Twenty-four corps members selected for All-DCI Color Guard

Twenty-four high school seniors from the ranks of Drum Corps International units have been selected as members of the 2010 All-DCI Color Guard. Representing 16 corps and 13 states, ensemble members will perform as part of the halftime show for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas on Jan. 9 at the Alamodome. The standout color guard performers will complement the 97-member U.S. Army All-American Marching Band during a five-day series of rehearsals, events and performances. Together, members of this elite marching ensemble will showcase their talents at the bowl game which is the country's premier high school football event. "It is such an honor to be picked out of a number of other applicants for the 2010 All-DCI Color Guard," said Sara Johnston, a senior at South Lyon, Mich. High School and a three-year member of Legends Drum and Bugle Corps. "Having the opportunity to be with other fantastic performers will be a very fun experience." Spearheaded by the National Association for Music Education (MENC), and New Jersey-based sports marketing and event management company SportsLink, participation in the U.S. Army All-American Marching Band has become one of the top honors for high school marching musicians and a premier educational experience. In just the third year of the All-American Marching Band, MENC received more than 1,300 nominations for less than 100 spots available to high school seniors across the country. "I was speechless to hear that I got picked to be in the All-DCI Color Guard. It's a complete honor and has already taught me that if I try hard enough for something, I can accomplish it," said Xavier Velasco, who has spent the last two summers as a member of the Madison Scouts' color guard. Receiving the same honors and treatment as their football-playing counterparts, band and color guard members will be flown into San Antonio on Tuesday, Jan. 5 to begin rehearsals. In a matter of days, the marching ensemble will learn and perfect a six-minute production for the halftime show. Color guard members were chosen specifically for their participation in Drum Corps International groups and represent a diverse cross-section of corps membership. The experience will give these individuals a unique opportunity to perform with their peers outside of DCI's competitive realm. "I can't wait to meet people from other corps so we can share our different experiences from the summer, and that's what I'm looking forward to most. I love new experiences and especially what I can learn from them," said Rachael Foster, a student from Moultrie, Ga. who just completed her first year as a member of Jacksonville, Fla.'s Teal Sound. "I am incredibly proud to be able to represent Citations, my high school band, and my town with this amazing opportunity to join other people who share the same passion," said Samantha Strong who beginning her affiliation with the Citations when she was only 11-years old, wrapped up her sixth season with the corps in August. The 24 selected All-DCI Color Guard members include:

• Heidi Brooks of Glenside, PA – Abington Senior HS, Jersey Surf
• Marissa Citarelli of Hampstead, NC – Topsail HS, Carolina Crown
• Taylor Coppolino of Fayetteville, GA – Whitewater HS, Spirit
• Taylor Dreessens of Cuba City, WI – Cuba City HS, Colt Cadets
• Anika Ehlers of Maquoketa, IA – Maquoketa Community HS, Colt Cadets
• Mallory Ford of Flower Mound, TX – Flower Mound HS, Glassmen
• Rachael Foster of Moultrie, GA – Colquitt County HS, Teal Sound
• Christina Gault of Franklin, WI – Waukesha North HS, Glassmen
• Lauren Henry of Lewisville, TX – Lewisville HS, Boston Crusaders
• Terry Hurley of Troy, VA – Fluvanna County HS, Madison Scouts
• Kelsey Jenkins of Hillsboro, OR – Glencoe HS, Oregon Crusaders
• Sara Johnston of S. Lyon, MI – South Lyon HS, Legends
• William Leveck of Cypress, TX – Cypress Woods HS, Blue Knights
• Danyelle Lynn of Dubuque, IA – Hempstead HS, Colts
• Maria Maggio of Galloway, NJ – Abseqami HS, Jersey Surf
• Amber Nieman of Delhi, IA – Maquoketa Valley HS, Colts
• Kelsey Novotnak of Owasso, OK – Collinsville HS, Memphis Sound
• Nikole Patterson of Coppell, TX – Coppell HS, Memphis Sound
• Nathan Pernick of Commerce Township, MI – Walled Lake Central HS, Santa Clara Vanguard
• Benjamin Quesinberry of Owensboro, KY – Owensboro Senior HS, Bluecoats
• Laura Saad of Somerdale, NJ – Sterling HS, Jersey Surf
• Samantha Strong of Reading, MA – Reading Memorial HS, Citations
• Xavier Velasco of Fond du Lac, WI – Fon du Lac HS, Madison Scouts
• Lindsay Vest of American Fork, UT – American Fork HS, Blue Knights

All-DCI Color Guard members will be instructed by Tim Newburn and Ronnie Bynum. Newburn is the color guard director for the Langham Creek and Cypress Ranch High Schools in Houston, Texas. He has worked with countless drum corps programs over the last 15 years including the Blue Knights, Glassmen, Bluecoats and Phantom Regiment. Bynum, who is a staff member with the Center Grove High School Marching Band, from Greenwood, Ind., has served as color guard caption head for the Cavaliers outside of his full-time job working with at-risk youth in collaboration with the Indianapolis Public School system. The 2010 U. S. Army All-American Marching Band will be directed by Nola Jones who in addition to her position as Director of Bands at the University of Tennessee Martin, serves as a Drum Corps International adjudicator. This year's All-American Bowl game will be nationally televised on NBC on Jan. 9, 2010. The marching band halftime performance will be Webcast via AllAmericanGames.tv, along with a dress rehearsal from 6 to 8 p.m. CST on Friday, Jan. 8. Until then, color guard and band members alike will be waiting with anticipation for the New Year. "I can't wait for my school to recognize me for all the hard work that I have done," said color guard member Will Levek who completed his first year as member of the Blue Knights in 2009. "I even told all my friends to watch for me on TV!" For more information on the U.S. Army All-American Marching Band, the U.S. Army All-American Bowl and its related events, visit USArmyAllAmericanBowl.com, MENC.org and GoArmy.com. Photos courtesy MENC.