David Whitfield: Bluecoats 2016
Donation protected
What Is DCI?
Drum Corps International (DCI), formed in 1972, is the non-profit governing body for junior drum and bugle corps in the U.S.A. and Canada.
Drum Corps International delivers the message of “excellence in performance and in life” to more than 7.2 million young adults, ages 13-22 involved in performing arts in the United States and across the world
Active participants in U.S.-based drum and bugle corps hail from more than 15 countries
Over 45 Drum and Bugle corps compete in the DCI competitive summer tour, sometimes called "Marching Music's Major League", consisting of DCI-sanctioned competitions (known as the Summer Music Games) all throughout the United States, culminating in August with the week-long DCI World Championships
More info at: http://www.dci.org/
Simply put, DCI is Professional Marching Band, and The Bluecoats are my team.
Who Are The Bluecoats?
Mission: The Bluecoats provide programs for youth in music and performance training. Leadership, personal, character and social development skills are emphasized through the challenge, excitement, and self-discipline presented by the corps through travel, competition, and pursuit of excellence.
The Bluecoats are a marching music education organization made up of 150 young men and women between the ages of 15 and 22. This non-profit corporation based in the Akron/Canton region of northeast Ohio was founded in 1972 as an outgrowth of the Canton Police Boys Club.
The Bluecoats are long-term members of Drum Corps International (DCI), a governing body that facilitates a competitive drum and bugle corps tour across the United States each summer. They have consistently placed in DCI’s elite “Top 12″ since 1987.
This past year, we continued our trend of appering in the TOP 3 in the world, earning our second ever bronze medal with our show "Kinetic Noise":
I'm one of the people helping lift that big orb at the end!
The previous year, The Bluecoats earned their all-time highest placement earning a silver medal with 2014's production "Tilt":
Watch until the end, you won't regret it
Learn more at: http://bluecoats.com/
What Did I Do To Become A Bluecoat?
Ever since I first attended a DCI show with my father (a fellow tuba player and drum major) in 2011, I found a whole new meaning behind marching band and music as a whole. It was a truly transcending experience. The Bluecoats captivated me with their now legendary beautiful performance of their rendition of Radiohead's Creep:
Ever since that fateful day, I knew my home was with The Bluecoats and I dedicated the next 4 years to refining my art in the hopes of being able to stand among those who had inspired me so much.
Through this time I went through hundreds of hours of practice and endless days of exercise. My ambition pushed me to be a greater person than I had ever been, and I learned so much about hard work before even coming close to reaching my goal.
I auditioned for the Bluecoats in 2012, but sadly did not make the cut.
That only motivated me more to reach my dream of becoming a Bluecoat.
Flash to 2015.....
Each year, more than 8,000 students audition for the fewer than 3,500 positions available in top-tier DCI member corps.
This year, The Bluecoats had over 800 people auditioning for their 150 spots.
I attended the Bluecoats' Austin, Texas Blue Way Audition Camp, where over 200 hopefuls fought for about 50 call-back offers.
I was one of the lucky few to receive a call-back to their Ohio Call-Back camp to compete with over 200 hand-picked musicians from around the world to earn a spot in the 2015 Bluecoats program.
Through a grueling three day camp of constant exercise, drill, and playing, I was finally offered a spot to perform on the field this summer with the other 150 world class musicians in the Bluecoats.
I had finally reached my dream. But that is only the beginning...
That was last year. I am now speaking to you as a proud Bluecoat after my first year of competition, one of the most unique experiences of my life. I have only learned more and more about what it truly means to be great from my time with the Bluecoats. Throughout the season I was anxious and apprehensive. I was right in the vortex of my lifelong dream and working harder than I ever had before in my entire life. I was in a constant sate of exhaustion and bliss. I was so worn out but invigorated. I was finally starting to write the biggest chapter of my life and I was lucky enought to know that from the first page. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to return this season in 2016 and continue my story.
What Will I Do in the Bluecoats?
The Bluecoats travel over 10,000 miles and compete in about 30 performances each season as participants in DCI’s annual tour.
The Bluecoats members rehearse up to 14 hours EVERY DAY over the ENTIRE SUMMER in blazing heat, downpouring rain, and even sometimes the cold perfecting their 11 minute competitive program. They sleep on high school gym floors in sleeping bags during the summer tour.
