Bushwackers PR

Marc Sylvester to Join the Bushwackers Staff September 30, 2011 The Bushwackers are proud to announce the addition of Marc Sylvester as Program Coordinator for 2012. Marc is a member of the DCI Hall of Fame and brings a lifetime of design experience with organizations such as The Cadets and Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps. His experience as a designer, innovator, and leader in the activity makes him a perfect choice for the position. “I’ve had the privilege of marching under Marc’s guidance as well as being adjudicated by him.” said Bushwackers Director Bob Gupta. “Now I and the rest of the staff are thrilled to be working side by side with Marc and look forward to embarking on a production that will combine a high level of entertainment value along with the unique identity of The Bushwackers.” The Bushwackers are the six-time DCA World Champions. Preparations for the 2012 season are well under way as the corps again prepares to enter DCA’s top tier of competition in our 31st year of existence. Stay tuned for more news and announcements over the coming weeks as exciting things are being planned for the 2012 Bushwacker season!

September 6, 2011 Although the 2011 finals performance is only days old, the Bushwackers are already hard at work planning for the 2012 season. The corps has gone through many changes over the past year, and there are more changes to come as we continue to build a bigger and better Bushwacker Drum Corps. The Bushwackers are pleased to announce that Dennis Argul will join us in the roles of Music Arranger and Brass Caption Manager for the 2012 season. Dennis has a long history with the Bushwackers in various capacities, and we are excited to have him be a part of the Bushwacker family once again. Welcome back Dennis! Stay tuned for more announcements on our website, our facebook page, and our twitter feed.

Bushwackers Announce Summer Schedule May 27, 2011 – Ridgefield Park, New Jersey The Bushwackers are proud to announce our summer 2011 schedule. The corps will be performing shows nearly every weekend, and have planned rehearsals so that our members will have a few Sundays off to enjoy with their friends and families, and recharge their batteries a bit. We'll be celebrating the start of the summer season this weekend with our annual Memorial Day Barbecue - we hope to see you there!

Come out and help support the Bushwackers!

Bushwackers Reduce Tuition Fees by $200 May 19, 2011 – Ridgefield Park, New Jersey The negative economic climate has had a dramatic effect on how much people can spend on the arts, and drum corps is no exception. To better address the needs of our members, The Bushwackers have secured sponsorships that will allow us to offer deep reductions in membership fees for those who need it. "The Bushwackers have always been known for their innovative shows on the field, and now we're taking that innovative approach and applying it off the field," said Bob Gupta, Bushwackers Corps Director. "In an unprecedented move for drum corps, we are offering a coupon for $200 towards membership fees. That's almost half off our normal tuition!" Print the attached coupon and bring it to your first rehearsal, and you will immediately receive a $200 credit toward your membership fee. Combine that with a good fundraising effort, and you could march for next to nothing! To take advantage of this offer, you must become a new member before July 1, 2011, and remain a member in good standing through the remainder of the season. Don't let this great opportunity pass you by! Become a Bushwacker today!

2011 Memorial Day BBQ announced Help the Bushwackers kick off the 2011 summer season the right way by coming out to support the corps on Memorial Day weekend for our annual Memorial Day Barbecue. This is a day when friends, fans, and alumni can get to know the current members, and get a first taste of the 2011 show. Everyone is invited, feel free to bring your friends and family. Don't forget the kids too- the park has a nice playground area for them too. Come out, and see what the Bushwackers are all about. The Barbecue is free of charge to all guests, it's our way of showing our friends that we appreciate their support. The barbecue will be held at Veteran's Park in Ridgefield Park, NJ from 2pm to 8pm on Sunday, May 29. Check out our Memorial Day weekend page for details and directions.

