27thAvantCadets

If only you were closer!!! Would love to play with the stork!

Lets see em!~

Thanks Greg....but truly...I must bow to Lydia. She has made this happen. Can't wait. Also LucysSkylineralumni, Thank you for the nice words and clarification. The area is great and it should prove to be a great night. It is a shame that everyones favorite corps couldn't come, but if this goes as we expect it to, then next year...who knows?

So, lets see some pics! Great to hear things are going so well for you guys!~ Keep it up.

Joe, watch out for ing yourself....as you might end up :o 'd or even . ! hehehe!

Yes, Donny, the track will be up and running, as Tom stated, the Saratoga horse racing track opens for its season on July 25th, so for the Alumni show scheduled on August 4th, it will be in full swing. For anyone who never gone to the Saratoga track, (even if you do not gamble!), you should definitely make a point of going. The spectical of the track is quite something to behold. Often times, music from the likes of "Brass-O-Mania" can be heard greeting the patrons of the track as they walk the grounds. Lake George, the Adirondack mountains, The Great Escape Six Flags theme park and water parks is also just a short drive from Glens Falls. This could be the show of the year if planned right. Make it a vacation or at least a long weekend for the family. This show is a joint venture between Excelsior Drum and Bugle Corps and the Glens Falls Lions Club. (I assume that LucysSkylinersalumni was referring to Excelsior and not Excaliber?!?!??!!?) Excelsior will be helping the Lions Club to host this show, helping to run it, doing a bunch of the grunt work and maybe even playing for it too. That is the low-down on the show..Tom is correct in that there should be a public, formal announcement within days to confirm the reality of this show. Looking forward to it. Any interest should be directed to Lydia Plante, Asst. Director of Excelsior Drum and Bugle Corps. 518-326-4384 or Bluemuen49@yahoo.com

bump!!!

It has been a while since I have posted, so I thought it was time to let all of our friends know how Excelsiors is doing! The corps is on track to have another great season. The corps is in better shape than ever before at this point in the year and with new members at every rehearsal...it looks to be a year that we are bigger than ever before. Let me give you some insight...(we have to buy more uniforms!!!), that is a good problem to have! The drum section is cranking, looks as if we could field as many as 8-9 snares with 2 tenors and 4 bass! Greg Morgan has written some amazingly rythmic, funky, old-school yet fresh and new arrangements. Under Gregs leadership for the second year, Excelsior drumline will again turn heads! The horn sections is also doing well. Under the skillful instruction and watchful eye of Joey Pero Jr, the Brass line has already navigated there way through three new tunes and with the two returning favorites from last season...the horns are set to make a statement! The guard is also growing. With Kristen Geswaldo teaching our guard, the color guard (non-existant until this season), is a joyful addition! A new Drum Major this year too. This season Donel Mysliwiec puts down her solo soprano to stand out front and lead this merry band of musicians...(Yeah I said it...Musicians...jurys still out on that one! :P ) Donel has also stepped up as a brass tech and under Joey has helped lead brass rehearsals and ensemble sessions. The corps is doing well. We are in the Northeast, it is winter and it is cold...but we charge on! Ever Upward! There are still select positions in the corps open to marching members. The book is really great and fun to learn and play. Come on out and check out the next rehearsal! I think you might be surprised. In addition to the marching positions, Excelsior is looking for some key Administrative assistance. If you are saavy to the ways of fundraising, Public relations, recruitment and/or project management...well, give us a call. Our entirely volunteer admin staff is looking for you!!! Come out and be a part of a great group!

Hey Fusion Core!!! Holly and Ralph, congrats on your venture. Sounds like things are really happening for Fusion. From all of at Excelsior.....Best of luck to you and Fusion. See y'all around. Art

Congratulations on what looked like a great debut! From all of us at Excelsior, we wish you many more successful performances. See ya around! Again...congrats.

