< Previousconcluded when they got their main jailbird back to her man, ending in a loving embrace and a kiss. Blue Diamonds (right) from Nienhagien, Germany, were introduced and performed “The Other Side.” This was a show dedicated to the fact that everything has two sides. They began with a set of props lined on the 50 dividing the field in half with the entire corps starting on side two. This group had the largest horn line of the day so far. The props were used in a most effective way, dividing the field vertically, then diagonally and then horizontally, but consistently transforming the field into two halves. This jewel of a corps looked to impress the judges with advanced percussion. At one point, they reintroduced the bass drums by turning the props while they played from the other side, which was thematically creative. This undoubtedly assisted the audience on where to focus their attention. I would be remiss not to mention the competition was run as smooth as silk. From the opening of prelims to the end of finals, the team of announcers -- Alan Thompson in English and Jo Weerts in Dutch -- did a masterful job with the flow from one corps to the next, welcoming each and every ensemble to the field of competition with equaled enthusiasm, as well as adding drama and suspense in the periodic announcement of prelim scores as they became available. Their love of drum corps radiated from the work they did and permeated to their fellow staff of volunteers. Just to mention a special indispensable few are Bert van Maaren, Femka Goedhart, Henry Jongen and especially Rob van Koningshove, chairman of Drum Corps Europe, who administered a flawless championship.Next up in competition were Starriders (left) from Bad Münder, Germany. The show was titled “Hands,” the love of one’s hands and the amazing things that they do. The corps clapped their way from eighth to sixth position in the finals. The Pat Matheny tune First Circle was especially delightful as the guard work by Gloria Owusu-Fordjour and Rafael Q. Warner enhanced the visual presentation that Dennis Engel most aptly provided. The pit, arranged on-field, stationed in the backstage of the corps, gave closure to the presentation as well as provided depth of field. Telling a love story is not easy unless you have love in your life and it was obvious this guard truly has love for the game as well as for the time they have spent in order to develop this level of skill. Their silks spoke volumes. They floored the audience when the multi-talented percussion section displayed their versatility by using flags themselves. The unit had an excellent balance of style, talent and performance level. They also communicated clearly throughout the show without any lapses. One of their members was overcome with exhaustion in the prelims, but she recovered for finals.Arriving next on the field after touring the United States competing with Drum Corps Associates was Cadence (left) from Guildford, Surrey, U.K. “I AM nature” was the theme and their nature-inspired, colorful uniform had a pattern that matched every aspect of their show -- green forest, soil, water, flower,and Earth. The goal of the show was to raise awareness to be kind to Earth because nature can exist with or without us. The circular props that served as mobile mini-stages were utilized well as members of different sections were elevated on them. It was evident that they matured during their tour in the U.S. Their level of professionalism showed through with sophistication. Cadence had one of the best marching horn lines of the day. Matching their uniforms to their props also extended their theme. Next we spent “A Day in the Life” of New York with Spirit of 52 (below) from Rastede, Germany (below). This corps’ marching was superior. As they told their story of the second largest metropolis in the world, their cleanliness and accuracy was shining through. The irony is that, much to the credit of this unit, the NYC where I grew up is definitely not this clean. Their version of Harlem Nocturne was emotionally involved as they related to their script. Spirit of 52 possessed a balanced attack –- each section carried equal weight without outdoing the others. Their show featured a variety of music, playing some pop, some jazz, something smooth, something brassy, moving from one idiom to the next with equal sensitivity. Most enjoyable was the moment in Central Park when the flugel horn soloist serenaded the audience as a guard member joined him on the park bench set on the field as the front ensemble accompanied this effort to the delight of the audience. This was one wonderful day in “New York - Sphere.”The United Kingdom has many fine corps, but one group that is highly creative and innovative in their approach to drum corps was the corps from Birmingham, West Midlands. Beeches (right) brought three trampolines to the field in their show called “Bounce.” They flew through some clean athletic efforts of showmanship most unique to this activity. They experimented with different-sized units and a physical style of choreography from the horn section. The guard also provided some stretchable elastic equipment that complimented this very lively, energetic show. They also bounced through some of the mixed meters through their musical presentation. This new musical design team brought on James Moore and Tez Smith who were creatively pushing the boundaries to a new level, both musically and visually. They formed an excellent team with Nicole Cook and Chris Law. When it came to show design, one unit stood out as most imaginative -- Juliana (left) from Middelburg, The Netherlands. Through the use of the “Godfather Suite,” they played a game of chess on the field that was fascinating! The pieces moved in the drill and the music moved with it along. Whatever you heard, you saw. Beginning with a lovely baritone solo, the gray uniform of the players was secondary to the black and white of the chess pieces. Through their advanced marching skills, Juliana allowed the viewer to experience the chess game with a musical flow that was totally ingenious. The retrieval of equipment from the props while featuring the sabres was smart, tactical, as well as highly skilled. The corps moved through space with ease. There was even the figurative use of the chess timer that