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Drums Along the Mohawk Helps Band in Alabama

Posted August 5th, 2011

One of Central New York's premier summertime musical events will take place on Thursday, August 4 at Rome Free Academy Stadium but their helping hands will reach into tornado devastated Alabama!

When a tornado ripped through Alabama last April, the Phil Campbell High School band lost approximately 85% of its band equipment with little insurance to cover replacement or repairing costs. The Alabama students are using the 1,000 reclaimed bricks of their destroyed band room as a "ONE BRICK AT A TIME" campaign to replace or repair their instruments.

Drum Corps International and its member corps decided to assist the High School with a donation toward instruments and equipment and posted it on its website. When Claudette Wire, director of Drums Along The Mohawk, heard about the DCI donation and saw the devastation of the band room online, she approached her committee for the approval of a donation to the band. The decision was unanimous and some committee members even added their personal donations. Drums Along The Mohawk and committee will donate $300 to the brick campaign.

When Wire posted the donation on the Drums Along The Mohawk's Facebook page, she received a message from Bob Jacobs, Marketing Director of DCI and corps director for Jersey Surf, who has appeared in Drums Along The Mohawk several times. Jacobs responded, "A great gesture from one of the consistently greatest events annually on the DCI tour."

Wire said, "Our mission statement for Music for Kids allows us to 'provide scholarships and grants to deserving individuals, groups or organizations in the music field' and this band lost everything in their program that took years to build."

Drums Along The Mohawk will accept additional donations at the DATM booth for the fans attending Drums Along The Mohawk next week who want to make a donation to the Phil Campbell school band. Wire also posted a challenge on Facebook to all DCI shows across the country to make a donation to "One Brick at a Time".

DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK will celebrate its 33rd show with six outstanding corps from Drum Corps International that include: The Academy of Tempe, AZ; Bluecoats of Canton, OH; Legends of Kalamazoo, MI; Pacific Crest of Diamond Bar, CA; Raiders of Wayne, NJ and a favorite of the Rome area fans, Troopers of Casper, WY.

Tickets for the show are available through the show website www.drumsalongthemohawk.com, by calling 315-339-6484 or stopping by the stadium beginning Thursday July 28 from 5:30-8 through show time next week. Ticket outlets are: They are also available at the Rome Chamber of Commerce office at 139 West Dominick Street, Rome; BIG APPLE MUSIC at 8441 Seneca Turnpike in New Hartford, and at Remington Federal Credit Union located at 39 Central Plaza.

Get your tickets now! Come feel the music!

Drums Along the Mohawk Announces 2011 NYS Award Winners

Posted August 1st, 2011

The 33rd Drums Along The Mohawk will take place at 7 PM on Thursday, August 4 at Rome Free Academy Stadium. Local sponsors and ticketholders should be extremely proud of the field of young adults that will march on RFA football turf and also many fields across the country. The show in Central New York makes it possible for these young people to pay their Drum Corps International (DCI) Corps Tour Fee that allows them to participate with Marching Music's Major League.

Local sponsors supporting the event this year are Quadsimia, WKTV-Channel 2, and Townsquare Media and Wade Bus Tours.

According to Claudette Wire, director of the show for the past 32 shows, ticketholders come from the Mohawk Valley as well across the country and Canada. She said the tour awards have been given since 1992 and help students from New York State fulfill their dream to march with a DCI corps. This year, four students will receive the award, two are members of the New Hartford Marching Spartans and all are marching with DCI corps. As of this year, DATM has contributed for the drums corps experience for over 80 marching members of drum corps.

This year, two former tour award winners are making the presentation. Matthew Bauer, formerly of New Hartford, received his award (2006,2007) while marching with Boston Crusaders of MA and is now a volunteer for Drums Along The Mohawk. Shawn Westover, of Auburn, received his award (2005) while marching with The Magic of FL will attend the show as a fan!! They will represent DATM and make the award presentations at the Aug 4 event.

The 2011 DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK Tour Award Winners are:

Andrew Fortuna, Utica, NY is a student at SUNY Brockport and is marching with the BOSTON CRUSADERS, Massachusetts in the Snare Line.

Kayleigh Hind, New Hartford, NY a student at Cornell University, is marching her second year with the CAROLINA CROWN, South Carolina in the Color Guard.

Brandon Luce, Batavia, NY is from Robert Wesleyan College and is marching his age out year with the BLUECOATS, Ohio in the hornline.

Daniel Smith, Johnstown, NY a student from University of Utah is in his third year marching with THE CAVALIERS, Illinois in the Color Guard.

Drum corps appearing in the Drum Corps International 2011 show are:

DCI 2010 Bronze medalist Bluecoats of Canton, OH; Legends of Kalamazoo, MI; Pacific Crest of Diamond Bar; CA; Raiders of Wayne, NJ; The Academy of Tempe, AZ and a favorite of Rome area fans, Troopers of Casper, WY.

Tickets for the show are available through the official online ticket site http://tickets.drumsalongthemohawk.com or by calling 315-339-6484 or stopping at Rome Free Academy beginning Thursday, July 28 5:30-8:30 through showtime. They are also available at the Rome Area Chamber of Commerce office at 139 West Dominick Street, Rome; BIG APPLE MUSIC at 8441 Seneca Turnpike in New Hartford, and at REMINGTON Federal Credit Union located at 39 Central Plaza in Ilion.

Get your tickets now! Come feel the music!

Additional information about Award Winners from Program Book below.

2011 DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK Tour Award Winners

Brandon Luce, Batavia, NY from Robert Wesleyan College is marching his age out year with the BLUECOATS, Ohio in the hornline. Brandon says: "Since joining the Bluecoats 2010, I have learned what being a member of a world class drum corps is all about, and what it really takes to compete to become a world class medalist in the activity& His recommendation from Paul Shewan, Professor of Instrumental Music at Robert Wesleyan College tells us that Brandon: "has proven to be an outstanding student in every regard. He is disciplined, focused, easy to teach, diligent and always willing to go the extra mile."

Daniel Smith, Johnstown, NY a student from University of Utah is in his third year marching with THE CAVALIERS, Illinois in the Color Guard says: "The people of The Cavaliers that I have been able to meet, (staff and members) are some of the most talented people in the activity and this talent has driven me to be the best that I can be.&.. Daniel was recommended by Sheldon Apo, Color Guard Instructor of THE CAVALIERS who noted that "Daniel demonstrates the qualities of being a great Cavalier and possesses a natural talent to lead a group of young performers to strive to be their best..".

