As the book closes on 2024, this countdown of some of the most-read headlines on DCI.org tracks the landscape of the drum corps activity over the course of the last calendar year.
10.
Phantom Regiment made preparations for a "new-look" season in 2024. The corps would go on to earn fourth place, its highest finish since 2012.
Now, as members of the design staff noted, this modern form of Phantom Regiment has arrived. And in 2024, the corps plans to build on 2023’s newly-traversed ground.
9.
Several key competitive storylines emerged from the first weekend of the 2024 DCI Tour.
Drum corps fans got an early look at three of the DCI Tour’s top-scoring corps, as Bluecoats, Boston Crusaders and Carolina Crown went head-to-head July 2 in Mason, Ohio. The same three corps finished among the top four in 2022 and 2023.
8.
On their way to a second-ever championship season, Bluecoats made an early statement up against fellow heavyweights in Oklahoma.
Finishing atop the lineup and setting the tone for a busy back half of the summer were the Bluecoats, continuing an undefeated start to the 2024 season.
7.
In the months prior to the start of the 2024 DCI Tour, several corps announced the beginning of their evaluation process for DCI's All-Age and Open classifications.
Three corps including the Minnesota Brass, Northern Lights and Steel City Ambassadors are seeking All-Age Class distinction, while two additional corps, Zephyrus and Memphis Blues, are seeking Open Class status. All five ensembles currently participate in DCI’s SoundSport program.
6.
Back at the beginning of the year, direcors and members from across the brand-new DCI All-Age Class were preparing for the division's inaugural season.
Just days into the new year, DCI All-Age corps directors got an exciting first taste of what they’ll experience as part of the Drum Corps International family, participating in several days of productive conversation at the DCI Annual Meeting in Indianapolis.
5.
A quartet of esteemed individuals were welcomed into the DCI Hall of Fame this past spring.
Joining the DCI Hall of Fame ranks in 2024 will be Scott Boerma, Michael Duffy, Gordon Henderson and Jon Vanderkolff. They will be honored as part of the 2024 DCI World Championships this August in Indianapolis.
4.
On the final day of the 2024 DCI World Championships, Bluecoats earned the corps' second gold medal, and first since 2016.
After a series of three-consecutive seasons ending with a silver medal, Bluecoats’ pursuit of the activity’s acme finally ends with this one phrase — 2024 DCI World Champions. Bluecoats become the eighth corps in DCI history to win multiple World Championship titles after clinching the 2024 title Saturday night inside Lucas Oil Stadium.
3.
Following the first-ever season of DCI All-Age, the classification's directors approved a new look to World Championship events.
The modification will expand what was a single competitive event Saturday morning of DCI World Championships Week in 2024, to two subsequent 2025 events on Friday, August 8 and Saturday, August 9 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
2.
Madison Scouts made history in 2024, earning a finalist position for the first time in seven years.
After positioning itself in 12th place midway through the season, the Wisconsin corps never relented, and rode the momentum of an energetic production to the corps’ first Finals appearance since 2017.
1.
Bluecoats' championship-winning season came fully into focus when the corps topped a World Class lineup of 21 in San Antonio.
Bluecoats’ final score of 93.025 eclipses the previous DCI Southwestern Championship high mark set just last year by nearly half a point. Saturday also marked the corps' first win in San Antonio since 2019, as they continue their undefeated streak through the 2024 summer season.
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