By Allison Owen If there is anyone out there who has had to miss a drum corps camp because they are in an indoor drum line or winter guard, then they know exactly how I feel right now. I am torn between wanting my school's winter guard to get better and wanting to be at camp and helping my drum corps get better. I also would like to see my friends -- my drum corps family. This would have been my first camp as an official member, now it seems that this exciting time for me will have to be next month's camp.

Allison Owen
Changing the subject, it has been a busy couple of weeks in the world of drum corps. It's a great reminder that this summer will be here soon. Tentative tour schedules have been revealed, meetings with the corps directors were held in Denver, new rules have been voted on, some corps are considering amplification for their shows, and it has been announced that Esperanza will compete as a regional Division I corps this summer. Speaking of Esperanza, I had hoped that Memphis Sound would be competing with them this summer, but it seems that this will not be happening; so I wish them the best of luck as they move into Division I. While the tour schedules are being announced it is exciting for me to see who Memphis Sound will be competing with this season and which of my favorite Division I corps I will get the chance to see on tour. As I look at the Memphis tentative schedule for this summer I am very happy to see some of the opportunities we have and all the shows at which we will be competing. One thing that I am really looking forward to -- which may not seem like a big deal to anyone else -- is my 16th birthday. My 16th birthday, July 11, happens to fall on the day after the Kalamazoo, Mich., regional. As I said, this may not seem like a very big deal to anyone else, but I am extremely excited to spend the day before I turn 16 among the likes of the Blue Devils and Madison Scouts. I know I will see these corps other times on tour, but I think that this will be one of my most memorable birthdays -- obviously not just because I will finally be able to get my driver's license. One thing I know for sure is that this is not only going to be a memorable birthday, but an unforgettable and life-changing summer. This exciting drum corps season is going to be here sooner than we think. Check back next week to see how my journey to this summer unfolds. To everyone at Memphis Sound: I hope this weekend's camp went well; I miss you all!
 
Allison Owen is a sophomore at Science Hill High School in Johnson City, Tenn., who plans to audition for a corps in November. "I'm in the SHHS guard and I like writing, dancing, performing, traveling, photography and having fun. As for after high school/college, I don't know what I want to do ... I just know I would like to do something dealing with color guard, computers or writing," Owen said.