Andrew Fortuna, Utica, NY is a student at SUNY Brockport and is marching with the BOSTON CRUSADERS, Massachusetts in the Snare Line. ANDREW wrote: "The reason I am involved with the drum corps activity is first and foremost for the incredible experience that one has while being a part of a DCI (Drum Corps International) group.&.. friends and peers march various different drum corps and every time they came back from a tour, they are changed people for the better. His recommendation came from Steve Stoddard, New Hartford NY Marching Band Battery Caption Head. Steve said , "after Andrew's first season with Boston, New Hartford brought Andrew in to assist with the Winter Drumline who took first place in their division for 2011&.It is a pleasure to watch such a talented young man grow with a great activity and want to share it with others.".

Kayleigh Hind, New Hartford, NY, a student at Cornell University, is marching with the CAROLINA CROWN, South Carolina in the Color Guard. KAYLEIGH shares that: "I know that the drum corps activity is about so much more than marching around a football field day after day for three months. Drum corps is family! Drum corps is about optimism. Drum corps is also about learning you can do anything you put your mind to. I would not trade my experiences with Crown for the world.".

Kayleigh received her recommendation from James Branche, New Hartford NY, Marching Band Color Guard Caption Head and Winter Guard Assistant Director. He tells us that as Kayleigh begins her second year at Crown: "She was chosen to be a member of the Carolina Crown student leadership team because of her work ethic and leadership. She wants to see improvement in herself but also improvement in whatever group she is a member of.". She will be joining the New Hartford Color Guard Staff for the 2011-2012 season.

Drums Along the Mohawk Thursday in Rome

Posted July 30th, 2011

By VICTORIA CRUZ-GRIFFITH, Observer-Dispatch

Rome, New York - Drums Along the Mohawk has been a special event for more than 30 years.

Making this week's event even more special is that two out of the four Tour Award winners are from the area.

For the complete story, please click here.

Stadium Box Office Opens for Drums Along The Mohawk

Posted July 29th, 2011

The RFA stadium box office is now open for Drums Along The Mohawk tickets! The box office will be open evenings from 5:30pm to 8:30pm through show day, Thursday, August 4. Tickets are also available by calling 315-339-6484, at the Rome Area Chamber of Commerce, Big Apple Music in New Hartford, and Remington Federal Credit Union in Ilion or from the offiicial online ticket site http://tickets.drumsalongthemohawk.com.

Get your tickets now! Come feel the music!

Tickets for Drums Along the Mohawk Available at Ticket Outlets

Posted July 12th, 2011

Tickets for DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK, the Mohawk Valley's premier summer family musical event, are now available at the ROME AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, at BIG APPLE MUSIC in New Hartford and the REMINGTON FEDERAL CREDIT UNION in Ilion. DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK will take place at 7 PM on Thursday, August 4 at Rome Free Academy Stadium.

Drum corps appearing in the Drum Corps International 2011 show are: DCI 2010 Bronze medalist Bluecoats of Canton, OH; Legends of Kalamazoo, MI; Pacific Crest of Diamond Bar, CA; Raiders of Wayne, NJ; The Academy of Tempe, AZ and a favorite of Rome area fans, Troopers of Casper, WY.

Sponsors for this year's show are Townsquare Media, Quadsimia, WKTV-Channel 2, and Wade Bus Tours. The ROME AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE office is located at 139 West Dominick Street, Rome and is open Monday-Friday 9-5. BIG APPLE MUSIC at 8441 Seneca Turnpike in New Hartford is across from Jay-K Lumber. The popular music store is open Monday-Friday 9-9 and on Saturday 9-6. REMINGTON FEDERAL CREDIT UNION is located at 39 Central Plaza with office hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Thursday 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM as well as Saturday 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

Tickets for the show are also available through the show website www.drumsalongthemohawk.com or by calling 315-339-6484. Get your tickets now! Come feel the music!

DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK SET FOR AUGUST 4

Posted May 27th, 2011

One of Central New York's premier summertime musical events will take place on Thursday, August 4 at Rome Free Academy Stadium on Turin Street. DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK will celebrate its 33rd show with six outstanding corps from Drum Corps International.

Drum corps appearing in the 2011 show are: The Academy of Tempe, AZ ; Bluecoats of Canton, OH ; Legends of Kalamazoo, MI; Pacific Crest of Diamond Bar; CA; Raiders of Wayne, NJ and a favorite of the Rome area fans, Troopers of Casper, WY.

Claudette Wire, Director of the show, said she knows that fans will be delighted with this year's show. "It's an event that the whole family can enjoy! Whether you are a music major or just a fan of young adults performing, this show has the best of music, dance, performance, and precision. Everyone on the field is passionate for entertaining the audience!"

Tickets for the show are available online, http://tickets.drumsalongthemohawk.com or by calling 315-339-6484. Group rates are available to schools and music programs.

Four 2010 Drums Along The Mohawk Participants Are DCI Finalists

Posted August 17th, 2010

Four of the drum and bugle corps that competed at the 2010 Drums Along the Mohawk last week are now members of the elite "Top Twelve" of Drum Corps Internationals 2010 World Championships. The Cavaliers captured second place while the Bluecoats, who were the Drums Along The Mohawk champions, took third place. Santa Clara Vanguard had a seventh place finish and Madison Scouts took tenth place. Championships were held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana this past weekend. For a recap of scores, see: www.dci.org > scores.

Scores for the 2010 World Championship:

World Class

1.	Blue Devils - Concord, CA	98.90
2.	The Cavaliers - Rosemont, IL	97.75
3.	Bluecoats - Canton, OH	96.40
4.	Carolina Crown - Ft. Mill, SC	95.95
5.	The Cadets - Allentown, PA	95.10
6.	Phantom Regiment - Rockford, IL	93.15
7.	Santa Clara Vanguard - Santa Clara, CA	92.00
8.	Blue Stars - La Crosse, WI	91.90
9.	Boston Crusaders - Boston, MA	89.35
10.	Madison Scouts - Madison, WI	88.95
11.	Blue Knights - Denver, CO	87.10
12.	Glassmen - Toledo, OH	85.80

Bluecoats of Ohio are Champions at 2010 Drums Along The Mohawk

Posted August 6th, 2010

Scores for the 2010 Competition:

World Class

Bluecoats - Canton, OH	93.25
The Cavaliers - Rosemont, IL	92.65
Santa Clara Vanguard - Santa Clara, CA	88.50
Madison Scouts - Madison, WI	85.75
Spirit - Atlanta, GA	80.90
Pacific Crest - Diamond Bar, CA	78.95
Teal Sound - Jacksonville, FL	75.70
Mandarins - Sacramento, CA	75.15

Corps will travel to Allentown for a regional show and then to Indianapolis for the Drum Corps International World Championship final on Saturday, August 14. For recap of scores, go to www.dci.org > scores > Drums Along The Mohawk show.

