Name, age, hometown: Joseph Hans Aicher, 21, Arlington Heights, Ill.

What corps are you in and what is your role this summer? Cavaliers, tuba, horn sergeant. Give us your full drum corps/marching music background. I starting marching band at Prospect High School in Illinois. After I graduated I began marching with the Cavaliers starting in 2002.

Joe Aicher
How did you decide to be a member of your corps? Prospect High School has a long history of sending guys to the Cavaliers. There have been dozens of members from Prospect: Pete and Chris Weber (former drum majors), Billy and Brian Spicer, Matt Janus, and many more. Along with that, Jeff Fiedler has been an instuctor at Prospect for many years. Needless to say I would feel like a traitor if I marched anywhere else. What first attracted you to the drum corps activity? I saw my first show on PBS in 1999. I started asking around about the activity until I saw the Cavaliers at Des Plaines, Ill., in 2000. Ever since then I was hooked. What advice would you give to young people who want to march? When I was even in high school, the people on the field looked like superheroes to me. Now that I'm an ageout, I've finally come to the realization that I've been that "superhero" for three years already. I made it during my senior year in high school and it seemed too good to be true, but there are lots of kids who can make it into many great drum corps at a young age. The time goes by quick, so I would say don't be afraid to take a chance and audition. Do you have any favorite road anecdotes? Fiedler said something during tour in 2002 that quickly raised our morale when we were in Lincoln, Neb., however, I can't say it here. The last good book I read: Any Dan Brown book. I don't read much at all so I just jumped on the bandwagon. The last great film I saw: "Donnie Darko," weird stuff. Where I go to school and what I'm studying: I just transferred from Valparaiso University in Indiana to the University of Houston as a music education major. I'm also considering changing to performance to guarantee unemployment when I graduate.
Jobs I have/have had: I teach high school and middle school tuba and euphonium lessons. Three albums I'd want on a deserted island: The Mars Volta, "Frances the mute"; The Dillinger Escape Plan, "Miss Machine"; Hey Mercedes, "Loses Control."
My favorite TV show: "Law & Order: SVU" Favorite performers: Well, the best show I saw was at the Metro (a nightclub) in Chicago. Misery Signals, Zao, Every Time I Die, and The Dillinger Escape Plan played, everyone was awesome, except Every Time I Die, didn't like them very much. You can't leave out the CSO though, best orchestra ever. How do you "blow off steam?" I used to play drums in a band, now I just play video games. What has been your formative drum corps moment? Getting second place in Orlando in 2003. A lot of people thought we were upset about that season after coming off of one of the greatest seasons in 2002, but we were just the opposite. Everyone was smiling and having a great time. That was when I really knew that this corps was different. I also can't leave out our trip to Japan last October (the picture is me eating sushi one afternoon while we were on our way to Shizuoka). Best drum corps show ever: I'm not familiar with all the older shows from other corps, so from my experience it would have to be Cavaliers 2003, "Spin Cycle." What are you most looking forward to about the summer? Even though I know it's going to be stressful, I can't wait for the responsibilities of being a horn sergeant this summer (this interview was submitted in March). Best thing about being in a drum corps: Getting in shape. Worst thing about being in a drum corps: Not being able to sleep in. During tour, the best part of the day is: The last block of the day during a rehearsal day. We're all exhausted and sweaty, but that fifth or sixth wind kicks in for the day and we get a lot done. During tour, the worst part of the day is: Waking up or getting ready for a show. Favorite drum corps personality and why: Brandt Crocker, he announced one of our rehearsal run-throughs in 2002, that was pretty cool. What I want to be when I "grow up": Professional tuba player, in an orchestra or small group, whatever happens. Describe what you think a typical DCI show will look in 2015. I'm sure it will be the same as it is now, I just hope the corps will have replaced their uniforms before then, they might smell.