DCI 2026 IMPORTANT DATES for SUMMER TOUR

[Jeff Ream]

50 minutes ago, RiverCityAndTroopersFan said:

 

 

STATEMENT FROM THE CENTERVILLE BAND BOOSTERS:
“For 45 years, drum corps fans have supported a show in the Miami Valley that has brought some of the world’s top talent in the marching activity to Centerville, Ohio. The Centerville Band Boosters (CBB) started Soaring Sounds in 1980, which was led at the time by band director Wayne Markworth. That legacy and tradition lived on through the current organization, and had become a staple of the Drum Corps International (DCI) summer tour schedule. It has also served as one of the cornerstones of the CBB operating budget, along with our fall marching band competition (Centerville Invitational) and winter drumline/colorguard competition (MEPA). The relationship between DCI and the CBB has always been strong, and we had reached a mutual agreement in 2018 that allowed a partnership between the two organizations. That relationship lasted through the COVID-19 pandemic, and the past few years have been some of the most successful shows that we have had since 2020. 

 

Earlier this fall, DCI proposed that the date for Soaring Sounds in 2026 be moved to earlier in the summer, around the weekend of July 10th. The idea of getting the show away from our summer band camp, as well as hopefully drawing a bigger crowd on a weekend was enticing, and we agreed to move so that there would not be a conflict with another drum corps show held in Cincinnati in late July. However, once individual drum corps began making their summer schedules, many of them dropped out of the show in Centerville due to long travel distances, and the need to stay more local. The decision to cancel Soaring Sounds for 2026 was made unilaterally by the DCI staff, with zero input or conversation with the current band director, Brandon Barrometti. An email was sent notifying us of the decision to cancel early Wednesday morning, and by noon that same day, the DCI Summer Tour schedule was posted, without Centerville being listed. It was not until after the fact that a conversation about the decision could be had, but by then, there were no options presented to us.

 

We understand that drum corps fans across the country have many opportunities to attend shows in their communities. However, those opportunities are becoming more limited as DCI looks to shorten the summer tour, and corps are building their schedules around performing in weekend shows at large university and professional stadiums. It is only a matter of time before small, locally-run shows are a distant memory. If you are interested in supporting the Centerville Band Boosters and helping us fill this unexpected financial loss we will experience this coming summer, we hope that you could donate the cost of what you would have spent on tickets to Soaring Sounds directly to our organization. To donate, please visit: https://centervilleband.square.site/general-donation

 

If you would like to voice your concerns directly to DCI, please contact Eric Hjellming at ehjellming@dci.org.”

 

oh i feel bad for the guys email box. not a good look for DCI thats for sure.

[keystone3ply]

10 minutes ago, Jeff Ream said:

oh i feel bad for the guys email box. not a good look for DCI thats for sure.

 

[oldbandguy]

This is NOT the way to treat an organization that has been a great supporter of DCI for the past 45 years.  Very disappointed to hear this.  Would love to hear DCI's reasoning...not on whether the early July show could be held, but why Centerville was not involved in that decision and, according to their statement, why were they notified via email...not even the courtesy of a phone call.  Sorry DCI, this is no way to treat a show host of even ONE year much less a host of FORTY-FIVE years.

[Jeff Ream]

5 hours ago, oldbandguy said:

This is NOT the way to treat an organization that has been a great supporter of DCI for the past 45 years.  Very disappointed to hear this.  Would love to hear DCI's reasoning...not on whether the early July show could be held, but why Centerville was not involved in that decision and, according to their statement, why were they notified via email...not even the courtesy of a phone call.  Sorry DCI, this is no way to treat a show host of even ONE year much less a host of FORTY-FIVE years.

you won't unless this gains serious traction on social media....and DCI unless they've got ironclad proof proving they are in the right, they'll hide from.