Troopers add Special Performance to July Schedule: (June 30, 2009)

Join the 2009 Troopers for a special "Thank You" performance for the City of Cheyenne, the State of Wyoming, and all our incredible supporters.

6:00 pm, Sunday July 12th.
Okie Blanchard Stadium at East High School,  Cheyenne, Wyoming

Trooper Week in Casper (May 22, 2009)

June 5th through June 14th is Troopers Week in Casper! There will be many opportunities to see and hear the Troopers and their 2009 show before they leave for the Drum Corps International competition circuit. The schedule is as follows:

June 5th -Halftime at the Wyoming Cavalry Indoor Football Game, Casper Events Center
June 6th - “A Night With the Stars”, Troopers Center, 1801 East E Street. All
Alumni should have received an invitation! Please call (307) 472-2141 if you have not.
June 7th – Jackalope Days performance at Douglas High School Stadium, Douglas, WY
June 11th – Concert in the Park, Washington Park, Casper (around 7:00 pm)
June 13th – Shrine Bowl Parade with stand-still performance afterwards in City Park, Casper
June 14th – Public “Thank You Casper!” Show, NCHS Stadium, Casper, 7:00 p.m. Tailgate party with the Corps, 4:30 – 7:00 p.m.
June 20th – Send off from Casper

If you can’t make it to the Troopers' 3rd Annual “A Night With the Stars” on June 6th, please consider making a donation for this annual Corps fund-raiser. This event is the single largest source of support for the summer tour. All donations can be sent to the Troopers Center, and of course are tax deductible. Thank you in advance for your continued financial support of your Corps!

Troopers Need Volunteers - URGENT REQUEST

As the beginning of their 2009 season rapidly approaches, Troopers Drum and
Bugle Corps has an urgent need for your time and talents as a member of their
Volunteer Support Staff.

The assistance offered by our Support Staff is vital to the well-being and success
of our corps as we embark on this summer journey called “drum corps tour”.
Whatever your time commitment, be it a few days or weeks at a time, your efforts
as a volunteer will help provide a satisfying tour experience for all involved.
Our current needs for Support Staff involve help in these areas:

Cook Truck: General kitchen help with preparation of four meals per day and
clean- up. No cooking expertise needed, just a willingness to “pitch in and
help”. Ideally 4 or 5 volunteers needed at all times to keep the cook truck
running smoothly.

Sewing: General uniform maintenance including mending, alterations, washing and
organization of uniform parts. Some basic sewing skills preferable. Ideally 1
or 2 volunteers needed at all times.

Medical: To maintain our medical protocol in handling injuries and illnesses while on
the road. Medical background necessary. We also welcome the help of
community medical resources when we are in your home area. Any medical
assistance is a valuable and much needed asset to the safety and well-being
of all persons on tour. One volunteer needed at all times.

Souvie Sales: To assist with souvenir sales and driving the souvenir vehicle from
show to show. One volunteer needed needed at all times.

When we are in your home area, even just a few hours of your time to help with
hospital runs, uniforms to the laundromat, airport pick-ups or food shopping can
make a world of difference for us on a hectic, fast-paced day on tour.

Please seriously consider sharing your time and talents with us. We need you!
We aim to give each Trooper member the best possible drum corps experience.
By volunteering, you can contribute to that experience and in the process become
part of a matchless and singular event - that of being a “Trooper Volunteer”.
Contact Director Fred Morris at f.morris@troopersdrumcorps.org

3rd Annual Night with the Stars (April 29, 2009)

The Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps, Wyoming’s Musical Ambassadors, invite you to attend the 3rd Annual A Night With the Stars.  This year’s event takes place June 6th, 6:00 pm, at the Trooper’s Center, 1801 East E Street.

Tickets to the event are $75 per person, and corporate sponsorships are available.

The event will highlight the stars of the Troopers, the 130 youth who march with the Troopers and compete to be known as the best Drum & Bugle Corps at Drum Corps Internationals in Indianapolis, Indiana. 

We are happy to announce that June 5th through June 14th will be Troopers Week!  There will be many opportunities to see and hear the Troopers and their 2009 show before they leave for the Drum Corps International competitive show circuit.
 
As the summer draws closer, and the 70 day tour begins, we are ever grateful for the support from the fans and alumni in Wyoming and across the country.

