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jwillis35

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Everything posted by jwillis35

  1. My vote would have been for Star of Indiana 93, but I can certainly see 1989 Phanton Regiment as the winner. The show was an absolute treat from day one. I saw them in mid June in Ohio and it was just so obvious they were going to contend if not win. Thanks for posting the tournament.
  2. Fellinieque is without doubt the best performed show I've ever seen. It's pretty darn entertaining too. It may not be my most favorite entertaining show but in terms of overall performance it is the BEST I've ever seen from a drum corps. From the wicked opening fanfare to the gorgeous ballad, the carnival-like music, to the grand closer the entire music book was a masterpiece by Wayne Downey in his final year arranging for the A corps. The percussion writing to Wayne's arrangements is just stellar. The visual program and the guard design...I mean it's all just brilliantly done and performed. With DCI continuing to move toward shortened seasons I am not sure we will ever see something this polished again.
  3. Good analogy. This is very true of the top 12, top 15 corps. The music books are difficult. The visual programs are advanced. Recruiting is on a national level. Many of the top 12 corps are 75% or more college kids.
  4. Very true. First let me say I love what Bluecoats are doing. It's kind of getting back to what the original Bluecoats were formed for when they were operated by the Canton Police Boys Club. In regard to your comment I totally agree. Certainly over time drum corps was bound to change. I don't think the changes were done in some mean-spirited kind of way to exclude kids, minorities, and those who were less fortunate. It was more of an organic change that just happened due to many converging forces. Everything from rising costs, public school expansion in the Arts, more access to other types of activities, new laws on travel and insurance, and even the competitive direction and innovations of drum corps and band which required different skill sets that contributed to the costs and the exclusion of some from the activity. Competition itself can change a lot of things. You need kids with more music training and who have the physical abilities to perform the more demanding and innovative shows. That competitive push forces others to follow suit. Drum corps went from being local and regional to Marching Music's Major League on a global basis. The best of the best if you will. The performers and performances are fabulous but can only be done by corps with experienced musicians and physically-abled marchers. For many who do not have good local band programs -- or none at all, and who live in communities where these opportunities are limited or do not exist -- why would they bother auditioning for a corps that is looking for talented college kids? Consider that many of these shows are complicated and filled with music that requires the sensibilities and desire to learn complicated repertoire of this nature (Classical, Romantic, Contemporary, Jazz, New Age and on and on) that one gets from a good music education. It's nice to know that many of these organizations are taking a serious look at what their purpose should be. It's going to take money, but more local involvement in the community and more inclusion and diversity can only be seen as a positive for music/visual arts education and for drum corps.
  5. I have said this for many years about Blue Devils. Having the B and C corps, the Diabalo Wind Band, their music lesson program, Special Needs Guard, BD entertainment drum lines and guard stuff, and other educational clinics and projects that they run locally and around the state help them keep plenty of local/regional youth involved with the corps. That brings in local parents/volunteers who want to help with a range of things. They are well respected in their community. Years ago I was looking at one of the Concord, CA chamber of commerce websites and one of the first things you saw in the video they had posted was of Blue Devils. Yes, the A corps is a nice luxory but you are correct that it's all the other local things they do that keep them funded because they get lots of help from local people who love what they bring to the community. This is something many corps have not built, including The Cadets...sadly. I know they tried with YEA; and while I do not have all the answers I have heard they burned too many bridges...and of course they kept moving the corps and burning more bridges.
  6. I wish I had seen Anaheim Kingsmen in 1972 or 1974. Some people I know in the activity have said the 1974 corps was really paramount in pushing the activity forward in show design and musical arranging. Garfield Cadets 1984 at Finals. Saw them in Canada and Upstate NY that summer but really wanted to see the show at finals. Madison Scouts at Finals in 1988. I saw them early in Whitewater and knew then they would be top 5 when cleaned. Saw them again in Morgantown, WV in early August. They lost to Garfield Cadets by .1, but it was after that show that I felt they would very quickly wave "bye bye" to Garfield and push into the top 3. I really felt Garfield was a top 4 corps, even though scores were all over the place that summer; so with Madison closing in I had a feeling they could be top 3 -- but I wasn't sure they could beat BD or SCV. Really wanted to be in Kansas City for Finals. Phantom Regiment 2008 - did not see much in 2008 but to be there live would have been a treat. That crowd just erupted.
  7. I agree with you. I don't think he meant it in a harmful way. More of a "let's go back to the old ways" which is a type of discussion that many drum corps fans have had. I will say this...at least Madison Scouts still have a corps. I do not know anything about their organization so I will not comment on the politics or finances or the artistic direction of the corps. All I know is I love the corps. Always have, and I would hate to see them fold.