Six Tour Award Winners Announced for 2010 at Drums Along The Mohawk

Posted August 5th, 2010

Drums Along The Mohawk announced six winners for their 2010 Tour Awards at the show, Thursday, August 05, 2010. The awards are given to marching members of Drum Corps International Corps to help defray expenses for their summer tour fees. The students must: be 14-22, be a New York State resident, complete an application, write an essay (to respond to the question: Why are you involved in the drum corps activity?), and recruit a letter of recommendation. Drums Along The Mohawk began the awards in 1992.

2010 Tour Award Winners are:

Kayleigh Marie Hind
Hometown: New Hartford
Marching with Carolina Crown - Color Guard
Recommendation by Ken Dining, Director of New Hartford Winter Guards, New York Federation of Contest Judges

Jonathan Charles Calhoun
Hometown: Norwich
Marching with Santa Clara Vanguard - Second Trumpet
Recommendation by Jeff Fiedler, Chief Executive Officer, Santa Clara Vanguard

Daniel Smith
Hometown: Johnstown
Marching with The Cavaliers - Color Guard
Recommendation by Bruno Zuccala, from The Cavaliers

Andrew Fortuna
Hometown: Utica
Marching with the Boston Crusaders - Snare
Recommendation by Steve Stoddard, New Hartford Marching Band, Battery Caption Head

Nicholas M. O'Hara
Hometown: Liverpool
Marching with The Cadets - Mellophone
Recommendation by James R. Dumas, Director of Liverpool High School Bands

Joseph Wormworth
Hometown: Pompey
Marching with Santa Clara Vanguard
Recommendation by Richard A. Cangemi

TICKETS STILL AVAILABLE FOR DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK

Posted August 4th, 2010

The RFA stadium box office will be open today 5:30-8:30pm and all day tomorrow until showtime for Drums Along The Mohawk held at RFA Stadium in Rome this Thursday at 7pm! Tickets are also available by calling 315-339-6484. Information regarding the show, directions and parking, and the eight World Class drums corps is available from the show website www.drumsalongthemohawk.com. Come feel the music!

WORLD CLASS DRUM CORPS BRING EXCITEMENT TO DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK AUGUST 5

Posted July 30th, 2010

According to Claudette Wire, Director, the Drums Along The Mohawk committee is especially excited about this year's show. Drums Along The Mohawk takes place Thursday, August 5 at 7 PM in Rome Free Academy Stadium. The premier summer event is a drum and bugle corps competition and is a member of the Drum International Summer 2010 Tour.

Wire said her committee is excited because "the date is in our favorite week in August, the lineup is just spectacular this year AND the drum corps will be perfecting their performances before championships in Indianapolis the following week." Wire added that, "the audience is in for a GREAT show!"

Plans have been underway for a year to find adequate housing for the World Class corps and for hosts for the hospitality dinners throughout the Mohawk Valley. Corps will be staying from Herkimer to Syracuse and throughout the area. Fans are invited to check www.drumsalongthemohawk.com during the week of the show to locate their favorite corps and watch rehearsals.

Tickets for the show are available now at the stadium 5:30-8:30 every night until the show, through the website or by calling 315-339-6484 and through the ticket outlets at the ROME CHAMBER OF COMMERCE office located at 139 West Dominick Street, Rome and at BIG APPLE MUSIC at 8441 Seneca Turnpike in New Hartford.

According to Wire, ticket sales for this year's event are definitely ahead of last year and drums corps fans are coming from all over of the country. "People feel the event will be an excellent competition and our ticket orders are from every state on the east coast, and up into Canada. Many people are following their favorite corps through Rome to championships!"

DCI and Drums Along The Mohawk invite the Mohawk Valley to "Come feel the music" with the following corps:

Bluecoats - Canton, OH
The Cavaliers - Rosemont, IL
Madison Scouts - Madison, WI
Mandarins - Sacramento, CA
Pacific Crest - Diamond Bar, CA
Santa Clara Vanguard - Santa Clara, CA
Spirit - Atlanta, GA
Teal Sound - Jacksonville, FL

The participating drum corps are all considered "World Class". According to Bob Jacobs, Director of Marketing for Drum Corps International and Corps Director for World Class Corps, Jersey Surf, the "World Class" corps are up to 150 members; average in age 18 and older; generally have a national scope of touring and many are college music majors. There was only one other show in Drums Along The Mohawk history that showcased ALL World Class corps according to Wire.

The committee invites the Mohawk Valley to get their tickets soon for this event. "This is a dynamic show," said Tammy Nahumck, Corps Guide Coordinator and board member for Drums Along the Mohawk, "no one should miss it!"

STADIUM BOX OFFICE OPENS FOR DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK

Posted July 29th, 2010

The RFA stadium box office will open today (Thursday), for Drums Along The Mohawk! The box office will be open evenings from 5:30pm to 8:30pm through show day, Thursday, August 5. Tickets are also available by calling 315-339-6484, at the Rome Chamber of Commerce, Big Apple Music in New Hartford, and from the website.

TICKETS FOR DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK ON SALE NOW

Posted June 29th, 2010

TICKETS FOR DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK ON SALE NOW AT ROME CHAMBER AND BIG APPLE MUSIC

Tickets for the Mohawk Valley's premier summer event, DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK are on sale now at the CHAMBER OF COMMERCE in Rome and BIG APPLE MUSIC in New Hartford. Drums Along The Mohawk will take place at 7 PM on Thursday, August 5 at Rome Free Academy Stadium.

Major sponsors for the event are WKTV-Channel 2, Townsquare Media, Quadsimia, Wade Tours and National Grid. Eight World Class Drum Corps are expected to appear in the show: Bluecoats of Canton, OH; The Cavaliers of Rosemont, IL; Madison Scouts of Madison, WI; Mandarins of Sacramento, CA; Pacific Crest of Diamond Bar, CA; Santa Clara Vanguard of Santa Clara, CA; Spirit of Atlanta, GA and Teal Sound of Jacksonville, FL.

The ROME CHAMBER office is located at 139 West Dominick Street, Rome and is open Monday-Friday 9-5. BIG APPLE MUSIC at 8441 Seneca Turnpike in New Hartford is across from Jay-K Lumber. The popular music store is open Monday-Friday 9-9 and on Saturday 9-6. Tickets for the show are also available through the tickets.drumsalongthemohawk.com or by calling 315-339-6484. Get your tickets now! Come feel the music!

