Excelsior PR Manager

bump. not trying to monopolize the forum, just wanted this to stay on the board a little longer. Again, our humble group was so honored to be a part of last weekend...thank you DCA.

Fran, just wondering why you do not think starting earlier than 5:30 is feasible? Most folks I know travelled in days prior to Friday, most were on site at least by Thursday. If that is the case or at least the majority case, then starting earlier should not be an issue. I know the logistics to such an event are mind boggling, but starting earlier should help to releave some of that stress, not add to it. I know all we wanted to do after Fridays conclusion was go out and party with all of our bretheren from other corps that we do not get to see but once or twice a year and we all were doing everything we could just to keep our eyes open. Dont limit mini-corps...for corps sake! We are just now getting to an age of a resurgence in our activity...grow it as big as we can! Thoughts?

Hey thanks Tom. You guys rocked! Love the alto/flugle horn!!! Great show, very entertaining and a solid line up of soloists!

All that can be said is..."WOW"! The support and encouragement coming from the drum corps community is AWESOME! Thank you all. The phone calls are coming in from friends and fans, some I haven't heard from in years! We are thrilled and are pulling all of our resources together to take EXCELSIOR to the field next year. Parading is great! The fans are happy to see the corps march by and we are happy to be there marching by. And we will continue to parade to help subsidize this venure, but creating a field show is what drum corps is all about, and we are so excited to be making this leap of faith. Will we be the Blue Devils or the Bucs in our first few years out...???(wouldn't that be amazing!?!?), Who knows, maybe, probably not, but we are determined to field a corps that is fun, entertaining, and made up of members who are having a blast while performing! Will it take hard work and determination??...of course! Anything worth doing is worth doing right! And most anything worth while does take some amount of hard work. If you have interest in being a part of returning a Competitive Field Corps back to the Capital Region of New York and the Berkshires of Mass...then get on board! You can truly help to shape EXCELSIORs future! EXCELSIOR dr_m and b_gle corps...it's just not the same without U!!!

Thanks Chris! It is exciting. Bytheway....Love the new uniforms!!!

Thanks Joe! It sure is!

EXCELSIOR sends a special "Thank You" to Dick Pronti and the staff of DCA for allowing the corps to take part in the opening ceremonies of the mini corps competition and for allowing our honor guard to present the colors for the national anthems performed by EXCELSIOR drum major and Director, Donel Mysliwiec. We also wish to send a "get well soon" note to Barb. Thanks again.

Stay tuned for the announcement of the 2008 production! The final touches are being made and the last musical selection is being decided upon and will be announced after the Sept. 6th Admin meeting.

Great News! Good luck Austin Stars!

I will also add, that 18 mini-corps is alot. Even at 14 minute intervals, it was alot. I would have loved for the whole day of I&E to start earlier...maybe a 1:pm start and mini-corps to start around 5:pm. Wrap it up at 10:pm and then we could party after. It was tough to keep the eyes open while trying to party at 1:am! (still did it, dont get me wrong-LOL...but.)

The mini-corps competition from start to finish was amazing! I truly enjoyed the Pembroke Imperials and I was not disappointed with Star United. I sat through them all and they all brought something different to the stage. Did some perform to a higher musical caliber than others...yes. Were some cleaner than others...yes. Were some stacked with DCA HOF legends and soloists who are, IMHO, more professional than some of the so-called professionals out there...yes. Were some small and some large...yes. Were some nervous and just excited to be among the 18 corps who performed...yes(Excelsior!!!). Was there jazz, and classical, and rock, and pop, and drum corps classics!....yes. Did some have M&M built in and other just circle up and jam...yes. Was it great!....absolutely. It is in the differences between the corps that make this venue among the most popular of the weekend. BUT...all deserve to be commended, all deserve to be celebrated and all deserve much praise for a job well done.

on the heels of the corps debut competitive performance this past weekend at the DCA mini-corps competition, in which the EXCELSIOR mini-corps performed the corps 2007 show entitled, "Fairly-Odd", the corps is now ready to announce the continuation of the competitive journey into 2008. The EXCELSIOR Drum and Bugle Corps will field a competitive Class-A corps in 2008! This step follows the original 5 year plan of the organization and is actually a full year ahead of schedule. Founded in 2004, and debuting in 2005, the corps has been marching the streets of the Capital Region of New York and the Bershires of Massachussetts in parade and exhibition, most notably exhibitioning at the Kingston, NY('06 &'07) and Clifton, NJ('07) DCA competitions. The buzz about the corps at DCA was great and the reception the mini-corps recieved was truly overwhelming for the membership and EXCELSIOR administration alike. The DCA community is a class act and ultimately we are so please to be joining this elite group. It was very heart warming to hear so many people are following the progress of our corps and even more exciting to talk to so many people who are interested in being a part of the journey. As many of you are aware, space in the 2008 competitive corps will be limited to the 65 member limitations set by DCA for Class-A competitive corps. There are positions available in every section and our 2008 season will start on Nov. 23, 24, 25 for a three day camp. Interested performers may send a note of interest to our Director by visiting our website...www.excelsiordrumcorps.org. Another exciting day in the history of EXCELSIOR!

