KrissyMc

REMEMBER: Next rehearsal date is Friday, December 18th, & 7:30 to 10:30 at Oley Valley High School, Oley, PA!!! Click link for directions: http://www.maps.com/DriveSolo.aspx. Hope you can attend! Can't wait to see the turnout for this next event!

Super! Any alums out there remember to bring your memorabilia to share with your Bucs family!!! Can't wait for the big day!

Dave! I am so glad you will be joining your "Drum Corps Wife" at the festivities. You have made me one happy girl. Can't wait to see you and your friend.

Thanks Dan! We are all looking forward to this big event. Inquiring minds want to know! Who's going to attend and whose new faces will we see?!???

Thank you Lois! The year's Alumni Corps is really looking forward to a great start! Great things happening on Friday night at the Topton American Legion Post in Topton, PA! Come out and join the pirate party!

Thanks Tom! We're looking forward to a great turnout!

Hope to see you all there! Looking forward to another great start this year!

READING BUCCANEERS ALUMNI CORPS ANNOUNCES 2010 MEMBERSHIP OPEN HOUSE AND INSTRUCTIONAL TEAM For Immediate Release Contact: Robert Miller 610-451-7407 Rmiller@horizonengineers.com Reading, PA (November 3, 2009) - The Reading Buccaneers Alumni Drum & Bugle Corps announced today the corps’ Membership Day and instructional leadership team for the 2010 season. Returning as Staff Coordinator, Program Coordinator and Percussion Arranger will be Rich Hammond. Brass arrangements will be taught to the alumni members by Brass Instructor Josh Decker. Chris Feist will again return as Percussion Caption Head as well as Jeremy "Tex" Daross, Percussion Technician, rounding out a fine Perc team. Lee Umberger will return for his second season with the Alumni Corps as Brass Arranger. Bob Miller, President of the Alumni Corps, continues to be excited about the upcoming season. “The 2010 version of the Reading Buccaneer Alumni Drum & Bugle Corps will be following in the footsteps of our predecessors and the 2009 Alumni in bringing our time honored tradition into the 21st century. A mix of old and new concepts will be presented to make it enjoyable, not just for the audience but also for the participants. While we try to make the musical selections enjoyable to play, we also try to present a challenge to the members, without the difficulty requiring an impractical practice schedule. To all existing members of the Alumni, please try to attend this event. It is important for you to be present to show the possible new members the camaraderie we have and to answer any questions they may present. New looks and sounds will be abundant so don’t miss this event!!! “ Rich Hammond (Staff Coordinator, Program Coordinator and Percussion Arranger). A graduate of the Baltimore School for the Arts, Hammond attended the University of the Arts and the Peabody Conservatory of Music. He has been a marching member of the Hamilton Knights, the Reading Buccaneers and the Crossmen. In addition, he has performed with the National Symphony and Baltimore Symphony Orchestras. His drum corps teaching and writing experience have included the Crossmen, the Glassmen and the Reading Buccaneers, where he produced five world championship percussion programs. In addition, to this work the Bucs, Rich has been Percussion Program Coordinator for the Jersey Surf Drum & Bugle Corps, where he led the way for the Surf to a 2007 Division II percussion title. Hammond’s resume also includes work with WGI world champions Hatboro-Horsham and USSBA Group 6 Open Champion North Penn Marching Knights, where he is Director of Percussion. In 2007, Rich was inducted into the Buccaneers Hall of Fame. Josh Decker (Brass Instructor). Josh is a graduate of Cumberland Valley High School. During his time there he decided to continue his musical pursuits for a career. He then attended West Chester University and obtained his Bachelors in 2000. He also attended WCU for graduate studies and was awarded a Master in Music Education in 2004. Josh began teaching in 2001 in the Pennsauken Township, NJ school district as an elementary band director. After a year and a half he moved to Lancaster County where he became the high school band director for Conestoga Valley High School. He currently directs the high school women’s chorus and the middle school orchestra as well teaching some middle school general music. First drum corps experiences for Josh include the Westshoremen in 1996 and 1997. Josh began his position as drum major for the Reading Buccaneers in 2001 and continued through the 2008 season, helping to lead the corps to their fourth world championship. Christopher Feist (Percussion Caption Head). Chris has been a marching member of the Buccaneers and the Crossmen. From 1983 to 1988 he served as percussion caption head for the Conrad Weiser High School Marching Band, and from 1994 to 1999 served the Governor Mifflin High School Marching Band in a variety of roles, including percussion arranger, caption head and staff coordinator. His drum corps teaching experience includes the Crossmen and the Buccaneers, where he has taught since 2001. In addition, Chris has been a percussion judge for both the indoor and outdoor programs of Cavalcade of Bands and for the Mid-Atlantic Percussion Society. Jeremy "Tex" Daross (Percussion Technician). Jeremy has played percussion for 26 years and is a 6 year veteran of the Buccaneers Drum & Bugle Corps. He graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in Civil Engineering, and played in the Longhorn Band while attending the University. He is currently employed as a project manager for a general contractor in Plymouth Meeting, where he has worked for the past 10 years. Jeremy's musical accomplishments include percussion instruction since 2000 at programs including Phoenixville HS, Spring-Ford HS, and North Penn HS. He lives with his wife Lisa and son Julian in Royersford, PA. Lee Umberger (Brass Arranger). Lee’s service to the Buccaneers began in 1997, when he joined the brass and design staff. In 2003 and 2004, he was the Bucs’ brass arranger and in 2005 added the role of Program Coordinator to his responsibilities. He has a music education degree from Lebanon Valley College and a master’s degree in music composition from West Chester University of Pennsylvania. He was band director at Eastern Lebanon County Middle and High Schools from 1991 to 1996 and middle school band director for the Governor Mifflin School District from 1996 to 2005. Currently, he is Associate Principal at the Governor Mifflin Intermediate School. On Friday, November 27, 2009 the Buccaneers Alumni will hold their annual Membership Day, at Topton American Legion Post, Topton, PA. The festivities will kick-off at 7PM and will include the announcement of the 2010 repertoire. Anyone interested in attending and learning more about being a part of the 2010 Alumni are urged to visit the corps' website at www.readingbuccaneers.org and click on the alumni tab. Or for more information e-mail, Paul Klick, Vice President at klbunch@epix.net. For a map to the Topton post click the link below: http://www.maps.com/DriveSolo.aspx Founded in 1981, the mission of the Buccaneer Alumni Association is to reunite all past members of the Reading Buccaneers Drum & Bugle Corps in camaraderie and fellowship, to engage in the parade drum & bugle corps activity, to encourage the growth of the Reading Buccaneers Drum & Bugle Corps, to maintain the commitment to excellence general associated with said Corps, and to perpetuate drum & bugle corps in general as an art form and entertainment medium. The Buccaneer Alumni Drum & Bugle Corps was formed in 1987 as a program of the Buccaneers Alumni Association to satisfy a desire on the part of former members of the Buccaneers who wished to continue to perform in the drum and bugle corps venue, but with a lesser time commitment than the competing corps. The Corps participates in numerous parades in the Greater Reading, PA area and in concerts annual, most notably the annual Serenade in Brass at The Forum in Harrisburg, PA and The Spring Preview, an annual indoor concert hosted by the Reading Buccaneers. For more information, visit www.readingbuccaneers.org./AlumniCorps.htm or contact Bob Miller at rmiller@horizonengineers.com or Paul Klick at klbunch@epix.net .

