FALL 2011

[Corey Mark]

As we end the summer of 2011 and move into the 2012 drum corps year, reflecting on events of the past season highlight the frustrations of developing an all-age drum corps in Texas and gives us a sense of how we need to develop moving forward. Facing the realities of a continually evolving musical idiom and local culture teaches hard lessons. Finding solutions in presenting a valuable and rewarding pastime for everyone involved remains the greatest challenge. Nonetheless, we at GCS still feel that drum corps has a place for those who wish to participate and are committed to its success in whatever form it takes.

First, congratulations to Minnesota Brass for their first Drum Corps Associates World Championship. Their accomplishment makes them the first non-Northeastern DCA champion ever crowned. DCA itself will be changing as now half of its voting members will be from disparate regions of the country, it continues to collaborate with DCI, and for the first time starting next year championships will be held outside of the Northeast in Annapolis, MD.

In Texas, not only GCS but all four all-age drum corps organizations failed to produce field corps in 2011. There are many reasons for this occurrence, some global such as the state of the economy, and others due to the culture of the marching arts in Texas as well as those unique to each organization.

As far as GCS is concerned, despite our inability to field we have had our share of successes to build momentum for the coming year. We were thrilled as two in the GCS family marched in DCI World Class corps this past summer. A handful of students are continuing their musical educations in part because of their experiences with GCS. We continued to solidify our relationship with Lone Star College-North Harris by successfully completing a full year of drum corps continuing education classes with growing numbers of students. And we as a corps have maintained a solid core of performing members which is growing with renewed interest from many of our veterans who are making time to participate despite the constraints of raising families and working demanding jobs. The passion never dies for those who know drum corps.

So, where are we headed in 2012 and beyond? We have decided to take a path of measured growth in the coming years, focusing on building on our current strengths as a performance organization with an eye always on eventual return to the competitive field. You will see us as a brass and percussion ensemble bringing the flavor of drum corps to new and varied venues locally, and as a mini-corps in competition regionally and at DCA World Championships. We will be actively exploring and defining what we call “indoor drum corps” as a logical expansion of artistic growth to reach a wider audience and incrementally improve on field corps alternatives.

We will get there with a management team that includes the same Corps Director, Tom Huntley continuing as Performance Director, Michele Rose as Operations Director, and Dr. Brack May newly announced as Director of Music. Our Chief Music Arranger will also remain in the capable hands of Jason Rose.

We are excited in taking this path and encourage other organizations to follow in this vision for the future of the drum corps idiom. We would also like to encourage anyone with the passion to perform and the dedication that it takes to help support us along the way. The first meeting of the drum corps class for the fall semester will be Thursday, September 15, from 7:00pm until 10:00pm at Lone Star College-North Harris. Please let us know if you’d like more information on how to participate.

Stay tuned for developments as we continue to make plans for our future.

[Scott Miller]

So nothing this week? Is this a change or did I mis-hear that we were going to meet this coming Thursday?

[Corey Mark]

The first day of class has changed because Dr. May will be out of town on the 8th.

[Jason Rose]

I'm excited.