Drum Corps Competition Marches into Lacey Recreation Complex

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

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

OSKALOOSA – Excitement has filled the air since William Penn University’s Athletic Band program announced that a competitive marching and music event will return to Oskaloosa at a much higher level than ever before.

“Drum Corps Mid-America” is a competition between four of the best Open Class Drum & Bugle Corps from across the U.S. This unique experience will be held in the stadium at the Lacey Recreation Complex in Oskaloosa on Wednesday, July 27. There are over 135 DCI events each year in cities and towns across the country, touching more than 40 states. Over 400,000 fans are reported to attend these competitions each summer.

The host of this regional event is William Penn University Athletic Bands. Vanguard Cadets of Santa Clara, California, Genesis of Austin, Texas, Colts Cadets of Dubuque, Iowa, and Shadow of Oregon, Wisconsin will be the competitors. 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. This event is geared towards an all-ages audience.

These Drum & Bugle Corps are similar to 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 also reach a much higher level of precision and performance. These top-notch performances serve as an inspiration to many high school programs across the nation.

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 whom essentially live on the road during the months of June, July and August as they move toward the World Championships in Indiana.

Four years ago, the Oskaloosa High School Band Boosters co-hosted with the Dubuque Colts Drum Corps a similar event prior to the completion of the new stadium. Now that the stadium has been built, Drum Corps International has requested that Oskaloosa host another competition.

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. Last year, nearly 400 community members attended an exhibition performance, communicating a vast interest in the performing arts. Learn more about this exciting summer event by visiting www.wpufinearts.com or by calling 641-660-8620 for more information. Tickets are also available for purchase at Oskaloosa Hy-Vee, Mahaska Drug and the William Penn University Book Store.

Posted by on Jul 15 2016. Filed under Local News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.

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