PIONEER DRUM AND BUGLE CORPS

Pioneer Drum and Bugle Corps has the following for sale: 4 – Dynasty “G” Euphoniums @ $400.00 each 3 – Kanstul Alto Horns @ $250.00 each 1 – Yamaha Xylophone @ $1,000.00 2 – Yamaha Vibraphones @ $1,500.00 each 3 – Yamaha Marimbas @ $2,000.00 each Extra sets of keys for both rehearsal and show are available with the above. These prices do not include shipping. For more information contact: Roman Blenski 414-327-2847 dbcpmilw@execpc.com

The Pioneer Design Team put in quite a few hours of creative discussion at their fall meeting at Pioneerland. Several different show concepts were brought to the table. The Celtic Reflections concept, by far, was the best choice. From beginning to end the flow of the show has coherance, not just a disjointed collection of songs! The music is great! The combination of Larry Kerchner's brilliant arranging along with the able and motivational teaching of Donny Allen, Tyler Orbison, and the exciting new addition of visual designer Jeff Wroblewski and Guard caption Seth Pearson, the total production will definitely be a giant step forward for Pioneer! md

The Field Band Foundation of South Africa, under the able direction of Mrs. Retha Cilliers, is an organizing body that provides for music education, as well as a wholesome vehicle for the socializing of young South African people. The "Field Bands" of South Africa are actually drum and bugle corps (brass, percussion, & color guard). They call them field bands rather than corps because the word corps to them exemplifies a military group. They have an annual chanpionship competition and bring in judges from all over the world. Pioneer Director Roman Blenski and Alumnus Peter van de Werk are both judges for this event. The Pioneer has been affiliated with the South African Field Band Foundation for the past 7 years. We have had from the field bands these past 7 years a total of 22 young people who have come to Pioneer for the experience of marching in a DCI Corps. This has been made possible through the generous donations of Pioneer Alumni and friends. The field band members come from extreme poverty. The Pioneer has purchased clothing and other necessary items for the South African Pioneer members and take care of all their needs during the summer months. The experiences that our members have along with the S.A. Pioneer members are priceless. Friendships for life have developed. Many of the S.A. Pioneer members have received music scholarships from the University of Norway. The University of Norway sends some of their music education students to South Africa to help train the young field band members. They also give some of the top S.A. students the opportunity to spend a year in Norway studying music so that they in turn can come back to S.A. to teach other S.A. field band students. All in all, our affiliation with the South African Field Band Foundation has been both healthy and rewarding. We are very happy to see that some of them will now be playing on our old "G" instruments! Hopefully this is another way that Pioneer can be true to its roots of being a service organization for the betterment of youth, both musically and socially. md

The Imperials of St. Patrick Corps was organized in 1962 by Roman and Sue Blenski and was based at St. Patrick's Parish on Milwaukee's near South Side. St. Matthias Corps was established at St. Matthias Parish on Milwaukee's Southwest Side. There was a family, the Johnsons, who were very instrumental in the growth and success of St. Matthias corps.The two corps had no affiliation with each other than that they competed against each other. However there was a friendly relationship between the two.

The first rehearsal/audition camp for the 2008 season will take place on November 16th, 17th, and 18th in the Milwaukee area at Cudahy High School. It will begin at 8:00 PM Friday evening and continue through Sunday at 4:00 PM. There are openings in every section and we welcome you to come and audition for your spot! Please check out our website at: www.pioneer-corps.org for more information. You may also email us at dbcpmilw@execpc.com or call us at: 414-327-2847 with any questions or concerns that you might have. Watch for more details to come about new equipment for the 2008 season including Bb/F horns!

