DAHLONEGA - The University of North Georgia (UNG) Drum and Bugle Corps received the silver medal for overall performance at two international competitions this summer. Comprising 40 members, the UNG Drum and Bugle Corps offers UNG students, non-UNG students and local high school students the chance to rehearse and compete together.
The band took silver at Drum Corps International's SoundSport event in Atlanta and in the largest-ever SoundSport competition, held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana, during the DCI World Championships. The band received a gold medal for music performance at the DCI World Championships event and a gold medal for visual performance at the competition in Atlanta.
"We having been building toward this for years, and the musical and visual skills of the band members have developed to where they are now capable of successfully competing in an international competition, sponsored by the most prestigious marching music organization in the world, Drum Corps International," said Andy David, head of UNG's Department of Music. "We have experienced much success and have been able to grow our vision for the future of the band. Who can say how far we can go?"
Drum and bugle corps are marching bands with brass instruments, percussion instruments, synthesizers, and color guard; drum and bugle corps typically create a new, themed show each year and participate in regional, national and international competitions.
With only four days of rehearsal, the members of the band learned and performed a new production, "BD: A Tribute to the Blue Devils," which they performed at the DCI and SoundSport events.
"The fact that we were able to put a new show on the field in such a limited amount of time really speaks volumes about the dedication, talent and perseverance of our students," said Sarah Dunn, the band's director. "I am extremely fortunate to be able to work with such a talented group of students, and I hope we will be able to compete in SoundSport competitions for years to come."
With the conclusion of the summer competition season, the UNG Drum and Bugle Corps now focuses its efforts on the preparation of its 2015-16 show, "Scheherazade." Featuring an orchestral suite of the same title by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov that is based on the fable "1001 Arabian Nights," UNG's interpretation of "Scheherazade" will be performed at the university and across the nation in Winter Guard International Winds (WGI) competitions. Upcoming performances and competitions include:
- Feb. 21: Preview Show. Riverside Military Academy, Gainesville, Georgia. 5 p.m. Free, open to the public.
- March 5: WGI Regional. Houston, Texas
- March 12: WGI Mid-South Championship, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, Kentucky
- March 19: WGI Regional, Orlando, Florida
- April 14: Home Show. Memorial Hall Gymnasium, UNG's Dahlonega Campus. 8 p.m. Free, open to the public.
- April 16-17: WGI World Championships. University of Dayton Arena, Dayton, Ohio
This spring, the band also earned second place in three competitions in the new WGI Winds circuit, one of the largest premier organizations for indoor color guard, percussion, and wind ensemble competitions in the world. The band traveled to Atlanta and Orlando, Florida, and finished the circuit at the WGI Mid-South Winds Championship in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