Troopers Congratulate Avon World Guard (April 8, 2009)

The Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps proudly congratulates Troopers Visual Coordinator Daniel Wiles and the Avon High School World Guard for capturing the 2009 WGI Scholastic World Class Championship this past weekend in Dayton, Ohio. As Troopers corps director Fred Morris stated, "Between the Bands of America Grand National Championship and now the WGI Scholastic World Class Championship, it has certainly been a banner year for Avon High School. The Troopers are truly blessed to have Daniel working with the corps and could not be more proud of his accomplishments with the Avon World Guard."

"Avon's success comes as no surprise to me after spending the last two years working on the Troopers visual program with Daniel Wiles. His creativity, attention to detail, and accessible programming concepts are evident to me in every interaction. Congratulations to Daniel and the Avon Guard!", added Troopers Visual Designer, Mitch Rogers.

Troopers Program Coordinator and Brass Arranger Dean Westman commented, "Working with Daniel both at Avon and with the Troopers has been an exhilarating experience. I'm so happy for my dear friend and the members of the Avon World Guard. Bravo!"

Daniel Wiles will be leading the final Color Guard auditions for the Troopers 2009 summer season April 17-19, Denver, CO at Montbello High School; April 25-26, Belton, TX at Belton High School and wrapping up on May 2, Indianapolis, IN at Lawrence North High School. For complete information about auditions, visit http://www.troopersdrumcorps.org.

Troopers Welcome New Development Director (January 13, 2009)

Fred Morris, Director of the Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps is very pleased to announce the appointment of Jamie Purcell as Development Director for the Troopers.

Jamie comes to the Troopers with 5 years experience in fundraising, grant writing, and community development. 

“I am very excited to have this opportunity to further enhance the involvement of the community with the Troopers,” said Purcell.

We look forward to Jamie’s appointment as it will increase the engagement of Wyoming’s Musical Ambassadors in the city of Casper, and the state of Wyoming.

1972 DCI Finals released on DVD (November 28, 2008)

Through a special arrangement with the Troopers -- and with the permission of Drum Corps International -- Drum Corps World is pleased to bring you performances of eight of the 12 finalists from the 1972 DCI title evening in Whitewater, WI. The original reel-to-reel videotapes were filmed by Troopers Director Jim Jones, in part as a teaching tool for his members. These tapes have been in storage since the 1970s and have now been transferred and restored by Scott Gordon, a drum corps fan and video/film technician from California. The total collection includes material between the 1970 and 1978 seasons, including performances that no one has seen in decades.

This two-DVD set of nine performances from the 1972 Drum Corps International Championships has not been seen in nearly 37 years and never before available to the public. The original reel-to-reel Sony videotapes have been preserved and re-mastered to produce this unique remembrance of a great season in junior corps history at one of the greatest shows that summer.

Two disc set includes:

Full black and white performances of the following corps:
* Anaheim Kingsmen -- Anaheim, CA -- The 1972 DCI Champion
* First Federal Blue Stars -- La Crosse, WI -- Second place
* Santa Clara Vanguard -- Santa Clara, CA -- Third place
* 27th Lancers -- Revere, MA -- Fourth place
* Argonne Rebels -- Great Bend, KS -- Fifth place
* Kilties -- Racine, WI -- Eighth place
* St. Andrew’s Bridgemen -- Bayonne, NJ -- Eleventh place
* Bleu Raeders -- New Orleans, LA -- Twelfth place
* Plus a bonus track of the 1971 Troopers at the World Open
* A short documentary titled “Preparing and Restoring the Troopers Historic Video Library"

Click here to download a PDF order form for this 1972 DVD or visit Drum Corps World on line today!

Jeff Queen Joins Troopers Staff (November 4, 2008)

Troopers corps director Fred Morris is pleased to announce that Jeff Queen has joined the Troopers 2009 staff.

Jeff Queen has been involved with percussion since the age of 10.  At the age of 15, Jeff began his drum corps career with the Canton Bluecoats and continued on to march with the Velvet Knights, Santa Clara Vanguard, Blue Knights and the University of North Texas. Jeff was the Drum Corps International Individual and Ensemble Snare Drum Champion in 1994 and 1995 as well as the Percussive Arts Society Individual Snare Drum Champion in 1994 and 1995.  Jeff has taught in the drum corps activity for many years, including being the caption head for the Carolina Crown drum and bugle corps from 2003-2004 and percussion arranger for the Colts Drum and Bugle corps since 2006.