Each year, the corps appears in front of hundreds of thousands of spectators throughout the United States everywhere from New York to Texas in hopes of winning the DCI World Championship.
This year we are working harder than ever to Set The Standard and become the FIRST EVER World Championship Bluecoats.
How Can You Help?
This all seems pretty overwhelming. One of your questions about this elite practice is probably "How much will you get paid for doing this?" And the answer is an astounding $0.
While DCI can be compared to the caliber of a professional athletic event (Such as the NFL or NBA), this non-profit organization actually does not shower their athletes in wealth. We actually dish out a pretty large sum of money to participate in the activity.
The Bluecoats outline all of their requirements, rules, regulations, agreements, and fees in their Blue Pages pamphlet, but I will run you through the numbers.
I am incredibly please to share that I have already funded my own audition AND full tour fees (totaling over $2,800.00 also including across two camps and a road trip to Ohio). That, in addition to other one-time fees i took care of last year, makes my goal is signinficantly lower than last year! My remaining cost include:
Winter/Spring Training Camps:
March.........................................................................................$100
Flight Tickets..........................................................................$500
April............................................................................................$100
Flight Tickets..........................................................................$500
Spring Training:
Camp..........................................................................................$425 Flight Ticket............................................................................$250
Summer Tour:
F̶e̶e̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶$̶2̶,̶8̶0̶0̶
Spending money:
Suggested funds for food, laundry, etc......................$300
Bringing my total to..............................................................$2175
(Nearly HALF of last year's costs!)
Being a full time student, that money is very hard to come across, so that is why I have created this campaign. Until then I will continue my hard work as a Domino's Pizza delivery driver to get all the money I can!
I hope that my story has at least reached out to you in any way. I do not want my dream to die so close to my goal. Any amount of money or even just sharing this page will help me achieve my goal and give me an opportunity to make memories that will last a life time.
Thank you for your support.
I am living my dream thanks to
hard work, dedication, and support from
my friends and family.
Let's go BLOO!
Drum Corps International (DCI), formed in 1972, is the non-profit governing body for junior drum and bugle corps in the U.S.A. and Canada.
Drum Corps International delivers the message of “excellence in performance and in life” to more than 7.2 million young adults, ages 13-22 involved in performing arts in the United States and across the world
Active participants in U.S.-based drum and bugle corps hail from more than 15 countries
Over 45 Drum and Bugle corps compete in the DCI competitive summer tour, sometimes called "Marching Music's Major League", consisting of DCI-sanctioned competitions (known as the Summer Music Games) all throughout the United States, culminating in August with the week-long DCI World Championships
More info at: http://www.dci.org/
Simply put, DCI is Professional Marching Band, and The Bluecoats are my team.
Who Are The Bluecoats?
Mission: The Bluecoats provide programs for youth in music and performance training. Leadership, personal, character and social development skills are emphasized through the challenge, excitement, and self-discipline presented by the corps through travel, competition, and pursuit of excellence.
The Bluecoats are a marching music education organization made up of 150 young men and women between the ages of 15 and 22. This non-profit corporation based in the Akron/Canton region of northeast Ohio was founded in 1972 as an outgrowth of the Canton Police Boys Club.
The Bluecoats are long-term members of Drum Corps International (DCI), a governing body that facilitates a competitive drum and bugle corps tour across the United States each summer. They have consistently placed in DCI’s elite “Top 12″ since 1987.
This past year, we continued our trend of appering in the TOP 3 in the world, earning our second ever bronze medal with our show "Kinetic Noise":
I'm one of the people helping lift that big orb at the end!
The previous year, The Bluecoats earned their all-time highest placement earning a silver medal with 2014's production "Tilt":
Watch until the end, you won't regret it
Learn more at: http://bluecoats.com/
What Did I Do To Become A Bluecoat?
Ever since I first attended a DCI show with my father (a fellow tuba player and drum major) in 2011, I found a whole new meaning behind marching band and music as a whole. It was a truly transcending experience. The Bluecoats captivated me with their now legendary beautiful performance of their rendition of Radiohead's Creep:
Ever since that fateful day, I knew my home was with The Bluecoats and I dedicated the next 4 years to refining my art in the hopes of being able to stand among those who had inspired me so much.