worked fluidly and continued the theme musically.Before we get to the top three corps, let me cover the Junior Finals portion of the show, made up of members age 16 and under. These four units displayed a great deal of marching spirit and enthusiasm.The Diamond Cadets (right) had a very disciplined unit with a smart, safely-maneuvered show. The horns played well together and their percussion served as an excellent heartbeat for the corps. I was astonished by the extremely high tosses from the rifle line. This next unit was not attached to a senior corps to look up to, but it was evident that Jong Holland Junioren (right) received excellent training in many types of equipment and dance. [Publisher’s note: their older group, Jong Holland, did not field a unit this season.] The trumpet solo was notably clean and the mellophone solo was warmly received by the crowd.Johan Friso (below), affiliated with Juliana, brought out a strong percussion section and keyboard solos with some nice sound. They were balanced in all sections as they displayed their enjoyable program. The corps put on a good effort, displaying the marching style and technique on par with upper-class corps. High drums and high auxiliary were captured by their performance in this championship.The last junior corps had an excellent entrance into their show with an Asian motif called “Sensei.” Wearing Japanese garb and shouting karate chants, Jong Jubal’s (right) show was replete with scenes of war and silk line tosses that were demonstrated successfully. For juniors, they sure had a lot to offer. They ended their show with the “yin and yang” drill design, sweeping the awards for High Visual, High Effect and High Music. Having seen what all four of these junior corps had to offer, the future of European drum corps is looking bright!The European Championship was suspenseful, delightful and intriguing. Any of the top three drum corps could have been crowned a champion with justified cause. All of the final three were as efficient as any on the planet.The corps that wound up in third place was Kidsgrove Scouts (left) and they had just captured the DCUK championship trophy a week ago. The show was “24601 -- A Les Misérables Story.” The production featured pieces from the musical about the saga of Jean Valjean, prisoner #24601. Some of the songs included were Empty Chairs at Empty Tables, Look Down, “Castle on the Cloud, Master of the House, Do You Hear the People Sing and more. This music was a major work by Claude-Michel Schöberg from France. Their show had a stage and complete pit section on the field, utilizing their great horn section to the fullest. The excellent treatment of musical expression and marching style was on great display. Their percussion section was fully loaded with 12 in the pit, showing superior quality of physical demand as well as musical expression throughout the performance. The guard communicated consistently and interpreted the scenes as if they were on Broadway. The show was memorable, particularly in their finals appearance. High Effect went to Kidsgrove Scouts.The defending champions of DCUK and DCE, The Company (right) opened their program, “On the Spot,” with a mistake-free formula. They began their spotlight with the most difficult horn passage in the competition. I must admit that this corps was smaller in number, but they outdid everyone in efficiency. The entire corps marched like dancers. Their timing was impeccable in all sections. No matter which assignment each member was given, it was performed well -- flawless and stain free. I believe that this was as close to a machine as a corps could get without becoming too mechanical. The guard did not miss a beat. At times, it seemed, The Company was actually a color guard unit accompanied by a horn line. Yet, the horn line held its own. The mellophone soloist in Paranoid Android by Radiohead was really sweet and the trumpet who backed her up was just as finely-tuned and clean. The silks totally captured the idiomatic expression in Rhianna’s Stay. The dance was gorgeous and when those silks took over, I understood that they really wanted me to stay there with them. As a fan of drum corps, I felt their vibe -- they gave it all they had. Thank you, CO., for a one-of-a-kind performance! They took home the High Front Ensemble and High Auxiliary awards.With a moving start before the drum major’s salute, Jubal (below) was ready. The largest group of the day (35 brass, 24 percussionists and 33 guard) this corps from Dordrecht, The Netherlands, was strictly drum corps all the way. The story was “The Beauty of Madness,” about Vincent van Gogh, one of Holland’s greatest painters. Their palate was their balanced corps. This show conveyed a multi-artistic experience as they went from a blank canvas to one fully-painted with skill and talent, offering a broad range of exemplary skills through dance and changes of equipment. The guard was staged expertly throughout and at one point magically changed the silks of their flags in mid-spin right in front of our eyes. The level of the guard’s versatility was amazing. I particularly enjoyed the acrobatic nature of the rifle line. Their ambidexterity was at an all-time high. The smoothness of the brass section always complimented the sell from the front stage. Jubal seemed to always work together to score. One of the tuba players became the drum major in the backfield as the guard soloed on the field by themselves. The instrumentalists were hidden by the Starry Night backdrops. Then they ended Starry Night with a smooth horn line solo. Then entered the drum line with a side kick, demonstrating consistency in playing that gave Jubal an ever-present quality of superiority. The leg line was particularly subtle, accurate, technical and musical throughout the performance. Yes, this was a true work of art! Jubal took home High Field Music, High Percussion, High Visual and High Music. This was a memorable experience for myself, my wife and a friend who I marched with in the CMCC Warriors back in the 1960s. For a first-time visit, it was well worth the Atlantic crossing! n n n[Publisher’s note: I was able to view the “live” telecast of the full prelims and finals, rising at 3:15 AM Central time and viewing through finals that ended at 3:30 PM. It was totally enjoyable, but I kept