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EIGHT WORLD CLASS DRUM CORPS COMING TO DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK AUGUST 5

Posted March 18th, 2010

Drums Along the Mohawk welcomes eight elite World Class drum corps for a spectacular summer stop on Drum Corps International's (DCI) Summer Tour '10 on Thursday, August 5 at the Rome Free Academy Stadium!

DCI and Drums Along The Mohawk invite the Mohawk Valley to "Come feel the music" with:

Bluecoats - Canton, OH
The Cavaliers - Rosemont, IL
Madison Scouts - Madison, WI
Mandarins - Sacramento, CA
Pacific Crest - Diamond Bar, CA
Santa Clara Vanguard - Santa Clara, CA
Spirit - Atlanta, GA
Teal Sound - Jacksonville, FL

Tickets are available now through the http://tickets.drumsalongthemohawk.com/ or by calling 315-339-6484. COME FEEL THE MUSIC!

ROME CHAMPIONS FOR DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK CAPTURE 2ND PLACE AT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP IN INDIANA

Posted August 10th, 2009

Photo Courtesy of Ryan Orilio, Drums Along The Mohawk Photographer

Drums Along The Mohawk Champion Carolina Crown, of Fort Mill, SC placed 2^nd at Drum Corps International's (DCI) 2009 World Championships this weekend in Indianapolis. Three of the corps appearing in the 2009 Drums Along The Mohawk on June 30 finished in the elite Top 12 of DCI. Carolina Crown, Holy Name Cadets of Allentown, PA and Boston Crusaders of Boston, MA all placed in the coveted Top 12. Carolina Crown scored 97.500 and Holy Name scored 97.200 capturing 2^nd and 3^rd place respectively. Boston Crusaders took 7^th overtaking the 2008 World Champions, Phantom Regiment, with a score of 90.700. Results of other corps from Drums Along The Mohawk are World Class: Jersey Surf, Camden County, NJ placed 20^th with a score of 78.550 and in Open Class: Teal Sound, Jacksonville, FL finished 4^th with a score of 91.250 and 7^th Regiment, New London, CT finished 11^th with a score of 81.35.

Undefeated throughout the season, the Blue Devils from Concord, CA took 1^st place to capture the 2009 championship with a score of 99.050.

The following scores were available from Drum Corps International 2009 World Class Finals. Recaps are available at dci.org.

Blue Devil - 99.050
Carolina Crown - 97.500
Holy Name Cadets - 97.200
The Cavaliers - 96.150
Santa Clara Vanguard - 95.650
Bluecoats - 93.150
Boston Crusaders - 90.700
Blue Stars - 90.050
Phantom Regiment - 89.900
Glassmen - 87.750
Blue Knights - 86.450
Troopers - 85.100

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NEWS FROM TERRI IVES, VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR, AS POSTED ON JERSEY SURF WEBSITE

Posted July 10th, 2009

Hi Everyone,

The nice folks at Argyle High School allowed me to tap into their internet line to send a quick update of Surf happenings from on the road. Last night, The Surf earned a score of 64.7 in their first ever World Class competition. From where I sat, the corps looked amazing! The crowd rewarded the first competitive effort of 2009 with a standing ovation. Comments from the crowd were very positive. A security guard working at the event summed it up with a comment to her friend, "That was hot!"

Backing up a little, here's a recap of what's happened since I joined the corps in Stroudsburg on Saturday night:

Our caravan departed Stroudsburg late Saturday evening and traveled overnight to one of my favorite housing/rehearsal sites, Herkimer High School in Herkimer, NY. The Herkimer hosts are very accommodating and the townspeople are supportive of the corps. The setting is very lovely with a stream that runs between the school and the rehearsal fields with a connecting foot bridge. The field sits in a little valley with a flat topped hill that provides a great viewing position for staff and fans. BUT, just beyond the field is probably the biggest draw of this site - a SUPER WAL-MART. I'm guessing that none of you live anywhere near one of these exquisite beacons, judging by the reaction of the members when they learned they could actually visit Wal-Mart during our stay in Herkimer! After some floor (sleeping) time, the corps spent a solid day of rehearsal on Sunday. After rehearsal on Monday, the corps performed a stand-still exhibition in Utica, NY where they were treated to a spaghetti dinner by the local American Legion. A well-deserved night off for the food crew!

On Tuesday, on and off rain showers dampened the ground, but not the spirits of The Jersey Surf as they prepared for the night's performance. After packing up and leaving Herkimer, we traveled to Rome where the horn line warmed up at the home of a local Surf fan. Friends and neighbors brought their lawn chairs to listen to the backyard mini-concert. After the "Drums Along the Mohawk" show, we boarded the buses/trucks/motor homes and vans in our caravan and traveled to our current housing sight in Argyle, New York. Tonight's show will be in Fort Edward, NY after which we head to Massachusetts in preparation for tomorrow's performance in Beverly.

The mood from members and staff right now is pretty upbeat after a good first showing as a DCI World Class corps. I'm so proud of what they've accomplished. If you haven't seen the show yet, you will be amazed by the professionalism and showmanship of this wonderful group of young men and women. I hope to get to see many of you during our travels. Stop by the souvie wagon and say hi to Bill and me. (Be sure to have a buck for a duck!)

All the best, Terri

*Printed with permission of Bob Jacobs, Corps Director.

CHAMPIONS AT 2009 DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK

Posted July 2nd, 2009

SCORES FOR THE 2009 COMPETITION

OPEN CLASS

Teal Sound, Jacksonville, FL 66.80
7th Regiment, New London, CT 64.00

WORLD CLASS

Carolina Crown, Fort Mill, SC 83.00
Holy Name Cadets, Allentown, PA 81.70
Boston Crusaders, Boston, MA 76.00
Jersey Surf, Camden County, NJ 64.70

For recap scores, go to www.dci.org->scores->Drums Along The Mohawk show.

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THE HOLY NAME CADETS CELEBRATE EXCITING YEAR!

Posted June 29th, 2009

One of the drums corps competing in Drums Along The Mohawk is celebrating a memorable year. The Cadets, of Allentown, PA, officially known this summer as the Holy Name Cadets, are celebrating their 75th anniversary year as a drum and bugle corps. And in January, they were chosen from over 90 marching groups to participate in the Inaguration parade in Washington for President Barack Obama. Fans can see this championship corps at Drums Along The Mohawk, Tuesday, June 30 at 7pm at Rome Free Academy on Turin Street.

