DCW Insider: Buccaneers sail to success
by Jim Althouse, DCW staff
The Reading Buccaneers senior corps came within a point of winning the 2001
DCA championship, but the strong finish is not the only reflection of their
success, members said.
"It would be icing on the cake if we (had won)," said guard member Pam
Wildfogel. "But even if we were light years ahead of everyone else at
prelims and finals, the decision still falls upon the ladies and gentlemen
in the blue shirts and black pants. I donıt live by their (judges)
decision, I live by what my friends and I put on the field."
"We had a disappointing show Saturday morning" at prelims, said Al Maree,
Jr., corps director of development. "The corps was in agreement on that.
They came back Sunday night and just gave a great performance. Tempos were
up. There were no tears; there were a couple on Saturday. Tone in the horn
line was better, the percussion was crisper, there was more energy in the
guard. Overall, it was a much better performance."
The finals performance reflected the team attitude in the group. Wildfogel
displayed espirit de corps by giving up her chance to compete for a DCA
Individual and Ensemble title.
"I & E is one of my favorite elements of drum corps," Wildfogel said. "Itıs
where I, alone, am judged on my creativity, technique, and ability. My
friends canıt help me win a medal -- I must do that on my own."
Maree said it all points to another successful year for the corps.
A youthful DCA corps
"We were a very young corps," he said about 120-plus members. "Some of the
newer, younger players needed time to grow. The most rewarding and
successful part was watching those people grow and seeing the program come
together."
This year, that program explored the 20th century works of composer Leonard
Bernstein. According to their website, the show, "Portraits of Bernstein,"
attempted to illustrate the tremendous emotional range of the composer, and
re-introduced some "new classics" to their fans.
The young age of the corps and the contemporary music selections drew many
comparisons to a "DCI show," rather than the Bucs' DCA peers, who in many
cases perform music and drill from the old days.
"We're not trying to be DCI, we're trying to be the Reading Buccaneers,"
Maree said.
Photo by David Rice
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