Kristin Vleugel
Name, age, hometown: Kristin Vleugel, 18, Kalamazoo, Mich.^What corps are you in and what is your role this summer? I'm in the Phantom Regiment and I'm in the color guard. ^Where I go to school and what I'm studying: I attend Western Michigan University and I'm a chemistry major. Give us your full drum corps/marching music background. Last year was my first year with Phantom Regiment and drum corps all together. I did my high school marching band and winter guard my sophomore, junior and senior years. I did Interplay Winterguard, an independent winter guard, my senior year and am a returning member this winter.

What's your practice schedule like? My winter guard practices every weekend, Friday though Sunday, from September to April. On my own, practice time is about twice a week for two or three hours. What does your ideal free day consist of? Family or friends from back home visit. Ice cream! A pool! Favorite pig-out food: Ice cream! In the shower you can hear me singing: "Build me up buttercup"! Especially when the showers are really cold! The last good book I read: "Bless Me, Ultima" by Rudolfo Anaya. The last great film I saw: "Wedding Crashers" Jobs I have/have had: A waitress at a local pizza place in high school, and now I'm a color guard instructor! My favorite TV show: "That '70s Show" What has been your formative drum corps moment? Being a vet at audition camp in November and watching the finals DVD. It's still unbelievable to me that I ever did Phantom Regiment. I tell myself everyday, "Kristin, do you realize you're in Phantom Regiment?" So many people look up to you at audition camp and it always feels good to help out people. And watching the DVD -- I was really out there on the field! Like I said, it's amazing to me that I could ever live out this dream. What would you be doing next summer if you were not marching? Working! Hanging out at Lake Michigan! How did you decide to be a member of your corps? The 2003 Phantom regiment show convinced me. Any Regiment fan would know what I'm talking about. What first attracted you to the drum corps activity? My color guard instructor in high school was also a drum corps color guard caption head for a drum and bugle corps. I decided against marching that summer she wanted to, but I ended up going to a couple of shows that were around my hometown. That's when I saw Phantom Regiment in '03. What advice would you give to young people who want to march? Practice! Don't give up because the road is long and hard. It's so worth it! What I want to be when I "grow up": An obstetrician. Best drum corps show ever and why: 2003 Regiment -- it was gorgeous. The year is 2030. What does a DCI show look like? Still no woodwinds -- haha. Maybe we'll be flying instead of marching -- that'd be kind of cool, we could hover upside down! Feel free to add anything else you'd like: The best part of drum corps would definitely be the people! I've met some amazing people who I know will be lifelong friends!