August 2018 • Volume 47, Number 92018Drum Corps International ChampionsWhich one will it be?BO14172 DCW Spread.qxp_Layout 1 6/15/18 10:39 AM Page 1From Camp Randall to Lucas Oil, from the RoseBowl to the Citrus Bowl, it’s no wonder thatYamaha is the most trusted name in the marchingarts activity. Since 1984, drum and bugle corpsusing Yamaha have won an unmatched number ofDCI titles, High Percussion awards and High Brassawards. This season, nearly 50% of all corps havea Yamaha instrument on the field. They know thatif members can rely on their instrument, they onlyneed to focus on the performance. Whether it be a brass or percussion instrument, a drum set orelectronic keyboard, a speaker or mixer, a golf caror generator, more drum and bugle corps dependon Yamaha products than any other brand.Drum Corps Depend on YamahaBO14172 DCW Spread.qxp_Layout 1 6/15/18 10:40 AM Page 2THESE PRODUCTS AND MORE AVAILABLE NOW THROUGH ANY AUTHORIZED DSI RETAILER | VISIT US ONLINE AT DSHOWCASE.COMNEWSELITE RIFLESThe most durable and perfectly balanced rifle in the industry. Elite Rifles are the Official Rifles of WGI.DSI offers the most complete line of products for your color gaurd. Used by more drum corps, winter guards, high schools, and colleges than any other brand.Don’t be fooled by cheap imitations of the industry’s best selling color guard glove. The Ever-Dri gloves are the most durable and longest lasting guard gloves you can buy and still machine washable. Ever-Dri Gloves are the Official Gloves of WGI.EVER-DRI GLOVESEVER-JAZZ SHOESFlexible, stylish, and designed for dancers by dancers. All of the features of an indoor jazz shoe but made for outdoor use. The Ever-Jazz shoes have soles that are sewn on so they never separate away from the upper like other copycat products. Plus, the Ever-Jazz are 100% machine washable!FLAGS & ACCESSORIESDSI offers a full line of cut and sewn, digital, hybrid, swing, practice, and performance flags in a huge variety of colors and sizes. You can even design your own. ARC 1 RIFLEInspired by traditional Elite Rifles, this “non-weapon” alternative is great for strict school codes. Available in 37.5” length.EXCALIBURDSI strives to develop superior products that you can trust and has a long history of providing these products to the world’s top performers. Because of this, DSI is proud to have created the Official Rifle, the Official Sabre, and the Official Glove of WGI.BESTSELLER“Chris LugobyLearn more at: dshowcase.com/crossovershoeAvailable now from any authorized DSI retailer.Executive Director, The CavaliersFrom rehearsal to performance, the Crossover provides our musical athletes with the support and stability needed to perform at the highest level. These shoes are simply a must-have for your program!Support our advertisersn Yamaha Corporation of America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3n Director’s Showcase International . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-5n Dinkles/Upfront Footwear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 n Key Poulan Music . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11n KMC Publishing Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15n Bugles Across America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19n ChopSaver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23n Andalucia Musical Instruments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27n DeMoulin Bros . 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Long); contras, Cedarburg, WI (Ron Walloch); back cover: Madison Scouts, Madison, WI (Russell Tanakaya).Drum Corps WorldWe’re in the home stretch in what has turned in to be an all-too-short season for the junior corps . What began only five weeks ago will conclude in a week for DCI . The DCA season is a bit longer, but with fewer contests for the All-age segment of the activity .This has been an interesting ride so far, but as it has happened many times before, the final result at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday, August 11, is still up in the air . There are three or four corps that have a shot at the DCI title, but ALL the corps in both Open and World Class are continuing to work hard to achieve their highest possible position . It’s inspiring to witness the result of countless hours of hard work -- under often extreme conditions -- to bring their best efforts to the field next week . . . and not just on the turf, but through performances at the I&E events on Wednesday and both the SoundSport and Drumline Battle shows on Saturday morning and afternoon .To all the corps from far and wide, in every division and space, bring the 2018 season to a spectacular conclusion with the best you can provide fans who are in-person, watching on FloMarching or in theaters, as well as all-age and alumni corps participating in DCA events and at European shows during September .Now is your time to shine!Steve VickersCopyright 2018 by Sights & Sounds, Inc. in the United States and Canada. The logo for Drum Corps World is a registered trademark and is protected by all applicable laws. Material originally published in Drum Corps World (in print or on-line) may not be reproduced in any other publication or in any electronic medium -- in whole or in part -- without the written permission of the publisher, in advance. Drum Corps World is published on-line monthly, for a total of 12 issues, plus five weekly e-mail blasts during June, July and August, with additional show reviews and photography. This is a complimentary service provided by Sights & Sounds, Inc., a privately-owned Wisconsin corporation, dedicated to the distribution of news, photographs and feature material on the drum and bugle corps activity worldwide through publishing Drum Corps World, as well as graphic design and recorded products and implementation of printed materials. Drum Corps World is provided free through financial support from advertising placed by companies, show sponsors and corps worldwide, and through the sale of history books, CDs and DVDs. Please support our advertisers and thank them for believing in Drum Corps World!Statements or opinions of columnists, correspondents, staff members, advertisers or readers that appear in Drum Corps World do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher or owners.Notify of a change of e-mail address at least 10 days prior to the next issue release date by sending an e-mail with old and new address to: publisher@drumcorpsworld.com.Advertising