Whoa_Mellophone_2012

We still have flag and rifle spots open. Any interested males or females should check us out at RochesterCrusaders.org or PM me here. The hornline, battery, and pit sound amazing and we are looking to round out our corps with more guard members. This is shaping up to be a great season for the Rochester Crusaders so come out and see what we are about. We promise a great time, great experience, great education, and great friends. So come check us out some weekend! You have nothing to lose and a whole lot to gain. :thumbup:

Thank you! I know the drum major and he says I will definitely be able to do it. I was skeptical at first but now I am looking forward to the challenge.

The cheapest Div I corps to fly from ROC or BUF is ATL (Spirit). Flying Delta out of BUF saves approx 70 dollars over flying out of Rochester. If you flew out of BUF I would happily sit with you on the plane and navigate ATL with you and make sure we both got to the shuttle. Nope, no Open Class DCI corps in NYS. I am even marching Div I all summer and the Rochester Crusaders are holding me a spot until I get back from DCI finals this season, then I am marching Cru through DCA finals weekend. Maybe talk to the Statesmen about marching there after marching your summers in D-I. As I said before, Cru is holding a spot for me until after I get back from tour, then I am finishing up their season with them. It's just an idea, to keep your ties with Empire current.

But for some people marching with a non top corps isn't worth it. I was going to miss so many school functions and the end of my senior year last year to march. I didn't make the cut for the corps I auditioned for, and at that point I decided to cut my losses and enjoy my last days at my high school. Even though I am auditioning for different placing corps this year, I feel happy with my decision to not march last year. Now there is also the issue of money. The only two corps within reasonable driving distance of me (south of Rochester, NY) are both top corps, (Cadets and Bluecoats) and last year I was not financially ready to fly out to auditions, nor could I afford to keep driving every weekend of the spring to participate in an open class corps. IMO this is a situational matter and in the end it is up to the performer.

Auditioning for Spirit this weekend and going to callbacks for Boston in December. I am flying from Buffalo to Atlanta for Spirit and from Buffalo to Tampa for Boston. I will decide which is my first choice after visiting camps for each corps. But I can tell you right now that placement will have nothing to do with my choice.

This is truly a shot below the belt to all of us who have mentally ill family members out there. Stick to postive show designs please. People living with mental illness face more (or at least the same amount) of stigma and discrimination than any other group out there. Hell, diagnostic work and testing for mental illness isn't even covered by most insurances out there! (But that's a different story) Perpetuating stereotypes such as these is utterly disgusting. This enrages me more than anything has in quite a long time. Way to bring bad press to an otherwise positive and uplifting activity.

Spirit Announces 2009 Program Written by Joel Vincent In seeking to recapture to the true essence of Spirit, traditionally known for their high energy, unique approach, and fan-friendly programs, the Jacksonville, Alabama based corps has announced the musical source for their 2009 program. In describing the 2009 program, Executive Director Joel Vincent states, “Sometimes in trying to capture the past, we have to realize we are operating in the present and not try to repeat what cannot be repeated. Instead, we need to concentrate on the ingredients that shaped our past and use those tools to help determine our future. Those are the threads that guided us as we approached the ’09 program. Mark Waymire and the design team have done a great job in finding the right vehicle for us to tell our drum corps story and to present it in a high-energy, contemporary Spirit way. The genre we have chosen is wide open for exploration and with the creative genius of brass arranger Scott Boerma as well as, percussion arrangers Shane Gwaltney and Eric Willie I know we have found a musical format which will energize our creative process as well as excite members and fans.” In 2009 Spirit will explore the music of one of America’s premier progressive-rock groups, KANSAS as the corps returns to a hard driving, high energy sound that fans have loved for years. The music of KANSAS presents a strong body of work that is sometimes complex, yet always accessible making it an outstanding choice for drum corps in this era as we expand our craft without forgetting the fans. With the group’s first album released in 1974 their music was always considered to be “ahead of its time”. Anchored by their classic hits, “Carry on Wayward Son”, “Dust in the Wind”, and “Point of Know Return”, KANSAS has produced over thirty years of outstanding work. “If ever a group has expressed a true marriage of rock music and original art music, it is the progressive offerings of KANSAS.” Grammophone. We invite you to journey with Spirit as we explore the music of, KANSAS. http://www.spiritdrumcorps.org/

Actually the last day of school is usually the first week of June and the last three weeks are just tests. The technical "last day of school" is like June 23rd or something but last year our real last day of school was June 6th. Also private schools are usually done by Memorial Day, and colleges are done way earlier than that.

Star of Indiana.

Sometimes I wonder if they kind of string auditionees along in a way to keep getting their camp dues.

Bring on the Blu-Ray DCI discs! The quality is so much better and so worth the extra money.

Thank you for this useful information!

be careful using the horn mouthpiece with a converter. many corps won't even let you audition on them. but I would check Middle Horn Leader and read the mouthpiece reviews. I am definitely buying a Hammond Mouthpiece soon so I can get used to it before auditions. Good luck!

I was in the same boat as you. I am a mellophone player and I plan on audtioning this year. My college has no mellophones since it's not into the marching arts. I considered all the options and I went ahead and bought the #### instrument. Sure, you can wait until camp to play the instrument but then what will be your chances of being accepted at the individual audition after having the instrument for 24 hours tops? (This also depends on where you go, as some corps place more emphasis on this one time audition than others. UCrest (a music store out of Buffalo, NY) Sold me a brand new Yamaha YMP204MS for 1085 plus tax. They will ship to anywhere in the United States for free. (http://www.ucrestmusic.com/) I know everyone does not necessarily have 1000 bucks to drop on an instrument, but I'd say securing an instrument at least 2 months in advance will give you the best chance of making it. Just curious, where do you plan on going? I might see you at some auditions this year