After the stadium loudspeakers rang out 鈥淒rum Corps International is proud to present鈥� the Bluecoats!鈥� and the last words echoed around the domed walls, it was as if the water hose of spectacle was suddenly unbent.
Nearly 160 performers began their program, marching and dancing and playing in perfect coordination in a show that thrilled as much with sight as it did with sound. In the process they used nearly every inch of the 100-yard home field of the NFL鈥檚 Indianapolis Colts.
The (DCI) World Championship was well underway that August afternoon with 12 competitive entrants. This year鈥檚 champions are the storied with their 鈥淐hange is Everything鈥� show, posting their highest-ever score of 98.75 out of a possible 100 to wrap up its undefeated season.
Partial credit goes to 女神羞羞研究所 tuba and euphonium professor Dr. Genevieve Clarkson, lead tuba instructor for the corps for the last three seasons.
鈥淲e had a phenomenal season,鈥� Clarkson said, noting several other accomplishments including winning the Brazale Award for best visual performance and the Ott Award for excellence in brass, as well as the artistic director of the Bluecoats being inducted into the DCI Hall of Fame. The corps also celebrated the grand opening of its arts education center for underserved students in Canton, Ohio.
The countless combined hours of composing and choreographing, practice and performance paid off hugely for the Canton-based Bluecoats.
A season tour鈥檚 typical daily summer schedule includes morning stretching and dancing, then practicing the visuals and field positioning. After lunch comes music rehearsal. Then dinner before a full ensemble rehearsal to close out the day.
It all comes together in a physically demanding yet rewarding experience. By the end of the performance, everyone on the field is exhausted, sweating profusely, yet smiling through it all.
When you see the finished product, 鈥測ou realize how much and how quickly everyone鈥檚 moving,鈥� Clarkson said. 鈥淓ven when they鈥檙e not playing, they鈥檙e doing something else 鈥� dancing, moving equipment or anything else to help push the production forward.鈥�
All the more impressive considering the performers are 21 and younger, participating for the inherent personal satisfaction of being part of such a large creative endeavor.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e putting in the work because they love what they鈥檙e doing,鈥� Clarkson added. 鈥淧articipation builds relationships with teammates. They practice in the heat of summer and generally go through the ringer, which builds incredible relationships that can鈥檛 be replicated any other way.鈥�
The prep work and resulting performance are even more impressive considering all the different components covering such a vast amount of space. Due to the expanse of space from one side of the field to the other, there are significant differences in the perception of musical timing versus visual cues thanks to the 鈥渟lowness鈥� of sound. A tuba player at one end of the field can鈥檛 rely on the bass drum beat on the other end for their own rhythmic cues. Timing the overall visual to the overall audio is mental gymnastics.
Clarkson said the easiest way to visualize this phenomenon is by watching Go-Pro camera footage from the perspective of an instrumentalist.
鈥淵ou hear the tubas play a certain part of the piece, but when looking across the field at another ensemble it looks like they鈥檙e in a different part of the routine,鈥� she said.
Thus the multiple conductors, keeping the timing in check for each side.
In what appears to be highly organized chaos, Clarkson said it鈥檚 important to remember 鈥渙ur mantra (for drum majors) is 鈥榶our feet are with the hands, and you play with your feet,鈥欌�� she added.
Clarkson loves the challenge of coaching in an abbreviated timeframe during the preseason of late spring and early summer. Most of the team members are fresh off college semesters, and many are new to the competitive drum corps process.
鈥淚t鈥檚 rewarding to work with all these strangers to do the same thing and play the same way,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey are talented people from all different backgrounds, coming together to perfect one product. By the end, we鈥檙e like a singular unit.鈥�
Behind it all is a logistical support infrastructure marching to its own beat. The touring teams essentially take over the cities they compete in, especially the high school and middle school campuses who generously lend their facilities for the benefit of such monolithic creativity.
For the Bluecoats, there鈥檚 a team of 15 visual production coordinators, which isn鈥檛 the same as the movement team of eight. There are entire teams dedicated to creative functions (costumes, sound, scenic design, etc.), program operations (tour management, production, merchandising, etc.). An entire medical staff, mental health specialists, and physical therapists join a convoy of drivers and a commercial kitchen on wheels, including a full foodservice staff. All of these logistics are almost as carefully coordinated as the product on the field.
The Bluecoats were understandably ecstatic for winning the championships this year after second-place finishes in 2022 and 2023. 鈥淲e knew we were close,鈥� Clarkson said, who was also part of those two previous years.
Even though the championship is less than a month past, there鈥檚 no rest for the weary. Nationwide auditions begin this fall. Call-back camp is in December for 鈥渟etting the line.鈥� Rehearsals begin in the spring. Then it鈥檚 move-ins and spring training in May.
The creative design process is likely already happening now as the Bluecoats try to outdo themselves next year.
鈥淓very year, the drum corps are trying something new, a new way to impress the audience,鈥� Clarkson said. 鈥淚 think what makes the Bluecoats special is they tend to have more collaboration in the creative process between the design and performance teams.鈥�
Watch the illustrious Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps 2024 championship-winning performance .
