Jordan Brooks (center) plays in the Santa Clara Vanguard drumline
Lake Highlands, Texas will be the center of the marching band universe this week as hundreds of students representing dozens of drum and bugle corps prepare to compete in the North Texas Festival of Drums and Bugles.
The Festival is the largest annual fundraiser for the Lake Highlands Area Band Club, paying for new instruments, travel to away games, scholarships and other band benefits. LHABC parents donate hundreds of volunteer hours to run the event.
The Festival is the longest-running and largest regional showcase for Drum Corps International, often called “Marching Music’s Major League.” Throughout the summer, DCI sponsors dozens of groups as they crisscross the country in an ongoing competition which culminates in the national finals in Indianapolis in August.
The top 20 corps on the road this summer will appear this week at The Boneyard – half on Thursday night, half on Friday. Ticketholders to the Friday night performance may come early to attend a 2:30 pm educational workshop presented by DCI’s Carolina Crown on how they teach and prepare for performances.
“If you’ve seen a high school or college marching band perform at halftime during a football game, you’ve only seen a watered-down version of what you’ll experience from a DCI corps,” said Mark Wingfield, former LHABC president and DCI volunteer. “These performances are intense and of professional quality. DCI takes the best of the best from high school and college marching bands and creates a spectacular showcase.”
LH residents hoping to watch their hometown heroes perform are in for a treat – Wildcats and/or former Wildcats will be playing both nights. Jordan Brooks and Bayo Ajibade will march with Colorado’s Blue Knights drumline Thursday, as will rising senior Jonathan Hawes, who plays in the pit with the Crossmen of San Antonio. Friday night’s performance will feature LH alum Claire Pittman, who plays the mellophone with the Blue Stars of Wisconsin. Other teams from Boston to Sacramento, Seattle to Jacksonville will compete.
Tickets are available at the Wildcat-Ram Stadium box office the night of the shows. Prices range from $25 to $45, and all seating is reserved.
