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28.02.2023
1 Stunde 38 Minuten
In 2019, the Ronald Reagan High School Marching Band from San
Antonio, TX won the Bands of America San Antonio Super Regional for
the third time with a record score of 97.30 winning outstanding
visual performance and outstanding general effect with their show,
‘Secret World.’ After bursting onto the scene in 2000, the Reagan
Rattler Band has won countless contests & Bands of America
Regionals and placed in finals 5 times at the BOA Grand Nationals
Championships in Indianapolis, IN., including two second-place
finishes and one class AAA championship. The Reagan marching band
has also been a consistent UIL State Marching Band finalist since
2004 and was selected to march in the 2018 rose parade in Pasadena,
CA, and the 2019 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City.
In 2005 the Reagan Band was the recipient of the prestigious
International Sudler Shield. The wind ensemble has also been a
consistent TMEA state honor band finalist and was invited to
perform at the 2018 Midwest Band & Orchestra Clinic in Chicago,
IL. In 1999 Ronald Reagan High School opened, splitting from the
nationally-known Winston Churchill High School in the North East
Independent School District, and the Ronald Reagan marching band
began competing in the year 2000. Their 2000 production featured
Smetana Fanfare by Karel Husa, Molto Ritmico & Lento for Brass,
from Dance Movements by Philip Sparke, & original music by Mark
Higginbotham. On October 7th in San Antonio’s Alamodome, the band
placed 3rd in prelims and 3rd in finals at their very first BOA
regional. And on November 4th at Alief Stadium in Houston, TX, the
Reagan band placed 2nd in prelims winning their first caption in
school history, outstanding general effect, and finished in 5th
place in finals. Joining me today is Mark Chambers who was the
director of bands for Ronald Reagan HS from 1999-2006, where he and
his team became arguably the single largest driving force in
spearheading a change in sound, visual, aesthetic, flow, design,
and theatrics within TX marching band. On this episode of
Storybook, we discuss The Ronald Reagan High School's 2000
production, “Perpetual Motion.”
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28.02.2023
2 Stunden 2 Minuten
William Pitts (b. 1986) is a composer, conductor, and arranger
from Atlanta. Growing up in Carrollton, Georgia, Pitts graduated
summa cum laude from Emory University, where he studied saxophone,
conducting, and composition. He has completed graduate study in
Music at North Georgia University and the University of Michigan.
Pitts most recently served as the Brass Arranger for the Phantom
Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps of Rockford, Illinois. As a member of
the corps, Pitts served as a Conductor for three years (2005,
2007-2008). He was a finalist for DCI's Jim Jones Leadership Award
all three years. In 2008, the Regiment took first place honors as
World Champions at the Drum Corps International Finals. Will was
also honored as Regiment's 2008 Mark Glasscoe Member of the Year.
In addition to his role as arranger, he has also served on
Regiment's management staff, and as the Brass Arranger and Composer
for the Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps. Pitts is active as
a music designer, adjudicator, and instructor for high school band
programs throughout the country. Marching ensembles performing his
arrangements have been recognized as State Marching Band Finalists
and Champions, along with Bands of America Regional Finalists,
Regional Champions, and Grand National Finalists. His concert
compositions and arrangements have been commissioned and performed
across the world. He has written works for and been commissioned by
the Boston Pops, the University of North Texas, the Canadian Staff
Band of the Salvation Army, Wake Forest University, the Atlanta
Youth Wind Symphony, the Atlanta Trumpet Ensemble, the Vega String
Quartet, the Atlanta Saxophone Quartet, the Northwinds Symphonic
Band, french hornist J.D. Shaw, tubist Christian Carichner, and
numerous other high school and collegiate wind and chamber
ensembles. He has also served as a production consultant and talent
for Tom Blair, Inc., Drum Corps International, and MTV. He
currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Atlanta Youth
Wind Symphony Foundation. As a music educator, Pitts has served on
the faculties of Duncanville High School in Duncanville, Texas, and
Pace Academy in Atlanta, Georgia, specializing in instrumental
music, conducting, and music theory.
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28.02.2023
1 Stunde 30 Minuten
In 2019, the Vandegrift High School Marching Band from Austin, TX
won the Bands of America Grand National Class 4A Championship
sweeping all captions and was named Grand National Champion with a
score of 97.18 winning the award for Outstanding General Effect
with their show, ‘Aria: Queen of the Night.’ After bursting onto
the scene in 2010, the Vandegrift Viper Band has won countless
contests & Bands of America Regionals and has also been a
consistent UIL State Marching Band finalist winning bronze in 2018,
silver in 2015, and gold in 2013. In 2019 the Vandegrift Band was
the recipient of the prestigious International Sudler Shield. The
wind ensemble has also been a consistent TMEA state honor band
finalist culminating in being named the 2018 TMEA 6A Honor Band.
