Drum and Bugle Corps

Highlights: 2024 Drum Corps International Tour Schedule

June
26 Midwest Premiere - Rockford, MI
28 DCI Central Indiana - Muncie, IN
   Corps at the Crest - Student Edition - Walnut, CA
29 Barnum Festival: Champions on Parade - Bridgeport, CT
   Drums on Parade - Madison, WI
   Corps at the Crest - Walnut, CA
30 Cavalcade of Brass - Lisle, IL
   Western Corps Connection - San Bernardino, CA

July
 1 Drums Across the Desert - Mesa, AZ
 2 Summer Music Games in Cincinnati - Mason, OH
 3 Rotary Music Festival - Cedarburg, WI
 5 Brass at the Beach Conway, SC
   MidCal Champions Showcase - Central, CA
   Northwest Youth Music Games Portland - Portland, OR
   Show of Shows - Rockford, IL
 6 CrownBEAT - Lexington, SC
   DCI West - Stanford, CA
   Northwest Youth Music Games Seattle - Seattle, WA
   Whitewater Classic - Whitewater, WI
 7 DCI Capital Classic - Sacramento, CA
   River City Rhapsody - La Crosse - La Crosse, WI
 8 Drums Across the Smokies - Sevierville, TN
   Drums Along the Columbia - Pasco, WA
   Resound - Bakersfield, CA
 9 Drums Across America - Newnan, GA
   Northwest Youth Music Games Boise - Boise, ID
   The Kiwanis Thunder of Drums - Mankato, MN
10 Corps Encore - Ogden, UT
11 DCI Northern Alabama - Muscle Shoals, AL
   Music on the March - Dubuque, IA
12 Drums Along the Rockies - Cheyenne Edition - Cheyenne, WY
   Riverside Open - Riverside, CA
13 DCI Little Rock - Little Rock, AR
   Drum Corps Grand Prix - Clifton, NJ
   Drums Along the Rockies - Fort Collins, CO
   Gold Showcase - Vista, CA
   Midwest Classic - Northern, IL
14 Celebration in Brass - Ankeny, IA
   So Cal Classic - Cerritos, CA
15 Brass Impact - Olathe, KS
   West Texas Drums - Canyon, TX
16 DCI Abilene - Abilene, TX
   DCI Broken Arrow - Broken Arrow, OK
   DCI Hutchinson - Hutchinson, KS
18 DCI Waco - Waco, TX
   DCI Denton - Denton, TX
19 Beats in the Brook - Bellbrook, OH
   DCI Houston - Houston, TX
20 DCI Southwestern Championship - San Antonio, TX
   DCI Northern Ohio - Brunswick, OH
   The Buccaneer Classic - Landisville, PA
22 DCI Mesquite - Mesquite, TX
23 Spartan Syracuse Showdown - Syracuse, NY
   DCI McKinney - McKinney, TX
24 DCI Monroe - Monroe, LA
   DCI Southern Mississippi - Hattiesburg, MS
26 DCI Birmingham - Birmingham, AL
   The Masters of the Summer Music Games - Murfreesboro, TN
   White Rose Classic - Dover, PA
27 Bushwackers Invitational - Mt. Olive, NJ
   DCI Southeastern Championship - Atlanta, GA
   Music on the Mountain - Sheffield, PA
28 Drums in the Heartland - Orrville, OH
   NightBEAT - Winston-Salem, NC
30 DCI Delaware - Newark, DE
   Soaring Sounds - Centerville, OH
   Summer Music Games of Southwest Virginia - Salem, VA
31 DCI South Jersey - Egg Harbor Township, NJ
   DCI Huntington - Huntington, WV
   March On! - Champlin, MN

August
 1 DCI East Coast Showcase - Lawrence, MA
 2 DCI Eastern Classic - Allentown, PA
   Tournament of Drums - Marion, IA
 3 DCI Eastern Classic - Allentown, PA
   DCI Eastern Illinois - Mattoon, IL
   DCI Rochester - Rochester, NY
   Drums on the Ohio - Evansville, IN
 4 Big Sounds in Motion - Downingtown, PA
 5 DCI Open Class World Championship Prelims - Marion, IN
   DCI Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh, PA
   Innovations In Brass - Canton, OH
   DCI Lake Erie - Edinboro, PA
 6 DCI Open Class World Championship Finals - Marion, IN
 8 DCI World Championship Prelims - Indianapolis, IN
 9 DCI World Championship Semifinals - Indianapolis, IN
   Shining a Light on Music Education - Indianapolis, IN
10 DCI All-Age World Championships - Indianapolis, IN
   DCI World Championship Finals - Indianapolis, IN