Yes it was a very good day for X! Not sure where they are coming from, but we picked up another snare drummer!!! That makes a REAL 8 snares!!!!! And that is 8 snares who can play...no BS! Add that to the new bass drummer and the new color guard member who attended yesterday combined with the 3 newbees from last rehearsal....and you have two back to back EXTREMELY successful rehearsals!!!! With the potential of three tenors and 5 bass drummers plus cymbals....OMG!!!! Look out!!!!

The way things are going...this Sunday is shaping up to be great! Cant wait. See ya all there.

Greg, You are right...The Victorian Stroll on Thursday in beautiful, historic Saratoga Springs, NY was a great night for us with a ton of interest in what Excelsior is doing this year. Today was another great day and yet another solid performance from our "Ever Upward holiday brass ensemble" at the Troy, NY Victorian Stroll. The crowds today were great and our recruitment team of Gary Baker and Dillon Mysliwiec were once again on hand talking to all the folks who were asking questions and showing interest in Excelsior. I am sooo excited for this full corps rehearsal on December 10th, at Shaker High School. If we can have another rehearsal like our last one...I am telling you...man we going to be HOT this summer!!! I personally invite anyone who is in the area and just a bit courious, to grab your instrument and come on down! Extra equipment will be on hand if necessary and we will have our full staff in attendance to continue to teach the amazing program we have lined up for this year! Get off the couch....the NFL is still early in the season and Ohio state is going to be national champs(we all know this!), so just come out and play...12 to 5 pm...when you break it down...it is only 300 minutes! And we even take a pizza break! Think of it this way...If nothing else, you'll get a great FREE lesson from our staff! See you there! Art

Here are a couple quick pics of Yesterdays open house. There are more to come and some video. Keep an eye on the website. www.excelsiordrumcorps.org Bob Bond teaches the corps the opening sets of the 2007 exhibition show. Drumline looks to be beefy again in 2007. Still looking for more... Joe Pero teaches the hornline...(25 horns sounds sooooo good!!! Still room for more horns too!)

At the risk of sounding like I am bragging...I must say....this will be, undoubtably, the best season yet for Excelsior. You NEED to come out to the open house, you will not want to miss this! Just come out and check it out! No strings, no guilt trips, just a good, clean, fun day of drum corps with great instructional staff and good friends! See you there.

Hello All! Excelsior Drum & Bugle Corps is currently recruiting brass players, percussionists and color guard people for the 2007 exhibition and parade season. We would like to invite you to come to our first rehearsal on Sunday, October 22 and our open house on Sunday, November 5, 2006. Please watch our website for more information. www.excelsiordrumcorps.org Some highlights and milestones of the corps’ two year history: 1) new, state of the art Yamaha marching percussion 2) full set of brass instruments 3) Brand new uniforms 4) Great performances! In 2006, the Troy parades, Pittsfield and Kingston’s DCA show stand out! 5) The corps has assembled a highly qualified staff to include Empire Statesmen acclaimed soloist and professional musician, Joey Pero; and DCA judge and Drum Corps Hall of Fame inductee, Bob Bond. 6) Also on staff for 2007, Greg Morgan as Percussion Caption head and Kristen Geswaldo as Color Guard Caption Head. 7) An entertaining and fun repertoire for 2007 Please see our website for more information on the above, the upcoming rehearsal schedule, and additional pictures of the corps. Feel free to contact the Corps’ Executive Director, Art Cornell at Director@excelsiordrumcorps.org or the Assistant Director, Lydia Plante at bluemuen49@yahoo.com. Thank you for reading! Hope to see you soon.

Although I do agree, it may not be the right place....however, it is genius! Way to go Chris, thinking outside of the box! I appluade your creativity and co-mingling of your career and your passion!

with the new season starting in just a few weeks, the corps is ramping up to have a great '07! Greg Morgan leading the percussion section Bob Bond heading up the visual package Joe Pero as brass caption head and arranger WOW!

will do Larry! We are very pleased to have Bob on board.

