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.

2013 World Class Caption Award Winners

2013 CadetsThe Cadets receive the Fred Sanford Best Percussion Performance Award.


Donald Angelica Best General Effect Award

Carolina Crown

Fred Sanford Best Percussion Performance Award
The Cadets

John Brazale Best Visual Performance Award
Carolina Crown

George Zingali Best Color Guard Award
Blue Devils

Jim Ott Best Brass Performance Award
Carolina Crown

2013 Open Class Caption Award Winners

2013 Blue Devils BBlue Devils B receives the Best Percussion Performance Award at the Open Class 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
Vanguard Cadets

Best General Effect
Vanguard Cadets

Best Visual Performance
Vanguard Cadets

Best Percussion Performance
Blue Devils B

Best Color Guard
Vanguard Cadets

Most Improved Corps
Genesis

View all scores from the 2013 DCI World Championships