Euphscott

VERY good day - and even better to do drum corps outside in November!

I'm thinking the corps was educational in nature over the years, thus they probably developed some pretty decent musicians and teachers along the way that know the Star way, but are not necessarily involved in teaching drum corps. I have no doubts they have plenty of bodies to get the job done. If you are not plugged into the DCA world you need to familiarize yourself with Star United mini corps - they seem to be doing just fine without Jim Mason running the show.

Vigilantes is "Something Borrowed...Something Blues." Details to follow...

Open house went well. We had a horn arc with 34 members in it with several returning vets missing for weddings, jobs, and so forth. The percussion turn out was about 10 - but those were all brand new as our returning drummers were all involved in the Lone Star Percussion competition which is a local drum competition that features all the area's finest. Color guard had about 10 as well, and most vets were unable to attend as well. Weather was smiling on us with clear skies and about 77 degrees, so we were outside for all of our rehearsal. It was a great day with a lot of new recruits. It was a good start. You never know how many of the new folks will return, but we got the word out and had a much better turn-out this year versus the year prior, so we feel good about our chances. The new staff was working well together and we expect they will make a big difference in improving our quality. Our show was announced Saturday - the title is "Something Borrowed, Something Blue." We'll send out information shortly including tune selections when I get all the particulars from the program coordinator. It was an exciting afternoon for Vigilantes. We have news about a partnership with a school district that will provide an amazing set of resources. More details will be released once we nail down a little more! We will be spoiled this season. We have some amazing talent in management and volunteers that have produced some pretty big results this offseason. Good start to the season in Texas - now the hard work can begin!

This sounds terrific - great choices Renegades!

The Vigilantes are happy to announce our Brass Arranger for 2010. We are pleased to welcome Brad Green to the team for the coming season. Brad Green began his drum corps career as a euphonium player for the Cadets of Bergen County in 1995. He aged-out as Drum Major for The Cadets in 1998, where the corps earned its seventh DCI World Championship title and Brad was presented with the Jim Jones Leadership award. From 1999 to 2004 Brad was a member of the theatrical production Blast! where he was conductor, trombonist, and euphonium performer. From 2001-2004 he was the brass supervisor/manager for the Broadway, Anaheim, and National Touring casts of BLAST. In 2004 Brad assumed the role of Brass Caption Head for the Blue Knights drum and bugle corps. In 2006 he joined the brass staff for the Santa Clara Vanguard drum and bugle corps; he then assumed the role of Assistant Brass Caption Head in 2007. In 2008 and 2009 Brad was Brass Caption Head for the Blue Stars drum and bugle corps. Brad is the Brass Caption Head for the 2010 Madison Scouts drum and bugle corps. Brad has served as an instructor, adjudicator, and arranger/composer for marching bands and drum and bugle corps across the United States. From 1995 to 1999, he completed course work for Music Education at the University of North Texas. In 2008 he earned his Bachelor of Arts with Honors from The New School University. Currently, Brad resides in New York City.

Vigilantes will reveal a show on Saturday at Open House.

We intend to bring the brass scores up to par with our fine percussion line. We miss ya Rich!

We are happy to welcome Brent to the organization!

I actually received Jolesch orders rather quickly. I have no beef with them. But the eternal wait for recordings from BVP seems a little inordinate - especially given the promised wait times.

Such a sad world where the Madison Scouts corps website is blocked by work filters as a Social Networking site! Although I guess in a way, it is...