The Excelsior Visual and Performing Arts Association and the Excelsior Drum and Bugle Corps is thrilled to add Mr. Robert Bond, Drum Corp Hall of Fame member and DCA ensemble visual judge to the creative staff for 2007. Mr. Bond(Bob) has a distiguished career in drum corps...well lets face it...he has been there and done that! With a career lasting some 50+ years in the activity, Bob is the perfect qualified individual the Excelsior organization was looking for to head up the visual package for the 2007 season. Mr. Bond has been seen wearing quite a few different uniforms in his days as a marching member. Some notables include: Preston Scout House, Toronto Optimist, Jolly Jesters, Canadian Commanders, and the New York Skyliners. Later as an instructor, Bob was associated with the Markham all-girls drum corps, the Petersborough Kresendos, Lindsay Kavaliers, and the Seneca Optimists. Mr. Bond has held administrative positions as Director with the Greece Shoreliners and the Greece Cadets, and asst. Director and Business Manager with the Empire Statesmen, a position he held for 18 years, along side of his longtime friend, the late, great Vince Bruni. Inducted into the Drum Corps Hall of Fame in 2001, Mr. Bond was sponsored by Micheal Petrone(past president of DCA) and Col. Truman Crawford, USMC. Most recently Bob has been the Drum Major for the Mighty St. Joes Alumni, the 2005 Hawthorne Cabolleros, and the 2006 Empire Statesmen. Re-qualifing as a DCA visual judge in 2006, Bobs enthusiaum and passion for the activity is as strong now as ever. The Entire Excelsior organization is excited to add Mr. Bond to our team. Welcome Bob! Bob joins Joey Pero as the latest staff additions to the Excelsior family. Bob and Joey are both joined by Mr. Greg Morgan who has returned as the Percussion caption head/arranger again for the 2007 season. Excelsior is planning a great year.

It is with great excitement that the Excelsior Visual and Performing Arts Association announces the appointment of Mr. Joe Pero Jr. to the position of Brass Arranger and Caption Head of the Excelsior Drum and Bugle Corps for the 2007 season. Joe brings a great deal of experience, creativity and passion to the Excelsior family. The entire Excelsior organization is excited to have Joe on board. Mr. Pero’s current and past drum corps affiliations include the Empire Statesmen, The Genesee Quest, The White Sabres, The Ghost Riders mini-corps, Mighty St. Joes Alumni corps and the Hitmen mini-corps. A four-time DCA soprano individual champion, Joe’s playing credits also include the Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, Roberts Wesleyan College Wind Ensemble, Area All-State Orchestra, and All State Symphonic Band. He also appeared in several ensembles at the Juilliard School, the Manhattan School of Music, the New England Conservatory of Music, the Berklee School of Music, and has professional playing credit within the Boston Philharmonic and the Albany Symphony. Joe has also appeared on tour with Maynard Ferguson and the Maynard Ferguson Orchestra and has been instructed by Wynton Marsalis, composer, arranger, and recording artist. Joe currently is a consultant to the Bowling Green State University Falcons marching band where he recently visited as a guest artist and clinician. Currently residing in New Jersey/ New York City area, Mr. Pero is a full time musician and brass instructor/clinician/teacher. Excelsior is looking forward to the addition of Mr. Joe Pero Jr. to the creative team.

Chris, I am so very excited to see the great success of Frontier! The new uniforms are just stunning! Congrats to you and the whole Frontier family! These uniforms will greatly impact Frontier. When Excelsior purchased our new unis, the impact was just HUGE! Best of luck to you. Art Cornell Director - Excelsior drum and bugle corps

The future of Excelsior is most definitely going to be bright...but whether on the field of competition or touted as a great parade and exhibition corps next season, it is sure to be fun, a learning experience and an opportunity to make some great friendships that will last a lifetime. We extend a warm welcome to anyone who is interested. Please keep an open eye to our website for some very exciting announcements to be made in the coming weeks. Much like Arsenio Hall used to say..."Things that make you go Hmmmm", well these announcements are sure to be "things that make you go WOW!!!!!" AC

We are working on it....slow and steady will win this race. With serious intentions we look forward to the new year and beyond! Keep an eye on us. Watch us grow! Some of the things in the works are just amazing!

bumping crazy! stay tuned to www.excelsiordrumcorps.org for pics of the Kingston NY DCA performance. Art