Published by The Optimists alumni drum and Bugle Corps Please direct all inquiries to the Editor: [email protected] a Pdf version of this publication is on our website: www.optimists-alumni.org fEBrUary 2011

kitchener rehearsal IN THIS ISSUE HE OPTIMISTS ALUMNI began 2011 with The Northstar Colours kITCHENEr rEHEarSal T at a joint rehearsal held at the Northstar Studios in Kitchener. It was great to get together and play again after the Christmas break. PEOPlE NEWS And we started learning our first new number, Temptation! This is New Members and Associate Members a challenging re-interpretation of a number that Optimists played back in the late 1960s. PErfOrmaNCES Santa Claus Parades are a lot of fun… and cold!

dO yOU SEE yOUrSElf?

alUmNI HOlIday ParTy

WE rEmEmBEr Richard (Dick) Brown, Frank Rivier.

OvErHEard IN THE drUmlINE

OOOOOOOPS!

GUyS aNd THEIr CarS By cub reporter “Crash” Hennings

2011 maNaGEmENT TEam Who’s who.

Music Instructor Dave MacKinnon leading the horn line. dO yOU kNOW?

PErfOrmaNCE SCHEdUlE

lET’S HEar frOm yOU

Optimists Alumni Director Bill Kane (left) and L to R. Paul Blanchard, Sam Grosvenor Doug Darwin, a Director of Northstar and and Brian Adam. Optimists Alumni . L to R. Rudimental bass drummers, John Giblin, Carol Munro and Karen Bosworth.

Vern Johansson, Show Committee Chairman, presents an overview of the 2011 field show. Front: l to r, Roger Rafson and L to R. Joe Gianna, Richard Lang, Terry L to R. John Malcolm, Cindy Tracey, Mac Klimasko. Sweeney, William Porquet and Jeff Greig. Mac Klimasko and George Anthony. Back: Phil (Crash) Hennings.

– 1– GCC FEBRUARY 2011 D

D PAGE DATE ised UP been rev page has . This published PEOPLE NEWS since first EOPLE NEWS is an ongoing feature telling the personal stories of our members. We are not just brass Pplayers, drum majors, drummers, colour party, etc…. we are indeed more than the sum of our parts. Please feel free to nominate someone for future publications by getting in touch with our editorial team. See page 16 for contact details.

New members

Aaron Decloux, soprano. Robin Mason, percussion. Max Deller-Lestage, percussion. Carol Palumbo, cymbals. Roger Rafson, percussion. Aaron grew up in Kingston Robin is a musician who Max is a mature student at Carol joined the Optimists Roger comes to the Optimists and studied music at his high plays and teaches in Toronto. Woodsworth college at the Cadets in the 70s as part of from the Steel City school RND. He participated He has toured North America University of Toronto. He has the horn line beside her Ambassadors in Pittsburgh, in the ensemble band and jazz with “driveway” and “The played the double bass in an brother and later joined the Pennsylvania where he played as a player throughout Brown Hornets” Robin has colour guard when the corps orchestra throughout high #4. Roger is his time in school. He studied at Humber College in merged with the Lancers from school, and took up the drums continues to pursue soprano their pre- music program as Etobicoke. Carol wanted to self-employed in the Radio with the Optimists Alumni well with some of Toronto’s a year and a half ago. He join the drum line, however business. He and his wife while he studies animation in top teachers. He teaches studies under Robin Mason, girls were not allowed. At Sally have three grown Toronto. Rock, Funk and Jazz. Robin and came to the drum corps 18 Carol joined The Toronto children. joined the Optimists to add with Robin to expand his Optimists and even though her drum corps style playing to knowledge and skill as a time with the corps was his repertoire. Now that he’s drummer. He also studies with limited, it was a thrill. During with the Optimists Alumni it’s Michael Occhipinti in the the mid 2000s Carol a whole new learning Royal Conservatory Jazz discovered old corps members experience. Fantastic! on Facebook and joined the Ensemble Program. Optimists Alumni.

Don White, cymbals. Don marched with the Don Mills Skyraiders, Leaside Lions Jungle Kings and Toronto Optimists in the late 50s. He joined the senior drum corps Canada’s Marching Saturday, August 6, 2011 Ambassadors located in Toronto. Don has many friends in the Alumni corps and is very happy to be part of the corps again.

GCC FEBRUARY 2011 – 2–

PEOPlE NEWS (CONTINUEd)

ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP has its benefits... be part of the Optimists family; this is a way for you to support the Corps and stay connected. By paying a small annual fee you are entitled to participate in Corps functions, you are eligible to vote and stand for election. You’ll also receive member-only emails, access to the members section of the web site, subscription to GCC, and, one free ticket to our show “Legends”. Get in touch: [email protected]

associate members

Brian Byrne David Johns Eric McConachie Dianne Neu Vern Reid Brian marched with the David marched with the Eric was the photograher for Dianne has attented many Thanks to my brother Clare, Toronto Optimists in the horn Toronto Region Trumpet Band Cadets LaSalle in the early practices and enjoyed them I have been a fan of Canadian line playing French horn in in the mid 50s, the Don Mills 60s and photographer for the all, especially when the corps and American drum corps for 1966 and 1967 and Skyraiders in the late 50s and LaSalle newspaper from 1968 plays the entire show at the over 50 years. In particular, mellophone from 1968 the Toronto Optimists from to 1970. During the early 70s end of the rehearsal. Dianne The Toronto Optimists in the through 1969. In 2002 he 1960 to 1964. From 1965 to he was a photographer for a says “All the corps members 50s, 60s and 70s and The participated in the “start up 1967 he helped Don Daber variety of corps and in 1974 have made me feel welcome, Seneca Optimists in the 70s. meeting” of the Alumni with publicity. He marched in for Drum Corps Canada. He and I can’t wait for the 2011 Thanks to the encouragement Corps and was part of the the Alumni from 2006 to 2008 helped Don Daber with GCC season to start”. Dianne is a of Barry Bell, I had the best Executive for the next six and joined the Support Staff in and photographed for ODCA. member of the Support Staff. 5 years of my life, starting years serving as Treasurer 2009 as a corps photographer In 2003 Dick Brown asked in 2002 when I marched with and Director at Large. During and designer for Green Eric to photograph the Alumni The Signals Band playing that period Brian was the & Gold Capsule Comments Corps. This will be Eric’s mellophone and later The Drum Major for the 2005 working closely with GCC ninth year with the Corps. Eric Optimists Alumni. season. Currently Brian is on staff Brian Byrne, Bob Carell is part of the Support Staff as the editorial staff of GCC. and Paul Thompson. corps photographer

Welcome back members

Clare Reid Paul Thompson Kimiko Yamada Clare has over 60 years in Paul joined the Toronto Kimiko came to Canada from Drum Corps movement as Optimists in 1963 and Japan in 2008 and joined the soprano player, horn and drill marched until 1969. Alumni in the winter of 2009. Len Perrin, mellophone. Kevin Clancy, tenor drum. instructor, management as Following his final year he “Kimi” was a member of the President of the Ontario Drum held several roles including Cherry Blossoms Drum Corps Corps Association and the Show Coordinator and Brass in Japan and felt right at home Canadian Drum Corps Caption Head in 1972 and with the Alumni Corps. Association, to list some 1973. Paul has served in the Kimiko played alto horn. She experience. Clare has been Alunmi Corps in various rode her bicycle to and from with Optimists Alumni from capacities since 2003, practice with the horn in it’s the start, holding various including Brass Instructor, big case, secured on the back positions such as Assistant Show