Brian Tuma

It almost qualifies as an EPA superfund site. As it were... I'm most intrigued by the Blue Stars' new brass arranger. I'm curious as to how his extensive background in percussion arranging will transfer to brass in regards to timbre and voicing.

I'm not adverse to a couples theme if it's done in the spirit of their Houdini or To Build a Home shows. Those had some subtlety and an organic flow. I think they maxed out that theme with those two great shows. My thoughts are the staff realizes that and I have faith they'll come out with something fresh in '18.

It's not the college start date that would be the conflict. It's the marching band tryouts.

This seems like a bold choice given his extensive background in percussion arranging. I'm intrigued.

I didn't. Now I have a ride cymbal ear worm. Thanks. Lol

I found this to be a good listen. FYI Kurt Ollmann (Riff) was a professor at my alma mater. http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2017/09/07/west-side-story-leonard-bernstein

See Icer's response. That seems more likely.

Are you sure they left because of Cadets? Did they tell you that's why they were leaving? People leave for a variety of reasons that have nothing to do with the corps on the field. Maybe they were heading out to meet some friends who had already performed.

In scrolling through the finer points of PR's 2018 audition info I noticed they are auditioning both females and males for guard.

Yep, GH did that ALL on his own.

I normally don't care who wins but I always want my favorites to do well. My exception was the '96 Phantom Regiment when I predicted to my friends in June of that year that they would win. I was laughed at so of course that made me pull all that much more for them.

Troopers transition from the tango into Puccini. Thanks Mr. Smith and a pretty darn good brass line.

If they were to ever come out with a full corps or close to it, watch out!

This is also informative in what it does and does not say. Two of the board members are also on the administrative team. There goes any accountability! No biographies of any board members. It gives the impression of being very insular. They need to modernize their BoD before anything else. https://pioneer-corps.org/staff/administration.html

https://pioneer-corps.org/about/mission-statement.html

Yet the creative staff was, well, creative in naming the show Irish on Broadway to work around that (him).

Out of curiosity, what is the appearance fee for a world class show? Is there a base fee but some shows pay out more? Pio appeared in 25 shows according to Corps Reps.

Oh my gods. The cultural misappropriations would be non-stop.

I'm surprised no corps has explored that. That genre shouldn't be solely Pio's.

I had no problem with seat poachers until the encore which doesn't usually bother me, although... the guy who did it was big into "manspreading". If you're going to horn in on a vacant seat, mind other's personal space. I had to tell him to stop poking me with his elbows.

Music of Bernstein? Lol. Good luck with securing rights to that.

2017. What struck me most about it was the seemingly effortlessness of it. The lead trumpet just stood back on the staircase all relaxed and confident and tastefully wailed over the ensemble. Remember BITD when sops would lean back and nearly herniate themselves? Yeah, I like BD's approach much better.

I was actually wishing for more high end this season.

For an arranger who has been at it since the 1970's he sure has remained fresh and relevant. Bocook and BK are a great fit. They're encouraging each other to be at the top of their game. It's a very special collaboration.

I had the honor of being in the company of two 80+ year old ladies who were experiencing their first DCI show. They were blown away and loved every minute of it.