BariBrian Posted December 31, 2009 Author Share Posted December 31, 2009 Love you Brian !!!! Thanks Donel, but be careful. Don't wanna make your Hubby Jealous =) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ereese Posted December 31, 2009 Share Posted December 31, 2009 Great post Greg.FYI: Greg was the only person to march with the corps from day one to day last. That's what is was all about. I'm sure that Greg had many opportunities to march with one of the "Big" corps,but he stayed to the end. To Mr Reese: You pretty much nailed it on what the corps was all about. I also want to let folks know that Jeff Perkins not only gave his heart and soul to the corps but back in the day but was also one of the most well respected Directors in all of Drum Corps.Jeff's dedication and skill not only kept the Avant Garde in business despite the tough times all corps faced,he was also sought out by many other corps, some of them "finalist" corps, for advise and direction. He did so much with so little. P.S. to Mr. Reese... 2 of the best 2nd place corps on the field at 1975 NY States Phoenix and Avant Garde. We both lost the show, but won the crowd! jerry Jerry, Amen with the '75 States......Good memories. Eddie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ereese Posted December 31, 2009 Share Posted December 31, 2009 What has it been almost 25 years? At least 25 years since Avant Garde folded, 27 if you are a Volunteer. When the Vols & AG merged back then, it was for the preservation of a Junior Drum Corps. Two groups coming together because drum corps as WE knew it was everything to us. For some it was our lives, where we played, sweat, learned, fought, grew… loved. Some of the best years of our lives were dedicated and committed to each other, to the CORE making it better each year becoming more and more competitive we grew older, and as we matured, so did the corps. Never really realizing that, that which we worked so hard to save was not being carefully preserved… Preserved through our own involvement with educating new people who would go on to enable the corps to survive… And so… it did not and In 1986, the last Drum & Bugle Corps in the Capital District closed its doors on an era that would end its future here. Sure some folks of course, attempted to bring it back not a junior corps this time but rather an all age corps. Why ? Because, those who loved and knew drum corps were older now but alas it never really hung on, corps' died out almost as fast as they came up. In 2004 a group of folks decided to give it yet another try A mix of personalities both young and old, some with DCI experience, some Alumni and DCA experience, hoping to some how join their bond into yet another all aged drum corps. This time setting their sights on only parades, exhibitions and an easy schedule. This turned out, 36 horns several drummers, Honor and Color Guards. The Problem ? The Corps and its staff were on different pages. Some thought compete while other well… just wanted to have a good time and that was o.k., but again not on the same page. Those who wanted to compete left. It was time for direction and well, not everyone can be a Jeff Perkins or John Rustin, If you get my point. They say,” Leaders are not born, they are put there by those who would be lead by them” and in June of 2007 Excelsior changed hands. Now under new management (AG style) the goals changed and it was time to compete… to once again bring competitive drum corps back to the Capital Region. An opportunity to not only give the mature a chance to do what they loved but, to give youth an opportunity to perform, have 20-40 hours/month of music education, build character, leadership skills, discipline and confidence. I know I don’t have to tell YOU what drum corps is. The problem is… that in our day we did not have to contend with the internet, XBOX, heavy sports schedules, WGI etc. etc. The worse part is... in today’s society to obtain a music scholarship would be far more easy to accomplish then a sport scholarship, so what are they thinking??? Why is drum corps so dehydrated in the Capital with all the talent in this area ? Why is it that a kid will do 4-5 hours of football, but cant last 5 hours in a drum corps rehearsal. Is what we do that much more challenging? Have we not taught our kids to have more tenacity then that? Last year a staffer said to me, that it was up to us to make the rehearsal interesting and fun. Exciting enough to want to return. Although an interesting concept, I don’t believe that is the entire problem. Have you ever noticed when you go into say… a Yankee Candle shop that even though you know what a candle is, how is smells you still need to touch, feel and smell them all AGAIN, How impressive it