The Academy has expanded its 2009 winter color guard program to include A Class and Independent World Class units. The organization will hold its first audition for both groups this weekend, Sept. 27 and 28 in Tempe, Ariz.
Read more at ArizonaAcademy.org.
The Blue Stars announced the return of Michael Shapiro as the corps' color guard caption head and designer for the 2009 drum corps season. A former member of Spirit of Atlanta and the Madison Scouts, Shapiro has previously staffed several drum corps and winter guard programs including Carolina Crown, the Cavaliers and the Crossmen.
Read more at BlueStars.org.
Joining arranger Tom Rarick on the 2009 Bluecoats percussion leadership team will be Mike Jackson (caption head), Tim Jackson (battery coordinator) and Brad Palmer (front ensemble coordinator). New to the Bluecoats staff, Mike and Tim Jackson have extensive backgrounds with various drum corps and winter percussion units. Palmer is returning for his seventh season with the corps.
Read more at Bluecoats.com
The Cadets finalized the individuals who will staff the corps' percussion section as they begin work on "Lenny," the corps' 2009 75th anniversary program spotlighting composer Leonard Bernstein.
Under the direction of Colin McNutt, the Cadets welcome instructors James Sparling (tenor drums) and recent age-out corps member Jacob Gall (snare drums). They join returning instructors Jason Inhat (front ensemble), Chris Vale (snares), Sean McElroy (bass drums in summer) and Bobby Marino (bass drums in winter.) Iain Moyer was announced as the corps' front ensemble arranger last month.
Read more at YEA.org.
The Citations announced that second-year corps member Dave Macuga will serve as drum major for the 2009 season. Matt McGuire will join the corps as front ensemble percussion arranger and caption head. McGuire most recently was a staff member with the Jersey Surf and is the lead percussion instructor for the Mansfield, Mass. High School Percussion Ensemble. He will work with returning percussion caption head Charlie Poole.
Read more at Citations.org.
Crossmen director Mark Chambers announced that the corps' entire brass staff from 2008 will return in 2009. Staff members include: Aaron Goldberg (caption head), Gary Barnard (assistant caption head), Charlie Frost, Pat McGee and Adam Farley. Those staff members will additionally be supported by consultants including Beth Bronk, Gabe Musella and CBS Orchestra trumpeter Al Chez.
Read more at Crossmen.org.
The Mandarins appointed Chris McCoy as brass caption head and Blair Williams as percussion caption head for the 2009 season. McCoy has been a part of the Mandarins brass staff since 2007, most recently serving as a co-caption head during 2008. Williams joined the corps' percussion staff in 2004. McCoy and Williams will take the place of Dan Fong who will remain the corps' brass arranger and Brian Aguilar who will move on to devote more time to his duties as a band director in Sacramento, Calif.
Read more at Mandarins.org.
On September 21 some 300 people including corps members, parents, staff, volunteers and board members, attended the 2008 Pacific Crest awards luncheon at the Shilo Hilltop Suites in Pomona, Calif. The event was held in celebration of the corps' 2008 season and recognized several individuals for their outstanding service.
Read more at Pacific-Crest.org.
The Santa Clara Vanguard Winter Guard gets started this weekend with an educational clinic and audition on Sept. 27 and 28 in the San Jose/Santa Clara, Calif. area. The organization operates its winter guard program to bolster corps membership for the summer drum corps season.
Read more at SCVanguard.org.
The Spartans have announced numerous staff appointments within the last week including Joe Taylor (assistant director/brass arranger), Ian Flint (visual designer/visual caption head), Michael Moore (battery percussion caption head) , and Tom Aungst who will serve as percussion arranger and also lead the Spartans design team.
Read more at SpartansDBC.org.
Teal Sound recently launched "Riptide," a winter percussion ensemble that will participate in various Florida-area percussion events. The group, which will be based in the Ocala, Fla. area and open to anyone 14-21 years old, will be directed by Vic Kulinski. Auditions will take place at the beginning of November.
Read more at TealSound.org.