Dreams To Reality--press Release

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Ryan H. Turner
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Dreams To Reality--press Release

Post by Ryan H. Turner » Tue Oct 14, 2003 10:47 am

Ladies and gentlemen, dreams ARE coming true.

With much anticipation, the newly named Dream Drum and Bugle Corps (formerly SoCal Dream) held their inaugural open house festivities on October 12, 2003 at Loara High School in Anaheim, California. With more than 80 people in attendance, Dream presented an information and entertainment-packed 3 hours to help kick-off the new 2003-2004 season. Introduced to the audience was the Executive Board, the membership packet, information about financial obligations, and the reorganized and enhanced design and instructional staff. Also included was an incredible live performance of Dream’s very own Contraband Trio, a trio of contra players that performed their 2003 I&E music from their DCA performance. Following that was a performance by the members of the 2003 hornline performing “America The Beautiful” and their opener from this past season, “Mambo Caliente”. featuring legendary soprano soloist Phil Norris. The biggest news of the day, however, was the announcement and presentation of the Dream Drum and Bugle Corps 2004 Show Production—“Boogie Nights: Dreamin’—Old Skool Style (Unplugged)”, featuring the music of the quintessential funk and R&B band, Earth, Wind and Fire.

This production promises to bring to audiences across the country a sampling of what the Southern California lifestyle is all about—fun, funky, laid back, romantic, and even full of fantasy. The show will open with a quick sampling of a drum corps and EWF classic, “In The Stone”, quickly segueing into a powerful rendition of “Boogie Wonderland”. Next will be our percussion feature to the driving rhythms of “Jupiter” featuring our newly expanded and enhanced drumline. After that, you’ll get a chance to lay back and feel the groove of “September” followed by the lush sounds of “I’ll Write A Song For You”. The show will close with the incredible sounds of one of the most recognizable tunes from Earth, Wind and Fire, “Fantasy”. This show not only promises to keep audiences entertained, but it will be the most ambitious field production for this relatively new corps. And of course, this is all being designed, produced, and performed with the promise of Dream making its first appearance at the Drum Corps Associates (DCA) World Championships in September of 2004, marking the first time a senior corps from southern California has done so.

The Executive Board of the Dream Association of California includes:
President: Mike Nash; Vice-President: David Emmond; Secretary Valiant Yan; Treasurer Eden Aguilar; Members-At-Large: Frank Feliz, Jr, Tony Sawyer, and Ryan H. Turner.

Dream Drum and Bugle Corps is fortunate to have the creative and leadership skills of an extremely dedicated and talented staff of instructors and designers. In an effort to maximize the talent and efforts of this staff, a new format for the staff has been developed. Utilizing a team approach, Dream will now have a “Program Coordination Team”, which will integrate the four major areas of total show programming and design (music, movement, visual design, show development) into a synergistic approach that will result in a far more coordinated and streamlined design and teaching process. Also, with the knowledge that Dream is taking another large step up the competitive ladder, many of the staff whose love for the activity and this organization is strong, will sometimes wear two, three, and even four “hats” to help the corps grow and succeed. To help facilitate this, the structure of the staff has been changed to include not only the following changes, but to allow us a brief moment to introduce our returning and new design and instructional staff members.

Leading the entire corps from an instruction, coordination and design standpoint will be returning soprano performer David Emmond. Bringing an intense love of the activity and eye for detail, David will assist the corps as Corps Director, one of the members of the Program Coordination Team, Visual Caption Head, and Webmaster. Dave performed in the early 90’s with the Velvet Knights, and the last 3 years of his days in the junior corps activity with the World Champion Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps. Assisting in developing and managing the newly expanded instructional and design staff will be Jesus Soliz, who will not only be Staff Coordinator, but will be the Music Arranger, Brass Caption Head, a member of the Program Coordination Team, and almost most importantly, the Brass Quarter Master. Jesus brings to the corps an extremely musical ear and talent, along with over 15 years of experience teaching and writing for corps and award-winning band programs across the country. Rounding out the Program Coordination Team will be Mike Nash and Ryan H. Turner. Mike has been with the corps since its inception, and brings a long history of instruction and design experience to the corps. In addition to being a Program Coordination Team Member, he will serve as President of the Dream Association of California and direct the administrative and organizational efforts behind the scenes. Ryan is no stranger to drum corps, or the pageantry arts in general. Since 1978, Ryan has done just about everything there is to do in the activity—performer, instructor, consultant, administrator, adjudicator, designer…even announcer. Ryan’s most famous contribution to the drum corps activity was his 3 year stint with the world famous Velvet Knights Drum and Bugle Corps from 1985-1987, serving as a lead baritone in 1985, and as drum major in 1986 and 1987. Ryan will be providing the visual design for Dream, but will also serve on the Executive Board, and assist with facilities support and public relations and marketing. Rounding out the staff will be the returning Guard Caption Head, Andy Cross, and our new percussion caption head Nathaniel Lewis. Both of these gentlemen bring to the corps many years of experience in their respective captions, as well as love for the activity. On the instruction side of the staff, several new members will be joining us. Sean McDermott, with experience in his days with the Spirit of Atlanta, and Eric Palmer, from the Velvet Knights and Blue Devils, will fill out our Visual Instruction Team. Assisting Andy with the guard will be Kanika Glendenning, who brings extensive performance and teaching experience from many groups in northern California, including the Santa Clara Vanguard.

As the momentum builds, the plans are made, and the designs are finalized and perfected, Dream will bring to its members a new avenue for performing, growing, and meeting new friends. This is going to be the year to remember, as the excitement that was seen and felt at this open house on Sunday was incredible and promise of things yet to come. If you are interested in either performing, or if you are interested in several instructor positions that remain to be filled, please consider participating with us. We will be competitive, and it will take hard work and dedication But we guarantee one thing: IT WILL BE FUN!!

If you have any questions, please contact the corps at (508)374-5808, or email us at info@socaldream.org.

Don’t forget—the first camp of the season will be October 18 and 19th at Loara High School in Anaheim, California. Please visit our website for maps, locations, and times.

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