Hello Mr. Drillwatcher! It is amazing that you sponsor a member of the corps that you so detest! It is amazing that you take an opinion of a young member (isn’t that what is being said, “Pioneer members are young) and holding it up in front of the entire DCP community as being the gospel truth. The belittling of our staff is ridiculous. We have Larry Kerchner, one of the finest drum corps composer/arrangers in the country who wrote a superb show for us. That is acknowledged by the positive comments from the many audiences that the corps has performed in front of. Yes, we do value the opinion of audiences and their responses. We have Donny Allen, who has done so much both musically and motivationally for our hornline in the short time that he has been with us. We have Stuart Spoon and Tyler Orbison leading the percussion line. Both have been offered positions with other corps that you would consider as being Division 1 status, and have turned them down because they believe in the Pioneer philosophy. We have Chris Kichline leading the guard. He is an outstanding instructor who comes to us with a wealth of experience. We are extremely proud of our teaching staff and to say that they are any less than Division 1 status is both ridiculous and irresponsible. Saying that the staff is immune to the judges’ suggestions is again not true. They have taken much into consideration, and as with any corps have made positive changes throughout the season. As to the qualifications of our members, yes we do have some younger members, but we have college music majors as well. It is a healthy situation where everyone benefits from each other. The corps is for its members and not vice-versa! The satisfaction for our members comes from performing a high energy and entertaining show to the best of their abilities. We stress that over numbers or rankings. So are our members qualified to march in a Division 1 Corps? Many other corps think so when asking our members to audition for their corps! I can confidently say, “Yes, they are very qualified!” They are qualified because of their great work ethic. They are qualified because of our excellent instructors who draw out of them their innate abilities to perform at the very best level that they are capable of. They are qualified because of their “Better Every Day” way of life! No matter what numerical results that we are placed in, Pioneer will always work beyond the potential that they think they are capable of. This is because of the fact that they are being taught by such a talented, dedicated and credible instructional staff. Mr. Drillwatcher, I do not know the reason behind your constant ridicule of our corps that has been more than evident in your several posts. If you really desire to do something positive for the young people of the Pioneer, please contact us directly with your ideas and suggestions. That would show a definite leadership by example on your part, as well as being a role model to whomever you might sponsor, in the Pioneer or in any other corps!

If you were at the Tupelo Show, would you please give us a review!

So, do you remember what your corps played, back in the day when each corps played itself off of the field? Our Pioneer Corps has played the Gary Owen March for several years as it comes off the field and troops the stands. I remember back several years ago that some corps came off the field in finale with a Sousa march. If it does happen again that each corps would play itself off of the field, what would you want your corps to play?

The Fourth Annual Shamrock Spring Festival of Music Sunday, April 30th at 1:00 PM Cudahy High School Auditorium 4950 South Lake Drive Cudahy, WI 53110 Featuring in Performance: Milwaukee Scottish Pipe Band Midwest Legends Senior Drum & Bugle Corps Cudahy Middle School Ensemble Oma Ana “Children of the Spirit of the Drum” Pioneer Drum and Bugle Corps & Color Guard Free Admission: Open to the Public The award-winning Milwaukee Scottish Pipe Band, besides being a local favorite, is also a highly competitve unit under the direction of Dr. Dale Riebesehl, former Pioneer Director and current music teacher in the Milwaukee Public School system. The Midwest Legends is a senior concert drum and bugle corps based in Milwaukee. It consists of members who have several years of drum corps experience. They are well known in the Milwaukee area participating in many parades and civic events. Cudahy Middle School's music ensemble, under the direction of Mr. Carl Koch, consists of young musicians and future Pioneer members! They are a credit to the Cudahy's fine school-music program. Oma Ana "Children of the Spirit of th Drum," under the direction of Dr. Cecil Austin, is an African style percussion ensemble that has entertained audiences throughout the Midwest. Percussion enthusiasts will not want to miss hearing this group! Celebrating their 45th year of competitive drum corps, the Pioneer will be presenting to the public for the first time music from its 2006 production, "Emeraldscapes." The corps' individual sections will also perform, as well as solo performances by Jason Dobrich (DCI's 2005 I&E Tympani Champion) and Sam Karafotis (DCI's 2005 I&E Woodwind Champion). Again, this concert is free to the public and you are all cordially welcome!

