While reaching the highest levels of musical excellence in stadiums across America each summer, the young performers of Drum Corps International ensembles are impressive on the football field. They’re also outstanding students and versatile artists off of it.

© 2016 Drum Corps International Research

01.

Rookies of the year: More than half of all Drum Corps International performers each season are first-year members.

02.

Aged to perfection: On average, World Class corps members are 19.31 years of age with 85 percent having completed high school. Just 27 percent of Open Class corps members have completed high school when they march in a DCI corps. Mainly seniors in high school, their average age is 17.88.

03.

Over the hill: The average World Class corps member spends 2.16 seasons with a DCI ensemble, Open Class corps members clock in with an average of 1.51 years with Marching Music’s Major League™.

04.

Have dreams, will travel: On average, more than 43 percent of World Class corps members will travel more than 500 miles to participate in the corps of their choice. Open Class corps tend to draw their membership from closer to home, with most students within a three-hour drive from rehearsals.

05.

Deep inna hearta: 18 percent of all World Class corps members call the great state of Texas home. California, Florida and Arizona also respectively lead the way for pumping out drum corps members on an annual basis.

06.

Where they started: A whopping 93 percent of DCI corps members participate in scholastic marching band.

07.

Fine-tuned minds for marching: More than 78% of all DCI corps members report GPAs of 3.1 or higher.

08.

Multitalented musicians: From guitar to piano to strings, woodwinds, and many more, more than 80 percent of corps members play musical instruments other than their primary drum corps specialty.

09.

Moving to the music: Beyond dancing and spinning flags, half of DCI’s color guard members play instruments outside of drum corps.

Join a drum corps in 2017! Drum Corps International's World and Open Class corps are currently recruiting prospective members to join them for their 2017 summer tours. Visit DCI.org/audition to find a list of upcoming audition dates, locations and other tips and info.