Last year was a season of firsts for the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps. The corps, based in Canton, Ohio, won the Drum Corps International World Championship for the first time since it was founded in 1972 and there were many first-place finishes along the way.
The 2017 DCI Tour gets underway this week in Indianapolis. Next week, the Bluecoats will co-host a competition at 7:30 p.m. June 27 at Gateway High School Stadium in Monroeville.
Seven corps, including the Bluecoats, will appear at Innovations in Brass: Pittsburgh. The lineup includes the 10-time world champion Cadets of Allentown, Pa.; the Crossmen of San Antonio, Texas; the Troopers of Casper, Wyo.; the Colts of Dubuque, Iowa; Spirit of Atlanta from Atlanta, Ga., and Genesis of Austin, Texas. The event is co-hosted by the Gateway High School Band Boosters.
In 2016, the Bluecoats’ program “Down Side Up” included many soloists and movable 8-feet high by 8-feet wide slides that the performers used as stages as well as sliding boards.
Corps director David Glasgow said it will be difficult to match the magical excitement and popularity of last year’s production.
“This year will be quite a bit different. We’re going to look different, we’re going to sound different,” Mr. Glasgow said. “We’ve got another bold idea that we’re excited to show our audiences. Set pieces and props have become a major part of how we design our show and this year’s no different.”
As for repeating, Mr. Glasgow said that will be tough to do.
“Last year the show and the performance level had a spark to it that no matter what you do, it will be hard to re-create. The music itself is very accessible and very exciting. But you just can’t ever count on being able to have that hit factor every year.”
While the title of this year’s show has not been released, music will include selections by Thank You Scientist, Jonsi, John Psathas and Frank Zappa.
Three local performers are among the Bluecoats 150 members (brass, percussion and color guard).
Eric Homol, 21, will be in his third season marching euphonium. Mr. Homol, a 2014 graduate of Moon High School who will be a senior at Indiana University in Bloomington, Ind., in the fall, said winning last year was overwhelming.
“It was a combination of relief, being awe-struck, a ton of happiness, and just a swarm of other various emotions. We just made a great mark on the Bluecoats and DCI history.”
Connor Fitzgerald, 18, is thankful he received a contract after his first audition for the Bluecoats’ color guard. He has been in Springdale High School’s band since seventh grade and graduated this year.
“It’s very exciting,” said Mr. Fitzgerald. “One of the things that drew me to the Bluecoats was their amazing ability to push the envelope and show what’s possible on a football field.”
Greg Hamilton, 21, is a 2013 graduate of Carrick High School who graduated in May from Penn State University with a bachelor’s degree in dance. He will be in his third and final year in the color guard.
Two other local performers are with other corps.
Rylee Shrump, 20, is in her third season in the color guard with the Cadets. She is a 2015 graduate of Norwin High School and will be a junior at Duquesne University.
“The family feeling is what constantly draws me back every year,” Ms. Shrump said.
Cameron Beal, 20, a 2015 graduate of Ford City High School and a student at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, is in his first season in the color guard of the Troopers. He marched with Spirit of Atlanta last year.
DCI Premiere at theaters Thursday
The DCI Tour Premiere this Thursday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis can be seen live at local Cinemark movie theaters at Monroeville Mall, Robinson, McCandless, Frazer and Center. The nationwide broadcast begins at 8:30 p.m.
In addition to the Bluecoats, Cadets and Crossmen, Carolina Crown of Fort Mill, S.C., the Cavaliers of Rosemont, Ill., and the Blue Stars of La Crosse, Wis., will be in competition.
Eight corps to compete at Baldwin
Another local show this season will be “DCI Pittsburgh presented by Three Rivers Summer Music Games” at 7 p.m. Aug. 2 at Baldwin High School Stadium.
Hosted by the Baldwin Highlander Music Patrons, the competition will feature the Cavaliers, Blue Stars, Crossmen, Troopers, Colts, Mandarins of Sacramento, Calif., Oregon Crusaders of Portland, Ore., and Pacific Crest of Diamond Bar, Calif.
Tickets for the events at Gateway ($15-$35) and at Baldwin ($30) are available through the DCI box office at 1-317-275-1212 or www.dci.org/tickets. Tickets also can be purchased at the gate, but prices increase the day of the event.
Ken Mrazik: kmrazik@ post-gazette.com or 412-263-1725.
First Published: June 18, 2017, 4:00 a.m.