Personally, I think this is a great idea. This would give people like myself who have been labled as "tweeners" a place to call home. "Tweener" - kind of ready to give up competing corps and not totally ready to be dedicated to alumni corps. Usually this means us old people. However, there are youngsters in the same boat as well. Virginia is just a bit toooooooo far away. :thumbup:

Gearing up! We marched a total of 12 rockin mellos last year. As for the parts, well, ya kinda have to go to Membership Day to catch just a glimpse of those precious items. My black binder is sacred. See you soon!!!

The invitation is always there. Hope to see you sooner than later!

As a member of the 2007, 2008 and 2009 "MELLOPHONE" section, "Meh" would certainly not be the term I would have used to describe our section!!! Friggin AWESOME is more like it!!! Lived it! Loved it! Dut-dut-done. Oh! P.S. See you both days in November!!!

Actually you have less than a chance of a "snowball in #$(*( ". :bla: :sumo:

Bridgeport, CT, women's showers were always freezing cold, and needle-like without shower heads. Don't stand face front to the water ladies!!!! There's been a major improvement in the last 20 years. Still crowded and terribly humid but all have shower heads and the temperature is perfect.

1985 Bucs "The Rainmaker"??!!!! Oh and BTW, come stand infront of competing corps hornline during warm-up prior to arrival on the field of competition. I'm sure you will enjoy the quality and the volume!

Wow! And I thought I was dating myself.!

GO BILLS!!!!! Fred Smerlas and Jim Kelly will always be near and dear to my heart!!!

Oh, and how 'bout putting at least one picture of the champion corps on the front cover? They could have picked at least one out of the three times!