Creating Masterpieces
Barbara Nash • Percussion • May 11, 2018
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Creating Masterpieces
The world of Drum Corps International (DCI) marches into high gear in May.
It’s the time when many ensembles all over the country get their spring training underway – putting their productions together with countless hours spent training, creating, and preparing for the upcoming summer season.
In a whirlwind of activity, corps spend schedule blocks of time for physical training, marching fundamentals and maneuvers, sectionals in music and color guard, and ensemble rehearsals. Throughout the day, the educational teaching staff at each corps will break down the shows element by element, count by count, until it all comes together during evening rehearsals. Every day they strive to improve efficiency and excellence while preparing corps members for every aspect of their personal contribution to the overall group performance.
More than 5,500 of those performers will dazzle audiences nationwide with their incredible talent in marching music. Add the complement of corps staff members and volunteers who travel with each corps, and close to 10,000 tour participants will travel the country from June to August, as well as be involved in SoundSport and DrumLine Battle activities.
2018 DCI Tour Premiere
Coming to you on June 21 from the newly renovated Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan, is the season-opening DCI Tour Premiere, that will feature an impressive lineup of six of last season’s top-12 corps. The Blue Stars, Bluecoats, Boston Crusaders, Carolina Crown, Cavaliers, and Phantom Regiment will debut their 2018 productions, and you can be a part of the action.
Once again, this first competition of the year will broadcast live in select movie theaters across the country. Check the availability of the event in your city and get your tickets early via FathomEvents. com.
On June 23, DCI’s Pacific region corps will get things underway at DCI West at Stanford Stadium. The top-two finishers from 2017 – The Blue Devils and Santa Clara Vanguard – will headline a solid group of west coast corps as they take the field for one of their first tastes of competition this year.
In addition to fielding consistently high-achieving corps, this west coast opening will be the first in a lengthy list of 2018 events to stream live on FloMarching.com, so fans all over the country can follow the action online.
On the Road Again
From there, more than 75 drum corps, SoundSport teams, and DrumLine Battle ensembles throughout the country will begin their journeys, competing in more than 100 events. Many corps will travel upward of 10,000 miles throughout the summer season. Thrilling competition will light up spectacular venues like the Rose Bowl in Pasadena on June 30, TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on July 7, and Camping World Stadium in Orlando on July 8, Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver on July 14, The Dome at America’s Center in St. Louis on July 15, the Alamodome in San Antonio on July 21, Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro on July 27, Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on July 28, J. Birney Crum Stadium in Allentown August 3-4, and Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis August 9-11. The 2018 DCI Summer Tour extends coast to coast to visit cities in 37 states.
Don’t Miss the Action
You will want to be a part of the creative and innovative productions the corps are putting together this month. For all the latest information on the summer schedule and other ways you can experience the 2018 DCI Tour, go to www.dci.org/events.