The Vandegrift wind ensemble was also invited to perform at the
2020 Midwest Band & Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, IL. In 2009
Vandegrift High School opened, splitting from the nationally-known
Cedar Park High School in the Leander Independent School District,
and the Vandegrift marching band began competing in their first
year as a school. Their 2009 production featured "Finale, The
Promise of Living from The Tender Land," and "Third Symphony" by
Aaron Copland. On October 24th at Hays High School, the band placed
5th in prelims and 5th in finals, earning State Alternate, at their
very first Area D Marching Contest. Joining me today is Jeremy
Spicer who was the director of bands for Vandegrift HS from
2009-2014 and prior to his appointment at Vandegrift, he spent
eight years as a member of the staff at Cedar Park High School. On
this episode of Storybook, we discuss the Vandegrift High School's
2009 production, “Remembered.”
Mehr
28.02.2023
2 Stunden 17 Minuten
After winning their 2nd DCI world championship in 1995 with their
show ‘The Planets,’ The Cavaliers drum & bugle corps fell to
4th in 1996 and dropped to 7th place with their 1997 production,
“The Firebird.” The lowest the corps had finished since finishing
8th in 1984. The Cavies then moved back up to 4th place in 1998 and
then received the bronze medal in 1999 with their show, “Classical
Innovations.” That 1999 show also saw The Chicago Cavaliers taking
home their fourth High Percussion Award in the history of the
corps, all in the 1990s. In the year 2000… a design team came
together that would come to dominate DCI for the better part of the
next decade. Led by program coordinator Scott Koter, Michael Gaines
designed the drill, Richard Saucedo composed & arranged the
brass book, and Bret Kuhn & Erik Johnson composed &
arranged the battery & front-ensemble books. The 2000
production, “Niagara Falls,” featured music from and inspired by
Niagara Falls by Michael Daugherty, and Waves, from Soundings by
Cindy McTee as well as original music by Saucedo, Kuhn, &
Johnson. The 2000 season ended with The Cavaliers of Rosemount, IL
winning their 3rd DCI world championship, in a tie with The Cadets,
as well as winning the John Brazale Best Visual Performance Award,
the George Zingali Best Color Guard Performance Award, and the Fred
Sanford Best Percussion Performance Award. Joining me today are
future DCI Hall of Famers Bret Kuhn and Erik Johnson. Bret
served as Caption Head and Percussion Arranger for the Cavaliers
who won 6 World Championships and 5 High Percussion Awards during
his tenure. From 1995 to 2005 and 2008 to 2010, Erik Johnson
was on the instructional staff serving on the design team as the
front ensemble arranger and coordinator. On this episode of
Musicbook, we discuss The Cavaliers’ 2000 production, “Niagara
Falls.”
Mehr
28.02.2023
1 Stunde 48 Minuten
“Proud, Loud, and Pleasing the Crowd.” This is the mantra of the
Madison Scouts Drum & Bugle corps. And it’s safe to say that
since 1938, the Scouts have consistently brought audiences to their
feet with their entertainment-focused programs. And while the corps
had won two DCI world championships, in 1975 & 1988, for some,
it was the shows of the 1990s that really solidified the Madison
Explorer Scouts as one of, if not the favorite corps in all of DCI.
Whether you were an alum of the corps, had a friend or family
member that marched the corps, or just a normal fan with or without
ties to other drum corps, the Scouts of Madison, Wisconsin was the
corps you were always excited to see. Fans didn’t leave
their seats to get a hot dog or go to the restroom when the Green
& White took the field. After winning their 2nd DCI world
championship in 1988 with Latin music by Paul Hart & Ernesto
Lecuona, the corps spent the next few years exploring music from
musicals, big band, jazz, & jazz fusion before finding their
way back to Latin and Latin jazz music in 1994. This untitled
production featured Santos by Louie Bellson, Cuban Overture by
George Gershwin, & Malaga by Bill Holman. The corps had slowly
been creeping up the finalist rankings since their 9th place finish
in 1990 and finished the 1994 season in 6th place. For the 1995
season, the Scouts once again turned to Latin music by Joaquín
Rodrigo, Bill Holman, and original music by Scott Boerma, brass
composer & arranger, Jeff Moore, battery composer &
arranger, and Taras Nihirniak, front ensemble composer &
arranger. The Madison Scouts have had many crowd-pleasing shows
throughout their history; we could fill an entire season of
episodes focusing on each and every one of these shows. But perhaps
no Scouts’ production is more loved than the 1995 production. This
show has widely been considered one of the most entertaining drum
corps shows of all time and for some, is the hands-down favorite.
This opinion was in fact proven scientifically accurate with fans
and alums voting the 1995 show as the winner of the 2020 Virtual
Drums Along the Parade, with the 1988 championship show coming in
2nd. The 1995 DCI season ended with the Madison Scouts finishing in
4th place with a score of 95.40, and winning High Brass in a
three-way tie. Joining me today is composer and arranger Scott
Boerma, who was the brass composer & arranger for 20+ shows
over a span of 4 decades! And who without a doubt I consider to be
one of the "Four Horseman of DCI Arrangers.” If there was a Mount
Rushmore for DCI Music Arrangers, his face would be one of the
first 3 carved. On this episode of Musicbook, we discuss the
Madison Scouts’ 1995 production, “A Drum Corps Fan’s Dream: A Day
in the Life of a Bullfighter.”
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