tlletlip @ CONTINl/~(J /NS/.oc: 2 (CONTlNU£fJ FROM FRONT COVER) tile cOlltest the bugle section. He later joined the Information Toronto Optimists, with his brother Paul and remained with this corps till he reached the age of 21. As a member of Drum Corps the Optimists, Paul contributed many COVER COMMENTS: cartoons to their newsletter, "Green Capsule Comments" as well as producing This month's cover is by the very first all drum corps cornie our resident cartoonist, book for the American publication,"Drum Paul McCusker and is dedic­ Corps \~orld." ated to all our corps on Paul studied art and cartooning at the road this summer. Sheridan College and is currently do­ Paul is a resident of ing freelance work in Guelph for a Guelph, Ontario and he National comic book publication as well started with drum corps as contributing to the two local Guelph there as a member of the newspapers. Guelph Opti-Knights in 3 entering my fourth season of drum corps THE MARCHING with the Coachmen from Keswick-Sutton area. At present I play the Mellophone with MEMBER this corps after switching over from the french horn section. Over the years my interest in drum corps has grown to a point where I am a real drum corps "nut" and fortunate to be writing for this news­ letter, under the column, "The Marching Member." If you have any comments on the drum corps scene in Canada, please write to me, I am interested in your views as a Marching Member. by Michael Peterson THE 1976 INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIPS: It isn't often during the drum corps season, or during the year, the individual Writing your introduction for a story marching member has the chance to prove isn't as easy as I thought it would be, that he or she is the best horn player, but here I am writing and there you are colour guard, or drUmmer in Canada. \.Je 11, reading it. on March 6th. of this year all members of l1y name is Michael Peterson and this is the COCA Corps had their chance "to prove the first of many articles I hope to write who was bes to for "Information Drum Corps." I am 16 The Individuals Competition, held ann­ years of age, attend Sutton District Hi gh ually by the COCA took place at the Etob­ and enjoy sports. My main hobby is Drum icokeCollegiate in west Toronto. This Corps and collecting anything drum corps year proved to be one of the biggest and from records to buttons to ma gazines. I am best shows of this annual event over the 4 Championship percussion from the GUELPH.OPTI1~~T KNIGHTS. Left to right~ t~ke Smit~ Warren Hanna~ Jeff Merry and Dan Coughl~n. (Er~c McConachie photo) ~~~;~~~-~~;~-~~-;~;~-~-~~~~i~-~f-~h~-~~~~~~-~~;~~~~~-~~d-~h~-~i~~i~;-~~~;~-Q;~~;~;-- from THE OAKLAND CRUSADERS. Left to right~ John McFadden~ soprano; Jeff Davis~soprano; Charles Cournyea~ French Horn and baritones Tony Furiano and John Walker. ;~;-~~~~~;;-~~~~~~-(~~~i~~~d)~----------------------- ---------------------------------- years. Both the prelims during the day and Rifle Sextet: MENARD/GlRARD/SANTOMERO/ the evening finals proved to be exciting CHAPMAN/SULLlVAN/HAYES,Krescendos •• 74.0 shows, the competition is keen and the show has a great variety of activities ranging from sabre twirling to some excellant horn playing and drumming. If you didn't see letters: this event this year, I stron~ly suggest you circle your calendar for next year. Edito~'~ no~e: Some 06 the 'L~~ To Our congratulations to the winners! In The Edito~' have been eonden6ed beeaU6e OPEN CLASS the Percussion Champions are: 06 ~pac.e ~equ.Vtementl.> -in ~ ~~ue. Solo Bass :P.- &MI-'!'H, Kres cen-dos •••••••-8-3.5­ _ . -!! .• • • - -!._- _. .- . Solo Tenor: M. DOERING, Dutchmen•••••• 86.0 Harnilton,March 30/'76. Solo Mallet: C. MUNRO, Crusaders•••••• 8S.0 Dear Edi tor: Solo Triple Tenor:R.HUCKSTEP,Crusaders83.S After reading your article, "Revival Of Solo Snare :.B. ROBERTSON ,Krescendos ••••• 90.5 Preston Scout House Planned", in your last Perc.Duet:O'CONNOR/STEVENSON,S.Opt•••• 83.0 issue, I must admit feeling skeptical reg­ Mallet-Duet:MASON & MASON, SenecaOpt•• 89.S arding the idea of establishing a new div­ ision of drum corps in Canada, being of no Perc.Trio:BAlN/PHILLIPS/Kfu~E,SenOpt ••• 81.5 Perc.Quartet: HANNA/MERRY/SMIT/COUCHLIN more than 75 members. You state that the Optimist Knights •••••••• 8l.0 program of these corps would be primarily for entertainment value in the 'old style' Perc.Quintet: VOISIN /l.JILES/DANN / as opposed to the present DCI rules look••• HOLOWATHY/KREZENSKI, Ventures •••••• 76.5 and that the cost of supporting such corps Perc. Sextet: ROBERTSON/SMITH/HATTON/ would be favourable to most. PANTER/KENDRY/WATKINS •••••••••••••• 85.0 It is quite obvious to anyone assoc­ iated with drum corps within the past 