More than a standard drum corps show, this weekend's DCI Orlando presented by Lone Star Percussion event will be packed with a variety of special performances.
Kicking off at Camping World Stadium on Saturday, July 8, three SoundSport teams and nine drum corps will perform their 2017 programs.
The SoundSport portion of the event in particular, which will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, features three teams all based in the Orlando area: the Central Florida Sounds of Freedom Band and Color Guard, Solaris Drum and Bugle Corps and IMPACT Drum and Bugle Corps.
“Central Florida has emerged as a hotbed for SoundSport teams in recent years,” said Eric Hjellming, SoundSport events and promotions manager. “We're excited to kick off Saturday's event right in these three teams' backyards.”
The drum corps portion of the evening's festivities will be highlighted with appearances by Cape Coral, Florida's own Heat Wave, followed by performances by the Spirit of Atlanta, Jersey Surf, Colts, Boston Crusaders, Cadets, Cavaliers and Carolina Crown.
Rounding out the competition will be a special appearance by the Liberty Voices — a talented 10-voice a capella group — who will be featured in a joint encore performance with Carolina Crown.
9-11 Halftime Show Featuring Liberty VoicesPosted by Liberty Voices on Thursday, September 22, 2016
Members of the Liberty Voices, many of whom also regularly perform at Epcot's American Adventure exhibit at Walt Disney World, are known around the world as one of the United States' premier a cappella groups. They have been regularly featured on television and have performed for five United States Presidents.
As part of the encore, the Liberty Voices and the 2013 DCI World Champions will open and close their encore with combined pieces, arranged with the help of DCI Hall of Fame member and Carolina Crown music director Michael Klesch.
“Having the Liberty Voices sing with our brass line is a dream come true,” said Matt Harloff, Carolina Crown's brass caption head.
The day following the DCI Orlando event, drum corps fans can stick around the city of Orlando and see three World Class corps parade through Disney Springs the morning and afternoon of Sunday, July 9.
Formerly known as Downtown Disney, Disney Springs is Walt Disney World's free-entry outdoor shopping, entertainment and dining area, located in the southeastern portion of the resort's 40-square-mile property.
Each stepping off at different times throughout the day, The Cavaliers (11 a.m. ET), Carolina Crown (1 p.m. ET) and The Cadets (3 p.m. ET) will all perform.
Sunday's parade route will begin on the west side of Disney Springs near Cirque du Soleil La Nouba and finish at the Marketplace near Once Upon a Toy.
Recommended viewing locations include (see map):
• Between Splitsville Luxury Lanes and Disney Springs AMC Theatres 24
• Near Planet Hollywood Observatory
• Between ZARA and Anthropologie
• Bnear The Daily Poutine
• Between Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop and World of Disney