LETTERS THAT CAPTURE THE TRUE SPIRIT OF DRUM AND BUGLE CORPS - FROM
THOSE WHO KNOW!!!
To Whom It May
Concern:
From 1983-1989 I
was a member of the Concord Blue Devils. These are the same Blue
Devils who just celebrated their 50th Anniversary with
their 12th Drum Corp International title earlier this
month. Being a member of the Blue Devils provided a unique
opportunity for me growing up. While most of my friends and
classmates participated in the standard activities for kids, I was
traveling to Italy, Japan and all over the Unites States as a member
of the Blue Devils. I learned the value of teamwork, sacrifice and
dedication. I learned how to handle losing and the wonderful
feeling of performing a great show and being rewarded with first
place. I was able to apply these lessons as a college student and
in the working world. I made wonderful friendships and have
cherished memories all because of my affiliation with the Blue
Devils.
To many people
Las Vegas is the entertainment capitol of the world. From
outstanding live music to famous stand-up comedians and the amazing
Cirque de Soleil shows, Las Vegas is a destination hotspot. People
come here from all over to experience live entertainment. And that
is why, it is my belief, that it is a perfect fit for a Drum and
Bugle Corp.
A Drum and Bugle
Corp would be an added element to the rich history of Las Vegas. A
corps embodies all that is good with live entertainment; great music
and wonderful dancing by talented people. Talented young people,
who right now, have to travel to other states to participate in drum
and bugle corp because their hometown doesn’t have one. But that
can be changed with the support of the City of Las Vegas and the
people who live here.
Kids in Southern
Nevada are missing out on a wonderful opportunity because there is
no Drum and Bugle Corp. Let’s change that and at the same time show
the world that Vegas is famous for one more thing-a world class Drum
and Bugle Corp!
Sincerely,
Melissa Mead-Shoop
Henderson, Nevada
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUnk8PeH5M4
When a kid
marches drum corps they learn a lot of things, I know I did. But
one of the biggest things I learned was a life-lesson. I learned
that if I wanted something in life, I'm gonna have to work for it.
Everyday, I'm gonna have to work. I'm going to have to stay focused
and be willing to make sacrifices of my time, resources,
financially, whatever it takes- if I really want it.
I marched drum
corps when I was 19 and when I was 20. I was just starting college
at that time and I was studying to become a pharmacist. The skills
I learned in drum corps: my work ethics, focusing my energy and
efforts translated into success in the classroom. I was always a
bright kid, but I wasn't always focused. I credit my time in drum
corps and the experiences for elevating me through the tough times,
the finals weeks, and 9 years of college to graduate with my
doctorate in pharmacy.
It's more than a
bunch of kids marching in formation around a football field. It is
the passion and drive of the sport of marching in motion of these
young performers, learning how to work as a team, take direction
from leaders, how to listen, how to practice and see their hard work
translate into an entertaining product for friends and families to
celebrate and enjoy during a summer evening on a football field....
that is the experience of drum corps and what it can bring to
hundreds of youth to the city of Las Vegas.
Dr. Matthew Stone
PharmD
I'm Matt, 31
years old, pharmacist in Las Vegas.
I marched with
the Marauders from Longview Washington in 1994 on Soprano
and I marched
Velvet Knights from Anaheim California in 1995 on Mellophone (I met
Randy this year).
=======================
To Whom It May
Concern:
My husband and I
were first time visitors to a Drum Corps International event this
year. We were introduced by Randy Warner. We were extremely
impressed with the whole program and feel it is an excellent way of
engaging young people in a performing arts program that has the feel
and sense of belonging that exists in team sports. I have been
involved in performing arts my whole life and currently serve on the
board of two non-profit arts organizations in Las Vegas. We
heartily support Mr. Warner’s efforts and feel it would be a great
addition to the Las Vegas musical arts scene.
Sincerely,
Valerie Abraham
=======================
Ara
It's hot. The
sun is beating down upon me. The long, untrimmed grass underneath my
feet is acting like glue. I can barley march through it. I look
around me and see my corps mates breathing heavily. They are just as
tired as I, yet they still play on. As do I. This is all typical for
any rehearsal day in a drum and bugle corps. The months of
pre-season preparation, the sweaty hot and sometimes rainy days
spent in early June all lead to a final ten-minute show performed on
a football field. While these shows are the most fun part about
being in a drum corps, the part that makes individuals better are
these oh-so-sweaty rehearsal days. These are the days that made me a
better person. These are the days when I could have given up but
never did. With out drum corps, I would have never experienced days
like these. Drum corps isn't about how talented a person is or how
in shape they are. It is about the individual. It separates those
who can't from those who won't. Drum corps makes better people.
======================
My introduction
to Drum Corp was as a child growing up in Jersey City, NJ where they
would have Junior and Senior Drum Corp competitions at the old (it
has since been torn down and condo's built there) Roosevelt
Stadium. There I would watch the Hawthorne Cabaleros, New York
Skyliners, Reading Bucaneers, Bayonne Bridgemen, Garfield Cadets,
etc. strut their stuff. Of course, those were the days when a show
would start at one end zone and conclude in the other end zone. It
was not uncommon at that time for at least 10 corp members to pass
out at the end of the show. Multiple ambulances and medical
personel were at the scene to tend to their needs. This was before
the term "paramedics" was used.