specifications and demographic information will be supplied upon request. Information about advertising can be viewed at www.drumcorpsworld.com -- click on “Advertising” in the menu bar. A proposed advertising program can be provided by the publisher. Published by Sights & Sounds, Inc.Mailing and shipping address:4926 North Sherman Avenue, Unit HMadison, WI 53704-8443Madison office phone:608-241-2292 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM Central time, Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM Central time, Saturday/SundayProduct order line:608-241-22929:00 AM to 9:00 PM Central time, Monday - Friday9:00 AM to 9:00 PM Central time, Saturday/SundayWeb site:www.drumcorpsworld.comMadison staff:Steve VickersPublisher / Editor / Graphic DesignE-mail: publisher@drumcorpsworld.com608-241-2292 (office, Wisconsin) or 608-249-2590 (Steve’s cell, Wisconsin) Advertising sales: Jeff Collins 916-200-8151 (cell, California)E-mail: jcdrumman1@yahoo.com or The next issueAugust contents 8 • 07/28 -- Atlanta, GA, Russell Tanakaya 20 • 07/18 -- Peckville, PA, Jeff Ream 26 • 07/29 -- Winston-Salem, NC, Gary Dickelman 38 • The amazing world of drum corps, Brian Tolzmann 40 • 07-26-27 -- Johnsonburg/Sheffield, PA, William Aldrich-Thorpe 44 • 07/30 -- Charleston, WV, Kenneth Stultz 48 • Dutch visit Wisconsin, photos by Ron Walloch 50 • 07/28 -- Atlanta, GA, SoundSport inauguration of Mersedez-Benz Stadium, Michael Boo 52 • 07/19 -- Denton, TX, Lauren Vogel Weiss 54 • 07/31 -- Farmington, MN, Henry Kaynes 58 • 07/21 -- San Antonio, TX, Russell Tanakaya 68 • 08/01 -- Chester, PA, Bob Fields 72 • 08/01 -- East Troy, WI, Larry Denman 76 • DCI instructors summit brings together many creative minds, DCI/Jeff Griffith 78 • 07/22 -- Gloversville, NY, corps in photos 79 • 07/23 -- Salt Lake City, UT, corps in photos 80 • 07/23 -- Lafayette, LA, corps in photos 81 • 07/24 -- Denver, CO, corps in photos 82 • 07/25 -- Hattiesburg, MS, corps in photos 84 • 07/30 -- Centerville, OH, Kevin Gamin 88 • Spending a summer with the Bluecoats, part 3, Landry Kendrick 92 • 07/20-21 -- Bakersfield/Pleasant Hill, CA, Jim Claytor100 • Allentown DCI Chairman has 41-year history with the event, Larry Eckert104 • Heat-out in Belton, TX, photos by John Matter106 • From our photo archives The August 17 issue will be uploaded to the Internet on or before Friday, August 17 .July 28, 2018 -- Atlanta, GA . . . Aptly named, the new Atlanta Sports venue is branded after a very high quality automobile. The new facility is gorgeous and modern, just like the vehicles. While the facility itself is completed, I think some of the surrounding areas are still unfinished. This is my first visit to the stadium and I had no idea where to park. I ended up in a garage nearby. We had to walk through some construction areas to get to the entry door. I will say that in some large facilities where drum corps perform, the stadiums are underwhelmingly staffed, and it takes way too long to get inside. The Mercedes stadium was opposite -- lots of entry doors, lots of very nice staff and easy and quick to gain entry. There were even people directing us to our seats and oh my, so many snack bars open it was easy to get in and out of the seating areas after a quick trip to the food and beverage area. What a refreshing customer experience! I’m not sure if it’s just great Southern hospitality or a well-thought-out stadium experience. I have a feeling it is both and it was a pleasure to watch the DCI Southeastern Regional here in this brand-new venue. This is my 8th competition this season and the only one that I get to sit in the stands for the entire show. Since my last article was written from the field-level perspective, I chose seats up in the second level this time. It was so nice to see the high perspective, appreciate all the group moves and the precision of the forms, I was literally in heaven. The shows look much different from high above the field. While this point of the season is producing nearly perfect shows, you can’t hide a single form imperfection when viewed from these seats. When you’re on the field, you get to see individual detail and individual performance. You can hear small groups of horns playing, you can hear how clean the snare drummers play the beats and you can see individual sabers spinning high above your head. When you are in the second-level seats, what you see is the entire corps moving to the sidelines. You hear the thunder of the entire tuba section or the synchronized flags spinning in unison and the beautiful color as they are spun surrounding the brass line. At this height, you can’t see the individual mellophone players, but you hear how beautiful the intonation really is played. When a group is skilled dynamically, you hear the beautiful lyrical sound of a perfectly-finessed section and the thunder when the group approaches the sideline as one! There is no one seat in the stadium that gives you all of this. The answer is -- go to many shows, sit in varied locations. Because drum corps is so multi-faceted, you’ve got to see all of this to deeply appreciate the art. I hear that the television screen at the Mercedes Benz Stadium is the largest in any sports arena. I can believe it and with the contest being transmitted, there wasn’t a single form or move to be missed today. The stadium has some of the most advanced technology available, all keeping the guest experience a priority. I read that there are over 1,800 wireless access points so that you can use your smart phone while you’re in your seat. I know this is true, as I Facebooked throughout the evening. I used my phone so much, my battery ran out! Plan your season travel early next year and include the Atlanta stop on your schedule. The evening divided the 27 participants into three blocks, covering over nine hours of awesome entertainment. Following are the highlights of each block: Congratulations to SoundSport’s Impact (right, Chris DCI Southeastern Championship at new venueMercedes Benz Stadium!by Russell Tanakaya, Drum Corps World staff (r_tanakaya@yahoo.com)A Masterpiece of MarchingBeauty is in the eye of the beholder and for DINKLES®, a finely crafted marching shoeis the definition of true beauty.You might not think of a marching shoe worthy to exhibit in an art museum, but wesure do. DINKLES®, the only company dedicated to creating Masterpieces of Marchingfor bands across the country and around the world.1-888-dinkles • dinkles.comNext >