Name, age, hometown: Sandy Sanchez, 20, St. Petersburg, Fla. What corps are you in and what is your role this summer? Trumpet player for the Cadets. Where I go to school and what I'm studying: I'm a junior at the University of Florida, studying music education.

Sandy Sanchez
Give us your full drum corps/marching music background. I started marching my freshman year at Seminole High School. I continued marching band for my four years of high school. The summer after I graduated ('03), I started marching with the Cadets. This will be my fourth summer with the corps. I ageout in '07. What does your ideal free day consist of? We went to Disney this past summer, and it was pretty great. The weather was awful, but since I live only an hour and a half away from Orlando, I got to spend the day with my friends from home. But I love hanging out with my friends in the corps as well. So anything that would include hanging out, eating and shopping is fine by me! Favorite pig-out food: Chips and queso -- as long as it's NOT spicy! In the shower you can hear me singing: Just about anything! The last good book I read: "The Five People You Meet in Heaven" by Mitch Album. The last great film I saw: Hmmm, I haven't gone to the movies in ages! I watched "Dancer in the Dark" the other day -- so sad. Jobs I have/have had: I currently work at Santa Fe High School, in Alachua, Fla. (a city over from where I go to school), teaching their marching and concert bands. My favorite TV show: "Friends" and "Nip/Tuck" What has been your formative drum corps moment? The whole 2003 season. Not only was it my rookie year, but it was also the hardest summer I've marched so far. We worked soooo hard, woke up super early, and never got a day off. I pushed myself a whole lot farther than I thought I could. I have never doubted myself EVER since that summer -- because if I could do that, I could do anything! What would you be doing next summer if you were not marching? Going to summer school! I really, really need to so I can catch up and what not. In Florida, it's a rule that you have to take nine credit hours, but I petitioned against it and just got approved! I'll graduate a semester late, but now I can march my last two summers! How did you decide to be a member of your corps? I went to the Orlando in 2001 to see a good friend of mine who marched here. I bought the preseason CD and listened to it like everyday over the summer. I've been hooked ever since! What first attracted you to the drum corps activity? The older kids in band talked about it, and one of my friends had a 2000 finals tape. He showed me the Cadets and the Cavaliers. That fall he auditioned and made the Cadets and I followed drum corps that whole summer. I was totally into it after seeing the Orlando show in 2001. What advice would you give to young people who want to march? Do it! It has been the greatest experience of my life! I have met best friends through drum corps. There is nothing else like it, and I think anyone interested should try it. What I want to be when I "grow up"? I would love to be a high school band director after I graduate, but I haven't ruled out teaching music at an elementary school. Best drum corps show ever and why: Gosh, I'm so indecisive! There have been so many amazing shows from all corps over the years -- I do love Cadets 2000, though. The year is 2030. What does a DCI show look like? Well, by 2030 drum corps is going to be ridiculous. There will be a whole new circuit that's extreme drum corps, where the corps will have to march around fire while the whole ground moves and shakes -- haha, yeah, something like that. Feel free to add anything else you'd like. I can't wait for the summer!