Each year, my family plans our last summer vacation around Drum Corps International (DCI) World Championships in Indianapolis. While I’m obviously attending for work, going to the event has become an annual tradition for us.
We each have different reasons for enjoying DCI championships.
According to my husband, Josh, who was a drum major at Ferndale (Michigan) High School in 1993: “You get to see the best that the marching arts has to offer in terms of performance, creativity, and execution. Everything about ‘Marching Music’s Major League’ is professional. The stadium, logistics, and presentation—including video content on the screens—amplify and elevate everything in the sport to a professional level.”
According to my 14-year-old son who recently started his own adventures in marching band: “It’s cool to see all the shows.”
Yes, he’s a teen of many words!
According to my 10-year-old daughter who is learning piano and violin: “It’s fun. I enjoy the shows. I like going to the [food] lounge.”
For the first time, she watched all of the finals performances. The allure of a Beatles show kept her at her seat.
As for me, I spend time catching up with friends in the industry and learning about new products and innovations. I like being constantly surprised by the ingenuity of the drum corps as they push the envelope on sound, theatrics, equipment work, movement, and props. I enjoy seeing the performers’ emotions and the culmination of their hard work, knowing that their lives have been positively impacted in many ways by their season-long experiences. And it’s satisfying knowing that I’m playing a small role in this amazing activity.
In this issue, you can relive the magic of the 2019 DCI championships in our annual recap feature. Not only will you learn more about the show themes for all of the World Class and Open Class medalists, but you’ll also get an inside look at design decisions, challenges that needed to be overcome, and how each group gets stronger year after year.
We also spotlight “The Uniqueness of DCI Uniforms,” showcasing the evolution of corps-specific styles to show-specific designs.
For 13 years, DCI has become an entertainment staple for our household as it has for generations of pageantry lovers. May it continue to unite us all for many years to come.
Keep on Marching,
Christine Ngeo Katzman
Publisher and Editor-in-Chief