  8. I like that you are defending them a little here and I have no problem with that. I had a number of students who marched Cadets and all of them loved it. In regard to the food don't take the comments too personally. I think most folks on here know that food issues were very common with lots of corps back in the 70s and 80s, even into the 90s and 2000s in the DCI era. The students I know who marched primarily in the 90s and early 2000s always felt the corps ate well. There were other things they liked and some things they did not. They were all still glad they marched with a legendary corps. But just know that some of the things discussed here (food, finances, other issues) do not just relate to the Cadets. Everyone here knows that. There are lots of good people here who understand the difficulties many corps had in trying to run their operations and get down the road in the summer. This just happens to be a Cadets thread and with the corps going through legal issues at a time when their existence is in question I think it is fair that these things are discussed.
  9. This is sad, but it's the kind of thing that not only happened with Cadets but sadly with many corps. I have heard countless stories like this from back in the day. One of the problems is when people arrive to pick up a kid (for whatever reason) it could be a day when only techs are around running sectionals or something like that. Volunteers don't know what's going on other than what they are doing for meals and other things. The techs are often not aware of official decisions to send someone home (or the reasons), or they are notified late and are really too young to know how to speak with parents and discuss the situation. Hopkins was probably out and about at some Starbucks writing his "life notes" and not tending to real matters, and the coordinators and designers may not even be with the corps at that time...or only a few are and they may be doing other things (or sleeping until the early evening ensemble run throughs). Many corps back in the day and also in the not-too-distant past have not handled these things well.
  10. Nice post. I don't have any real numbers myself. The corps was founded in 1934 but how many of those who marched in the 30s and 40s are still around. I would imagine they still have a very large base of alumni out there but how many of them have real cash to spare? Many are likely retired on fixed incomes. How many of them walked away because of certain people in management? How many were put off by the constant relocation and name changes? When this current trial is done we have no way of knowing if there might be more. @Jeff Ream mentioned something important a few pages back that this was likely going to happen (Cadets going inactive and perhaps folding). After 2017-18 they managemed to band-aid a few things and hang around but the off-field issues with finances, lawsuits, and other legal issues were eventially going to catchup. Others have mentioned it, but trying to fund a corps solely on alumni dollars will not work...not unless you are lucky to have some sugar daddy with $5 mil to $10 mil who is willing to invest in the long-term health of the org. Even when Ted Swaldo invested into the Bluecoats to keep them from folding in 1984 he made sure to setup fundraisers, bingo, and other ventures that would keep Bloo alive and well for years to come. The Cadets org needs to hope they can come out of this trial with a zero balance and not be in debt too much. Then they need to put it to bed for a while. Trying to force a comeback would likely be a mistake. If there is hope for a comeback down the road a very serious effort will need to be made toward setting up operations and funding. You need people with time to spare and personal cash on hand to begin what could be several years of operational setup. What are the chances of this happening? If it were me and I had just enough cash to pay down any debt they have after this trial -- and if I had the time and the say so (which I do not) -- I would take whatever was left (uniforms and trophies) and try to make amends with the city of Garfield, NJ mostly for preservation of corps history. I would try to find a place in town where the corps history could be displayed. I would change the name officially back to the Garfield Cadets, with the city owning the rights to the name, and then close shop. If a group of alumni or business people wish to take up the challenge of resurrecting the corps they will have to work with the city of Garfield. Sounds bleak but at least the history is preserved and a very small "flag" is planted back in the appopriate resting place.
  11. Very true. I saw Garfield a few times in 1984. Once was at DCI Canada. They lost to Phantom that night. The Regiment was on fire that night so they deserved it, but all the talk was about Garfield because the show was so amazing. They just had a slightly off night. After the show I could see city buses picking up some of the corps and I wondered where the heck were their buses. Many years later I always heard from people how they were constantly having buses fixed and they were stranded on the road quite a bit. The corps was clearly talented and the show was near perfect design, so even with a 7th place percussion score they still manage to win. Just crazy stuff. If someone told you such a story you would say "no way could that corps win." But then you witness the show with your own eyes and realize...yes that show deserved to win.
