Detroit, St. Louis venues confirmed as 2018 DCI Tour continues to come into focus
by Michael Boo
On Friday, January 5 during the Drum Corps International Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, DCI Executive Director Dan Acheson provided an update to attendees regarding the continuing development of the 2018 DCI Tour.
Ford Field in Detroit has been confirmed to host the DCI Tour Premiere presented by DeMoulin Bros. and Co., which will kick off the 2018 DCI Tour on Thursday, June 21. This summer will mark the first time in Drum Corps International’s more than 45-year history that a DCI Tour event has been held in downtown Detroit. The event will also be presented live to hundreds of digitally equipped movie theater locations throughout the country.
• The Dome at America's Center in St. Louis has been confirmed to host the DCI Midwestern Championship presented by DeMoulin Bros. and Co. The event on Sunday, July 15, will feature a hefty lineup of 19 corps.
• Presenting sponsors have been confirmed for a number of shows that are part of Drum Corps International’s Premier Event series including:
DCI Tour Premiere presented by DeMoulin Bros. and Co.
DCI Central Indiana presented by Woodwind and Brasswind
DCI Minnesota presented by The U.S. Marine Drum and Bugle Corps
DCI Orlando presented by Great East Music Festivals and Music Store
DCI Midwestern Championship presented by DeMoulin Bros. and Co.
DCI Central Texas presented by FloMarching
Tour of Champions – Texas presented by Band Shoppe
DCI Southwestern Championship presented by Fred J. Miller, Inc.
DCI Mesquite presented by Pageantry Innovations
The Masters of the Summer Music Games presented by Jupiter, Mapex and Majestic
DCI Southeastern Championship presented by Lone Star Percussion
DCI World Championship Prelims presented by Gary P. Gilroy Publications
DCI World Championship Semifinals presented by Earasers
• Voting members discussed implementing a new plan for events which are forced to be moved indoors or otherwise performed in a “stand-still” format due to inclement weather. Previously, there has not been a formalized plan for corps to perform in these circumstances. A motion was made and unanimously approved for corps to prepare additional musical performance content which can be performed without the use of the front ensemble in such a situation.
• Acheson also provided a brief look ahead to Drum Corps International’s 2019 tour schedule. Directors later broke into small groups for a forward-looking discussion and brainstorming session on the theoretical summer tour model of the future, what that may look like, and how a new approach could impact the quality of the experience for the participants and audience members.