Jeff is an original cast member of the Tony and Emmy award winning Broadway Show "BLAST" where he was a solo performer and battery instructor from 1999 - 2003. Jeff has performed on stages across the country and in Europe, including Broadway and London. In addition Jeff has appeared on numerous Television shows including: The Late Show with David Letterman, The Kennedy Center Honors 2000, NBA All-Star Game 2001, CFL’s Grey Cup 2007, “BLAST”, and “The Making of Blast” on PBS DVD and Video.

Queen is the author of “The Next Level: Rudimental Snare Drum Techniques” available through Mark Wessels Publications and “Playing With Sticks”, a more than 3-hour instructional DVD through Hudson Music.  More of Jeff’s compositions are available through Drop6 media Inc. and TapSpace Publications.  Jeff is a signature artist for Vic Firth Drumsticks and Mallets, and proudly endorses Pearl Drums, Evans Drumheads and Zildjian Cymbals.

Currently, Jeff lives in Indianapolis, Indiana where he recently graduated from Butler University with his B.M. in music theory and composition and is working on his Masters Degree in percussion performance.  In addition, Jeff teaches / arranges locally with the world champion Avon High School Drum line, is an active member of the Global Rhythms World Music Ensemble and also travels the world as an active composer, arranger, judge, clinician, and performer.

Troopers Announce 2009 Drum Majors (October 30, 2008)

Beth has marched with the Troopers for two seasons and will age out in 2011. She joined the Troopers late in the 2007 season playing baritone. In 2008, she returned as a member of the euphonium section.

Troopers Announce Brass Staff (October 25, 2008)

Troopers corps director Fred Morris is pleased to announce the 2009 Brass staff.
Leading the Brass Caption in 2009 is Scott-Lee Atchison. Scott is returning to the corps for his third year on The Troopers staff as Brass Caption Head. Jayme Taylor (High Brass Coordinator) & Fuller Lyon (Low Brass Coordinator) will return to the corps along with Trevor Bailey (Euphonium Tech & Recruiting Coordinator), all of which are entering their third year with The Troopers. 

New to the corps this year is James Nufer (Trumpet Tech), Angie Medford (Mellophone Tech), Lisa Tatum (Baritone Tech), and Taylor Smith (Tuba Tech).

Complete brass staff biographies are available at http://www.troopersdrumcorps.org

Troopers Announce Visual Staff (October 19, 2008)

Troopers corps director Fred Morris is pleased to announce the 2009 visual and color guard staff.

Leading the visual caption in 2009 is Nick Benson. Nick previously served the Cascades and Oregon Crusaders in the visual caption and is starting his 2nd season with the Troopers. Nick is also in demand nationally as a marching/movement consultant and designer, working with competitive Bands of America groups from Texas and designing winter percussion drills for Marching Show Concepts.

Joining Nick on the visual staff this season are Adam Oswald, Dylan Thompson, Mark LeGault, Grant McWilliams and Kyle Thompson. Complete visual staff biographies are available on troopersdrumcorps.org.

Leading the Troopers color guard caption in 2009 is Jeffrey Cash. This will be Jeffery’s 2nd year as the Troopers guard caption head. Jeffrey currently resides in Indianapolis, IN where he is co-director of the New Palestine High School color guard. During the winter of 2009, Jeffrey will travel to Japan to become one of 6 male performers in the WGI crowd favorite, Aimachi winter guard, from Handa City, Japan.

Joining Jeffrey this year is William Martin. William began his color guard career in 2004 with the World Championship Drum and Bugle Corps, The Cavaliers, of Rosemont, Illinois. He marched five years with the corps, aging out in 2008 as one of the guard captains. He also marched winter guard with the 2007 Independent World Champion, Pride of Cincinnati Winter Guard, from Cincinnati, Ohio.

The Troopers will be announcing their full compliment of educational staff in the coming days. Watch www.troopersdrumcorps.org for these exciting announcements.

Troopers Recruit at BOA (October 17, 2008)

Look for the Troopers recruiting booth at the BOA Grand Nationals Championship event in Indianapolis, IND November 13-15, 2008. The Troopers will also be recruiting new members at the Wyoming State Marching Band Festival, October 18 and wrap up the 2009 recruiting efforts at the Wyoming Music Educators Conference on January 19 & 20, 2009.

