azgimp

Slight correction to time start post. AZ is NOT on daylight savings time, so we're not really MST! It's 11:09 in Scottsdale, AZ, so it's 1:09 in Chicago and 2:09 in North Carolina. Hope that helps.

Scottsdale, AZ here. Son aged out last year--ACADEMY CONTRA! I aged out too after 3 years uniform chair. Still love the sport, the kids, and the music. I think all of the kids in drum corps are amazing.

Welcome to Arizona and the Sonoran Desert B) . I've been hoping the monsoons won't ruin any of the shows! If you hear from your kids, remind them to drink more water than usual. Good luck to everyone on their way to Pasadena.

Be patient. It's 7:15 phx/tucson time which makes it 10:15 est.

You just hit my 2 hot buttons. 1) School Boards that don't value performing and visual arts because they aren't "academic!" 2) Year round school. I volunteered for years with my local school district and found that most decisions made by our school board were not student or public friendly. The almighty buck was served first! School district board members need to be reminded from time to time that they serve the public. Drum Corps fans should contact their local school boards to remind them of the importance of summer programs like ours. It can't hurt to ask them how they vote on performing and visual arts issues, since most of them are elected to their board positions! It won't affect housing this year, but it might help in the future. I honk for all Drum Corpssss

My son joined The Academy in 2001. He aged out this past season after 5 years with the organization. My impression of Mark Richardson (exec. director) has not changed one iota over the years--he is a remarkable young man with a wonderful vision. Furthermore, The Academy has an extraordinary group of administrators, fund raisers, movers/shakers, and volunteers who have enabled the organization to progress to this point. There have been no hidden agendas in this organization. What you see is what you get--it's the real thing. Like jonnyboy said, check out the website! I'd like to add that the Desert Southwest (New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, and Arizona) are now well represented in DCI!

Whose word are you taking--the souvie guy or Jonnyboy?

I know Copperstar was recruiting at least a year before that because my son was interested and I was approached to help with construction of their uniforms.

Kids! At least your son told you where to sit! Mine is hidden under 26lb contra, adding to the anonymity of the uniforms. Glad to see/hear that I'm not the only parent waiting anxiously for scores/reviews. Good luck to all.

Thanks for the history. Knew it was sketchy, but didn't have all the facts. It's nice to have Arizona represented in this activity.

How long was Arizona Sun in existence? I know there was a group called Copper Star which folded within 1-2 years--that was about 6-7 years ago.

Could someone please review last night's show. Those of us stuck out here, west of the continental divide, would appreciate it greatly. Thanks in advance.

I was trying to keep track of which corps belonged to which divisions because of all of the comparison/contrasts on these forums. According to DCI’s list of corps I found the following breakdowns interesting. Forgive me for not listing Senior corps. There are 25 Div. I corps, 11 Div. II corps, and 23 Div. III corps. Taken to a logical and absurd conclusion that means all Div. II corps will be in the top 12! Most controversy seems east vs. west so I made a regional (definitions from google search) breakdown. NE and Mid-Atlantic states 3 Div. I, 3 Div. II, 7 Div. III = 13 corps Southern states 4 Div. I, 2 Div. II, 2 Div. III = 8 corps Midwest states 9 Div. I, 1 Div. II, 2 Div. III = 12 corps Rocky Mountain states 2 Div. I, 1 Div. II, 1 Div. III = 4 corps Pacific states 6 Div. I, 4 Div. II, 6 Div. III = 16 corps Canada 1 Div. I, 5 Div. III = 6 corps I think they are all winners. Yes, I'm a FANatical Mom!

Thank you Dan Saeger for the review--especially since you were one of the performers. Does anyone else find it excrutiating waiting for So.Cal. to wake up and give us more reviews?

Has anyone heard anything yet!