is, all those candles lined up so neatly... As I do every year, I attended another drum corps’ rehearsal. I brought my 15 year old son, this time, a soprano in Excelsior’s line. I paid more attention to how much fun and or interaction I had and really there was no real difference between them and us. In fact, my 15 year old said, he thought we were more disciplined and that is saying a lot. However, HOWEVER… he was jumping up and down excited and ill tell you why. “IT IS ALL ABOUT SIZE” This line had 65 + horns and let me tell you … it looked good, felt good and smelled good. So there you have it. The real answer to the lack of success in this area, not enough folks dedicating their time to their own back yard. They travel 3-4 plus hours to make some other city some other state more prosperous in drum corps. Bringing their “brick” if you will to someone else’s wall. Never willing to build the foundation of drum corps here, right next to all the people they have marched in drum corps with before. Drum Corps in the Capital, needs your HELP. YOU… those of you who are still here, still here, not doing drum corps at all for that matter. I know, too busy, kids, work, wives, husbands etc. I know I’ve been there too, In my mind. Who knew that “all age drum corps” would be easier to do then that which I remembered. Who knew that now I could include my loved ones and that as a family... we could all do this thing that I loved and was so a part of me. Happily my family was more interested in getting to know a part of me they did not know about before. They supported me and helped. We have great family outings now, which we did not always have before because, we would choose to work on the house or they would go hang with their friends play XBOX internet whatever… Now we ....together, grow confidence, spend time together and yet have time apart making new friends while still building a common goal. I am 43 now. Through drum corps and because of drum corps I have become a strong and independent person. Continuing to learn skills , growing my family as well as other’s and in all that, drum corps has brought back to me the other love of my life Greg Mataruga ...WHO WAS AVANT GARDE As most of you know he was one of the soloists for Avant Garde and when the Vols & AG merged we met. Today, 25 years later, we are together again and we are now married. Now together we embark on this adventure called Drum Corps . In 2009 Excelsior stepped foot on the competing field – an historic event for the Capital Region. Armed with Avant Garde in our blood a much bigger staff for the 2010 season, Excelsior’s goal is to become more competitive so that we too will look good, feel good and smell good to new on lookers in order to preserve this thing that gave us a start to most of our lives. Help us to really jump start this, what ever that means for you. Marching, helping, supporting, teaching, recruiting – what ever you are capable of. Greg and I ask you to help us out in 2010, To not only compete, but to become competitive and pass on the legacy that WE were all apart of creating …. DRUM CORPS Mrs. Greg Mataruga Director - EXCELSIOR Drum & Bugle Corps Avant Garde Volunteers Drum & Bugle Corps excelsiordrumajor@gmail.com Donel, I wonder if Excel. ever toyed with the idea of putting some of the AG charts back on the field. I know in today's world it might not sell with the judges, but the peeps in the seats would dig it. Anything from their Funny Girl stuff, Hill where the lord hides, Don't Cry Out Loud, And the Angels Sing, are just some of my faves. Just saying..... And Congratulations on the nuptuals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoods59 Posted January 3, 2010 Share Posted January 3, 2010 Another former AG member that I marched with in Loyal Order winter guard is Johanna Montgomery. She lives in North Carolina now. You can find her on Faceback, with the last name of Denny. The Keck twins grew up on the same street that I did. Good guys from day 1. Kudos to Jerry - he was indeed a fine drum major that put everything he had into the shows I saw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THEEXCELSIORDIRECTOR Posted January 3, 2010 Share Posted January 3, 2010 We did actually think about it - we are fans of the Danny Lutz charts - Al DiMeola , the ELO stuff Piano Concerto - Egyptian Danza etc. We need another themed show under our belts tho before getting eclectic on the crowd. We're not yet worthy ---- ha ha ha . The current staff is really high on having a Jazz book some day - So we are working the skills now and hoping to really make some great strides in the next season. Donel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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