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Denver's Blue Knights Drum & Bugle Corps will celebrate its 50th anniversary at the 38th Annual "Drums Along the Rockies", 7:00 p.m. Saturday, July 12th at INVESCO Field at Mile High.
One of the Rocky Mountain Region's most renowned and entertaining summer events, "Drums" is one of three regional drum and bugle corps competitions under the auspices of Drums Corps International (DCI), Marching Music's Major League™. This outdoor pageant is presented by -- and the major fundraiser for - the Blue Knights,a 501(c)(3) educational youth organization.
This year's competition features eight elite groups- including the Blue Knights; current DCI World Champion Blue Devils of Concord, California; Cavaliers, Rosemont, IL; Santa Clara Vanguard, Santa Clara, CA; Phantom Regiment, Rockford, IL; Madison Scouts, Madison, WI; Troopers, Casper, WY (also celebrating their 50th); and Mandarins, Sacramento, CA.
These drum corps will wow the crowd with their magical field formations, creatively-costumed dancers (color guard), pinpoint marching precision and thrilling "Wall of Sound".
Ticket Information
Tickets: $15 - $80 (VIP). Group rates, special needs, handicap seating available. Tickets and information: in Denver (303)424-6396; Outside Denver 888-306-DRUM; Ticketmaster (303)830-8497or www.drumsalongtherockies.com.
Walk-ups welcome!
Colorado's Musical Ambassadors for 50 Years
2008 is an historic year for the Blue Knights, which has proudly represented Colorado in drum corps competitions across the United States since 1958. From mid-June through early August, 134 corps members (ages 15 to 21) from 27 high schools and nine colleges in Colorado, plus 11 other states and two countries (Japan and Canada), will travel to more than 25 major U.S. cities, covering 12,000 miles. Their tour will culminate at the 2008 DCI World Championships August 5-9 in Indiana.
The Blue Knights Drum Corps has been a Drum Corps International World Championship finalist numerous times. The corps is known for its moving interpretations of classical music, strong use of choreography, and hand-painted silk flags.
The Blue Knights organization also offers a winter brass ensemble that performs throughout the Denver area, two competitive indoor marching percussion ensembles (World Percussion Ensemble and Open Percussion Ensemble), and "Stampede", the official drum line of the NFL's Denver Broncos.
At Colorado state high school band championships, 60% of the high school bands participating are instructed by individuals who received their training with the Blue Knights programs.
Six Members of Blue Knights from Douglas County High School
Nine of the 134 members of the Blue Knights call Castle Rock home: Jacob Blakely, Will Brewer and Tyler Paschke currently attend Douglas County High School. The other three are DCHS graduates: Douglas Green, a Music Education major at Metro State College; Tim Hamlin, a Mechanical Engineering major at CU Boulder; and Kori Powell, CU Boulder, whose career choice is to be a Sea World Trainer.
Leader of the Corps
Mark Arnold has been the Executive Director of the Blue Knights for the last 22 years. Passionate and dedicated to his "kids", Arnold has instilled a sense of pride, determination and perseverance in thousands of young people.
Recently voted Chairman of the Drum Corps International Board of Directors,Arnold is widely acknowledged to be the reason why the Blue Knights is a recognized leader throughout the Rocky Mountain region, nationally, and internationally in the area of marching music pageantry.
Fuel Costs Impact Drum Corps Activity
According to Arnold, rising fuel costs have been especially challenging for DCI drum corps across the country. Top corps travel with a caravan that typically includes four buses, two semis (equipment and rolling kitchen), a souvenir trailer, plus staff vans.
The Blue Knights' 2008 budget for fuel expenses has been revised upward from $57,000 in 2007 to $84,000... an increase of almost 47%. A fill-up for just one of the Blue Knights' buses now costs close to $700! Individuals or companies interested in making a donation or sponsoring the Blue Knightsare asked to contact Paula Wiens at 303-779-8522.
Drum Corps History
Drum Corps had its beginnings after World War I, when veterans formed corps to perform in patriotic parades. During the 60's and 70's, drum corps evolved from quasi-military drill formations and marching music to a full range of musical repertoires by composers as diverse as Gershwin (Summertime) and Freddie Mercury (Bohemian Rapsody).
What Makes Drum Corps Different from Marching Bands?
Unlike a marching band, a drum corps has no woodwinds, performing with drums and bugles designed to project a thrilling "Wall of Sound" forward, rather than in various directions. Often referred to as a musical sport, the world of competitive drum and bugle corps is an intense, choreographed musical experience staged on football fields.
For more information on the Blue Knights, visit www.bknights.org
For more information on Drum Corps International, visit www.dci.org
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