"Mitch Rogers is new to SCV," said Rick Valenzuela, Vanguard Director. "Currently, Mitch is known for his work with Plymouth-Canton High School, among others. His last experience with DCI was with The Cavaliers. Along with the new face, Mitch brings to SCV new and different ideas and processes. He's very excited to be a part of Santa Clara, just as are we to have him involved."

"My initial feelings when I accepted the position was awe and humility," Rogers said. "My first viewing of SCV on a rainy night in 1978 at Wheeling High School in Wheeling, Illinois stands out as one of the hallmark events of my early drum corps life. It was my first live viewing of a West Coast corps and although they didn't even wear uniforms during their performance because of the weather, they were still spellbinding. Since then, I have enjoyed many a drum corps epiphany while watching SCV.

"Working with the SCV design staff is a privilege I don't take lightly. The challenge of providing SCV's hard-working and talented performers with a show worthy of their efforts is a great responsibility. Finally, I'm excited by the opportunity to add to the legacy of one of the great corps of all time."

Rogers marched with The Cavaliers in 1982 and 1983. In 1984, he joined the Green Machine's visual tech staff until 1990. From 1991 to 1993, he was the Visual Caption Head. Mitch was the drill designer for the Cavaliers in 1994.

That's a long history with a top corps, and you'd think it would be tough to work with another top DCI corps.

"It might have been a few years back," Rogers said, "but it has been seven years since I was with The Cavaliers and I'm looking forward to the challenge of working with a different organization. I marched with The Cavaliers and taught there during their return to the top of the activity so I will always have fond memories of those years and of the corps. That said, the intensity and passion with which SCV goes about its business mirrors my own so I'm excited to be joining their team."

Weeks is excited about his new position, too, but the Vanguard tradition is nothing new to him. He marched in the corps and has instructed the brass line since 1996. Weeks is also the Assistant Band Director at Richland High School, where Bill Watson is the Director of Bands.

Watson, who has been on the brass staff since 1998, and the caption head for the last 2 years, will remain on the brass staff. Dean Westman will arrange the music again this year.

"Jed has been an integral part of the brass staff for the last six years," Valenzuela said. "The transition between Bill Watson and Jed Weeks will be seamless. Though they have different styles, they are both great teachers."

Rogers and Weeks both said their goal is to design a show that is in line with the Vanguard tradition.

"I've always felt that SCV produced shows of great passion, drama and emotion," Rogers said. He said that his experience designing shows for Plymouth-Canton High School has taught him some valuable lessons. "This experience taught me the importance of coordinating the design process through facilitating and managing communication between designers, keeping the process on schedule and most of all making sure all the designers are on the same page as they begin creating the show."

And while Rogers learned quite a bit from Cavies drill guru Steve Brubaker, Rogers knows SCV has its own style. "The SCV visual program is in the capable hands of long-time drill writer Myron Rosander and guard designer Rob Jett," he said. "They will keep the Vanguard true to its visual tradition."

Same goes for rehearsals, Weeks said.

"We will use basically the same fundamental approach to teaching and rehearsing as we have taken in the past," Weeks said. "Every year we modify a few details to become wiser and more efficient than the year before, improving from year to year the way we teach."

Weeks said that while he was very happy with how the horn line played in 2001, 2002 could be even better.

"We would like to become fundamentally stronger, working on individual as well as ensemble skills. One thing we started last year was a chamber music program implemented by the staff. This included solos and ensembles prepared by the members and coached by the staff members. The corps has always participated in Individual and Ensemble at DCI, but this was more for the members' education and enjoyment. We will do even more chamber music with the brass section this year.

"The brass section has really matured over the past several years. The individual players we work with have gotten better each year, and the level of musicianship being required of them has gone up with the increased complexity of our music. The fact that basically the same group of brass instructors have been with the corps now for six years really helps the evolution and maturity of the brass section, as well as the whole corps."

As far as the repertoire of the show is concerned, lips are sealed right now. They promise it will be entertaining, though.

"We really appreciated the fans this year and their support and appreciation," Weeks said. "And it was a lot of fun for the members. We always perform with energy and emotion, but it sure is easier to do that when everyone likes what you are doing. Through the years the corps has always entertained audiences with a wide range of emotions and heart-felt performances. I guess in that sense we will be doing 'the same old stuff.'"
Auditions for the corps, like many division I groups, are Thanksgiving weekend, November 23-25.


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