William Penn University Athletic Bands to Host Drum Corps Competition

The Vanguard Cadets Drum & Bugle Corps from Santa Clara, CA in Oskaloosa 2014 (file photo)

William Penn University’s Athletic Band program is bringing an exciting new event to Oskaloosa this summer. “Drum Corps Mid-America” is a competition between six of the best Open Class Drum & Bugle Corps from across the U.S. and will be held at the Oskaloosa Community Stadium on Wednesday, July 27. There are over 135 events each year in cities and towns across the country, touching more than 40 states. Over 400,000 fans attend these competitions each summer.

The host of this regional event is William Penn University Athletic Bands. The competition will start at 7:00 p.m. at the Lacey Complex. Tickets to the event will be $12 in advance or $15 at the gate on July 27. Groups of 20 or more may purchase tickets at $10 each.

These Drum & Bugle Corps are not only similar to the high school marching band programs in respect that they play and march, consist of a horn line (all brass), color guard, drum line and front line pit, but they reach a much higher level of precision and performance being an inspiration of what high school programs are today.

Drum Corps are non-profit organizations, considered the “Major League of Marching and Music”, and involve young people, ages 13–22 competing at over 100 events each summer throughout North America. Each year, more than 8,000 students audition for the fewer than 3,500 positions available in the top-tier Drum Corps International member corps.

Each full-size drum corps consists of 150 members and 50–60 staff and crew and essentially live on the road during the months of June, July and August while gearing toward the World Championships in Indiana.

WPU has been bringing various drum corps to Oskaloosa during the last seven years for mid-season rehearsal camps, and each year they have performed an exhibition for the Oskaloosa community.