TerriTroop

Show announcement gives me goose bumps. Happy that they are choosing this direction. As far as visual and everything else: Fred Morris and the Troopers organization has put its trust in some of the absolute best minds in the activity. I'm going to place my bet there rather than in the world of speculative negativity. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens. As always: GO TROOOOOOP!

I truly LOVED this show, and still do!

You are horrible.

Was at first audition camp this weekend. I think "come out of the gates swinging" is definitely the idea.

Seems to me like the Troopers is being very methodical with building the program. Looking forward to hanging out with some Troop folks next week at their audition camp near Dallas!

The corps has it's offices and bingo hall in Casper. In my opinion, the camps reflect the desire to be consistently in a location where weather and facilities are most conducive to strong off-season work, and are relatively easy to get to (major airport nearby, for example). I don't know that for sure, but it's my educated guess. The corps does have well-established ties to Wyoming music education and marching arts.

Just thought I'd go ahead and start the Troopers 2016 thread. I'm looking forward to helping at lots of camps this year since they are in Texas! For more information, go to Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps official website. Staff lists so far from troopersdrumcorps.org: DESIGN TEAM: Program and Staff Coordinator: Donny Van Doren Visual Coordinator: Michael Raiford Brass Arranger: Robert W. Smith Drill Designer: Noah Bellamy Percussion Arranger and Coordinator: Paul Rennick Color Guard Designer: TBA Program Consultant: Mark Whitlock EDUCATIONAL TEAM - BRASS: Donny Van Doren (program and staff coordinator) Tim Snyder (caption head) Scott-Lee Atchison (high brass/ensemble specialist) Anthony Cruddas (low brass/ensemble specialist) Dennis Laorenza (trumpet tech) Andy Grindle (mello tech) Patrick Keely (brass tech) Jeremy Basso (bari tech) Dan Herrick (tuba tech) Andrew Sharf (brass intern) Marc Whitlock (brass consultant) EDUCATIONAL TEAM - PERCUSSION: Paul Rennick (percussion arranger/coordinator) Lauren Teel (caption head) Chris McWilliams (percussion consultant) Patrick Chapman (snare tech) Jesus Sanchez (snare tech) Jordan Brooks (tenor tech) Chris Livernios (front ensemble tech) AJ Covey (front ensemble tech) Johnny Green (bass tech) Zeke David (bass tech) Jason Hammond-Wood (bass tech) EDUCATIONAL TEAM - VISUAL: Bob Barfield (caption head) Zack Crissman (visual tech) Will Wells (visual tech) James Lazaro (visual tech) EDUCATIONAL TEAM - COLOR GUARD: TBA* (*I anticipate this info comes out very soon)

Which is why very few corps actually do this. But for some, it is feasible.

I don't have numbers for any corps regarding trumpet specifically. I would just say be teachable and adaptable. Be a hard worker and a good listener. Know that veterans in the line may seem very distant at first, even if they make efforts to connect. They are reconnecting with each other after months apart, and they have a very strong bond, but they'll make room for people who are patient, open minded, and work hard. No matter where you audition, you'll learn some good skills for any future auditions you might encounter. Good luck, and let us know how it all turns out!

That's what I think is the real issue. DCI, as a not for profit youth organization, would struggle to keep defining itself as such.

I'm a huge Trooper homer, and I'm a Texan. The outcome is what it is, and it's not a single judge's fault, or even a group of judge's fault, and it sure is NOT a DCI conspiracy. It's a competition, and the outcome was that Troopers put up a magnificent show on Friday night that was just shy of 12th, and Crossmen performed very well despite a harrowing beginning that got them a penalty. Everything else really isn't important any more. For what it's worth, the Trooper Alumni Facebook page has been all abuzz with enthusiasm and admiration for this week's performances by the 2015 Troopers, as well as lots of excitement for next season already. Nobody there is crying foul. HLD, y'all!

Second Saturday in August is the usual date, so August 9-13 seems right.

So incredibly proud of how they carried themselves and this show this year. Go Troop!!!!!!

Wow..... Well, congratulations to the Crossmen for holding, and to the Troopers for showing up ready to fight for it. I need a stiff drink now. The waiting was killing me!

OUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm not banking on anything at all, and it doesn't matter. Troopers gave a heart-wrenchingly beautiful performance, and Crossmen are great performers with a good vehicle, too. I hope we get "bonus entertainment" tomorrow, as one person put it here. But no matter what, I'm so incredibly proud of the home team. They left me speechless and filled with joy, two days in a row.

This show is really well designed - I wish the sound levels would stay LEVEL. Is this just me? Is it my ISP? I'm on multi-cam now, was on high cam earlier.

is it just me, or is high cam sound often seeming muted, then it opens up? Also, I LOVE this opening from Pac Crest!!!!!

yep, sound lost then came back

I was away for 2 weeks with almost zero internet and phone connectivity. It was AWESOME. And then I'm frantically trying to get ready to teach in three short weeks - I'm not even close to ready. So, that's where I've been. I'm sure y'all held down the fort just fine without my Trooper homer hype and such.

Really like this Cascades show! Great job with the polymeter in Short Ride! (one of my favorite pieces of all time) And then Black Hole Sun combined with bits of The Planets is pretty brilliant. And I really love the Intergallactic segment just before the end! Way to go, Cascades design and instructional team, and of course I send big kudos to the kids on the field. You really showed your stuff today!

Let's move finals to San Antonio! (just kidding - the lot would be brutal in mid-August. UGH)

It was a pleasure to gather with fellow alums to provide and serve a meal this morning to the Troopers! Breakfast tacos, bagels and cream cheese, fruit, yogurt and granola were on the menu. (A welcome break from truck food!) And, while I was there I ascertained the following: There were tons of changes put into the show in the last week, and the heavies on the staff (Van Doren, etc.) were there to work with the changes and the general overall show package. The next week includes lots of rehearsal days and less travel time in excellent venues for visual work, and they'll take advantage of that as much as possible. That said, every other corps in the pack is going to be pushing their own envelopes as well, so it's going to be a real race to the finish. GO TROOP!

I was there with several adults who are not big drum corps fans but came along because it was near their home. I was also there with my 11 year old. Here's what they said: Adults, oddly enough one person per decade, age 32-73: "Why is that one being so disrespectful? I liked what they played, but now they're being disrespectful. They might have actually gotten more applause if they had been casual but paid attention to the other group." 11-year old: "What's wrong with that? They're just taking selfies and dancing around playing rock paper scissors."

So, I was actually in Belton last night, on the 40 fairly high up in the upper section. (It still wasn't very high, so drill was difficult to read a lot of the time in most shows) Changes galore were in the show. I felt tense for Troop. The feet really bothered me, but the overall show design still captivated me. The ballad is really beautiful, and I like that it's not operatic. (I'm a classically trained vocalist, so I'm not anti-opera, I'm just really glad the soloist is owning it and giving it proper character for it's style) So, those that felt the show was flat - it was. But to address Ms. Granny Smith: no, it hasn't even come close to reaching its potential. The kids have to own those changes though, and FAST. And buy into their characters. And not worry about the competition - just sell it, from the heart all the way out to the audience.