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 | 
