Q UARTER NOTES Minnesota Brass, Inc. Quarter Notes Newsletter DRUM BEAUTY CREATES MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES Volume 3, Issue 2 Sunday, June 27, 2010, Stillwater Area High School June 15, 2010 By Paul Mordorski Drum Beauty, nestled in the quaint St. Croix River twice, wearing garbage bags, and wowing the Valley town of Stillwater, is Minnesota’s premier crowd with their Bottle Dance and excellent Contents: drum and bugle corps competition. showmanship. Scheduled for June 27, 2010 at Stillwater 9 of the nation’s top Drum Beauty..................... 1 Area High School, the nation’s top Drum Over the years, Drum Member Spotlight ............. 2 Corps International (DCI) caliber corps corps visit Stillwater Beauty has been both a one Sideliners .......................... 3 have been appearing at this DCI stop Area High School for and two day event, held at Local Shows ..................... 3 on the tour since 1975. what promises to be a five different locations, in Grants Received ............... 4 Collision of Champions. rainy conditions that forced MB Productions (MBP) ..... 4 Memories are inspired when you standstill performances, in MBI VISA Card ................. 4 mention Drum Beauty. According to sweltering heat, and with Under the Lights (UTL) ..... 5 Drum Beauty Producer and Historian Dave perfect drum corps weather. Below are memories Click for Community ......... 5 Eckberg, the show evolved in 1956 to attract from Minnesota Brass Inc. affiliates of their Drum 2010 Schedule.................. 6 units for the “Play Beauty experiences. Days” parade. The Share your favorite Drum Stillwater Jaycees John Ebert (hornline,1990s, 2000s, created the show Beauty memories. Email and current marching member): My [email protected] today! Editor-in-Chief: and ran the show first drum corps show as a fan was c o n s e c u t i v e l y Memories may appear on the Sue Cosley Drum Beauty 1978. If memory serves, through 1962, www.mnbrassinc.org website or Santa Clara, Blue Devils, Scouts, featuring the top Blue Stars, and Spirit of Atlanta were Quarter Notes Staff: in other MBI publications. level drum and Dave Whitaker there, maybe Crossmen, too. Spirit bugle corps, with Eric Molho of Atlanta already had that gigantic the Cavaliers, Blessed Sacrament (a last minute sound, and it was only their second season. But replacement in 1959), and the Preston Scout I instantly fell in love with the Devils, and they House included as champions. Drum Beauty Drum Beauty, Continued on page 2 ceased after the 1962 season, and, although it was resurrected in 1965 and the early 1970s as Contact Quarter Notes: a regional show, it was not successful because DCI MINNESOTA the people of Stillwater were used to having the Submit advertising or story big corps in attendance. July 17, 2010, TCF Bank Stadium ideas to: In 1975, Eckberg resurrected Drum Beauty as 24 World, Open, and All-Age Class [email protected]. his senior project at the University of Minnesota. corps will roll through Minneapolis Five top DCI caliber corps were scheduled to for this first ever event. See the perform at this show at Stillwater HS that was sold out months in advance. There had not been Sideliners page for a lineup, times, Contact MBI: measurable rain in nearly a month going into the and ticket information... including a show until that night, when it rained three inches discounted Super Ticket for Drum Snail Mail: from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. The show became a Beauty patrons. Minnesota Brass, Inc. rain-soaked, thrilling exhibition with the 1974 PO Box 7341 DCI Champion Santa Clara Vanguard marching St. Paul, MN 55107 Email: DCI MINNESOTA SUPER TICKET [email protected] When buying your Drum Beauty ticket online only at http://lumberjackdays.com/drumbeauty.asp you have the opportunity to purchase the $27 DCI-Minnesota ticket for only $18! www.mnbrassinc.org 1 PROFILING THE CORPS DIRECTOR: ERIC MOLHO By Susan Fisher The member profile shines this issue on Eric Molho, arguably one of he joined the baritone line and enjoyed marching during the 2003 the most critical members of the Minnesota Brass Inc. Drum Corps and 2004 seasons. family, since he is the new corps director. By way of introduction for those alumni and fans who are not around the corps all of the Wanting to take a “break” from the requirements of being at every time, hopefully this profile will give you a chance to get to know rehearsal and performance, but still wanting to stay close to the this busy, energetic, and smart leader who corps, Eric ran for the board of directors. He has been quietly helping behind the scenes served as a board member during the 2005 and for many years. 