...making the sacrifice to march a spot when I really did not want to, having the drum line getting pushed/beat up/encouraged by the drum staff on a continuous basis...the corps performing the show for the first time in Bayonne, then at Clifton...more work, more work, more work...then Virginia...hearing the talk that people were already writing Sun off for the 2007 season just made everyone more determined to bust their collective butts to be ready for Kingston...performing at Kingston, and then having people come up to Sun to say how much they enjoyed the show! FINALLY, the corps has made true progress...more work, more work, more work...performances in Syracuse, followed by West Haven...finally, DCA weekend. WHAT AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE!!! To be able to perform in Finals last Sunday evening was the goal the entire organization strived for!! You would think that there would have been a mad-crazy party back at the hotel when we found out Saturday evening that we actually MADE FINALS...well, to see security stationed on our floor when we arrived from Prelims pretty much took care of that!! (HA-HA!!!) Sunday morning's rehearsal did not start off too well, as tempers were flaring! Finals performance anxiety? Wanting to make sure this wasn't a fluke? I do not know...much thanks to Rich Guillen and Joe Roche for redirecting the entire corps to the task at hand... BACK AT THE STADIUM... Warm-ups...final thoughts...standing at the gate. I took the members of the battery aside to give them my final speech of the season--which also turned out to be my farewell speech. In all the years that I have marched and taught, I have never, ever broken down and cried...this time, I could not deny my emotions. I knew it would be the very last time that I would be marching in Sun, and I wanted to perform this show for everyone in the drum line, the entire corps, and the audience... WHAT AN AMAZING PERFORMANCE!! It all went by amazingly fast!! I knew that I had nothing left inside me...our director, Gary Williams, stated time and time again to the performers to leave it all on the field--you better believe, that is what every single performer did!! It was such a pleasure to have people come up to Sun and say how much they enjoyed the performance; then, to have this point driven home when they showed the video performance at the booth and even more people were telling us how great the show was? I personally wasn't prepared for all of the compliments, congratulatory handshakes, etc... WHAT AN AMAZING RETREAT!! By far, the most fun I have had ever!!! I need to take time to personally thank the following: major props go to the entire battery of So Cal Dream; Sun's favorite snare drummer--Kelly of The Renegades; the entire Irondale High School contingent of Minnesota Brass, Inc; everyone from The Hurricanes (much thanks for letting me borrow the tenor harness throughout DCA weekend!); Frontier DBC (who stayed in the same hotel!); everyone from Vic Firth and Dynasty; Gary Gill and Michele Stevens from Cabs; the drum staff of Brigs; Miranda of Brigs (glad you were there to sing Battle Hymn with us); all of the corps that congratulated Sun on our victory--all of you showed so much class as you made your way past us at the end of retreat, and again when we were marching back to our equipment truck: that is something we will never, ever forget! To Rich Hammond, Tollie Contento, Taryn Lietbag, Matt Spielman and everyone of the Reading Buccaneers: you are truly deserving of your victory! Thank you for sharing in Sun's as well--it is truly appreciated. A special thanks to everyone I know in Fusion: congratulations on a very successful first year. Thanks to Fran Haring: for all that you are going through at this time, your presence during the weekend was a great boost to all of DCA! Continued success for Barbara and her recovery--all of DCA is with you both! Thanks to the entire DCA staff, the city of Rochester, the Rochester Police Department and to the stadium staff for running a great Finals weekend. FINALLY... To everyone of the 2007 Sunrisers: staff, management, parental support and the membership; as well as to all the alumni: I cannot thank all of you enough for the love, friendship and support you have given me this entire season. As my marching career finally comes to a close, always remember the journey that we took from that Open House back in November of 2006 to where the journey ended: 2007 DCA Class A Champions! (Being a member of the 2007 Class A Percussion Champions is not a bad thing, either!! Ha-ha!!!!!) AND FINALLY... My last performance was dedicated to my entire family back home in Texas, as well as to the memory of my mom, who passed away 2 years ago. They have never seen me perform in the marching arts, but have always supported me in every way possible. BATTLE HYMN!!!!!!!! With much love, friendship and respect Tex

I just want to take this time to wish everyone in all competing corps much success this upcoming DCA weekend. I know everyone has put forth the hard work, sweat, blood and sacrifice to make each show the best it can be. To my friends in Bush, Cabs, Fusion, Hurcs, Bucs, MBI, Frontier, Brigs, Renegades, and the Kilties: unfortunately, I will not be able to complete the season with Sun, as work issues have to be addressed at this time. I wish all of you great success this weekend, and I hope we will meet again somewhere down the road... Best wishes to Fran and Barb. Thanks everyone, Tex

Outstanding job, Laura! Tex

Fran, I am just staring at my computer, not knowing what to say or do. As many times as I have met you and Barb over the past 16 years, and have had the chance to hang with you both (as well as to watch you in action on the microphone), I am just shocked and saddened by the sudden turn of events. As an earlier person posted, the amount of responses that have been flying over this very short period of time is a testament to how much both you and Barb are loved and cherished. Stay strong, my brother, and I will definitely send good thoughts to you and to Barb... To everyone who will be attending this Saturday evening's show in Clifton, New Jersey: as much as this is a competition, this should be a celebration of family, loved ones, friends and fans coming together to enjoy and celebrate what we do as a drum corps community. Cheer a bit louder, clap a bit longer, yell to your favorite performer with more passion...and keep Fran and Barb in your thoughts. I would like to dedicate The Sunrisers' performance this Saturday night to Barbara and to Fran. Robert

Chris, Thank you so much for the assistance over the past few seasons, especially at our Saturday rehearsal. Your enthusiasm towards everyone, as well as the invaluable experience you bring to the table, is truly appreciated. To anyone reading this, the show is just a pleasure to teach as well as to perform. It is great to see everyone putting forth the effort to make this show really come alive! There are only a few horn spots that need to be filled: if anyone still wants the opportunity to march and play a show that they would truly enjoy, then attend the corps' rehearsal this weekend! A few key horn spots need to be filled; the corps also needs to fill one tenor spot, as well as adding another mallet player. A terrific package has been created--why not help to make it become one of the memorable Sunriser shows in recent memory?

I am just learning of this...Bernie, I am so sorry for your loss. As I lost my mom in May of last year, it was of great comfort to know that there were people in the pagentry arts that either called, e-mailed or sent cards/letters/flowers to me and my family back in San Antonio. To me, that is what truly makes this activity as special as it is--the love that so many give, whether they know you or not. May a Higher Power be with you and your family, Bernie.

Same here...I was with them in 2000, starting off as a marching tech, then adding bass drum tech duties as well. I had such a great time with them, and they have given back to me nothing but love and friendship since. In all my years of marching and teaching in both DCI and DCA, I feel that they are one of the classiest and friendliest organizations around.

I wish more lines would bring back the plates! Steve--you are doing some amazing work with all the lines you teach, and I know the members are having a blast! Keep up the good work, bro.

I was a member of The Sunrisers' drum line in 1997 when Jim was program coordinator; in 2000, when he was with The Hurricanes, I was a visual and bass drum tech. I have to say that it was an absolute blast drumming for and working alongside him. Congrats to Jim Dugan and The Bushwackers--wishing all of you success for 2K6 and beyond.

On behalf of The Sunrisers Drum and Bugle Corps: Wishing Al, and all who were part of the drum corps activity now serving our country overseas in hostile territory--stay strong, stay safe and God Speed.

Patty, I have that orange folder of songs that you gave me, too! It is back home, safely tucked away.