According to a Cadets' press release, announcement of the name change came last July as a recognition of The Cadets 75th Anniversary year. George Hopkins, Director of The Cadets and CEO of Youth Education in the Arts, said that they are all "very much aware of their heritage and of the greatness the corps has provided young people for decades and decades. In marching as Holy Name, we hope to give praise and recognition not just to The Cadets through 1957 but to the Garfield Cadets, the Cadets of Bergen County and today's Cadets."

The Cadets' 2009 production, "West Side Story: Celebration and Conflict," will feature music from Leonard Bernstein's classic score arranged by newly inducted Drum Corps International Hall of Fame member Jay Bocook. Hopkins said, "The Cadets have performed the music of 'Lenny' nine times since 1983, and 'West Side Story' has been the centerpiece of their 50th and 60th anniversary shows in 1984 and 1994, respectively."

When Hopkins thought about The Cadets' long absence from Rome, he said, "It's amazing that The Cadets have not been competing in Rome for the past 14 years! WOW! But, for the Cadets 75th Anniversary, we are thrilled to be returning to one of my favorite performance venues! I have been the director here for 27 years and it is always a thrill to perform at a venue with a great show team, a fabulous audience, and an intimate stadium setting."

In contrast, Boston Crusaders have appeared in a succession of years at Drums Along The Mohawk, and Tom Spataro, Corps Director, said, "There's no place [in drum corps] like Rome!" He added that when he was a marching member of the Crusaders, Rome was always a favorite stop. "The hospitality of everyone involved in this tour stop is unparalleled and we're happy to return again this year," said Spataro.

For Carolina Crown, this year may end up being their most exciting year to date. Crown beat two powerful champions, The Cavaliers and 2008 World Champion Phantom Regiment, both of Illinois, this past weekend. They will meet the exciting Holy Name Cadets at Drums Along The Mohawk on Tuesday and the crowd will definitely be entertained by these two rivals.

Stadium box office is open 5:30-8:30pm on Monday and all day Tuesday until show time. Jersey Surf, another competitor at Drums Along The Mohawk will appear at Hanna Park at 5:30pm at Utica Monday Nite in a pre-show event.

STADIUM BOX OFFICE OPENS FOR DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK

Posted June 25th, 2009

The RFA stadium box office will open on Thursday, June 25 to sell tickets for Drums Along The Mohawk! The box office will be open evenings from 5:30pm to 8:30pm Thursday through Tuesday, June 30, the day of the show. Tickets are also available at the Rome Chamber of Commerce, Big Apple Music in New Hartford, and from the website www.drumsalongthemohawk.com.

Competing in this year's exciting show are Carolina Crown of Fort Mill, SC; Holy Name Cadets (aka The Cadets) of Allentown, PA who are celebrating their 75th anniversary year; Boston Crusaders of Boston, MA; Jersey Surf of Camden County, NJ and now a member of World Class of DCI; Teal Sound of Jacksonville, FL; and 7th Regiment of New London, CT. The Drum Corps International corps travel throughout the United States and Canada in competition culminating in the 2009 World Championships hosted this year in Indianapolis, IN.

Gates for the Rome show on Tuesday open at 5:30pm and the show starts at 7pm. Wade Tours will begin shuttle bus transportation from the church parking lots of St. John Lutheran and St. Paul Roman Catholic at 5:00. Invited to perform the national anthem are the Syracuse Brigadiers Alumni Brass Ensemble. Performing America the Beautiful prior to the National Anthem is Zechariah Allen, 5th grader at Clinton Elementary School.

The June date was assigned by Drum Corps International to allow Carolina Crown and the Holy Name Cadets to perform in Drums Along The Mohawk after several years absence. Committee members are excited to bring ALL the corps to the fans in the area. No matter what the date, Drums Along The Mohawk feels the support of their major sponsors, hospitality schools and sponsors and fans!

Claudette Wire, director of the Drums Along The Mohawk show for the past 31 years said, "Our major sponsors came on board as soon as we let them know the date and we so appreciate their loyalty to our event." Major sponsors this year are: NEWS Channel 2; Regent Broadcasting; Quadsimia Internet Presence Professionals and WADE Bus Tours.

Hospitality sponsors for the corps are extremely important in putting the show together. Housing schools and host dinner sites have all returned to support the show and corps.

This year's school housing sites are: Herkimer High School; New York Mills Jr./Sr. High School; New York State School for the Deaf; Rome Free Academy, Staley Upper Elementary and Stadium Support Facility; and Westmoreland Schools.

Hospitality dinners are served to every corps performing in the show. Hospitality groups serving dinners this year are: American Legion Post #229, North Utica; Elks Lodge #96, Rome; Henry P. Smith Post #24, Rome; New York Mills Music, Arts and Drama Boosters; Polish Home, Rome; VFW Post 2246, Rome; and Westmoreland Pride Pack.

"AND, OUR FANS ARE THE BEST!" said Wire. According to Sue Jenks, of the Rome Area Chamber of Commerce, fans of Drums Along The Mohawk call the chamber office in the spring to find out when tickets are available at the Chamber for purchase!

THE 31ST! DOWNBEAT!

Posted June 25th, 2009

Date: Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Time: 7:00PM. Gates will open at 5:30PM.

Place: Rome Free Academy Stadium, 500 Turin Street (Route 26N), Rome, NY.

Shuttle Bus: Parking is extremely limited around the stadium. Drums Along the Mohawk is providing a free shuttle bus service from both St. John's Lutheran Church and St. Paul's Roman Catholic Church. The buses will begin running at 5:30PM and will continue until the last person has returned to their car after the show. A bus will remain in front of the stadium at all times in case you need to return to your car for any reason. Please utilize the shuttle bus as much as possible.

Corps Housing:
Carolina Crown - New York Mills High School, New York Mills
Holy Name Cadets - Westmoreland High School, Route 233, Westmoreland
Crusaders - Rome Free Academy, 95 Dart Circle, Rome
Jersey Surf - Herkimer High School, Herkimer
Teal Sound - Staley Upper Elementary School, Rome
7th Regiment - New York State School for the Deaf, Rome

Box Office: Rome Free Academy Stadium Box Office will open at 8:30AM on the day of the show. Tickets can be purchased and "Will Call" tickets will be available for pick-up at this time.

Coolers: Please do not bring coolers of any kind into the stadium.

Remember: Law prohibits the use of audio and/or visual recording devices.