2006 seasons and then was selected as Board Chair for the 2007, 2008, and 2009 seasons. Eric grew up in Indiana and was first introduced During these years, he watched and contributed to drum corps when his high school band to the remarkable success that the corps has teacher invited him to attend the 1986 World been able to achieve. Championships in Madison, Wisconsin. Since that time, he has been hooked on drum corps. He was selected as the new Corps Director for the One of his early memories of drum corps was current 2010 season with the hope that “we are at the Drum Corps Midwest Championships matching the high quality and professionalism that in DeKalb, Illinois. Deep inside the bowels our performers exhibit with a strong, professionally of Huskie stadium, he turned to his friend run organization.” Along with the board, staff, and and said, “Ya know, that Minnesota Brass management team, Eric is doing his part to make group is pretty good.” A fellow standing sure MBI marching members and alumni have behind him who overheard his comment said everything they need to be successful today and “Thank you!” It happened to be someone in a into the future. Minnesota Brass jacket who was on the staff that summer. Outside of Minnesota Brass, Eric plays an important role in the educational future of other young people as In 1988, Eric auditioned for Star of Indiana – a remarkable DCI Director of Strategic Planning for the Minneapolis Public Schools. junior corps from the 1980s and 1990s – and had a wonderful His talents for guiding others in achieving their full potential are weekend in Bloomington, important roles for both his professional Indiana. Unfortunately, when When you see Eric at rehearsals, performances, and drum corps lives. it came time to audition on his or shows, feel free to introduce yourself to him. on his baritone in the face of As Eric says, “For me, being Corps four staff members, Eric froze Director is about the members. I want up and was unable to get a single note out of his horn. After an them to have a great experience. To have fun and meet lifelong expected rejection letter, he did not have the bravery or gumption friends. And to know that they are a part of Minnesota Brass.” to try out again and often regretted that he never took the step to march with a junior corps. As Corps Director and #1 rooter, Eric’s wishes for the corps are completely in keeping with the Minnesota Brass mission, and It was 2001 when he moved to Minnesota. Since he now lived in he wants to get to know all of the Minnesota Brass family, since close proximity to a high quality all-age corps, he began to seriously everyone is critical to the history, 2010 season, and the future of consider marching with Minnesota Brass. While he did not know the corps. much about the corps other than his early memories from DeKalb, Drum Beauty, Continued from page 1 have been my favorite ever since. Afterward, I was hanging out with the full moon. Gorgeous! fellow trumpet players from my high school band. We were jealous of how high the drum corps “trumpet” players could play. One of What I remember most about this evening was Minnesota Brass them said, “Yeah, but they’re playing ‘little tiny’ trumpets.” playing Sesame Street, the Madison Scouts’ performance, and the Blue Devils victory concert. For the victory concert, I went down and Tim Christensen (American Flag Squad and hornline, 1990s and sat right in front of the lead sopranos. The day was very hot, but 2000s): I really miss the old Drum Beauty location, where we used things had cooled down immensely by the time the victory concert to warm up and get ready in Karl and Linda’s [Sletten] backyard, began. I was so excited to have the full power of the Blue Devils and then walk under the stands to start the show. Then we would Hornline IN MY FACE! It was an amazing concert, but the most come back and party in their driveway until after all the corps trucks memorable part of the evening was that when the lead sopranos were gone. Some years, they would even feed the Blue Stars, and played anything over a high G, there was literally smoke coming I got to have midnight lunch. out the end of their bells! It was a magical evening of drum corps, and Blue Devils went on to win the DCI Championships. It inspired Brent Turner (1990s,2000s, and former MBI Corps Director): My me to audition the next Fall for the Madison Scouts. first Drum Beauty was 1986 – just as the corps were heading to Madison, Wisconsin for DCI finals. I went to the Monday night Drum Beauty has featured almost all the top DCI corps, including performance. I had lived in Minneapolis only about four weeks.