Jump to content

Staff Merry-Go-Round 2019


Recommended Posts

51 minutes ago, Jeff Ream said:

Andrew Solomonson announced leaving phantom 

Full context

Well, a week has now past since the end of the 2018 drum corps season, and my time has been full of processing all of the experiences from this past summer with the Phantom Regiment. And while I could write a novel about the memories I had with this group of incredible members and staff, I will do my best to stay on point.

To all of the members of the 2018 Phantom Regiment, I speak not only as an instructor, but as a proud alum when I say that your performance last Saturday gave me the undeniable joy that only this drum corps can provide. Watching each of you standing tall at the end of your performance was the embodiment of all that our drum corps represents, and I simply cannot say how proud I am of each and every one of you.

To the staff, having worked with many of you for the first time this year, I have to express just how wonderful it was to get the opportunity to meet and collaborate with all of you. Truly one of the best experiences with a group of instructors that I have ever had; every day I was excited to meet, discuss, help each other, and do our best to help guide and shape some of the most talented musicians and athletes anyone could ask for. I felt very grateful to see amazing teachers in action, so thank you all!

Looking back on the last 17 years of my time in drum corps, one of my greatest privileges has been to both march and teach with the Phantom Regiment for 15 of those years. It has given me so much, and I will be forever grateful for the friendships and incredible memories that I have had during these years. There is simply no way to put it other than to say it has truly been my home. I wouldn’t have so many things that I cherish, most notably my beautiful wife and family, were it not for this organization.

With all of that being said, there comes a time when a person may recognize that a break is needed, and I believe that time for me is now. Therefore, I have decided to step down as the visual caption head for the Phantom Regiment. It has been a thrill and absolute honor, and for that, I must of course thank Rick Valenzuela for the opportunity to be a part of such a special organization. It has been one of the most rewarding challenges in my life, and I cannot say thank you enough.

I know the drum corps will continue to thrive and entertain in a way that no one else can, and although I will surely miss it terribly, I look forward to finally putting down my microscope and supporting the home team from afar.

SUTA!

  • Like 6
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Looks like Phantom is going to be undergoing a pretty huge overhaul this summer... again

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 minutes ago, kdaddy said:

Who other than the visual caption head is leaving?

I could've sworn I read on DCP that Schumann was leaving as well, but now that I'm looking through this thread and the Phantom threads, I can't seem to find it. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 minutes ago, justfoundDCP said:

Isn’t he the tour director? Who cares about tour staff?

Kids at Pioneer might care.

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, 1956OPR said:

Good examples.

Keep in mind that Phantom Regiment hired Michael Klesch to replace Jim Wren. Michael was the Brass Arranger in 1999 and 2000. His arrangements for the 2000 program Masters of Mystique - Dawn of Modern Music included Jeux by Debussy, Petrouchka and Rite of Spring by Stravinsky and, my favorite, Transfigured Night by Schoenberg. A true young talent.

'99 was Jim Wren's final year. Klesch arranged '00 and '01. 

He ran a fantastic ensemble rehearsal. Loved having him on staff in '00 and enjoyed the '01 show, immensely.

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 hours ago, Liahona said:

It's funny how many are talking about Mandarins meteoric rise into the top 12 with unknown staff...my question is WHERE was this unknown staff trained and by whom?

Key Poulan isn't an unknown commodity! 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 hours ago, mfrontz said:
 
 
 
STAR OF INDIANA, RECOLLECTIONS
by Bill Cook and Jim Mason

Seeing drum corps for the first time

        I first became aware of drum corps in 1979 when
Carl,  my son, wanted to watch the DCI Championship for a
high school band project.  I griped but he won out and so
the TV was turned on to Birmingham.   The corps that I
remember most was the Bridgemen; to me they were humor,
professionalism, talent, entertainment, all wrapped up in a
yellow package.  When the show ended at 1:00 a.m., I was
hooked and the following summer Carl and I went to several
shows--the most memorable was the championship at
Whitewater.  Phantom was incredible and I couldn't believe
that 15 to 21 year olds were making such wonderful music.
        Carl never considered drum corps while in high
school because he was a saxophone player, but during his
second year in college he decided that he wanted to try out
for the Colts.  After a tryout, he didn't think that he
could make it but was given a flugel horn, told to go home
and learn how to play.  By his own words, he couldn't play
much his first year but by the second year, he could.  The
marching was a foreign language to him and he considered
that he might be cut at anytime.  He aged out in 1984 and
stayed on as a staff instructor  through 1986.

Star becomes a reality

        After the DCI semi-finals in 1984, Bob Lendman and I
were crossing a street in Atlanta when I asked him, "Carl
just aged out of the Colts; what would you think about us
starting a drum corps?"  His answer was: "you're nuts!"
        I met Bob in the summer of 1981 when he appeared in
Bloomington with a huge white and blue semi equipment truck,
two sagging buses, and the "Blue Stars."  Bob had parked
this monstrosity on a sidewalk next to a fire plug and was
having a conversation  with a two off duty university
policemen. Earlier that morning, I had received a phone call
from the police chief telling me that some "drum" guy had
parked his semi in a no parking zone.   It seems that Bob
had convinced the police that the truck belonged on the
sidewalk and next to the fireplug but only after
considerable talking.  Suffice it to say, the truck remained
there until the Blue Stars and Bob left two days later.  Bob
and Allison Lendman have deep roots in drum corps; their
kids marched in Phantom Regiment and Bob later became
Phantom's director.  He had the fortune or misfortune of
getting two back-to-back 2nds in the World Championships.
To this day, he is sensitive to what happened.  I still
greet Bob with:  "hey Bob, have you got a second?"   He goes
ballistic!
        But back to the story in Atlanta.  My next question
to him was "who would you pick as director?"  He related the
backgrounds of several Midwest directors but in the end
said: "I would pick Jim Mason."  So off we went to find him.
Jim was standing by a Colts bus at the back of Grant field.
        After several minutes of pleasantries, I said to
Jim, "would you consider being director of a new drum corps
which would be based in Bloomington Indiana?"  His answer
was, "let me think about it and talk with Theresa (his
wife.)"  On the following Monday, I called and set up an
appointment for the two of them to visit Bloomington.
After seeing  my commitment to the project,  Jim said:  "You
now have yourself a corps director; I'll take the job."   He
didn't ask about salary or any details before he said yes.'

What a great read !!  Thank you

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...