(cadets.org)

Erie, Pennsylvania (October 13, 2023) — Cadets Arts & Entertainment (CAE), the non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that oversees The Cadets Drum Corps, has announced the suspension of The Cadets 2024 competitive season.

This decision follows a thorough CAE Board review of the organization’s current financial condition. The board concluded that, while overall planned expenses for the 2023 season were managed within expectations, the organization fell short of its fundraising goals for the year.

“This was a difficult decision to make, one that will inevitably be met with great disappointment and sorrow,” said CAE Board Chair John Broschak. “Simply put, budgeted fundraising amounts did not materialize as anticipated, which has led to an unsustainable financial situation and concerns about providing a quality Cadets experience for 2024. For these reasons, the CAE Board has no other choice but to suspend The Cadets’ 2024 competitive season.”

CAE also announced that Vicki Ferrence Ray has resigned as Executive Director. Brian Murphy continues as Cadets Corps Director.

Broschak noted that, since CAE’s fiscal year ends on October 31, the organization is determined to do the responsible thing by suspending before the new season begins in earnest.

“The care and concern for our students remains our top priority,” Broschak said. “We would only have moved forward with the competitive season if we had the ability to provide a quality experience for our members, staff and volunteers. The CAE Board will continue to evaluate our path forward in the coming weeks.”

Despite recent financial challenges, The Cadets had an admirable year, achieving fifth place and ending the season with the corps’ highest Finals score since 2015. Earlier this year, CAE successfully relocated The Cadets Drum Corps and the organization’s operations from Allentown, Pa., to the Erie Sports Center in Erie, Pa.

“On behalf of the entire CAE Board, I want to express our heartfelt gratitude to all members and supporters who contributed to this past year’s success and that of years prior. I also want to recognize the tireless efforts of our staff and volunteers who donated countless hours to help provide an extraordinary experience for our members,” Broschak said.

Established in 1934, The Cadets is the oldest corps of its kind, and one of the most decorated drum corps in history, having won 10 American Legion National Championships and 10 Drum Corps International World Championships.

EMPOWER YOUTH IN THE PERFORMING ARTS, INC. ANNOUNCES CESSATION OF SOUTHWIND DRUM AND BUGLE CORPS OPERATIONS

Mobile, AL – October 11th, 2023 – The Empower Youth in the Performing Arts, Inc. (EYPA) Board of Directors is announcing the difficult decision to cease operations of Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps.

“We are very sad to shut down the corps,” said EYPA Board President Cathy Chandler. “But the continued rising costs of transportation and housing within the current tour model, which accounts for almost 65 percent of the corps’ budget each summer, have placed the corps in a position where we are no longer able to participate and maintain financial stability. As an organization that cares first and foremost about its students, we are unwilling to lead them into a fiscally irresponsible situation that could leave them hanging for the summer. Rather than risk their experience, we are making the tough choice to cease operations.”

Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps has been proud to offer a one-of-a-kind musical and educational experience for its students since its founding in 1980. Throughout the years, hundreds of youth have had the opportunity to explore, grow, and excel with Southwind. This past summer saw the corps’ return to the medal podium with a third place finish in Open Class. Previously, Southwind won championships in 1991 and 1992 in Class A/Division II, and its highest placement was in 2000, when the corps ranked 13th in what is now the World Class division.

Southwind is grateful for all members and supporters who have contributed to the corps over the years, and we thank the staff and volunteers that have spent countless hours working with members to help them grow as musicians and people.

The organization has made it a priority to work with individual members and their families to ensure they are properly equipped and supported through this process. The EYPA organization will continue to support these members as they transition to finding new opportunities within the marching arts.

Going forward, EYPA will continue its dedication to serving young people in performing arts, providing opportunities for artistic expression, personal growth, and community involvement.