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Troopers News & Updates

Troopers Congratulate the Avon H.S. Marching Band (November 16, 2009)

The entire Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps Organization would like to congratulate the Avon High School Marching Band from Avon, Indiana on winning their second consecutive Bands of America Grand National Championship this past Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Avon became the first band since 1991 to win back to back National Championships.

The Avon High School design and instructional team consists of several Troopers staff members including Visual Coordinator Daniel Wiles, Program Coordinator and Brass Arranger Dean Westman, Brass Consultant Matthew Harloff and Percussion Consultant Jeff Queen.

As Troopers Corps Director Fred Morris stated "The Troopers are so proud of the Avon Band and this incredible accomplishment. In one calendar year, this team of designers and educators has won a Bands of America Grand National Championship, won a WGI Scholastic World Guard Championship, landed America’s Corps back in the DCI Finals for the first time in 23 years and has now just won another Bands of America Grand National Championship. I would say that the Troopers are in good hands."

The Troopers are gearing up for the 2010 season with audition camps in Laramie, Boise and Austin, Texas. Don’t miss this opportunity to work with a World-Class staff and be a part of America’s Corps!

Troopers Welcome Rod Owens to Administrative Team (October 14, 2009)

The Troopers are proud to announce the addition of Rod Owens to the administrative team. Rod will join the corps as tour director for the 2010 season. "Rod Owens comes to the Troopers with a wealth of experience in logistics planning, administrative experience and tour management," said Troopers Director Fred Morris. "I am thrilled to have Rod on board; he will be a huge asset in continuing the further success of the entire Troopers organization. I have known Rod for many years and admire his management capabilities and his passion for the drum corps activity."

Rod has been involved in the drum corps activity since the 1990's. He has worked with corps such as the Crossmen, Magic of Orlando and most recently the Glassmen as tour director. We are excited to welcome him into the Trooper family.

Troopers Announce 2010 Brass Team (October 10, 2009)

Troopers 2010 Brass Staff

• Kyle Thompson, Brass Caption Head
• Jeff Mitchell
• Holly Maldonado
• Michael Terry
• Trevor Bailey
• Stephen Mason

2010 Membership - sign up NOW! (October 1, 2009)

The Troopers are accepting membership applications for the 2010 season. Take your place in the Long Blue Line. Sign up today!

Troopers to Host UW Marching Band Invitational (September 24, 2009)

The Troopers are pleased to host the UW Marching Band Invitational in 2009!. The event will be held Saturday, October 3, in War Memorial Stadium on the campus of the University of Wyoming.

The UW Marching Band Invitational is designed to help prepare bands for the State Marching Band Festival held later in the month.  In addition to the marching competition, each band will also receive a free clinic session with a member of the UW Band Faculty.  THERE IS NO ADMISSION FEE FOR THIS EVENT!

Bands will be divided into classes for this Invitational.  Overall awards, as well as caption awards, will be given for each class.

For more information, please contact:

UW Marching Band Invitational
Attn. Brad Williamson
Dept. 3037
1000 East University Ave
Laramie, WY 82071

Troopers Announce 2010 Brass Leadership Team (September 10, 2009)

The Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps are pleased to introduce the Brass Leadership Team for the 2010 season. Veteran staff member Kyle Thompson will assume the role of Brass Caption Head and will be surrounded by a world class team of consultants, mentors and staff.

“Ralph Hardimon, Dean Westman and Gordon Henderson have been raving about Kyle for two years now” commented Troopers Corps Director Fred Morris. “Kyle is a dynamic teacher that brings an incredibly well rounded understanding of what we are working to achieve with our members.” Thompson is a former marching member of the Blue Devils and has served on the Troopers instructional staff in 2008 and 2009.

Program Coordinator and Brass Arranger Dean Westman said “In this free agency era of drum corps, we tend to always look for who the next big name hire is going to be. Our philosophy is fairly straight forward. The goal is to hire world class music educators that share our vision for creating positively life-changing musical experiences for the members of our corps. We have found just that in Kyle Thompson. The Troopers are certainly on the right track and the key to future success is providing consistency for our members. Jeff Fiedler gave me this same opportunity with the Cavaliers when I was Kyle’s age and it forever changed the trajectory of my life. I am so excited to “pass it on” and be a part of Kyle’s career as a Brass Caption Head.”

The Troopers are also thrilled to announce that Matt and Ben Harloff will join the Troopers as Brass Consultants. “We are ecstatic to welcome back some old friends in new roles for 2010” said Westman. “Both Matt and Ben have served as camp clinicians for the corps and we are honored to have each of them take more of an active consulting role as we continue to develop our brass program. Matt and Ben give so much time and effort to Carolina Crown. The Troopers are really blessed to have teachers of this caliber giving up their precious free time to work with our organization. Working with these master teachers will be the experience of a lifetime for members and staff alike!”

“It was so rewarding to be just a small part of the Troopers family in 2009 and I am truly honored to have the opportunity to work with the corps in 2010” said Matt Harloff. “Ben and I both have an appreciation for everything that the Troopers mean to this activity and look forward to a very bright future with America’s Corps.”

The entire Troopers organization would like to thank Scott Atchison for his work with the corps and wish him the best of luck in his new position with the Cavaliers.

Troopers Maintain 12th spot after Atlanta (July 24, 2009)

Performing the 2009 program, “Western Side Story,” America’s Corps, the Troopers (12th, 83.30), is utilizing a repertoire equally recognizable to fans as the corps’ yellow kerchiefs. This season is shaping up to be a banner year for the corps as its members rise through the World Class rankings.

Third-year snare drummer, Jonathon Coppinger said that the Trooopers' 2009 production is a great fit for the corps. “We feel like our show isn’t just a gimmick,” he said. “It’s something that people can really connect with. We feel like we can really get into the show ourselves, and that makes it really easy to get the crowd into the show as well.”

Read the complete recap analysis on DCI.org

Gear up for DCI Week! (July 22, 2009)

The Troopers have added more new designs to the on Line sheep wagon!

Included are limited edition Ralph Hardimon signature t-shirts, West Side Story ladies t-shirt, hooded sweatshirt & logo cap!

Shop NOW!

Troopers take 12th at DCI Southwest ( July 18, 2009)

Troopers (12th, 79.60) haven’t placed as high as 12th in a show with all other World Class corps since the DCI World Championship Finals in 1986, when the corps finished 11th. The corps stayed above Colts (0.50 behind in total score) mostly due to small spreads in every caption. The corps was 0.05 under Colts in Visual Effect, 0.15 over in Music Effect, 0.25 over in total Visual (but 0.80 over in Visual Performance—remember to divide that in half), and 0.15 over in total Music.

Read the complete recap analysis on DCI.org