I had lost track
of Drum Corp after that untilI I completed college and received my
first job as a High School Band Director. There, one of my students
was a member of the Hawthorne Muchachos, and he convinced me to
attend a competition. I became hooked and traveled to every show I
could. Of course, those were the days when there were dozens of
corps in the New York Metropolitan area and you could attend a
different show every weekend during the Summer if you wished. I
would travel to Connecticut, Massachusetts, Allentown PA, and of
course locally to Clifton High School Stadium (home of many local
shows) and Giant Stadium. The biggest shows, naturally were at
Allentown District Stadium in Pennsylvania where I would always go
for the Junior Regional and Senior Final events.
While teaching at
Montclair High School (New Jersey) I was asked to be the horn
instructor for a new corp that was starting up in Bloomfield, New
Jersey called the Cavaliers. I did this for two seasons.
When a new Senior
Corp (the Bushwackers) was starting up in New Jersey, I took my
first step in performing in a drum corp. I marched in the Baritone
line of the Buschwackers for their first three seasons. The year
after I left, they took first place at the Senior finals (I hope my
leaving wasn't the defining difference).
After that, my
marching was confined to the Union Bands (Asbury Park, NJ U. F. of
M. local) where I actually got paid to march on weekends!
My love of Drum
corp did not end there, as I still attended every competition I
could both out of enjoyment and necessity. As a High School Band
Director, keeping up with the corps was like "In-Service" training,
as the trends of Drum Corp were followed by the trends in High
School Marching Bands.
It got more
difficut to find a local show, since those dozens of corps had
suddenly left. Gone were the 27th Lancers, Bayonne Bridgemen,
Hawthorne Muchachos, etc. This left only periodic Senior shows and
the shows at Giant Stadium and in Allentown.
Now living in Las
Vegas, the only show I get to see is the DCI Prelims at the local
movie theater.
Larry Fried
===================================
How does one
motivate an inner city child today? With all the budget cuts
in the schools,
after school programs brought down to the most basic, and
tenured teachers
fighting for the scraps? How do you get the parents
involved in the
child's education - and I mean REALLY involved, becoming a
part of their
learning process, no matter their work hours, and no matter
their house hold
income levels?
To be honest -
the exact same way you did 40 years ago - and that is with
the gift of music
and there really is only one place - or should I say one
unit that can do
that and that is with Drum Corp. Drum corps. Shows the
child that their
goals in life are attainable - that there is a need for
both the
individual to stand out - AND - more importantly in most cases the
team. Drum
corps. Can teach without preaching! Respect for each other,
for property and
for those who contribute to the team no matter the size of
the contribution
or the cost. Drum Corps. Can teach Pride in ones self,
ones
accomplishments and ones team members and their accomplishments.
And
maybe most
importantly - Drum Corps. Can offer the child a sense of self, a
sense of their
importance in this world and that there is much more to life
than drugs and
violence they see everyday.
How do I know all
that? Well, I was that child 40 years ago - and I
attribute a great
deal of my success to those folks in drum corp. that
dedicated their
money, their experience and maybe most importantly their
time to invest in
the inner city kids of Bridgeport Connecticut. Then -
there were at
least 7 corps. Within 25 miles of my house - sadly today as in
Las Vegas there
are none. What are the kids doing after school and on week
ends to keep them
busy, to teach them all the things I already spoke about?
Well, read the
papers. I'm not saying that Drum Corps can fix all of the
problems of the
world - but it is one of the few investments that I know of
that can ONLY do
good.
Michael G.
D'Amore Sr.
Managing Director
Las Vegas Trade
Show Guide
2505 Anthem
Village Dr. E556
Henderson, NV.
89052
=================================
The two summers
that I spent doing Drum Corp were the
most significant
and life changing months of my life.
Marching in a
Drum and Bugle Corp teaches musicians so
many different
aspects of musicianship, work ethic,
perfectionism,
friendship, and compassion. The
experiences ones
takes with them carry on throughout
their lives and
are applicable to not only ones
career, but
personal life as well. Being a Cavalier
has taught me to
work harder than I ever have, strive
for perfection at
the most minute level, and most of
all, be a caring
friend. I cannot think of a better
activity for
today’s youth. It was truly one of the
most life
changing experiences of my life.
Hope you like it,
John Ferro
(702)205-8805
==============================
In 1999 Madison
Scouts performed Jesus Christ Super Star….. That is the last show I
went to and I barely remember it. To be honest, the whole weekend
was a blur. I don’t remember much of the show and could not even
tell you who won. But that really is not important. I went to
that show as an escape from the reality of my father dying from
cancer. All of my memories from that weekend revolve around
reminiscing with old friends from Pioneer & Madison who I had not
seen in years. Losing a loved one to cancer is a horrible thing
which I would not wish upon anyone but having all of those wonderful
friends surrounding & supporting me was a time I will never forget
and is one of the most important reasons I believe we need a Drum &
Bugle Corps here in Las Vegas!
It’s true,
children involved with Silverado Drum & Bugle Corps will learn about
music and the performing arts. They will learn discipline, focus,
the importance of hard work, dedication and loyalty. They will
learn the thrill of victory, the agony of defeat and will have
memories which last their whole life. To this day more than 2
decades removed when I think about stepping into Camp Randall
Stadium for my final performance in 1986 I get chills up my spine
and a lump in my throat!!. All of these life experiences are very
worthwhile and important as children become young adults. However,
the most precious gift (and one they will likely not realize or
appreciate until they are older) is the pride and joy of belonging
to a brotherhood that extends well beyond their corps and the
companionship of life long friends. There are very few
organizations in the world which can provide this type of
experience.
May You Never
Walk Alone!
Best regards,
Peter Knight
Pioneer 1980-84
Madison Scouts
1985-86 |