More staff additions at the Bushwackers May 11, 2011 – Ridgefield Park, New Jersey Bushwackers announce new Color Guard Caption Head The Bushwackers are proud to announce Aaron Palmer as the new Color Guard Caption Head for the 2011 season! Aaron comes to us fresh from a successful season as a featured performer in Emanon Winter Guard, a WGI Independent World finalist, and is excited to be a part of the Bushwackers staff at such a pivotal point in the history of the corps. "Aaron is a consummate team player who brings a high level of excellence to the color guard," says Bob Gupta, Bushwackers director. "Aaron brings with him strong connections to the color guard community to attract, retain, and develop aspiring performers to reach their ultimate in performance." Aaron's teaching experience includes a host of color guards in the northeast, including Elizabeth High School, Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School, Matawan Middle School, Roselle Park High School, Riverside High School, Emanon Winterguard, Fusion Winterguard, Fusion Core, and the Skyliners Drum and Bugle Corps. As a performer, Aaron has appeared with Light Brigade (92-04), Blessed Sacrament (07), Emanon (11), Skyliners Drum and Bugle Corps (05), and the Sunrisers Drum and Bugle Corps (03). Aaron is a graduate of Pierce College, and earned a BA in Information Technology during his time there. When he is not performing on the field or floor, Aaron is a network technician for the Matawan School District. Added Consultants, Administrative Staff, and Visual Tech In the continuing effort to strengthen and round out the instructional and administrative teams, four more contributors have been added to the roster. Please join us in welcoming our new team members! Joe Itkor has been a quad player, baritone player, keyboard player, timpanist, and percussion arranger for the Bushwackers in the past. Adding a new hat to his collection, Joe joins us this year as a business team member, managing contracts for the corps. Joe will use his experience as a Board of Education member and band director to negotiate and maintain the corps contractual obligations, and aid in keeping the corps financially sound by building lasting relationships with show sponsors, parade committees, and equipment manufacturers. Welcome home, Joe! Kate Koeberl has joined the administrative team as our Uniform Manager. Kate has been a member of the Bushwackers for a number of years as a color guard member, and as a designer and creator of color guard uniforms and flags. She joins us in a similar capacity this year, outfitting members with uniforms and making adjustments where necessary. Welcome back, Kate! Jerome Kimbrough, longtime marching member and instructional staff member, rejoins the team as a visual technician for the 2011 season. Jerome has a wealth of drum corps experience on "both sides of the fence," as they say, and has made a positive impact on the Bushwackers for over 20 years. Jerome's full bio is available for viewing here. Jim Dugan, once the heart and soul of the creative team that brought six DCA World Championship titles to the Bushwackers, returns as a Program Consultant for 2011. Jim's passion for the drum corps activity is unparalleled, and his track record speaks for itself. We are proud to welcome Jim back home! Last, but certainly not least is Al Chez, best known as the trumpet player on CBS's "The Late Show with David Letterman," once again joins the Bushwackers as a brass consultant. Al is no stranger to the Bushwackers, having been a marching member and co-drill designer in the early days of the corps. We are proud to have Al on the team, and look forward to his guidance as we continue to mold the 2011 version of the Bushwackers! Our next rehearsals are Saturday and Sunday, May 14th and 15th, in Ridgefield Park, New Jersey. Performance opportunities are available in all sections! Come out and be a part of the 30th Anniversary season of the Bushwackers!

May 6, 2011 – Ridgefield Park, New Jersey The era of good change continues at the Bushwackers! Furthering the cause of building the future of the Bushwackers, a number of significant changes to corps operations went into effect this week immediately following the appointment of new corps director, Bob Gupta. "The team has been working tirelessly to round out the administration, "said Bob Gupta. "Keeping continuity with the past while adding new faces and fresh ideas to the group have been our primary goal, and they have resulted in key administrative roles being filled." Some of the key roles that have been filled are indicated below: Bob Kidd returns to the corps as Business Manager. Stacy Boyer continues in her role as Member Relations Coordinator. Rubin Cornier continues in his role as Fundraising Committee Chairperson. Vinny Esposito continues in his role as Technology Coordinator and Webmaster. Rob Watson joins the administrative team as Marketing Consultant. Scott Marshman joins the administrative team in charge of Financials and Accounting. John Gough returns to the corps as a liaison to the Bushwackers Alumni and coordinator of the home show. Robert Thatcher joins the administrative team in charge of Communications. Bob Bessich has offered his talents toward a huge recruiting push, which he is spearheading. If you think you can help, please contact us! Additionally, two staff changes have taken place. Lou Randazzo has agreed to take on the position of Visual Caption Head and Show Coordinator, filling the positions vacated by Bob Gupta when he became the director. Also, we would like to welcome Tiffany Kidd back to the Bushwackers as the Staff Coordinator. Please look to the Bushwackers website for biographical information on the members of our staff and admin team, new and old! Think you can help round out the Bushwackers Administration? We'd love to hear from you! Please contact Bob Gupta at director@bushwackers.org if you are interested!

Being the director of a competitive Drum Corps is NOT an easy task by anyone's standards. Jay has shouldered that responsibility through thick and thin for longer than most- having his weekends free to spend with his family is a well deserved reward for his long history of dedicated service. Everyone at the Bushwackers wishes him well. Don't forget that congratulations are in order for Bob Gupta, who is taking on the daunting task of filling Jay's shoes. Please help welcome him to his new, important role in the Bushwacker family, and the DCA community in general!

