Community Corner
Explosive Drum and Bugle Competition Wows Crowd
Six teams from around the country competed in the event.
Close to 2,200 people attended Sunday night’s colorful and cacophonous Drum and Bugle Corps competition at Mt. Hope High School, according to Chairperson Anthony Medeiros. The event was co-sponsored by the Bristol Fourth of July Committee and Roger Williams University.
Six Drum and Bugle Corps teams from around the country competed in the event, with each band comprised of dozens of 16 to 21 year olds. The competition at Mt. Hope High was one of several qualifying events leading up to the Drum Corps International World Championships in August.
“This is similar to major league sports. There’s a tryout period for the kids. They have to perform and keep advancing to make the team,” said Medeiros.
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All the bands wowed the crowd with their sophisticated choreography and musical numbers, but the fan favorite was Madison Scouts from Madison, Wisconsin. Their piece “New York Morning,” dramatized the events of 9/11. The color guard, dressed in suits and carrying briefcases, danced their way across the field to “Oh, What a Beautiful Morning,” until everyone stopped and pointed up to the sky in shock. After a tense moment, the low sad sound of bugle began. The color guard crumpled in grief, stripping off their suit jackets and discarding their briefcases. As the number concluded, the band’s rendition of “Empire State of Mind” rose to a crescendo while the color guard leapt and danced with white flags of hope bringing the crowd to their feet with cheers and yells.
James Mason, a Tony award-winning Broadway producer, was Artistic Director for the piece.
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“This is a labor of love for me. I was involved with the Corps when I was young and wanted to give back,” he said.
Alas, Madison Scouts received 78.80 points putting them in 2nd place, a decision that drew some jeers from the crowd. Spirit of Atlanta came in 3rd with 75.30 points. Crossmen were 4th with 72.90 points. Jersey Surf received 5th place with a score of 64.80. 7th Regimen, which was the only team competing in the Open class, won that section with the 64.50.
Joe and Betty Brito, this year’s Bristol Fourth of July Chief Marshals, presented Carolina Crown with the 1st place award in the World Class. The team, dressed in rock-and-roll attire and performing rock standards like "We Will Rock You," beat out the five others with 81.60 points.
At the conclusion of the event Susan Young from Smithfield, Rhode Island became the raffle winner, collecting her $1308 while fireworks exploded on the field and a satisfied crowd headed home. The six Drum and Bugle Corps teams still had Monday’s Fourth of July parade to look forward to.
“You learn to appreciate the music in the parade a lot more when you see this,” said Bristol Fourth of July Committee member Nancy Oliver.
