The Blue Stars are calling on former corps members to fill the ranks of the Blue Stars Alumni & All-Star Corps which will perform in the La Crosse, Wis. Maple Leaf Parade on Saturday, September 27. With a strong turnout for last year's event, the organization is looking to raise the numbers of this year's group to 120 members.
Visit BlueStars.org for more info.
The Crossmen recently appointed Jaime Alvarez-Calderon and Ray Ulibarri as the corps' 2009 percussion caption head and percussion arranger respectively. Ulibarri most recently served as percussion caption head of the Bluecoats (2005-2008), and also served as the front ensemble arranger and co-cation head of the Blue Knights World Percussion Ensemble (2007-2008). Alvarez-Calderon served as a percussion consultant for the Crossmen in 2008, after spending time on the percussion staff of the Cavaliers (2003-2007).
Read more at Crossmen.org.
The Glassmen officially capped off their 2008 season on Saturday, Aug. 30 with a banquet dinner and awards ceremony recognizing the accomplishments of Glassmen members and supporters. Dave Stevenson, longtime Glassmen volunteer and emcee of the event, reminded corps members to close out the night: "I've got good news and bad news. The good news, there's only 90 days until auditions. The bad news, there's ONLY 90 days until auditions!"
View a list of all award winners on Glassmen.org.
The Oregon Crusaders have appointed Michael Quillen to serve as corps director reporting to executive director Dr. Phil Marshall. Quillen, who has been a brass instructor for the Oregon Crusaders for four years, will be responsible for member relations, corps operations and staff management in his new role.
Also returning as members of the corps' management team in 2009 will be program coordinator Todd Zimbelman and tour and housing manager Danny Orrantia.
Read more at OregonCrusaders.org.
The City of Rockford has recognized the World Championship successes of the Phantom Regiment with a new "Home of Phantom Regiment, Drum Corps International Champion" sign off of the major interstate exit into Rockford.
View the new sign on Regiment.org.
The Raiders announced returning design team members and caption heads for 2009: Michael Hamilton (program coordinator/brass arranger), Mike Russ (drill designer), Joe Palumbo (visual caption head), Colin Bell (percussion arranger), Chris Marousek (percussion caption head), Don Pfleger (brass caption head) and PJ Tankard (guard designer/caption head).
In addition to those returning staff members, the corps will also bring in Gino Cipriani as a brass consultant.
Read more at RadiersDBC.org.
Santa Clara staff coordinator Denise Bonfiglio announced that the corps' 2008 ensemble specialist Andr?© Feagin will assume the role as brass caption manager in 2009. Feagin, a former conductor of the Phantom Regiment (1998-2001) currently is in his second year as director of bands at Watkins Overton High School in Memphis, Tenn.
Read more at SCVanguard.org.
Spirit has appointed Mark Waymire as director of programming, development and education. In addition to those duties, he will also serve as brass co-caption head. Waymire, a former member of the Phantom Regiment has previously worked on the brass staffs of the Madison Scouts and the Glassmen.
Spirit also announced the return of brass arranger Scott Boerma in an expanded role as music coordinator. Leading the corps' percussion staff will be Shane Gwaltney as coordinator and battery arranger, Eric Willie as front ensemble arranger, and Joe Hobbs and Sean Womack as co-caption heads. Jill Brennan and Robby Dufresne will return for their second year as guard designers, and Dr. Ray Vasquez will return as brass co-caption head.
Read more at SpiritDrumCorps.org.
Joining the Troopers' design staff in 2009 will be percussion arranger David Reeves. A former member of the Star of Indiana, Reeves has previously worked with the Cavaliers and the Santa Clara Vanguard.
Returning staff member Ralph Hardimon will assume a larger role with the Troopers in 2009 as music director, while working with program consultants Scott Koter and Gordon Henderson. Rounding out the corps' design staff will be Dean Westman (program coordinator and brass arranger), Mitch Rogers (visual designer) and Daniel Wiles (visual coordinator and color guard designer).
Read more at TroopersDrumCorps.org.
Several notables with ties to the Velvet Knights (VK) of the 1980s and early '90s will be replanting their roots with the corps in 2009. Dave Carico (VK brass caption head and arranger 1987-1989) will dust off his chops taking on the role of brass arranger while Eric Kitchenman (VK drill designer 1992-1993) will once again craft the corps' visual program. Jen Swanek (VK cymbal line 1986-1989) will staff the cymbal section and her husband Bob Swanek (VK drum major 1993) will be one of the corps' visual instructors.
Read more at VKYAO.org.