5 The Open Class Brass Results: Fr.Horn Solo: A.GRAVELlNE,Compagnons •• 60.0 years, that the budget, if it can be call­ Contra Solo: P. WILSON, Krescendos •••• 77.0 ed such, has been steadily increasing with Soprano Solo:J.McFADDEN, Crusaders •••• 79.0 the size of the corps. I believe than an Bartone Solo: T. FURlAN0 , Crusaders••• 84.0 alternative method of corps survival should Melophone Solo: R. DOYLE,Compagnons ••• 85.5 be sought after, rather than reactivating BrassDuet:FURIANO/WALKER,Crusaders •••• 85.0 the smaller 'old-style' corps of the past. BrassTrio:HURAS/HURAS/CLOES,Dutchmen •• 86.0 An idea that should be considered would be Brass Quartet: McFADDEN/COURNEYEA for the CDCA to appoint a man (or men) who FURIANO/CLEMENTS, Crusaders •••••••• 82.5 would be directly responsible for establish­ Brass Quintet: DAVIS/\.JALKER/FURIANO ing fund-raising campaigns for ALL CDCA­ COURNEYEA/McFADDEN, Crusaders •••••• 86.0 MEMBER CORPS. In this way all would benefit, BrassSextet:FURIANO/CLEMENTS/COURNEYEA especially the younger corps burdened with FINES/CASKEY/McFADDEN,Crusaders •••• 88.S the problem of where to start from, as far as finances go. The results in the Open Class Rifles In closing, I would like to say that much and Sabres: has been done to add to the pleasure of the SoloSabre:P.RENAUD,SenecaOprimists •••• 85.0 average 'Joe-in-the-crowd' attending a corps SoloRifle: B.GUILER, Golden Lions ••••• 88.0 contest today. The adoption of mallet-inst­ DuetSabre:McCOURT/~~RTEL.SenecaOptim •• 76.0 ruments, the acquisition of knowledgable con­ Duet Rifle:MARTIN/SCORE,SenecaOptim ••• 8l.0 sultants, the construction of more profess­ Trio Rifle: VICKERS/RENAUD/ALLEMONG, ional-sounding instruments are only to ment­ Ventures •••••••••••••• 76.0 ion a few. Alongside of these is the increaSE in the size of a corps, and I believe any Ri fle Quartet: }1eLEA.~ /HAUSNER/GRAY / attempt to strive for anything drastically FIRLEY, Midlanders ••••••••••••••••• 70 • O 5 appreciate it if you would send us the letters address of Mr. Knox. Yours respectfully, different could prove to be fatal to the Miss Peggy Davisson. moral of those involved. His address is: Sincerely, Moe Knox, 26 Fairview Ave. DEVON, Mass. 06460. Dave MacKinnon, We are qiven to understand that St. Johns A Harching Memher, Seneca Optimists. will be~ using this excellant photo: as their major program publicity picture for 1976. Cambridge, Ont.March 9/76. -------------------------------------------- Dear Mr. Daber: Guelph,Ont.March 31/76. I have been an avid follower of drum corp~ Dear Mr. Daber: in Canada for the past 2S years. You mention­ In reading the "Information Drum Corps' ed in your last Editorial, Quote--'Any co~ publication,Feb.edition, I found it very ents or suggestions from our readers, espec­ enj oyab Ie and informative. I would very much ially the drum corps public, is appreciated. like a subscription price, not only for my­ This is what I intend to do, trusting it self but for my fellow corps members. will help in producing a better quality of Over the years we have noticed an ever entertainment for the public. growing potential of 'over age' Junior (1) A New division for drum corps in Can­ drum corps people. Also, over the years we ada: I am very pleased with this set up for have been unable to reach this potential; corps and this is something that I've been these over-age-members to corne and join the advocating for years. This is a step in the only senior drum corps in and around Guelph, right direction. Kitchener---lO miles away; Toronto and London (2) There is one section missing••• that only an hours drive distant. It seems very is there is no mention of Judges. I would odd that the Royalaires are always in need like to add that the number of judges be re­ of new members in order to make just a duced; their fees be cut back; keep them off decent appearance in the senior scene. We the field. They can do their judging on the feel the main reason for this is that people sidelines and in the stand~./ know our name but not what we are about. Looking over your "Events" column, I This is where I hope "Information Drum Corps" see the "Rose Festival,Welland" is again will provide us with an important link with listed. I would like to pass along my the Junior Corps scene ••• to simply inform experience last year in WeIland. I feel people that we exist as an alternative after that the Burger Street field is not suit­ Jr.Corps and inform them a little more of able for drum- corps because of the pos­ what the Senior scene is all about. ition of the bleachers to the field; the­ Yours truly, wooden bleachers are not safe and the Herman Hubers, Publicity Director, public passing the bleachers are too The Guelph Royalaires.