Brass Techs have been announced. Wasey Herbort (sopranos and high brass) is a trumpet player from Dallas. He received his bachelors in music education in 2006 from TCU. His marching experience includes lead soprano with Lone Star Drum and Bugle Corps in 1998 and lead trumpet and soloist with the Bluecoats in 2002. Other musical experiences have been both in Texas and abroad with the award winning TCU Jazz Ensemble as the lead trumpet. In 2003 he performed with the group on a 2 week tour of Europe and participated in 4 international jazz festivals. The next year the TCU trumpet ensemble performed in Bangkok for the king of Thailand at the International Trumpet Guild convention. His teaching experience includes 2 years at Lake Dallas High School where in his second year as the head director he lead the band to its first division 1 rating at UIL marching competition. Brent Unger (mellophones and ensemble) is a native of East Texas and now lives in Austin. He attended Texas A&M Commerce as a music education major studying French Horn under Michael Morrow. In 1988, he was a member of Star of Indiana playing mellophone and was instructed by DCI Hall of Fame members Donnie van Doren and James Prime. Over the past 20 years, Brent has served as a clinician, consultant or instructor with a number of marching bands and drum corps including Churchill High School, Judson High School, Lone Star, Suncoast Sound, Gulf Coast Sound, Frontier, Austin Stars, and Blue Stars. He has been a marching band adjudicator for 15 years and judged for U.S.S.B.A. three of those years. From 2003 to 2005 Brent founded Music City Legend Drum & Bugle Corps in Nashville, TN and served as corps director, brass arranger and caption head. The corps won the DCA Class A high brass award in 2005. Brent was a member of the 2004 Star of Indiana Alumni Corps and will be performing with them again in 2010 at the DCI Championships in Indianapolis. Todd Modgling (baritones and low brass) is currently the head band director at Blue Ridge ISD. His responsibilities include teaching 5th – 12th grade band students. He is a graduate of Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, LA. Todd is a former marching member of The Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps and The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps. He has been on visual/brass staff with Revolution Drum and Bugle Corps, Teal Sound Drum and Bugle Corps, Texas State University Bobcat Marching Band, Seguin High School Marching Band, Parkway High School Marching Band and Wilson Central High School. He has been a clinician and instructor in 3 different states and is an active member of Texas Music Educators Association, Association of Small School Band, Texas Band Masters Association and Texas Association of Professional Educators. Corey Rom (contras and low brass) is a graduate of the University of Colorado in Boulder, where he studies with Mike Allen (Boulder Brass) and earned a Bachelor of Music in tuba performance. He also studied with Sam Pilafian (Empire Brass, Travlin’ Light) and Jim Thornton (former “Pres. Own” Marine Band Euphonium Soloist). Mr. Rom has toured with The King’s Brass for over 2 years. Prior to his time with The King’s Brass, Mr. Rom played with Central City Opera Company, in Central City, Colorado, The Colorado Ballet, Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra, and the tuba quartet called Eu-Tu. Mr. Rom also maintains a private studio teaching tuba, euphonium, and bass trombone and is currently the Music Assoc. at Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, TX.

The cost goes towards payment for the facility and the instruction potential members will receive.

Vigilantes Drum & Bugle Corps Open House Saturday, November 7th 12:00pm - 5:00pm Krum Masonic Lodge #1453 230 N. 2nd St. Krum, TX 76249 The Vigilantes Drum & Bugle Corps will begin its 2010 competitive season with an Open House on Saturday, November 7th, from 12:00pm - 5:00pm. Be a part of the Drum Corps Experience...Texas-Style!!! Open House will give you the opportunity to: Learn about the Vigilantes, a competitive all-age drum & bugle corps Hear details on Vigilantes' field production for the 2010 season Meet the Staff for the upcoming season Meet veteran members of the Vigilantes and ask them questions Get the opportunity to play on the instruments that Vigilantes will be playing on this season Plus much, much more Bring your mouthpiece(s), sticks, mallets, flags and rifles. There will be a $25.00 registration fee charged to each individual who is interested in marching in the 2010 season. (This does NOT include people attending in support of a potential marching member.)

The first design meeting with some of the staff was held last night. Show selection is down to 5 finalists. An announcement will be made on November 7th at our Open House. With any of the 5 chosen - you won't want to miss our production. Entertainment will be at the forefront of our production!

Congratulations - we know the hoops you must jump through, but its a necessary evil!

So long as you come visit us in July! :) We'll keep the pools open and the barbecue on the grill. Visiting MN in August is a blessing, I look forward to the power weekend again next year.

We keep hearing the nickname Animal tossed around - someday we'll have to find the right quantity of brews to bring out the true story!

