Name, age, hometown: My name is Michael Patrick Terry and I am 19. I'm from Woodstock, Ga. What corps are you in and what is your role this summer? The 2005 season marks my 6th year marching with The Cadets. I am the baritone section leader as well as soloist. Give us your full drum corps/marching music background. I was pretty much born into drum corps. My father (Michael Dennis Terry) was the original founder and director of Southwind, so I started touring with them at the age of 4 in 1990. I would borrow extra horns off of the equipment truck and basically taught myself how to play.

Michael Terry
When Southwind took a year off in 1998, my family decided to volunteer with the Cadets, as my mom was friends with Kathy Hopkins. While I may have not been too helpful in the volunteer aspect of things, I took every chance I got to watch rehearsals, talk with the staff, make friends with the members, and basically get a really good feel for the corps and its atmosphere. We stayed with the Cadets again in 1999 as volunteers, and a few members and staff started recommending that I should come to the next audition camp to get a chance to play with the line, so that's what I did. In the winter of 1999 I went to that audition camp with no intention of actually auditioning. I had only just started my 8th grade year and thought that there was no possible way that I could even make the corps, but I still wanted the experience of playing in the line. Needless to say, I was given a spot. The 2005 season will be my 6th marching with the corps (since 2000), but I still have 2 more to go. Yay for class of 2007! How did you decide to be a member of your corps? I honestly don't remember why I accepted the spot. I don't think I knew what I was getting myself into back then, but looking back on it now I love the tradition of the Cadets, from our corps song to taco salad. What first attracted you to the drum corps activity? There wasn't really anything that attracted me to the activity. I was pretty much thrust into it! What advice would you give to young people who want to march? Do it. That's the best advice I can give. There are so many kids out there that want to march but tell themselves that they're not good enough, or that they'll never make it. You'll never know if you are 'drum corps material' until you give it a try. As far as picking the right place to go (Division I, II or III), I really think it depends on the age, maturity level and determination. The younger you are, the more I would encourage you to start with a smaller corps and then work your way up. Same goes for maturity level. As far as determination, you have to be determined to make it through a summer no matter what size corps you are marching with! Do you have any favorite road anecdotes? Wow. So many good ones! Ok, I'll limit myself to three. 1. At some show in 1991 I was playing a baritone by the Southwind equipment truck. A member of SCV who had just come off the field from retreat came up to me and gave me his star and his gloves. That really meant a lot to me.

2. In 2000 we did the DCI/BOA clinic at the Alamo Dome in San Antonio, Texas. After the brass had done their portion of the clinic, we were told to go to the end zone and relax a little bit. Well, many of us fell asleep. One hour later our drum majors were waking us up and telling us to set up for a run of Chaos. Needless to say, we were a little shocked and not quite ready for the run, but we made it through OK.

3. During the Tour of Champions all of the corps got together for a rehearsal in Utah. When we got a water break in marching, all of us Cadets ran to our water coolers, took a quick gulp and ran back out to the field. That is how we rehearse. Once we were back on the field (with SCV, I might add) we noticed that all the other corps were taking a 10-minute water break. To us, a 10-minute water break might as well been a free day! The last good book I read: I don't read too much, but I really love "Tuesdays With Morrie" by Mitch Albom. The last great film I saw: Have to go with "The Shawshank Redemption" on this one. No other movie comes close in my book. Where I go to school and what I'm studying, if applicable: I am a freshman at Columbus State University in Columbus, Ga. I am studying euphonium performance and music education. Jobs I have/have had: I play in a church wind ensemble. Three albums I'd want on a deserted island: Linkin Park, "Meteora"; Hoobastank, "The Reason"; Eric Whitacre, "The Complete A Cappella Works 1991-2001" My favorite TV show: I don't watch too much TV, but I do enjoy "Family Guy" and "South Park." Favorite performers: I just saw "STOMP" for a second time, and I have to say that they perform their butts off! How do you "blow off steam?" Any time I get really angry or frustrated, I usually take a nap. That calms me down. What has been your formative drum corps moment? The West Chester stage show in 2004. That experience redefined why I do drum corps. The connection between us, the performers, and the audience was the most astounding thing I've ever been apart of. It truly felt like we were at a rock concert. In between the show and the encore we ran up and down the aisles of the theatre we were in giving the kids hi-fives. Afterwards kids were coming back stage and giving all of us hugs and asking for pictures and autographs. It was a surreal experience. Best drum corps show ever: Cadets 2005, of course! But, other than that, I would have to say Santa Clara 1989. To me that show is the epitome of emotion and a well-put-together show. What are you most looking forward to about the summer? Performing. I'm also looking forward to our free day in San
Antonio (Hop, if you're reading this, PLEASE don't take it away!). Best thing about being in a drum corps: Bonding with 134 other people that become like family and knowing that you can always count on them to be there when you need them. Worst thing about being in a drum corps: Having a four-hour marching block in 110-degree heat and only getting two gush-and-go water breaks, then getting to lunch (late) and seeing that they've run out of French fries. Darn people that take two plates worth of fries. During tour, the best part of the day is: For me, there are two best parts of the day. First, waking up an hour and a half before the rest of the corps to go line the fields, and getting to see some awesome sunrises and smell the dew on the grass. Second, taking a shower after rehearsal is done. That is the best feeling EVER! During tour, the worst part of the day is: Getting up an hour and a half before the corps to go line the fields! What I want to be when I "grow up": I want to either be a high school band director or a college tuba/euphonium professor. I would also like to do some composing on the side. Describe what you think a typical DCI show will look in 2015. Hopefully the shows will not be too much different than they are now, except that everyone will use jetpacks to create 3-D drill. And we will have teleportation devices to discard of the need for jazz-running. Feel free to add anything else you'd like. Look for me on the YEA! Web site this summer! I will be webmoir writer, so I hope that you all will be enthralled by my perspective on the 2005 season of the Cadets.