Most important ... Have a wonderful evening and let the corps kids know how much you've enjoyed yourself and their performances!!

DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK PARTNERS WITH UTICA MONDAY NITE

Posted June 19th, 2009

WHEN: MONDAY, JUNE 29, 2009

TIME: 5:30 pm

WHERE: Hanna Park, Utica

WHO: JERSEY SURF Drum & Bugle Corps of Camden County, New Jersey

WHAT: FREE PERFORMANCE - OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Now a Drum Corps International World Class Division Corps, JERSEY SURF enjoyed their opportunity last year to perform in Hanna Park as a preview for DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK. When the corps realized they were returning this year, and would be in town an extra day - a Monday night - they suggested a return performance! Partnering with Lynn Mishalanie and Larry Desiato at City Hall, Drums Along the Mohawk has scheduled the free performance of Jersey Surf Drum and Bugle Corps at Utica Monday Nite, on the Monday prior to the show.

Jersey Surf Drum and Bugle Corps website: jerseysurf.org

The public is invited to enjoy JERSEY SURF DRUM & BUGLE CORPS!

BIG APPLE MUSIC & ROME CHAMBER TICKET OUTLETS FOR DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK

Posted May 29th, 2009

BIG APPLE MUSIC and the ROME AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE are ticket sellers for the Mohawk Valley's premier summer event, DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK. The show will take place at 7PM on Tuesday, June 30 at Rome Free Academy Stadium.

The CHAMBER office in Rome is located on West Dominick Street and is open Monday-Friday 9-5. BIG APPLE MUSIC in New Hartford is across from Jay-K Lumber. The popular music store is open Monday-Friday 9-9 and on Saturday 9-6. Tickets for the show are also available through the website www.drumsalongthemohawk.com or by calling 315-339-6484. Don't miss this great event! Get your tickets now!

DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK WELCOMES THE CADETS AND CAROLINA CROWN TO EARLY SUMMER SHOW

Posted April 6th, 2009

Drums Along the Mohawk announced Tuesday, June 30, as the show date for the 2009 Drum Corps International summer event at Rome Free Academy Stadium. The Cadets of Allentown, PA and Carolina Crown of Fort Mill, SC will perform as well as five additional DCI corps. The June date was chosen through DCI, to accept The Cadets and Carolina Crown who have not performed in the Drums Along the Mohawk show for several years due to scheduling. Drums Along the Mohawk begins at 7pm and tickets are available now through the website: drumsalongthemohawk.com or by calling 339-6484. Claudette Wire, Director for Drums Along the Mohawk, said "The Cadets and Carolina Crown were available for the earlier date but not the later traditional time of late July or early August. We wanted to give our fans the opportunity to see these great corps." Both The Cadets and Carolina Crown have placed in the top ten of Drums Corps International (DCI) World Championships for several consecutive years but were not able to coordinate their schedule with Drums Along the Mohawk. "We know they have many fans in the area that are anxious to see them live and when DCI made the offer, we were excited." This year, Drums Along the Mohawk will showcase seven corps. In addition to The Cadets (who are celebrating their 75th anniversary year) and Carolina Crown, performing at RFA June 30 will be Boston Crusaders of Boston, MA; Jersey Surf of Camden County, NJ and now a member of World Class of DCI; Teal Sound of Jacksonville, FL; Spartans of Nashua, NH; and 7th Regiment of New London, CT.

Drums Along the Mohawk Performers DCI Champions

Posted August 23rd, 2007

Drums Along the Mohawk champion, Phantom Regiment, IL and competitors, Blue Knights, CO and Boston Crusaders, MA captured spots in the elite Top Twelve of the 2007 Drum Corps International World Championships held this past weekend in Pasadena, CA. In the Division II category, DATM competitors Spartans, NH; Jersey Surf, NJ and Teal Sound, GA captured the top 3 spots. The Spartans edged Jersey Surf by less than .5 point to capture the division championship. The trademark for Drum Corps International is "Marching Music's Major League". For three days, the top corps in the world gathered for the annual DCI competition held for the first time on the West Coast and all the corps created memorable and nailbiting moments for the fans. Scores of both Divisions are as follows: DCI World Championships Division I Finals, Pasadena, CA. TOP TWELVE: Blue Devils 98.000 The Cadets 97.025 The Cavaliers 96.350 Phantom Regiment 94.850 Santa Clara Vanguard 94.175 Carolina Crown 94.150 Bluecoats 94.050 Blue Knights 90.275 Boston Crusaders 89.100 Colts 86.150 Glassmen 85.750 Spirit from JSU 84.500 DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK - 2 DCI World Championships Division II Finals, Pasadena, CA Spartans 96.150 Jersey Surf 95.700 Teal Sound 92.050 Blue Devils 90.875 Vanguard Cadets 90.400 Raiders 84.400 Tickets for the 2008 Drums Along the Mohawk 30th Anniversary show are available now on the website www.drumsalongthemohawk.com or by calling the DRUMS ticket hotline 315-339-6484.

PHANTOM REGIMENT WINNNER AT DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK

Posted July 2nd, 2007

Phantom Regiment of Rockford, IL captured the Division I title of champion at DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK on Sunday night before a crowd estimated at 3200. The corps' performance brought the crowd to their feet at the finish. Phantom placed 2^nd last year at Drum Corps International's Summer Music Games and captured first in percussion. Phantom has won the Drums Along the Mohawk title three years in a row. The show was divided into three divisions and the scores are: Division I:

Phantom Regiment, Rockford, IL - 82.10
Blue Knights, Denver, CO - 75.85
Boston Crusaders, Boston, MA - 73.95

Division II:

Spartans, Nashua NH - 72.80
Jersey Surf, Camden County, NJ - 72.00
Teal Sound, Jacksonville, GA - 68.20
Raiders, Wayne, NJ - 61.80

Division III:

7th Regiment, New London, CT - 49.70

The corps continue touring with DCI Summer Music Games as they travel to the World Championships held this year in Pasadena, CA on August 11^th.