Bushwackers Announce Retirement of Director Jay Morlot May 2, 2011 – Ridgefield Park, New Jersey After 24 years of dedicated service, Jay Morlot has stepped down as director of the Bushwackers Drum and Bugle Corps, effective May 1, 2011. Jay's decision was not an easy one, and he leaves behind a legacy that will be difficult to match. At age 22, Jay joined the upstart new corps and was then named director in the fall of 1987. Having seen the corps through six DCA Championship titles, he was inducted into the Bushwackers Hall of Fame in 2008. In consideration of Jay's retirement, transition team leader John Hannigan, alumnus of the Bushwackers and Garfield Cadets, began the process of renewing the leadership of the corps. This first meeting of the team was one of several to be had, but laid the groundwork for the next chapter in the evolution of the Bushwackers. The first of many very real changes for the corps is the installment of a new corps director. The Bushwackers are proud to announce the appointment of Bob Gupta as interim corps director. Mr. Gupta, an alumnus of the Crossmen and Garfield Cadets, accepted the task of guiding the corps and is already working to steer the corps through the remainder of the 2011 season. The 2011 season marks the 30th anniversary for the Bushwackers, and they will continue working on their field show with Mr. Gupta at the helm. There will be no interruption of operations during this exciting time for the corps! Moving forward, the transition team will be filling positions on a revamped Board of Directors, and a series of committees designed to support the corps in new and creative ways in the interest of building a strong support network for the organization. Look to the Bushwackers website for breaking news and information in this regard. Bushwackers Administration meeting to plan the corps' new future

Bushwackers Rehearsal Reminder! All 2011 Bushwacker members are asked to remember that our next outdoor rehearsal will be on Saturday April 30th. Please check our Rehearsal Schedule page for details, and don't forget to keep up the recruiting efforts- never stop until every spot is filled! Please continue to direct any new recruits to our online membership form so we can start to make them a part of the Bushwacker family! We hope everyone has a safe and happy Holiday weekend! We hope to see you all on the 30th.

Bushwackers Begin Outdoor Rehearsals for the Spring March 24, 2011 - The Bushwackers are proud to announce the start of their next milestone of the 2011 season- the coming of spring means that it's time to rehearse outdoors and begin learning drill. This is one of the most exciting times of year for the corps as they begin to put the original music of Key Poulan and Paul Rennick on the field- bringing the design team's vision for 2011 to full life for the first time. Starting on April 3rd, the corps will practice Sundays 9am to 5pm (except Easter Sunday) throughout the month of April. Starting April 30th, the corps will add Saturday rehearsals from 10am until sunset (except for Mother's Day) up until the spring season reaches it's summit on Memorial Day weekend. On Memorial Day weekend, the corps will rehearse and perform at parades, and publicly show off their hard work at their annual Memorial Day barbecue to celebrate the transition from the spring schedule to the full-blown summer schedule. All outdoor rehearsals for this portion of the season will be at "The Lot" in Ridgefield Park, New Jersey. Please check out rehearsal schedule page for full details. All members are asked to be prepared for any weather conditions- The Bushwackers will not let a little rain get in the way of their climb up the long slope to the competitive season! This portion of the season is incredibly important to the success of the 2011 season. All members are asked to continue to recruit and fill the remaining open spots in the corps- please direct any new recruits to our online membership form so we can get them onboard as soon as possible. We're looking forward to an exciting and productive spring season with you!

Bushwackers Rehearsals Resume February 19th! February 12, 2011 - The Bushwackers are back in action at Caldwell College in Caldwell, NJ on February 19th and 20th after our recent "snow break." Saturday's rehearsal will begin at Werner Hall from 1pm to 9pm, then from 9am to 5pm on Sunday. The corps is eager to get back to work on the 2011 show. Expect to see new music from our design team, so come ready to perform! The 2011 Bushwackers are dedicated to providing it's members a competitive, and affordable, world class Drum Corps experience that is both educational and fun. While our design team continues to build a show based on all-original music, we are looking to add a few more members to our family to round out our 2011 roster- don't wait until we've closed all our spots- sign up today, and experience the Bushwackers dedication to quality sooner, rather than later. Any and all new members are invited to attend. To learn more about the Bushwackers, please visit our home page. Take the next step and fill out our membership form to learn how YOU can be a part of the 2011 Bushwackers!

Bushwackers Announce New Winter Rehearsal Facility January 11, 2011 - The Bushwackers are pleased to announce Caldwell College in Caldwell New Jersey as their new winter rehearsal facility starting this weekend, January 15th and 16th, and every camp thereafter for the winter. The corps will have access to the cafeteria for lunch and dinner and plans are underway for overnight housing starting in February. The beautiful Werner Hall with its many classrooms and lecture halls will have the sounds of drums and bugles heard throughout its halls all weekend long. To locate Werner hall, check the Caldwell College Campus Map for details. Starting time on Saturday morning is 10am through 8pm and Sunday once again at 10am until 5 pm. The corps plans on starting work on the new Key Poulan/Paul Rennick composed original show at this camp. Please visit www.bushwackers.org for more information on this upcoming camp and membership in the 2011 corps.

Harrison, NJ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Bushwackers January Camp Schedule Change! January 1, 2011 - Due to circumstances beyond the control of the corps, the facilities scheduled for camp are not available for the Bushwackers on Jan 8th and 9th. The first camp of 2011 has been moved to January 15th and 16th at a facility to be announced shortly as we await confirmation. The Bushwackers would like to thank all of our members in advance for being flexible and understanding in the face of this unexpected schedule change. Remember to check our rehearsal schedule page for our most up-to-date schedule information and directions. We are looking forward to seeing everyone at rehearsal on the 15th!