RHYTHM IN BLUE WILL BRING THE BLUECOATS EXPERIENCE TO ANY PERFORMER 18+ IN 2020. SEASON WILL CULMINATE IN INDIANAPOLIS SOUNDSPORT ™ PERFORMANCE.
20 January 2020 – NORTH CANTON, OH – Previously an alumni program of Bluecoats, Rhythm IN BLUE is now open to any student 18+ who can commute to Ohio for an Audition Experience Camp, rehearsals and performances. For the last eight years, the program has performed at community events in Northeast Ohio, and in Drum Corps International events including Tour of Champions: Akron and the SoundSport International Music & Food Festival™ in Indianapolis, IN. The Rhythm IN BLUE 2020 season will expand to participate in more performances, including a “mini tour” that will culminate with a performance at the Tour of Champions: Akron performance and the SoundSport International Music & Food Festival™ during the DCI World Championships in Indianapolis, IN.
2020 does not mark the end of the rich alumni experiences offered at Bluecoats, however. The programs Curbside! and The Legacy Arc will continue to be managed by the Bluecoats Alumni Council. These programs bring performance opportunities to alumni with local performances in Northeast Ohio and an opportunity to perform at Bluecoats-operated events, including the with the corps during performances of the Bluecoats corps song Autumn Leaves.
For 2020, Bluecoats has assembled an excellent instructional and design team for Rhythm IN BLUE. Musical Supervision and Design will be undertaken by Ryan Adamsons, an early 2000s Bluecoats alumnus. Adamsons served on the brass team at Bluecoats (2003-2008, 2011) and Santa Clara Vanguard (2012-2019), and was recently promoted to Santa Clara Vanguard Assistant Brass Caption Head in 2019. While serving on Santa Clara Vanguard’s brass team, he arranged music for the Vanguard Cadets, including their Open Class Championship show in 2019. Joining the team as Visual Supervisor and Designer is another Bluecoats 2000s alumnus, Will Wells, who taught as a visual instructor (2012-2015) at Blue Stars and is currently serving there as a brass instructor (2020). Wells has drill design credits across Texas as well as 2016 Texas Area E Champion Port Isabel High School Silver Tarpon Band. Rounding out the design team is Vickie Disch, Bluecoats Color Guard 1990 alumna, who co-founded and co-designed Fortitude Independent Color Guard then later went on to design and instruct for Munford (TN) High School’s marching band color guard and MIA Gold Medalist indoor color guard. She currently serves as the University of Dayton Flyer Marching Band Color Guard Director. More staff will be announced in the coming weeks.
Rhythm IN BLUE Director, Jay Wise, is excited about the new approach, “We learned a lot about SoundSport over the past four years as a Bluecoats alumni ensemble and I can’t wait to take this next step.” Bluecoats CEO Mike Scott added, “Expanding our vision of what this program can be will only bring the Bluecoats Experience to more young people, in a more accessible way. How great! ”
Bluecoats will host an Audition Experience Camp on February 8th, 2020 at Orrville High School, in Orrville, Ohio. The event is open to anyone with marching arts experience over the age of 18. Rhythm IN BLUE is open to brass, colorguard, and drum set or auxiliary percussion performers, and all are encouraged to complete this form if interested!
About Rhythm IN BLUE – Rhythm IN BLUE is a Bluecoats-operated DCI Soundsport ensemble that was founded in 2012. Each year the ensemble performs at seven to ten performance events in the Northeast Ohio region and beyond culminating in the SoundSport International Music & Food Festival competition in Indianapolis, Indiana. For more information, visit bluecoats.com/rhythm-in-blue
About Bluecoats – Founded in 1972, Bluecoats is a 501(c)3 non-profit performing arts education organization known around the world for the Bluecoats Drum & Bugle Corps and Bluecoats Indoor. Bluecoats brings performing arts education to thousands of aspiring young musicians both in Stark County, and around the globe. For more information, visit bluecoats.com/about .
About Soundsport – SoundSport® seeks to create a world class stage to enable a less time intensive, affordable, inclusive and enjoyable ensemble music making experience worldwide. A program of Drum Corps International, SoundSport is designed to provide unique performance opportunities for instrumental music ensembles of all types, in a dynamic environment. The goal is to assist in the creation of – and provide performance opportunities to – local, low cost and entertaining instrumental ensembles which provide a great experience for both the participants and the audience alike! For more information, visit soundsport.com/about .
