CLASSMATES RETURN TO ROME TO MARCH AT DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK - posted: 6/7/07
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: 6/7/07
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: 6/4/07
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: 11/27/06
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: 8/2/06
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: 8/1/06
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: 2/3/06
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.
