Help Dayne March Tuba in DCI

My name is Dayne Romanski and I am a sophomore at Cañon City High School. I am the current tuba section leader in the Tiger Pride Marching Band, a member of the Tiger Pride Jazz Band, a member of the Southern Colorado Community Band, and now a member of The Battalion Drum and Bugle Corps!

I am raising the needed funds for my participation this summer.

The Battalion Drum and Bugle Corps is a highly competitive summer marching band part of the Drum and Bugle Corps International (DCI) for youth 14 to 21. It is by audition and only consists of select small selections of brass, percussion, and color guard members. DCI is more than just typical marching bands, they include dramatic choreographed musicals staged on football stadium fields across the country. We, the students, work long hours from January to August to achieve high levels of excellence for our performances. Through the drum and bugle corps experience, I hope to develop life skills including self-discipline, teamwork, leadership, and knowledge that I can bring back to the Tiger Pride Marching Band.

For nearly a half century, Drum Corps International, “Marching Music’s Major League™, has grown into a powerful, non-profit, youth focused leader in producing artistic, educational and organizational influence and events for the world's most elite and exclusive marching ensembles and student musicians and performers. The mission of DCI is to bring the life-enriching benefits and enjoyment of marching music performing arts to more people worldwide. Regional, focus, sponsored, competitive, and sanctioned shows have brought the drum corps experience to several millions in hundreds of towns and cities throughout North America.

I have been selected after auditioning, to be allowed to perform with this very talented organization. It is indeed a great honor to be accepted in this inspiring ensemble.

The Battalion Drum and Bugle Corps ensemble begins preparation for their summer tour by meeting one weekend a month from January to May in various cities in Utah. Throughout June, the extensive training will begin. This intensive schedule consists of outside field practice 6 days a week from 9 A.M. to 10 P.M. and one free day to catch up on laundry, attend religious services, or rest. In July, the summer tour begins! This non-profit organization lets the students show off their hard work and self-sacrifice through a truly inspirational show. The Battalion will travel to at least 14 different cities, in 10 different states, and perform at least 14 different competition shows over the course of 6 weeks. The tour will conclude in Indiana with the DCI Open Class World Championships and a final show performed at the Indianapolis Colts Lucas Oil football stadium.

Participating in this organization has been a goal of mine for quite some time and a valuable asset to my future. I have dedicated many hours to practice and preparing, Including meeting with various Fremont County band directors for advice, help, and critique. As well as traveling to Utah for auditions and ensemble meets, while still keeping up with my schoolwork, as well as participating in the CCHS Wind Ensemble, CCHS Jazz Band, The Southern Colorado Community Band, and recently participating as 1st chair tuba in the CSU-P annual Festival of the Winds Gold Orchestra. Adding participation with The Battalion Drums and Bugle Corps will be a huge physical, emotional and time commitment; one that I am fully committing myself to.

The Battalion has a tuition cost for each student for the June training and the 2024 DCI Summer Tour. This includes transportation, housing, food, instruction, uniform, and an instrument. Other costs not included in the tuition are, travel to and from Utah from January to June, travel back to Colorado from Indiana, necessities such as a sleeping mat, sleeping bag, travel bags, chargers for electronics, snacks, laundry costs, and other day to day necessities. Personal marching attire such as shoes, gloves, and a specific mouthpiece are also costs that will be accrued. Ultimately, I will need $8,500 by July 9th, 2024 to go on the DCI Summer Tour. The cost is certainly worth every penny, considering the normal cost of a trip of this caliber would cost several times more. I have been working very hard to aquire the funds, however, I am far from what I need. Unfortunately, many others are suffering financial hardships as well and need to take care of their own families. I have graciously received some donations from friends and family and I certainly appreciate each and every one.

Besides helping me achieve an amazing dream, should you decide to make a donation, the IRS designates The Battalion Drum and Bugle Corps as a 501 (c)(3) non-profit cooperation, so you will be able to claim your donation as a tax-deduction.

I ask for you to please consider sponsoring me, my travels, and experience with The Battalion Drum and Bugle Corps.

Thank you very much for your time.

A donation account has been set up through

Sunflower Bank under Dayne Romanski,

as well as this GoFundMe page at https://www.gofundme.com/daynedci2024

Donations can also be sent as friends and family to

PayPal (@chantalrdj)

Venmo (@chantalrdj)

Cashapp ($chantalrdj)

If you have any further questions, please feel free to reach out to me at [email redacted] or at (719) [phone redacted].

As well to my parents Chantal Johnson at (719) [phone redacted] and

Brian Romanski at (719) [phone redacted].

To get a better understanding of what marching with The Battalion Drum and Bugle Corps looks like, please visit the following links of the 2023 final show at the Indianapolis Colts Lucas Oil Stadium and a headcam of a previous Battalion tuba member during practice.

The Battalion 2023

The Battalion Tuba Contra Headcam 2023

Also, a huge thank you to Ground2Air Productions for snapping a few of these pictures, as well as The Battalion Drum and Bugle Corps for the pictures from the last camps!

As well as the amazing band directors, Cody Green at Canon City Middle School, Nicole Janitell Canon Exploratory School, Justin Nelson and David Woods at Florence Howling Husky Pride, and Dan Wiley Canon City High School "Tiger Pride" Bands .