Name, age, hometown: Elanders Frazier, 20, Pensacola, Fla. What corps are you in and what is your role this summer? I am in Spirit, I march snare and I am serving as the percussion section leader for 2005. Give us your full drum corps/marching music background. I began as a alto saxophone player my freshman year of high school, switched to cymbals for the winter, marched bass drum fall and winter of my sophomore year, and marched snare fall and winter of my junior and senior year also serving as the drum captain my senior year. I marched in high school with the Diamonds Indoor Percussion Ensemble. I also marched Eminence Indoor Percussion (Snare) in 2003. I marched Spirit on snare in 2004.

Elanders Frazier
How did you decide to be a member of your corps? My best friend marched for the cymbal line in 2003, and I heard it was a great atmosphere and decided to audition. What first attracted you to the drum corps activity? I would say watching DCI videos when I was in high school, I thought it was purely amazing and that one day I would march somewhere. What advice would you give to young people who want to march? Keep auditioning, and go in with a drive, you will never get anywhere unless you put everything you have out there. What else is there to lose? Do you have any favorite road anecdotes? Well, it wasn't funny at the time, but when I was on tour last year, a drum pad fell on my ankle on the bus. Everyone thought it was a big joke, but it ended up pulling me out of a show and two parades. Everyone still jokes and tells me to stay away from drum pads. The last good book I read: "Life of Pi" The last great film I saw: "Hitch" (that's the story of my life, haha). Where I go to school and what I'm studying: I'm graduating from Pensacola Junior College and transferring to USA in Alabama to pursue marketing. Jobs I have/have had: I have worked as a student officer for campus police, and I am currently a manager at Rave Motion Pictures (a movie theater). Three albums I'd want on a deserted island: Definently Maroon 5's "Songs About Jane," Coldplay's "Parachutes," and the "Ocean's Twelve" soundtrack. My favorite TV show: "Chapelle's Show" Favorite performers: Carter Beauford of the Dave Matthews Band. How do you "blow off steam?" I practice! No doubt. What has been your formative drum corps moment: I would say finals week in Denver, the toughest week I have ever gone through in my life. Best drum corps show ever: From the ones I've seen, I would say Cavaliers 2002. Best thing about being in a drum corps: The moment you step off the field with the greatest feeling of accomplishment. Worst thing about being in a drum corps: Waking up in a different city every morning. And getting the bulk of my sleep all tour on a Charter bus. During tour, the best part of the day is: Night once the show is over you can rest before the next day. During tour, the worst part of the day is: Getting off the bus at 4 a.m. to unload into a gym and get two hours of sleep on a floor, haha. Favorite drum corps personality: I'd have to say the guy that announces the shows at finals (Brandt Crocker), because I have always heard him but I never realized how cool that was until I was on the field myself and he said, "Spirit! From Jacksonville State University!" What I want to be when I "grow up": I want to make a super bowl commercial, haha. Describe what you think a typical DCI show will look in 2015. It will be exactly the same except with more fans, and televised on ESPN! Feel free to add anything else you'd like: DCI is a great place to grow, you will never experience anything like this in any other activity. Period.