OnQ, the performance education division of Drum Corps International, gave students at the July 22 DCI Southern Mississippi event in Hattiesburg the chance to learn from Phantom Regiment. Attendees of the Live Learning Event got to see what goes into producing and performing a world class drum corps show, and got to see it right up close. So close, in fact, that they were invited to sit in and among the Phantom Regiment's rehearsal arc!

Students get up close to Phantom Regiment during the concert segment of the event.
The Live Learning Event was presented in three sections, first allowing students to see how the brass, percussion, and color guard members rehearse individually. The full Phantom Regiment ensemble then combined to present a one-of-a-kind concert just for the students. The corps members performed their 2008 production "Spartacus" and selections from previous years, including some fan favorites such as "An American in Paris" from the corps' 2005 field show.

Kenan Jabr fights Spartacus during a run-through.
After the concert segment of the event, Phantom Regiment took the field to show attendees their process for working through music and drill. One lucky volunteer, Kenan Jabr from Chalmette High School, was selected to go on to the field and take the place of a corps color guard member who duels the character Spartacus. After a quick fighting tutorial, Jabr went head-to-head with the Spartacus character. Though he didn't emerge victorious, as the story of Spartacus can't end there, the audience showed their appreciation, including many fellow Chalmette High School attendees. If this sounds like the kind of way you'd like to spend your afternoon before an evening of drum corps performances, there's still once more chance to catch an OnQ Live Learning Event this season! The Santa Clara Vanguard will be hosting an OnQ event tomorrow, Friday July 24, before the Murfreesboro, Tenn. "Pearl Presents the Masters of the Summer Music Games." Before SCV takes the field that evening to duke it out among the top eight World Class drum corps, Murfreesboro ticket holders get free admission to learn how the corps members train, rehearse, and perform their program "3HREE: Mind - Body - Soul." Learn more about the Murfreesboro OnQ Live Learning Event with the Santa Clara Vanguard.
 
Photos by Bryan Thomas.