mellogirlNY

Happy 60th Birthday to a great drum corps guy – Judge! It only gets better from here. Keep on keeping up with the young ones on the field ! ! ! Enjoy your special day!

Lead the Targets on the field as they present their 2008 show, “The 13th Warrior.” The Targets Drum & Corps from Springfield, MA announce open auditions for Drum Majors. While drum majoring experience is preferred, the Targets staff will work with someone with less experience who shows superior leadership and musicianship skills, attitude, and responsibility. Join the Targets as they prepare for the 2008 season - and tour! The Targets were reorganized in late 1995, joined Drum Corps International Division II/III in 2000, and will compete in Open Class in 2008. Individuals interested in auditioning to be Targets' Drum Major in 2008, please call Dave Covington at: 413-348-6040. For additional informatoin, go to the TARGETS WEBSITE . Targets rehearsal and tour schedule are available now at TARGETS REHEARSAL & TOUR SCHEDULE. Members and staff travel from diverse areas (NY, MA, CT, and RI), so if travel is a concern, please discuss with Corps Director when booking your audition.

The 2008 Targets Drum & Bugle Corps from Springfield, Massachusetts will be performing selections from “The 13th Warrior.” “The 13th Warrior.” is a 1999 action film starring Antonio Banderas with original music by Jerry Goldsmith. It is loosely based on the Anglo-Saxon epic poem, "Beowulf", whose author is unknown. Targets’ show starts with the mysterious “Old Baghdad,” then takes performers and audience on a rich, musical journey through excerpts from “Underwater Escape,” “Swing Across,’ and “Mother Wendol’s Cave”, to name a few. The beautiful ballad, “The Useful Servant” leads to the powerful percussion and brass conclusion called “The Fire Dragon.” Battery and Front Ensemble Arranger is Jeff Hope, Brass Arranger is Doreen Sandor, Visual Designer is Robert Fizette, and Color Guard Design is by Jay Surreira and Tim Germaine. All sections – including the color guard – are quickly learning material for the 2008 show, and the visual basics program is well underway. Corps Director Dave Covington says, “The Targets are looking for a very positive season, and looking forward to have some fun!” Join the Targets as they prepare for the 2008 season - and tour! Openings exist in all sections. The Targets were reorganized in late 1995, joined Drum Corps International Division II/III in 2000, and will compete in Open Class in 2008. For additional information, go to the TARGETS WEBSITE or call Dave Covington at: 413-348-6040. Targets rehearsal and tour schedule are available now at TARGETS REHEARSAL & TOUR SCHEDULE.

First of all, my heartfelt sympthy goes to the Richardson family, and of course Konga's many drum corps families. Like Frank Nash wrote in his posting, when you hear such sad news, you are at a loss for words. Especially since we saw Konga recently, and he was his true self - a passionate Skyliner, charming gentleman, long time friend, drum corps enthusiast, teller of a multitide of jokes and comebacks. Then the many memories of Konga come flooding back, and the feeling of loss becomes so much greater. I met Konga back in the winter of 1979 when I first joined the Skyliners. He was always warm and welcoming, funny, interested in what people had to say and wanting to know how the family was doing. He could share drum corps war stories or share family pictures just as easily. As a competitor he was fierce, focused, and never let anyone forget that we were the New York Skyliners, and we had come to play, and win. He wore his New York Skyliners heart on his sleeve, and was always proud to do so. I was honored to march with him in the horn line, and then march with him as Assistant Drum Major and then Drum Major. When the field corps needed him to return to the podium in 2002, he did so with panache. In addition to drum majoring at the Skyliners, Konga also worked hard teaching drill. There is not enough space to recall all the memories here. These are just a few. Konga, you are joining many New York Skyliners in the best drum corps in the sky. Rest in peace. The New York Skyliners once again, too soon, join our hands in sorrow to make our circle complete.