CLASSMATES RETURN TO ROME TO MARCH AT DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK

Posted June 7th, 2007

New Hartford natives, Matthew Bauer and Michael Miller, are returning to DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK on Sunday, July 1, to march with the Boston Crusaders,. The Crusaders, a Drum Corps International (DCI) drum and bugle corps, will help them close a chapter in their book of wishes. Both musicians marched with the New Hartford March.ing Spartans and shared their dream of marching together with a DCI drum corps. In fact, the two managed to set a goal. They wanted to end their DCI career marching together in a corps that would play a Latin flavor of music and perform at the Rome show together! Bauer shared his reflection of "de ja vu" that will all come together on July 1 at Rome Free Academy Stadium at DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK! Tickets to see the young men perform at the 2007 Drums Along The Mohawk show are available now on the website www.drumsalongthemohawk.com or by calling the DRUMS ticket hotline 339-6484 This year will be the "age out" year (age 21) for Bauer. He will march under the leadership of his respected friend, Miller, who was named 2007 d rum major for the Boston Crusaders .The New Hartford Central School classmates are excited to be fulfilling the dream. Marching with a DCI corps was reinforced last year and the memory of sitting in the audience during the many summers they attended Drums Along the Mohawk drum and bugle corps competitions was surreal said Bauer.. The CRUSADERS have chosen a theme of Latin jazz from a 2003 show that was very audience appealing. Bauer said "the show has been fun for the members and will be very engaging for the audience". Classmates For Miller, the dream grew bigger this year with his appointment as 2007 Drum Major for the Crusaders. He expects to return to drum corps after his "age out" and become an instructor and arranger. His role models are the many instructors he has had throughtout his band and drum corps career. "and these instructors became those who I aspire to emulate." Both classmates have marched in other venues such as the Syracuse Brigadiers Senior Drum and Bugle Corps and college ensembles before reaching their goal of DCI. Bauer and Miller have already attended rehearsals with the Crusaders for Drum Corps International's Summer Music Games tour for 2007. DCI's World Championship will be held in the Rose Bowl in Pasedena, California. To accommodate the traveling corps so they reach their destination in California by the August 7-11 Championship, Drums Along The Mohawk is scheduled one month earlier, July 1, this year to accommodate the drum corps with this adjusted schedule. Background information on Miller, Bauer and Boston Crusaders Michael Miller cell: 525-1819 This is Miller's second year marching with the Boston Crusaders and was named the Drum Major for the 2007 season. Miller, a sophomore at Syracuse University majoring in Music Education, is a member of the Syracuse University wind orchestra and the Morton-Schiff Jazz Ensemble. He marched with the Syracuse Brigadiers for 5 years and is a staff member for the Liverpool High School Marching Band. For Miller, “DCI is the pinnacle of the drum and bugle corps activity. I wanted to be a member of it for a bigger and better challenge.” Miller’s future plans as an educator is to become a DCI instructor. “That’s why I joined, to really experience it first hand as a member.” Matthew Bauer cell: 368-7022 Bauer is a sophomore at SUNY New Paltz majoring in percussion performance. He is a member of the Purchase College Orchestra and the Percussion Performance Ensemble. He marched with the Syracuse Brigadiers Senior Drum and Bugle Corps for 3 years and is a staff member for the East Stamford, Connecticut High School Marching Band. This is his second year marching with the Crusaders. Bauer’s first experience with drum and bugle corps was in 7th grade when he reported for the New Hartford Marching Band camp and saw a TV playing a video of The Cavaliers, a DCI drum and bugle corps from Rosemont, IL.“I couldn’t stop watching. From that moment, I was sure I was going to be a part of a DCI corps someday.” Claudette Wire, Director of Drums Along the Mohawk, remembers Bauer from the New York State Band Competition at the Carrier Dome. Bauer was marching with the NH School Band and stopped to visit at the Drums Along the Mohawk promotional table. “Matthew stopped to say hello but was really captivated by our videos. He sat for the longest time totally mesmerized by each DCI corps” BOSTON CRUSADERS, MA. The Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps, founded in 1940, is the third oldest junior drum and bugle corps in the nation and proud to be a founding member of Drum Corps International. The corps is comprised of brass players, percussionists and color guard member all under the age of 22. The 2007 season will include travel of over 10,000 miles, performing in 40 competitions and exhibitions, and performing before a combined audience of over 300,000 fans. Bostone Crusaders website

DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK EARLIER THIS YEAR!

Posted June 7th, 2007

Look for DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK one month earlier than usual! This year's show will be held on Sunday, July 1 at Rome Free Academy Stadium, not the traditional first week in August. The reason for the change is Drum Corps International's Summer Music Games tour for 2007. DCI's World Championship will be held in the Rose Bowl in Pasedena, California. To accommodate the traveling corps so they reach their destination in California by the August 7-11 Championship, DCI reversed their schedule on the East Coast. Claudette Wire, director of DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK, said everything is secured for the earlier date. "Our sponsors and vendors have been notified and they are all on board for a great show. We want everyone to know so they can make their plans to come out to see their favorite summer musical event. With the show exactly one week from the Boilermaker, we'd like to invite people to come into town earlier and join us for the show!" Wire said many fans plan their vacations around the show so "we want to let them know about the earlier date." Fans can check the website www.drumsalongthemohawk.com for updates and announcements regarding the event. Tickets for the 2007 show are available now on the website or by calling the DRUMS ticket hotline 339-6484.

EMPIRE STATESMEN OF ROCHESTER OPEN 29TH DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK

Posted June 4th, 2007

THE EMPIRE STATESMEN Senior Drum and Bugle Corps from Rochester, NY will begin the celebration of the 29th DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK, Sunday, July 1 at 7 PM at Rome Free Academy Stadium. This is their first appearance at DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK. The Empire Statesmen is a unique musical organization that has excited audiences worldwide since 1983. The Statesmen present their 2007 program entitled “Maynard”, Statesmen style! The Statesmen will entertain you with tunes from this fantastic musician that are designed to excite and please the most sophisticated audiences. Competing in this year's 2007 DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK are: 7th Regiment, CT; Blue Knights, CO; Boston Crusaders, MA; Jersey Surf, NJ; Phantom Regiment, IL; Raiders, NJ; Spartans, NH; and Teal Sound, GA. The corps are members of the DRUM CORPS INTERNATIONAL SUMMER MUSIC GAMES 2007. The DCI corps travel through the United States and Canada in competition culminating in the 2007 World Championships hosted this year by Pasadena, California. Last year's World Champion, The Cavaliers of IL, edged out Phantom Regiment by just .3, but The Cavaliers lost the coveted high percussion award to Phantom. Phantom Regiment, is eager to keep the percussion title and challenge the World Champion title this year!! Tickets for the 2007 show are available now by calling the DRUMS ticket hotline 339-6484 or through Price Chopper Supermarkets in Rome, New Hartford, Oneida and South and North Utica, Rome Chamber of Commerce or the DRUMS website. Fans can check the website www.drumsalongthemohawk.com for current information and a "new" blog from Matthew Bauer, New Hartford native and a percussionist with Boston Crusaders, who will post a journal of his travels with the corps to Rome and Pasadena.