The Pioneer are proud to present their 2006 production of "Emeraldscapes." This show features another approach for Pioneer both musically as well as visually. This year, while remaining true to our Irish heritage, we stretch boundaries. A major portion of the show is centered on a contemporary string quartet piece written by independent composer Phil Kline. The ballad integrates contemporary music and an arrangement based on the Celtic folk song, "Slane." Finally, "The Blue Room and Other Stories" closes the show with a heated, driving, angst-ridden feel that is new for Pioneer. The design team (Rick Kirby-Brass, Paul Rennick-Percussion, Dean Adamczyk-Pit, and Oliver Bullock-Visual) is eager to showcase this year's talent and reveal to the drum corps community strong coordination of visual and sound design. Pioneer promises the delivery of a new and exciting show. "Emeraldscapes" incorporates visual elements not implemented by the corps in the past, to create two-dimensional and three-dimensional landscapes throughout the production. While retaining deep respect for our Irish tradition, Pioneer is focusing on a contemporary line of thought in effect and entertainment!

Pioneer is still using G Dynasty Bugles.

Pioneer's 44th Annual Awards Banquet celebration took place on November 19th at the Milwaukee Airport Best Western Banquet and Conference Center. This event was held in conjunction with its first rehearsal camp of the 2005-2006 Season. Age-Outs were recognized as well as the returning Vets, the Instructional Staff, and the Support Staff. Also in attendance were all of the New Pioneer who attended the rehearsal camp weekend. Our 2005 Age-Outs, recognized and thanked for their years of service to the corps were: Brandon Reimers, Drum Major; Brad Frendeway, Soprano; Marieke Bronsveld, Soprano; Brandon Brown, Snare; Kenji Okubo, Snare; Jean Caligiuri, Guard; Daniel Garcia, Tenors; Jared Law, Contra Bass; Amanda Burton, Soprano. Mr. Michael Madonia, our 2005 Brass Caption Head, was voted by the members as the Pioneer Instructor of the Year. The 2005 Pioneer Veteran of the Year is Amanda Burton, Soprano The 2005 Pioneer Rookie of the Year is Brandon Brown, Snare The 2005 Pioneer Volunteer of the Year is Bill Nylund, Transportation The Best Dressed Male at Banquet was Matt Trusty The Best Dressed Female at Banquet was Martha Warfel The 2005 Pioneer Section Awards were given to the following members: Soprano, Joshua DeGroate; Mellophone, Katherine Easton; Baritone, Kevin Fleming; Contra Bass, Jared Law; Marching Battery, Brandon Brown; Pit Percussion, Jason Dobrich; Flag, Beth Keswani; Weapons, Jean Caligiuri. The Banquet was followed by the traditional bonfire held at Pioneerland. This provided for an excellent end and celebration of the corps' 2005 season.

To those who just do not like Irish music, you certainly have a right to your opinion and musical tastes. We feel that you might, however, be pleasantly surprised with Pioneer's 2006 production of Emeraldscapes. If you think that it will be just a rehash of what's been done before, you have another thing coming! If you are looking for contemporary, it will certainly be that. If you are looking for innovative visual design, just wait! If you are looking for a bold, crowd-pleasing production, you will witness it. So if your stereotype of Irish music consists of drinking songs, jigs, and a consistent 6/8 time signature, that is NOT what Pioneer will be all about in 2006. "Better Every Day!"

Pioneer, the "Irish Corps" is proud to announce its 2006 Instructional Staff: Music Composer/Arranger: Rick Kirby Battery Percussion Composer/Arranger: Paul Rennick Pit Percussion Composer/Arranger: Dean Adamczyk Visual Designer/Staff-Program Coordinator: Oliver Bullock Color Guard Designer: Kyla Smith Brass Caption: Dan Hiles Percussion Caption: Stuart Spoon Pit Percussion Caption: Dean Adamczyk Visual Caption: Bryan Williams Color Guard Caption: Kyla Smith The theme for Pioneer's 2006 program is, "Emeraldscapes." Emeraldscapes is a Celtic visual and musical panorama of the many sites and sounds of the Emerald Isles. This innovative and stirring production, both visually and musically should prove to be one of the Pioneer's best crowd-appealing shows ever!