From the Capital Region of New York and the Berkshires of Massachusetts.... EXCELSIOR is in! Excelsior has registered and is excited to be taking this monumental step! This is truly a crowning achievement on 2007. We cant wait to see everyone in Rochester.

Not to mention all the great things that the Glens Falls/Lake George/Saratoga, NY area has to offer in August! Check it out folks! A great vacation spot for the whole family and a great alumni drum corps show! http://www.alumnidrumcorp.com/ (no 's' on corps) Take in a day at the track. http://www.saratogaracetrack.com/ or visit Lake george, go camping or just lounge on the beach. http://www.lakegeorge.com/ or how about six flags - great escape!! http://www.sixflags.com/greatEscape/index.aspx Just minutes from the Adirondacks http://www.adirondacks.com/ or http://www.godacks.com/ It may fast becoms one of the drum corps show that you will look forward to year after year!

This show is fast becoming known as the August Show to be at! If you remember the drums corps of yester-year and miss it, If you travel to DCA shows and sit in the stands with anticipation for the Exhibiting Alumni corps performance after the competing corps have performed, if you just wish that todays drum corps could put on a show that vaguely resembles drum corps as you remember it...then this is the show for you. The line up is just great. Some of the best Alumni acts currently performing! Hawthorne Caballeros Alumni Corps, Hawthorne, NJ Crusaders Senior Corps Drum & Bugle Corps, Boston, MA The Toronto Optimists Alumni Drum & Bugle Corps, Toronto, ONT, Canada The Light Brigade Senior Alumni Drum & Bugle Corps, Revere, MA Saint Kevin’s Emerald Knights, Boston, MA Preston Scout House Alumni, Preston, Ont. Canada WOW!!!~~~!!!~~~!!!~~~!!!~~~!!!~~~!!!

Joe, thank you for the support. You know very well we have been around for some time now. You have always been very generous and kind in your support of Excelsior. Thank you for that. Here is a photo of our recent Exhibition at the Grand Prix in Clifton, NJ Link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ramd/825825360/ Thank you to all of our supporters.

DRUM CORPS DEAD IN ALBANY....NOT EVEN CLOSE! Anyone who attented the Clifton, NJ DCA show Saturday evening will attest that Excelsior drum and bugle corps from the capital region of New York (to incorporate Albany), as well as Pittsfield, MA...is doing well. the corps put on an exhibition at the show and the response was great! Lots of happy folks! Lots of great and exciting things happening with this group. New equipment, Brand new uniforms from FJM designed by Michael Cesario!, great staff and a fun group of folks! Check it out! www.excelsiordrumcorps.org And yes, co-sponsors of the "keeping the memories" Alumni drum corps show in Glens Falls, NY August 4th! We support all drum corps activities in the area...but drum corps is far from dead in Albany!

Thanks Joe. Lots of work ahead, but this is just what the doctor ordered! Excelsior is committed to bringing drum corps back to the Capital Region of New York.

The Excelsior Visual and Performing Arts Association is excited to announce the latest achievement toward bringing drum corps back to the Capital Region of New York and Pittsfield area of Massachusetts. The Association has confirmed an active partnership between the organizations flagship performance ensemble, the Excelsior drum and bugle corps and the Schenectady high school drumline of Schenectady, New York. Excelsior’s percussion section and the SHS drumline held its first joint rehearsal on Wednesday, June 13th. During that rehearsal 12 members of the SHS drumline stepped into the Excelsior percussion section and together the two lines became one. Learning several of Excelsior percussion sections exercises and a majority of one of this seasons music selections, the 11 person snare line, 4 person quint line, and 5 person bass line rattled windows a mile away from Central Park, where the rehearsal was held. This season the student musicians from the SHS drumline will march with Excelsior as members of the corps for the remainder of the parade and exhibition season and with this new partnership an indoor percussion ensemble is now being considered for the winter of 2007. Finalizing of instrumentation and configuration of all the new members has yet to be determined, but this collaboration has the entire organization very excited and hopeful for similar results from other similar recruiting efforts that the corps has in the works. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbSg9olczLY Check out the link for a glimpse of what we have started here. There is much to do, but we are hopeful to debut this new drumline 8/4/07 at the First Annual Alumni drum and bugle corps show in Glen Falls, NY sponsored by the Fort Edward Lions club and the Excelsior drum and bugle corps. (where Excelsior will be Exhibitioning) "Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and like any good thing, hope never dies." -Shawshank Redemption Much like our corps motto, we have much hope! Ever Upward, Excelsior!