The Vigilantes Drum and Bugle Corps of Richardson, TX are happy to announce the design team for the 2010 season. The staff comes in as a team familiar with one another’s work and looks to create a dynamic show. Holding the Program Coordinator title and leading the brass as caption head with the additional duty of writing the drill is Terry Pritchard. Terry began his performing career aging out with the Drum Corps International World Champion Star of Indiana. During his time at Star he studied brass under Donnie Van Doren and design under the late George Zingali and technique from Dr Len Kruzecki and Todd Ryan. Following in the footsteps of these great instructors, Terry developed a style that is innovative, creative and unmistakable. Terry Pritchard’s style has led to several world championships beginning in 1994 with the Chimeras Winterguard, WGI Open Class Champions. Terry began teaching indoor drum lines with Music City Mystique. This led to successful early years and multiple World Championships for Mystique while developing a young WGI indoor marching percussion activity. During this time he developed a movement technique that allowed for greater clarity visually. His technique has since been used by many groups across the country. Pritchard continued his performing career with the Tony and Emmy Award-winning show, Blast! As a cast member in the Broadway Cast he played Tuba, percussion and voice. Terry was also the visual instructor for both the North American touring cast and the Broadway Cast. Terry has been an instructor or designer for some of the best ensembles in the country. The list includes Star of Indiana drum and bugle corps, Carolina Crown drum and bugle corps, Spirit of Atlanta drum and bugle corps, Dutch Boy drum and bugle corps, Music City Mystique, Avon High School, Mission Viejo High School, Diamonds Indoor Percussion, Chimeras Winter Guard, Brentwood High School, Middle Tennessee State University, University of New Mexico, Dobyns-Bennett High School, and Science Hill High School. Staff Coordinator Steve Severance had these comments when asked about the addition of Terry to our staff: “I was excited to hear from Paul Rennick that a former work colleague from the Blast staff had moved into the DFW area and after an initial contact by Paul was interested in working with us next season. During my first meeting with Terry it was very evident that Terry has tons of experience, energy, drive and is a very unique individual all of which I know will be well received within the corps.” Also new to the Vigilantes this year is the Color Guard caption head and designer. The corps is pleased to introduce Antares Alleman to the corps. Antares is a performance veteran of the Sky Ryders Drum and Bugle Corps and Cadets of Bergen County (winning a DCI title in 1993 and high auxiliary in 1993, 1994, and 1996). She also served on administrative staff with the Cadets of Bergen County in 1997 and the Santa Clara Vanguard in 1998. She also has winterguard performance experience with Contempo Winterguard of Dallas, Allure Winterguard of Dallas, Escapade Winterguard of Dayton, OH (a WGI World Class Bronze Medalist in 1994, Silver medal in 1995 and voted WGI Fan Favorite for 1993-1995), and Ascension Winterguard of Houston, TX (WGI World Class Finalist in 1996). Antares’ instruction resume includes color guard and winterguard units at multiple Dallas, TX area high schools, Insignia Senior Winterguard of Dallas, High Schools in Georgia, Georgia Tech University, and Westfield High School in the Houston, TX area. She also serves as judge for WGI. Currently she is working on her dissertation while she teaches English at the University of North Texas in Denton, TX. Corps director Roger Treacher was also very excited to recruit Antares. “Antares once again was recommended, she has worked with some of the best DCI corps in a marching and management capacity, she lives local to our organization and today is very active with many successful local winterguard groups; Vigilantes is pleased to see Antares once again return to the drum corps world. Both Terry and Antares are very exciting for our organization they both bring with them lots of experience and passion and want to see a strong corps grow in the Dallas area and for sure they will take our organization to the next level of high quality fun entertainment.” Returning as the Percussion Caption Head, this year is Paul Rennick. Paul Rennick has served on the faculty of the University of North Texas since 1991 and is also Adjunct Faculty at Texas Christian University. Paul is a leading figure in the world of marching percussion and education, with a long history of successful students and performing ensembles. He has been a featured clinician at many Percussive Arts Society International Conventions, Music Educators Association Conventions, and many Percussive Arts Society State Conventions. Since 1989 he has also written and designed the shows for the 14-time Percussive Arts Society National Champion University of North Texas Indoor Drumline. He is currently the director of percussion for the Phantom Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps, named winner of the 2006 and 2008 Drum Corps International Fred Sanford award for percussion performance. Paul was a design team member, music composer/arranger, instructor, and percussion manager for the Tony & Emmy Award-winning Broadway production “Blast!” Paul is currently on staff as an artist/clinician with Dynasty USA, Remo Inc., the Avedis Zildjian Co., and a Signature Artist with Innovative Percussion, Inc. The Vigilantes are thrilled to add high quality designers and staff leadership for the 2010 season. The corps looks to improve upon on its status as a Class A finalist in its first season of competition. The corps aims to entertain while it achieves high quality on the marching field. The corps has begun its local recruiting pitch attending drum competitions, marching band festivals and will be seen at winterguard events over the winter. The corps will hold its Open House on November 7th and encourage all that have an interest in marching or being part of a dynamic organization in North Texas should come take a look. All details can be found on the corps website: http://www.vigilantescorps.org.

Good stuff Kilts - I am looking forward to seeing this show!

And having traveled to Minnesota to perform and compete in MN the last 5 years, the crowds in MN are amazing. The hospitality of the locals is a real draw as well. Flights in an out of Minneapolis are plentiful and the city has plenty of places to stay hotel wise and things to do. And that new stadium sure looks amazing. I know DCA is not quite ready to make this leap - but Minneapolis would be a wonderful location for the weekend events. I'd certainly enjoy that trip.

Good answer!

So which recording of Fire of Eternal Glory is better - studio or finals?

1996 Phantom Regiment was a thing of beauty. I'd also have to vote for 1987 SCV with Russian Christmas Music (love those contras!) and 1988 Blue Devils with Happy Days Are Here Again.

We all know that championships won't move very far from the power base until things change dramatically. However, a nod to those of that have to travel so far would be in finding locations that are easily accessible with air traffic. While buses can get to the out of the way places, when it takes a minimum of 24 hours to travel to championships by bus, it's just not a workable arrangement. The west coast and southern corps (and to some extent the midwest ones as well best I understand) can't bus it easily so we rely heavily on air travel to get to championships. Rochester has been a reasonable site, but the Scranton trip was not as comfortable. I personally chose Baltimore as my best option to get myself to the housing and competition sites. So while us non NE corps know we can't have the championships in our backyards, I'd plead that we hold them in locations where we can fly in easily and move about with less hassle!