thinking about the five times I’ve been at this event, dating back to 1997 and most recently in 2016. I am always struck by the quality of the performers given that there is generally no formal music instruction in schools.Some of the highlights for me included the talented young trombone soloist with Jong Jubal (cover shot), the significant improvement of the three Germany and pair of Irish corps, the amazing quality of the four Junior corps fielding members as young as five or six, the enthusiastic two announcers, the young lady who played the part of the little girl from “Les Miserables” and wonderfully sang the words to Castle on the Cloud, the growth of Jubal’s Vincent van Gogh program from their appearances at DCI and the inventive themes that show excellent creativity on the part of all 17 corps in the competition.I thoroughly enjoyed the 12-hour “marathon” and am pleased I was able to see corps I have witnessed in person over the years. The activity in Europe is going well and I hope to one day again visit both the DCUK and DCEurope events . Steve Vickers n n nDrum Corps World is pleased to introduce new staff member Tery LeFebvere. She is bringing her talent and creativity to the pages of the magazine using iconic images she has photographed over the last season and then she has added an artistic take by combining multiple images to offer a variety of collages or composite images.Her work will be periodically added to the www.dcxmuseum.org “virtual” museum site in a similar display to the Wayne Hiller collection of drum and bugle corps oil paintings that are set up in a slideshow-type series of pages to view. Tery is a sport photographer based in Clayton, NC. She primarily covers sporting events as well as marching band and drum corps. Born in 1979 at San Juan, Puerto Rico, she is a Designer Service Manager network engineer, working for a Fortune 500 company in Content Security. Additionally, she has studied Fine Arts, Astro Photography Compositing and Macro Photography. Photography and her digital paintings and art have heavily influenced her as an artist. This is how she became more and more involved in illustration and digital montages.The work can be described or best recognized for the emotional intensity that she tries to capture in all her composites. Her elaborate compositions take on the complexities of emotional digital painting, along with compositing by telling the moment in a story. Tery has been doing photography for many years, but was introduced to the world of marching band, WGI and Drum Corps International two years ago and it has profoundly impacted the way she approaches her work, often creating dramatic composites and backgrounds of art to use with her subjects. The creative process involves designing with Affinity Photo, PhotoShop, Adobe After Effects and motion software to produce extraordinarily unique pieces of art that is not commonly seen today.“I love to see the spirit of the performers shine through in powerful and evocative imagery. I feel my artwork aggregates capture the moments in ways that are not currently being afforded to the performances.”Tery LaFebvere can be contacted at Terykeylaphotography@gmail.com. n n nNew photographic artist added to staffDCI membership removes George Hopkins from Hall of Fameby Drum Corps InternationalIn accordance with DCI Policies and Procedures Manual, Appendix 213 -- DCI Hall of Fame, the member organizations of Drum Corps International voted to remove George Hopkins from the DCI Hall of Fame during its fall business meeting on Wednesday, September 26. The action is effective immediately and includes revocation of all associated rights and privileges. (Right, 2010, Ron Walloch) n n nCavaliers to kick off 2019 summer tour in Californiaby Drum Corps InternationalFor the first time since the 2007 DCI World Championships were held in Pasadena, The Cavaliers will make a return to the Golden State as part of the Midwestern corps’ 2019 summer tour. The corps recently announced the return to California for the first time in more than a decade as part of its 2019 recruitment efforts on Facebook.While the corps is no stranger to DCI’s Pacific Region, its trips out West have been limited. In addition to 2007, the “Green Machine” also wrapped up its 2004 season in California as part of Drum Corps International’s “Tour of Champions” series following the DCI Finals in Denver, CO.2019, however, will mark the first time since 1997 and 1993 that The Cavaliers have spent the first part of their summer tour competing against the likes of West Coast corps like the Blue Devils and Santa Clara Vanguard.“Kicking off the DCI competitive season in California will be an exciting start to what’s shaping up to be a special coast-to-coast summer tour,” Cavaliers Executive Director Chris Lugo said. (Photo above by Rebecca Lyons)Additional details about the corps’ West Coast visit and other 2019 tour stops will be revealed with the release of the 2019 DCI tour schedule at the end of November. n n nCover shows for Drum Corps World!We are looking for individuals in all parts of the world to report on events for themagazine in 2019. This will help increase the number of activities included in issuesduring the summer and fall seasons next year. No one is ever asked to be at a showthey weren’t already planning to attend. One or more dates are available to interestedwriters who would like to be involved in the activity beyond simply being a spectator.A by-line and headshot accompanies each published article. If you’re interested, please send an e-mail to Steve Vickers--publisher@drumcorpsworld.com-- with what geogrpahic area you can covershows along with a short paragraph about your background.United States • Canada • Europe • South AfricaThe Philippines • Far East • Southeast AsiaCentral and South America • MexicoMarching Trumpet, Bb Key / .470 Bore / 5 1/6” Diameter Bell / Monel Valves / KTPS Silver Plate Finish Genesis Drum & Bugle Corps, Austin, TexasTAMA By Kanstul offers the competitive edge to band directors who appreciate the sonic power of handcrafted marching brass. Built in the USA by veteran craftspeople, guided by the philosophy of a legendary gure, TAMA By Kanstul brings out the best in every performance. For more on TAMA by Kanstul and how to purchase, please visit tamamarching.comNext >