Lack of stand courtesy is a problem, but this type of poor etiquette is also present at many school music events, too! At one middle school where I taught, the etiquette of the parents and families was so poor, that we started by educating the students themselves about Concert Etiquette (www.MENC.org has a great printout for it), and asked them to bring the message home to the parents. The Principal also took the time to remind the audience about concert etiquette. It seemed to help, but it is an ongoing process - even at the elementary school at which I currently teach. You would not believe the number of parents talking, allowing their kids to talk or run around, people talking loudly on cell phones, etc.. at their kids' musicals or concerts! Anyway . . . we'll keep working on this - but I believe that NOT addressing concert (stand) etiquette as a whole does not help those individuals who are seated near rude or noisy audience members. At least making a general announcement gives the people affected by these boars support when they turn around to ask them to be quiet.

attreides, I see that you were with Blue Max 1979 - 1980. I marched with them from 1972 - 1979. I wondered if we crossed paths. What instrument did you play? Doreen

Thanks for adding more information about Our Lady of Miraculous Medal. I did mention them but only with the parish name (as we sometimes called corps back then . . . just St. Joe's instead of St. Joe's Brigade, etc.) Ridgewood, NY is my home town and it certainly saw its share of drum corps and drum corps personalities in its day! Doreen

Thanks, Liz, for remembering Our Lady of Angels . . . I even called my mom, to see which corps they remember (since they came to all the competetitions) and my mom said, 'wasn't that like . . . 30 years ago?' Actually, more like 35 - 40 years ago ! ! LOL Doreen

OK . . . I remembered another Catholic Drum Corps that the Blue Max competed against (or at least, in the same circuit): St. Camillus Fife And Drum Corps. . . . and I saw mention of St. Catherine’s Queensmen, St. Jeans Lynn, St. Patrick's Cadets. . . and let's not forget St. Ignatius! Doreen

My first drum corps was the St. Matthias Blue Max Drum & Bugle Corps from Ridgewood, New York. I believe it was in existence from 1972 - 1986 or so. In fact, our Director, Mrs. Marge Fuoco, just passed away recently. (Her brother was our musical Director and Brass instructor, Ernest Fesler, Sr.) The Blue Max competed in Nassau Suffolk Association, CYO, MAA, and Garden State. We competed against a lot of other parish drum corps not mentioned in here yet, such as: St. Claire's Golden Emeralds, St. Fidelis, St. Joseph's Brigade, St. Helena's (Bronx), St. Ann's, St. Aloysius, Our Lady of Snows Stormy Knights, St. Stanislaus Troupers, St. Benedict's Fife & Drum Corps, St. Peter's (CT?), St. Brigid's (?), Our Lady of Miraculous Medal, St. Mary's (LI) . . . . I am sure I forgot some . . . I'll add them as I think of them. I did not realize that St. Francis Xavier had a drum corps - my brother graduated from there. Doreen

Like so many of you, I am at a loss for words. Our love, sympathy and prayers go out to Carol, Bob, Patty, and the entire Holton family, and to the Skyliner organizations, of course. Although I am sure that I met Sean around the Fall of 1979, I really got to know him in 1985, when we played in the pit together with a small group of pitsters. I do not think I have ever laughed as much or as often. We had a wonderful season. Sean had a great laugh and sense of humor, was very serious about performance and the Skyliners, and was one of the nicest people I ever met. I know that those who loved Sean will share our memories of him for years to come. There is so much more to say . . . . Rest in peace, Sean. Doreen, Bob, Theresa, and Brittany

Yes, Sky is going to have an exciting show - seven competitive corps, three DCI corps in exhibition, and the N. Y. Skyliner Alumni drum corps! Check your calendars, pick up some tickets, and enjoy "AN EVENING WITH THE CORPS!"

Things are really happening down at the Skyliners. The corps is growing, and we are expecting more new members - brass and drums - this Sunday! The show is exciting, and fun to play . . . stop down at the next rehearsal. mellogirlNY