Blue Knights and the Ogden Standard Examiner

This post is about my nephew, Seth. There are pictures and some video about the drum and bugle corp he is in. I had no idea how cool it is that he made the corp, until I saw their practice and performance. Not only is he a great kid, he is an outstanding musician and because of it, he has a full scholarship. I'm proud to be his aunt.

Aubrey found an article on the front page of the Ogden Standard Examiner for July 9th about the Drum and Bugle Corp. It is an interesting article with a great picture. Here is the link to a video that shows their practice. Amazing that these kids do this for 15 hours a day for an entire summer.

http://www.standard.net/live/news/177963/

Thursday, July 9, 2009 | 1 Comment [ View ]
Drum Corps International Competition / Corps see WSU event as a vital step to reaching the finals
By DI LEWIS
Standard-Examiner staff

OGDEN -- On a day when most people would be in the shade sipping something cold, the Blue Knights were dressed in black and gliding across the field in formation.

They were rehearsing for Wednesday night's competition at Weber State University, because getting to the finals of the Drum Corps International competition in Indianapolis means these tan teens don't get much down time.

Some had instruments raised, brass bells pointing toward the stadium seats, others carried drums while still others tossed flags high in the air. All were brought together for the summer by a common passion.

George Lindstrom, event manager for Corps Encore, understands what drives the performers and staff because he has been involved with the community since he was 17.

"It's a passion," Lindstrom said. "It's a desire to overcome the odds and match the challenge.

"It's a lot of really good musicians. It's elite."

Mark Hartman, public relations for the Denver-based Blue Knights, said there are 22 corps in the World Class division in which the Blue Knights compete.

Drum and bugle corps are the closest thing to a professional marching band, he said, but are not affiliated with a school or team.

The corps came out of a military musical tradition and have only brass instruments, drumline and flags.

Corps like the Blue Knights follow a grueling schedule. Beginning in November, tryouts are held for the 150-person corps.

Ashley Drayer, a staff member, former drum major and former lead baritone, said for the more competitive World Class division, less than 30 percent of the people who try out make it.

"They're the best of the best in their city or state or program," she said.

Hartman said the Blue Knights have members from three countries and 20 states and range in age from 14 to 22.

They get the music to learn and meet once a month in Denver for the weekend, he said.

Once May hits, the corps members have two to three weeks of 12- to 14-hour days, rehearsing from morning to night, stopping only for meals and sleep.

"If you can handle this, you can handle just about anything," Hartman said.

After spring training, Hartman said they go on the road for eight weeks for a national tour.

Drayer said they cover 13,000 miles and 20 states to do 30 competitions, sleeping on gym floors and eating meals prepared in the food trailer that travels with them. And they pay thousands of dollars to participate.

With daily rehearsals and near-daily performances, there isn't much time left to do anything else.

"It's very surreal," said Drayer, who's been with the corps since 2003. "Even a gas station or a Wal-Mart seems exciting. You go inside and see all these pasty white people. It's strange."

But it's all worth it to hit the mark, hit the notes and hear the cheers of thousands, Hartman said.

Drayer said, "A lot of them say it's great to be the rock star for the night."

Then once the finals are over in August, most head back to play in a school band.

When members of elite bands run into each other, Lindstrom says they understand the price paid to be at the top.

"There's a commonality," he said. "They understand what every kid has gone through to get where they are."