Troopers Announce Percussion Staff (October 17, 2008)

Troopers corps director Fred Morris is pleased to announce the 2009 percussion staff.

Kevin Welborn is returning to the Troopers for his 3rd season and will serve as the percussion caption head in 2009. He has performed with various ensembles including the Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps (1999) and the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps (2001), where he played snare drum for both organizations. 

As a percussion instructor, Kevin has taught and consulted with organizations including the Memphis Sound Drum and Bugle Corps, The University of Southern Mississippi Marching Band, Jones County Junior College Marching Band, Eminence Indoor Percussion Ensemble, Petal High School and many other high school marching bands and percussion ensembles in the Southeast. 

Joining Kevin on the percussion staff this season are Mike Dow, Derek Fields, Chris Lennox, Tricia Tedford & Matt Little.

Mike Dow is also entering his 3rd season with the Troopers. He started marching drum corps with the Crossmen (2001-2004), then aging out with the Madison Scouts (2006). Derek Fields started his drum corps career with the Madison Scouts in 2005 and 2006 under Colin McNutt, and from there went on to march at the Cadets for the 2007 and 2008 seasons under Tom Aungst. Chris Lennox performed with numerous world class drum and bugle corps including The Jersey Surf (2002;2003), The Crossmen (2004;2005), The Phantom Regiment(2006), The Blue Devils(2007), and The Cavaliers (2008).  Tricia Tedford is currently touring throughout Japan as a percussionist with the new theatrical stage production Brass Odyssey. She recently graduated from Texas Christian University with a Bachelors Degree in Music Education. Matt Little returns to the Troopers in 2009 as a percussion consultant, a role he served in 2008.

The Troopers complete staff biographies are available on line at www.troopersdrumcorps.org. The corps will be announcing their full compliment of educational staff in the coming days. Watch www.troopersdrumcops.org for these exciting announcements.

America's Core First Runner-up at IIFF (October 12, 2008)

StellaTrek Motion Pictures and MDG Documentaries are pleased to announce that Michael D. Gough's "America's Core," the documentary about the revival of the Casper Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps was selected as 1st runner up for Best Documentary at the Idaho International Film Festival last week.

The film competed alongside 49 other films and was voted in amongst the top six of the festival.

America's Core is currently on sale at www.troopersdrumcorps.org. Purchase your copy today!

Troopers Announce 2009 Design Team (September 18, 2008)

Fred Morris, Director of the Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps of Casper, Wyoming is pleased to announce the design team for the 2009 Troopers summer season.

Joining the Troopers 2009 team as the percussion arranger is David Reeves. He is a former marching member of the Star of Indiana (1991-1993) and has worked with championship-caliber organizations including the Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps (Rosemont, IL) and the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum & Bugle Corps (Santa Clara, CA). David currently works as the percussion arranger for Center Grove High School in Greenwood, Indiana. He studied composition at the Indiana University School of Music and received a degree in Percussion Performance from the University of Washington. He currently resides in Seattle, WA.

"I am extremely pleased that David will combine his talents with our design team. I expect great things from our percussion section this summer," commented Morris.

Returning to the design team is Ralph Hardimon, who will play a larger role with the Troopers this year as the music director. Scott Koter and Gordon Henderson will serve the corps as program consultants. Completing the design team are Dean Westman, program coordinator and brass arranger; Mitch Rogers, visual designer; Daniel Wiles, visual coordinator and color guard designer.

"The wealth of knowledge and experience this team brought to the organization in 2007 catapulted our return to the competitive arena. With this same core team in place, we experienced greater educational success last season; and now we look forward to providing another outstanding educational and musical experience for the students of the corps and an exciting, accessible program for our fans,' Morris said.

The Troopers will be announcing their full compliment of educational staff and the 2009 program in the coming days and weeks. Watch www.troopersdrumcops.org for these exciting announcements.

About the Troopers: The Troopers are the only competitive drum and bugle corps in the state of Wyoming. In 2008, the corps celebrated its 50th anniversary and finished the summer competitive season in 16th place at the Drum Corps International (DCI) World Championships in Bloomington, IN. The corps is open to students aged 16-21 in the disciplines of brass, percussion and color guard pageantry. Auditions are held each year for the 150-person roster. For complete information about the corps or membership, please visit http://www.troopersdrumcorps.org.