NWPercussionist

Come join the Cascades as we return to competition in 2009! The Cascades just finished a very successful camp, performing one-third of the show on the field (not to mention the entire show in the ensemble arc). The corps will be making a resounding return to DCI this summer, performing one of the corps most exciting shows ever! The Cascades are looking to fill the following positions: Tenor Drummer - Opening for an experienced tenor drummer. Synthesizer – Opening for a piano player. Brass Players – Limited openings for both low/high brass sections. Guard – Join us for round two of auditions at our May camp. If you are interested, please contact Chris (for brass and percussion) or Ben (for colorguard). When emailing, please include the following information: 1) Name 2) Contact Information (phone/email/address/age) 3) Experience (Marching/Musical Experiences, i.e. marching band, drum corps, winter ensembles) 4) Location (city/school/etc.) 5) Video (If possible, please provide a video or link to a video that demonstrates showcases your musical and/or visual talents) Please visit the Cascades website to learn more about the corps, staff, camps as well as up the upcoming tour. Don't be shy, contact us and find out the opportunities that await you. Come join us go Beyond the Forest! Chris Grant Percussion Caption Head/Musical Director Cascades Drum & Bugle Corps cmgrant78@msn.com Ben Adams Colorguard Caption Head Cascades Drum & Bugle Corps guardguyfl@yahoo.com

Come join the Cascades as we return to competition in 2009! The Cascades just finished a very successful camp, performing one-third of the show on the field (not to mention the entire show in the ensemble arc). The corps will be making a resounding return to DCI this summer, performing one of the corps most exciting shows ever! The Cascades are looking to fill the following positions: Tenor Drummer - Opening for an experienced tenor drummer. Synthesizer – Opening for a piano player. Brass Players – Limited openings for both low/high brass sections. Guard – Join us for round two of auditions at our May camp. If you are interested, please contact Chris (for brass and percussion) or Ben (for colorguard). When emailing, please include the following information: 1) Name 2) Contact Information (phone/email/address/age) 3) Experience (Marching/Musical Experiences, i.e. marching band, drum corps, winter ensembles) 4) Location (city/school/etc.) 5) Video (If possible, please provide a video or link to a video that demonstrates showcases your musical and/or visual talents) Please visit the Cascades website to learn more about the corps, staff, camps as well as up the upcoming tour. Don't be shy, contact us and find out the opportunities that await you. Come join us go Beyond the Forest! Chris Grant Percussion Caption Head/Musical Director Cascades Drum & Bugle Corps cmgrant78@msn.com Ben Adams Colorguard Caption Head Cascades Drum & Bugle Corps guardguyfl@yahoo.com

Come and join the Northwest’s World-Class Drum Corps! Our next camp is April 3rd – 5th in Yakima, WA. Be a part of the Cascades return to competition! We are looking to fill a couple positions in the brass and percussion sections. Openings are for the following positions: -Trumpet -Tuba -Front Ensemble (Keyboard) -Cymbal Line Additionally, we will be hosting guard auditions on the weekend of April 17th – 19th. Please visit www.seattlecascades.org for more information about the corps and the upcoming summer tour. Please feel free to contact us with any questions! Come and join us, as we go “Beyond the Forest.” Chris Grant Percussion Caption Head/Arranger Cascades Drum & Bugle Corps

The merger between the Cascades and Thunder is a great opportunity for the fans and members of Northwest drum corps to "make the long haul" together. Take a moment to think of all the drum corps that have come and gone throughout the area (if you do your research, you'll find that there has been nearly 40 corps throughout the Pacific Northwest and Western Canada). What exists today? Why are there so few corps in existence today? For the 2009 summer season, DCI has the following number of corps listed for summer competition: 22 World Class Corps 24 Open Class Corps (with Spokane in it's presumed inactive status) Here is the breakdown of the corps during the 1999 drum corps season: 21 Division 1 Corps (present World Class) competed at nationals 42 Division 2/3 Corps (present Open class) competed at nationals 29 Division 2/3 Corps participated in Regional Tours, but not at nationals As you can see, there is a great decrease in the past decade alone, not to mention the past 40 or 50 years. Again, ask yourself why are there fewer drum corps? Is it lack of demand for the activity, staffing problems, financial constraints, or other problems? Having participated with both the Thunder and Cascades, my only hope is that members of both organizations help sustain the longevity of drum corps in the northwest! It's time for the drum corps members, parents, veterans and fans to to show their commitment to this newly created union, and make the Northwest a viable, competitive force to be nationally recognized on a yearly basis. This merger is not a hostile takeover, it's an act of sustainability for the activity. It's not an attempt to make the Thunder a feeder corps. How many people do you know from Spokane, Seattle, Portland, or the Tri-Cities who have gone on to march somewhere else in the "big leagues?" The Thunder will become no more of a feeder corps than any other Northwest Drum Corps has ever been. Many members from the Thunder, Cascades, Spartans, Renaissance, Crusaders, Marauders have gone off to march to march in World Class drum corps. Thank you to Sal Leone and Rich Harvey (along with their respective booster organizations, staff, and members) for taking a giant step towards sustaining drum corps in the Northwest. Drum corps in the Northwest have had wonderful glimpses of success (Oregon's Division 3 Championship, Cascades march to becoming the Northwest's first and only World finalist corps, and Spokane's expeditious entrance into Open Class finals). Hopefully this merger will create a journey of many emotional and competitive successes in the future. For the members of the Cascades and Thunder: It's time to make new traditions, time to make new friends, to put the egos aside and face the new season together. What has drum corps taught us? Drum Corps is surely about playing an instrument, traveling the country and spending time with our friends. But, drum corps is more about teaching us about ourselves, commitment, learning to deal with adversity, teamwork, improving our work ethic as well friendship. Remember, hardware is only icing on the cake. For the veterans and age outs of Cascades, Thunder and other Northwest Drumcorps: Take the time to donate, whether it's financially, or volunteering your time. Think of all the times the corps needed more people to carry equipment, repair instruments and vehicles, cook food, alter and sew uniforms, etc. Think of all the equipment that needed to be fixed or replaced, but there were no funds to do so. Show your appreciation of your drum corps experience by helping the next generation of drum corps members. Don't express your frustration or anger towards this new venture, as it is not helpful, but in fact detrimental to the activity. Let's all hope the 2009 is a successful one for these two corps!