  12. I agree with your assessment. So much depends on how this latest case is solved and the financial ramifications. Then you have to hope they don't get hit with another. As for the name of the corps I personally never liked "The Cadets." Too general. I liked it when they were Garfield Cadets. I didn't mind Cadets of Bergen County, and I love Holy Name Cadets. It would be nice -- if by miracle they make it back -- if they could work something out with the Most Holy Name church in Garfield for naming rights no matter where they headquarter the corps. As for coming back, let's face it...they will need some big donorship infusement. When it comes to instruments I don't worry about that too much. They could likely get a decent lease with Yamaha for brass and percussion. But that and tour dues from the members does not cut it. You need lots of cash for tour charters, trucks, housing, food, staff, management and a lot more. I remain optimistic...but that's just my heart talking. I know what my head is telling me. I enjoyed the article. The Cadets are certainly a history-rich organization that, to this point, lasted 89 years. It is very sad they have to miss their 90th anniversary. We are no longer sure there will be a 90th season. Their history with DCI is certainly engrained into the hearts and minds of DCI fans who fondly remember their innovative shows, the catchy moves (Z-pull, Appearing-Disolving-Reappearing Company front), the Championships, the near misses, and the head-scratchers. Many fans can still remember just how much of a game-changer their 1984 show was, and not just for DCI. That show changed H.S. Band, College Band, and its effect reverberated world wide. Many current instructors today -- judging from the podcast I heard over the Pandemic -- still gush about their 1985 show. They had a major impact on the marching arts activity in the 80s and 90s. They have a glorious past, too, having won 10 American Legion national titles to go along with many regional victories pre-DCI and during the DCI period. Keeping my fingers crossed.
  13. I agree, judges are pretty good assessing these corps. I suspect SCV will be quite good. I think a lot of talented musicians and auxiliary are very interested in bringing the corps back to top 5 status. Can't wait to see what their show will be.
  14. All I know is I LOVE that feature. Great show by SCV in 1984.
  15. I like Cavaliers chances. That percussion line alone got a standing ovation from me when I saw them in Pittsburgh. I enjoyed all the music they played but it was the busy arranging in some cases that likely got them in trouble when trying to lock that in with their visual program. Early season I thought if they could tweak and edit the show while cutting the fat that they could be top 6 or higher. But it's hard to put your finger on what. I couldn't do it so I am definitely not throwing any shade at the staff. Fine-tuning a show at that level is not so easy. We admire when Blue Devils do it, and we always assume they will, yet we sometimes fail to realize just how difficult the process is. Having said that the Cavaliers show hit me very differently when I saw them live. I loved it for the most part. I'll be rooting for them.
  16. True. In 1982 Dr. Santo was the Executive Director of the Cadets. But because the incident happened on New Year's Eve of 1982 it could be that GH had taken control of the Executive Director by then. I believe Dr. Santo handed the reigns to Hopkins after the 82 season. And yes, YEA did not exist until 1988. Either way, I do believe the accuser has every right to get what they deserve and sadly that means the current organization must pay up and try to get good legal help to make sure the settlement does not cripple the corps for good. I think New Jersey did the right thing by allowing this case to move forward and I feel for the victim (and other victims) of the assault. We all knew that today's Cadets were going deal with many cases from the past. That getting rid of GH and the old BoD was not the end. I don't even know if the law suit with GH has been settled. Maybe someone has that info. There could be other cases coming. We will be lucky if this corps makes it back. And it's my favorite corps of all time. As much as I love Bluecoats, BD, Crown, Madison and all the others. I was a HUGE Garfield / Cadets fan and remain so to this day. It's sad enough they don't get to march in 2024 for their 90th Anniversary. NINETY YEARS is a BIG deal! Will we ever see it? sigh... 😞
  17. I have definitely seen that commercial a bunch of times and kept thinking Bluecoats 2022 and the music they use when the wheel runs over the brass line. Cool music for sure. Leave it to Apple to find this music and make it work in their commercial.
  18. I know, I messed that up...even though I was only joking. And of course now The Cadets are out for this coming season. 😞 But yes, Boston is one of my favs and I loved their show last year. In reality Boston will be top 2 to top 4 without a doubt. The top 4 from last year should be the top 4 this year. I don't see that changing even with SCV back (we think).
  19. These are my predictions and I stand by them (sort of) 🙂 Carolina Crown The Cadets (I can dream) Blue Devils (love BD and I know I am likely wrong here) Mandarins Madison Scouts (yes, I am crazy but it's what I want darn it) Bluecoats Phantom Regiment Tie: Cavaliers & Troopers (10th place) Crossmen (11th) Santa Clara Vanguard (12th) Blue Knights OK, in reality I have no clue. Wishing all of them a successful offseason and much health financially.
  20. Amazing man, incredible legend in the drum corps activity, his marching band charts were first rate, and his concert band pieces were outstanding. His Troy University bands were incredible. There probably is not a band director in this country who has not conducted several of his works or arrangements. He wrote or arranged so many good DCI shows. I think my favorite is his 1985 A Florida Suite. HIs Les Miz for The Cadets in 1989 is top shelf. As Bocook noted in the DCI Artcile his 1988 score for Suncoast changed the activity and the other arrangers took note. We lost this man way too soon. 😞 R.I.P.
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