Through this time I went through hundreds of hours of practice and endless days of exercise. My ambition pushed me to be a greater person than I had ever been, and I learned so much about hard work before even coming close to reaching my goal.
I auditioned for the Bluecoats in 2012, but sadly did not make the cut.
That only motivated me more to reach my dream of becoming a Bluecoat.
Flash to 2015.....
Each year, more than 8,000 students audition for the fewer than 3,500 positions available in top-tier DCI member corps.
This year, The Bluecoats had over 800 people auditioning for their 150 spots.
I attended the Bluecoats' Austin, Texas Blue Way Audition Camp, where over 200 hopefuls fought for about 50 call-back offers.
I was one of the lucky few to receive a call-back to their Ohio Call-Back camp to compete with over 200 hand-picked musicians from around the world to earn a spot in the 2015 Bluecoats program.
Through a grueling three day camp of constant exercise, drill, and playing, I was finally offered a spot to perform on the field this summer with the other 150 world class musicians in the Bluecoats.
I had finally reached my dream. But that is only the beginning...
That was last year. I am now speaking to you as a proud Bluecoat after my first year of competition, one of the most unique experiences of my life. I have only learned more and more about what it truly means to be great from my time with the Bluecoats. Throughout the season I was anxious and apprehensive. I was right in the vortex of my lifelong dream and working harder than I ever had before in my entire life. I was in a constant sate of exhaustion and bliss. I was so worn out but invigorated. I was finally starting to write the biggest chapter of my life and I was lucky enought to know that from the first page. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to return this season in 2016 and continue my story.
What Will I Do in the Bluecoats?
The Bluecoats travel over 10,000 miles and compete in about 30 performances each season as participants in DCI’s annual tour.
The Bluecoats members rehearse up to 14 hours EVERY DAY over the ENTIRE SUMMER in blazing heat, downpouring rain, and even sometimes the cold perfecting their 11 minute competitive program. They sleep on high school gym floors in sleeping bags during the summer tour.
Each year, the corps appears in front of hundreds of thousands of spectators throughout the United States everywhere from New York to Texas in hopes of winning the DCI World Championship.
This year we are working harder than ever to Set The Standard and become the FIRST EVER World Championship Bluecoats.
How Can You Help?
This all seems pretty overwhelming. One of your questions about this elite practice is probably "How much will you get paid for doing this?" And the answer is an astounding $0.
While DCI can be compared to the caliber of a professional athletic event (Such as the NFL or NBA), this non-profit organization actually does not shower their athletes in wealth. We actually dish out a pretty large sum of money to participate in the activity.
The Bluecoats outline all of their requirements, rules, regulations, agreements, and fees in their Blue Pages pamphlet, but I will run you through the numbers.
I am incredibly please to share that I have already funded my own audition AND full tour fees (totaling over $2,800.00 also including across two camps and a road trip to Ohio). That, in addition to other one-time fees i took care of last year, makes my goal is signinficantly lower than last year! My remaining cost include:
Winter/Spring Training Camps:
March.........................................................................................$100
Flight Tickets..........................................................................$500
April............................................................................................$100
Flight Tickets..........................................................................$500
Spring Training:
Camp..........................................................................................$425 Flight Ticket............................................................................$250
Summer Tour:
F̶e̶e̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶.̶$̶2̶,̶8̶0̶0̶
Spending money:
Suggested funds for food, laundry, etc......................$300
Bringing my total to..............................................................$2175
(Nearly HALF of last year's costs!)
Being a full time student, that money is very hard to come across, so that is why I have created this campaign. Until then I will continue my hard work as a Domino's Pizza delivery driver to get all the money I can!
I hope that my story has at least reached out to you in any way. I do not want my dream to die so close to my goal. Any amount of money or even just sharing this page will help me achieve my goal and give me an opportunity to make memories that will last a life time.
Thank you for your support.
I am living my dream thanks to
hard work, dedication, and support from
my friends and family.
Let's go BLOO!
Organizer
David Whitfield
Organizer
San Marcos, TX