Since 2001, caption awards at the Drum Corps International World Championships have been determined by averaging the scores from all three nights of the World Championship competition.
According to the DCI rulebook:
At the World Championships, World Class caption awards will be determined by averaging scores at Prelims, Semifinals, and Finals.
BEST BRASS – based on Music Brass score
BEST PERCUSSION – based on Music Percussion score
BEST VISUAL – based on Visual Proficiency score
BEST COLOR GUARD – based on Visual Color Guard score
BEST OVERALL GENERAL EFFECT – based on combining General Effect Music and General Effect Visual scores The average for each double-paneled caption will be used in determining caption awards.
2012 World Class Caption Award Winners
Cavaliers Founder Don Warren presents the Donald Angelica Best Overall General Effect Award.
Donald Angelica Best General Effect Award
Blue Devils
Fred Sanford Best Percussion Performance Award
Blue Devils
John Brazale Best Visual Performance Award
TIE: Blue Devils and Carolina Crown
George Zingali Best Color Guard Award
Blue Devils
Jim Ott Best Brass Performance Award
Carolina Crown
2012 Open Class Caption Award Winners
Spartans receive the 2012 Best Color Guard Award at the Open Class World Championship Finals.
Caption awards for Open Class corps are determined by scores earned during the Open Class World Championship Finals competition. The Most Improved Corps award is determined by a vote of Open Class corps directors.
Best Brass Performance
Oregon Crusaders
Best General Effect
Oregon Crusaders
Best Visual Performance
Oregon Crusaders
Best Percussion Performance
Blue Devils B
Best Color Guard
Spartans
Most Improved Corps
Legends