2007 Lineup has been announced, GET TICKETS TODAY!

Posted November 27th, 2006

Drums ALong The Mohawk is proud to announce the lineup for the 2007 show, taking place July 1st at RFA Stadium in Rome NY. 7th Regiment Blue Knights Boston Crusaders Jersey Surf Phantom Regiment Raiders Spartans Teal Sound Tickets make a great holiday gift for that Drum Corps lover in your family.

GET YOUR TICKETS TODAY!

Phantom Regiment Wins Again! - Click here for scores.

Posted August 2nd, 2006

At DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK, the temperature was hot and so was the music! A crowd of nearly 3,000 were entertained on a beautiful August evening with a gentle summer breeze blowing the colorful flags across the field. The corps did not mind the heat because of the conditioning they receive and their recent return from a very hot southern USA tour. The audience carried bottles of water to keep hydrated throughout the exciting musical evening. Phantom Regiment, champions of DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK, presented a powerful encore with a rendition of past Phantom repetoire celebrating the 50 years as a drum and bugle corps. Most of audience remains for this tradition at DATM. Scores from the show: Phantom Regiment, IL 93.200 GOLD MEDAL Boston Crusaders, MA 89.150 SILVER MEDAL Blue Stars,WI 79.450 BRONZE MEDAL Southwind, KY 78.650 Seattle Cascades, WA 77.000 The Magic, FL 75.880 Esperanza, CA 73.700 Div II East Coast Jazz.MA 89.50 In the Division II-III afternoon show, DRUMS IN THE AFTERNOON, East Coast Jazz,MA won the gold medal and Jersey Surf,NJ won the silver. DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK provides financial support to young adults from New York State who want to march with DRUM CORPS INTERNATIONAL drum and bugle corps. Several winners of the Tour Award were announced at the show: Matthew Bauer, New Hartford; Michael Miller, New Hartford; Joe Wormworth, Pompey; Jessica Czachowski, Liverpool; Brian LaValle, Liverpool; and Shawn Westover, Auburn.

Click here to see a complete list of scores for this and other DCI shows.

NINE DRUM CORPS SERVED DINNER IN THE MOHAWK VALLEY

Posted August 1st, 2006

DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK not only rolls out the red carpet but also the tablecloths to welcome the drum and bugle corps for their show. Nine drum and bugle corps numbering nearly 1500 young adults and approximately 400 support staff will be shown hospitality from the Mohawk Valley with a homecooked meal. These corps will compete at the award winning DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK at Rome Free Academy stadium on Tuesday, August 1. The hospitality dinners have become a tradition for the show that started more than 20 years ago when Bill Morgan, then a committee member for DRUMS, decided to help the budgets of the competing corps by serving them at least one meal. The daily budget for a corps on tour can be over $900 with a tour schedule of about 6 weeks through the summer. What began with a small gesture to help has turned into a tradition that has become well known throughout the drum corps circuit. Don Orilio, Corps Hospitality Chairperson for DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK, said hospitality has always been an integral part of DRUMS. "Area service clubs and school music booster groups really do roll out the red carpet for the visiting drum and bugle corps." Judy Husted has helped with the drum corps hospitality for Westmoreland Band Boosters, the PRIDE OF WESTMORELAND. She said their group looks forward to it every year. "The kids are so wonderful," Husted said. They all appreciate the meals and one corps even sang a song to thank them! Westmoreland is hosting Southwind Drum and Bugle Corps from Kentucky. Participating in the Corps Hospitality this year are: Lee Legion, Polish Home, VFW, Smith Post and the Elks Club in Rome, as well as New Hartford American Legion,Westmoreland Music Boosters, New York Mills Music Boosters, and New Hartford Music Boosters. All the drums corps will enjoy their meals on different days and at different times. For the Boston Crusaders, their meal at New Hartford will be the day of the show while Phantom Regiment will remain in Rome for several days after the show and enjoy their meal at the Polish Home on Thursday. Orilio said the drum corps know Rome very well. Veteran members comment to new members about coming to the show in Rome and having dinner. "Many corps alumni fondly remember coming to Rome and having the best meal of the summer tour!" said Oriliio. Esperanza corps director, Alan Cox, remembers coming to Rome as a member of the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps. This year, he will bring his corps from California to share in this fondly remembered tradition. "I've told them all about the great hospitality and delicious dinner I had at the Moose Club in Rome," Cox said.

Drums Along the Mohawk Receives Award

Posted February 3rd, 2006

DRUM CORPS INTERNATIONAL'S Board of Directors inaugurated an award at their annual conference held recently in California with a presentation to DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK of Rome. The Directors, who represent the top 23 drum corps in the world, presented the first "Tour Event of the Year" award to DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK. Claudette Wire, Director of DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK, said she is absolutely ecstatic about the award. Since the award was new, it came as a total surprise at the annual Hall of Fame Luncheon held at the conference. Wire said, "No one knew anything about it except the DCI and the Board of Directors. When they announced our name, it was quite a shock." Pat Siedling, Director of PHANTOM REGIMENT, who participated in the 2005 show and will be returning for the 2006 show, was one of the Directors who voted for DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK. He said the Directors were asked to pick a favorite show for their 2005 season. That show would begin the legacy for future awards. For Siedling, DRUMS was a most deserving show. "It's the overall experience of the show, the customer relations, Claudette Wire and her whole team, the stadium, schools, the meal, the fans and most of all the consistency, year after year. We do attend bigger shows but we know how things will go at DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK- before the show, during the show and after the show. I know when I call in the winter or the summer, someone will get back to me to answer a question or just take my call." Siedling said the Board of Directors requested that the recipient of the award receive the same gold medal that the championship corps received in August. He said he and the members of PHANTOM REGIMENT are looking forward to coming back to DRUMS this summer. Wire, who has been with DRUMS throughout its 27 year history, said she was shocked and thrilled. "It's a great show! This award validates everything the community has provided for the Drum Corps that perform at DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK. We have a great show for the drums corps and it is the committee, the sponsors, the hospitality, the stadium, school housing, the fans and the whole community that shares this award." DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK will host their 28th show on August 1 at Rome Free Academy Stadium on Turin Street in Rome. Tickets for the event are on sale now through the website, www.drumsalongthemohawk.com or by calling 339-6484. From left: Claudette Wire, Director of DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK; Dan Acheson, Executive Director of Drum Corps International and Sue Kuehnhold, DCI Senior National Show Coordinator.

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