A Blazing Grace

Wayne Harris returns..... http://www.scvanguard.org/about/news/news....e7-8f2f23a644b2 Letting Go...... http://www.scvanguard.org/about/news/news....4e-50fb396b6242

Personally, I'd like to see 'Gayane' again. But that's not it, either.

No Mussorgsky in 2010...

From SCV's website... SCV 2010 Summer Design Team and Caption Managers October 20, 2009 The Santa Clara Vanguard is pleased to announce that the design team members who created the corps’ 2009 “Ballet for Martha” program will return for the 2010 season. They have been actively working on next summer’s program since August. Staff Coordinator Denise Bonfiglio has re-engaged the staff of Jon Vanderkolff and Mike McCool, who will team as program coordinator and associate program coordinator; Key Poulan, Brian Mason and Jeff Lee as musical composers/arrangers; Peter Weber as drill designer, and Jim Moore, Carol Abohatab and newcomer Greg Lagola as color guard designers. "Jon and Mike McCool have been collaborating on design thoughts and choices for several years and having both of them actively involved in producing the 2010 program is an exciting partnership,” said Bonfiglio. “Jon will have the opportunity to be on site with the corps and the rest of the design team during the summer to help bring the program to life. This will allow Mike to be on the outside of that process to ensure the design intent is cohesive, and maximizing the design choices." Jon Vanderkolff ascends to the program coordinator role, following four years as a program consultant for the Vanguard's summer corps, and as the organization's primary winter guard designer. His drum corps, marching band and winter guard history, as well as his ongoing design role with the stage production BLAST, are strong testament of his achievements in creativity and recent accomplishments in each arena. "Having Jon available during the summer makes the entire design team a stronger unit. This year's program will certainly have his stamp on it. This gets us one step closer to where we want to be," said long-time SCV programming guru Mike McCool. Greg Lagola joins the SCV color guard design team with more than a decade as a member of the Cadets programming and color guard design team. He also played an instrumental role in the Vanguard's 2009 Winter Guard International championship show design. Lagola is a men’s and women’s clothing designer and has his own private label line of men's clothing. He also designs costumes and uniforms for marching arts groups world-wide. "I have worked with Greg since the ‘80s at the Cadets, Emerald Marquis, and SCV, and he is such an inspiration to the design process,” said Bonfiglio. “Greg, Jon Vanderkolff, Jim Moore and Carol Abohatab have been collaborating on show design together for many years as we all worked together on several projects, including the 2009 WGI World Champion SCV Winter Guard. Greg's involvement with the design process for the drum corps is so exciting, and it's been my hope that the day would come where this design team would again be together, collaborating on the drum corps program.” Caption Managers Andre' Feagin (brass), Murray Gusseck (percussion) and Jennifer Leseth (color guard) are all returning to institute and perfect the 2010 program. They will be joined by newcomer Christopher Alexander, who will take the reins of the SCV visual caption from Sylvester Sybilski who has served in that role since 2007. Alexander joins the Vanguard as the visual caption manager after marching as a member of the Cavaliers from 2002 to 2005 and later spending four years on the corps’ instructional staff. He has degrees in physics and music composition from Loyola University in Chicago and is currently the manager for a privately-funded research project in automobile fuel efficiency in Oklahoma City. "I'm excited to join this strong educational team at the Vanguard and look forward to building upon the success and visual philosophy instituted over recent seasons by Sly, who was my primary visual instructor as a member of the Cavaliers," said Alexander. Drill designer Peter Weber added, "I'm thrilled to have Chris on board. He brings great energy, enthusiasm, and knowhow to the Vanguard, and will build upon the already strong foundation we have in place."

Jeff's on a plane right now, but perhaps he'll clarify later.

Really?

SCV does not have a traditional set up. It is a large organization with not only two drum corps, but a winter guard, winter percussion, and dance classes-not to mention a successful bingo operation. Mr. Fiedler has a lot of influence in the what and how of the Vanguard, along with COO Kathy Serknis, Operations Director George Brown, Staff Coordinator Denise Bonfiglo, and Tour Director JW Koester. Jeff represents the corps at DCI, but there is a team that runs BOTH of the drum corps. Vanguard's not naming a "Director" if that's the question.

I can't give the tenative dates as I've been sworn to secrecy, but the Stanford show won't be that early in June. Hope that helps.

Clever response! I, however, always have faith in Uncle Al-even when my faith is unwarranted.

I hear the Vanguard Cadets drumline might be a performing at a a few Oakland Raiders football games this year-including next Monday night's game against the San Diego Chargers

Why would Mr. Vanderkolff not continue his fine work with Vanguard's winter guard? SCV fans have no reason to be concerned. Watch and see what happens..............

We were sitting beside, what appeared to be, two moms at the Gadsden show. Both were wearing shirts advertising their corps allegiance, as well as support staff passes. One if the ladies applauded politely after each perfomance, while the other showed no sign of life until her favorite corps took the field. If it pains one too much to put forth the effort to show at least polite appreciation for every corps-not just your favorite-pehaps it might be prudent not to wear a support staff pass. It reflects poorly on your organization.

Cadets have exited (and entered) the field many different years in some form of their traditional corps block. That doesn't mean they "own" mass forms exiting the field. SCV is not exiting the field with a single performer like Cadets (check ending of '87 Cadets, please) In fact, Cadets ended going off in a block. SCV is going off in a mass form-they don't have ANY blocks or boxes in their show. Seems as though the box has become the all-purpose musical form of the activity, used ad-nauseum by all the top groups.

You are correct. That would be from tonight's sheets. Oliver is kind enough to provide my information. He's fairly reliable.

SCV won both effect captions by a nice margin. Won guard by a margin.