Soaring Sounds - Centerville, OH DCI Show

We couldn't have asked for a better night for a drum corps show. The weather was fantastic. Thunderstorms were predicted, but they were a no-show.

First up was the Division III Marion Glory Cadets from Marion, OH. The Glory Cadets' program featured the music of Gustav Holst's The Planets. Critically speaking, the color guard was the worst I have ever seen. [Full disclosure: I marched soprano (trumpet) in the 1989 Limited Edition Drum and Bugle Corps and did winterguard (rifle and flag) in high school.] The good news is that the pit (or front ensemble) was quite good and the drum line shows promise of being a foundation upon which to rebuild the corps.

Next up were the Bandettes, the all-girl corps from Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, Canada. They are small, but an adequate horn line is up to the task. Occassional brass/percussion balance problems, but you have that in a corps of this size.

The Troopers ARE Coming! From Casper, Wyoming, the Troopers are a traditional corps that doesn't disappoint. They won't wow you, but their performance will impress you with good balance and blend and a solid horn line.

Playing the music of Jerry Goldsmith, Southwind from Lexington, Kentucky has a visual style that reminds me of my favorite corps, the Phantom Regiment. They are semi-finals worthy this year!

From Toldeo, Ohio is the Glassmen present a show in tribute of Martha Graham [whom I had to Google in order to figure out who she was.] I have never been a big fan of the Big G and I still find them annoying after all these years. That multiple costume changes for the guard is quite unneccessary and most distracting. If I notice the guard it is for one of two reasons: either I have found a cute girl or the guard is distracting. As much as I wish it were the former, it was the latter in this case.

The Madison Scouts presented another high energy performance with their signature sopranos. Both the soloists and the entire soprano line were top notch and the closer was fantastic.

Still the best horn line in the business, the Blue Devils from Concorde, California put together quite a show that just might get them another DCI championship.

Presenting what I thought was the best overall program of the night was Santa Clara Vanguard. Featuring the music of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade, SCV performs the show with style and grace. Not as much of a "general effect" kind of show (especially when compared to the raw energy of the Blue Devils), the Vanguard will end up feeling like Phantom Regiment did back in 1989...the better show losing out to style over substance.

The scores:

Corps/My Score/Official Score/Placement

Marion Glory Cadets/48.6/68.05/7th
Bandettes/45.2/59.60/8th
Troopers/56.8/72.65/6th
Southwind/65.7/75.05/5th
Glassmen/72.6/83.25/4th
Madison Scouts/80.2/86.75/3rd
Blue Devils/89.9/91.40/1st
Santa Clara Vanguard/92.4/89.90/2nd

The Centerville HS Band Boosters put on a great show! I'm looking forward to the show in Fairfield, OH next week with Phantom Regiment.