Phantom Names Shaw Brass Arranger
by Chris Hollenback, DCW Editor
In a slightly surprising move to many in the drum corps community, Phantom Regiment has hired J.D. Shaw as its brass arranger and caption head, replacing Michael Klesch. Klesch was popular with members for his professional approach and with fans for the corps' powerful, articulate brass sound on tunes like Festive Overture.
"It was an emotional decision," said Pat Seidling, who recently took over as Phantom Corps Director for John Baumgartner after Finals. Seidling was the tour director in 2001. "(Klesch) is a wonderful teacher and a great guy," Seidling said. "It was a difference in approach to teaching the horn line."
"I felt a change was necessary due to philosophical differences," said Dan Farrell, show coordinator. "I have very strong views of what the Phantom Regiment is and where it is heading."
Shaw is a full time french horn player and arranger for the Boston Brass performance ensemble. He earned his Masters in Music Performance at the revered Eastman School of Music and toured the U.S., Europe and Japan with such orchestras as the Vienna Philharmonic and has been an award winner at the M.T.N.A. National Recital Competition. He arranged for the Boston Crusaders and instructed their horn line in 1999, and is an alumnus of the Sky Ryders and Phantom Regiment.
"I am very excited to be back with Regiment," Shaw said. "My time with the corps, both on an instructing and performing level, was quite rewarding. I have missed the people and traditions that make up such a strong organization.
Photo by Richard Wersinger
"The Regiment sound is a sound that I feel is colorful and rich and I would only strive to improve on that wonderful tradition. This will be done with a diverse brass staff of talented and organized individuals who are strong educators and solid performers themselves. The team that will be put in place will offer the marching members individual instruction, musical examples, positive motivation and an all-around wonderful summer."
Farrell agreed that the Phantom brass sound won't change much.
"J.D. and I both view the Phantom Regiment as 'symphonic drum corps,'" Farrell said. "One that strives not to sound like a wind ensemble, but communicates the power and emotion of a symphony orchestra within the visually intense context of modern drum corps. This is a vision we both share with Brian Mason (Phantom Percussion Arranger), who has been creating a wonderful blend of drum corps and symphonic percussion for years."
Shaw said he will teach the book and go on tour, too.
"My schedule is very tight with Boston Brass," Shaw said. "But I have managed to clear out time to attend a couple of camps, the first two weeks of summer and the last two weeks leading into Finals. I will, also, try to attend a regional or two."
Farrell said that has people in the organization feeling optimistic.
"His arrangements for Boston Brass -- as well as his marching arrangements -- are terrific, and through the discussions we've had thus far, I know that we're in for some very exciting times here at the Regiment. We've had some intriguing discussions about where drum corps and the Phantom Regiment are headed, and the role that brass, and music in general, should play. He has told me that arranging for the Regiment is something he has wanted to do, and the time is now right."
There has been much debate in the activity about whether corps should design their shows for the judges, fans or for sheer difficulty or originality.
"I believe that moderation and balance of all of the afore-mentioned elements is crucial to be successful in this activity," Shaw said. "Focusing show design towards only one of these groups is a bit irresponsible and tends to leave the members with a product that is a bit one-dimensional. I also have an enormous amount of respect and faith in our program coordinator, Dan Farrell. He has successfully proven time and time again that he can bring all of these concerns into perfect harmony (pardon the pun)."
Shaw said he does have a competitive side, but will handle that issue with grace.
"I believe that if you educate the marching members properly then they have no choice but to be successful within the competitive atmosphere of DCI," he said. "Quite a bit of a corps' success in DCI is based on a quality show design, so the onus of competition lies, in large portion, on the design staff. In terms of members, the only aspect of competition that I would want them to be concerned with is competing with themselves. If solid goals and expectations are clear, then the members will compete with their own standards, rather than with a score or placement, other drum corps, etc."
Shaw said his drum corps experience was a key to his future professional career.
"The most important education that I received from drum corps was striving for perfection and not allowing myself to settle for second-best," he said. "I was blessed with having some of the best instructors and teachers in the activity. Also, performing for a crowd of 30,000 was a bit addictive and I am never happier than when I am on stage performing for live audiences around the world.
"I haven't been to the 'Show of Shows' (in Rockford) since 1994, but am looking forward to the 2002 edition."
Phantom Regiment at DCI Finals in Buffalo, by Ron Walloch
Subscribe to DCW
|
