Help Alayna march with The Colts!
Donation protected
The very first time I saw The Colts perform was the summer inbetween 5th and 6th grade at a drum corps show called Celebration in Brass. Completely mesmerized by the power and sound they produced, I knew right away that the activity of drum corps would be important in my life. I returned to Celebration in Brass every summer, always enjoying the performances and always feeling inspired. Please help give me the opportunity to be a part of The Colts, travel the country, perform, and return to Celebration in Brass this year. Not as a spectator, but as a performer, so I can inspire people like I was once inspired.
Over the summer, I decided I wanted to start the journey towards auditioning to be a part of The Colts. Drum corps do not march trombones (my primary instrument), so I had to learn a new instrument with valves called a baritone (essentially a bigger trumpet). I put in endless hours of practice, both independantly and with a teacher, worked on my own on marching technique, and studied basically everything about drum corps. It was a very frustrating process and was very difficult at first, but seeing the pay-off of so much practice was extremely rewarding.
I faced many doubts along the way: not being sure if I was ready, not feeling good enough, being afriad of failure. But eventually the audition weekend came, so I traveled to Dubuque on a Friday to begin the audition process.
After waking up Saturday morning, I knew immediatly that something felt off, and of course with my luck I got sick. I was battling the stomach flu for the entire rest of the weekend, but would not let myself give up on this dream, and pushed through.
Following the conclusion of camp Sunday afternoon, I was very exhausted but very proud of myself.
Most people their first year are offered a callback to come to another camp to see how much they improved. Most veterans are offered contracts to march for the summer after their first camp. I was beyond shocked when I found out that I was offered a contract following the first audition. I had spent so much time idolizing drum corps, and the fact that the opportunity was finally right in front of me is still absolutley unbelievable.
This activity is not cheap. And being a senior in high school, about to have to start dealing with student loans, I could use any help I can get. The cost goes towards paying for tuition, all of my meals (4 meals a day off of a trailer kitchen) for the entire summer, uniform fees, housing, transportation (charter busses for the whole summer), registration fees, instructors, drill, music, design, instruments, and what ever other fees come up along the way.
The grand total will come to be around $3,700.
If I was not extremely serious in taking part in this life changing experience, I would not bother to put in months of work, training, and lots of money. I am very passionate about pursuing this dream and am willing to do whatever it takes to acheive this goal.
The Colts will be performing roughly 30 shows over the summer. Here is a map of all of the shows:
Even just $5 would help. That would cover a load of laundry over the summer!!! I am willing to take anything you have to offer.
Here is more information about drum corps and The Colts if you are unfamiliar with them:
Drum corps is most easily related to marching band, except it is on a whole different level. The group consists of only brass, percussion, and color guard. The musical and visual demand is FAR more advanced than your typical high school marching band.
The overall organizaiton is called Drum Corps International (DCI), and within the organization are individual "drum corps."
Each group is centered out of a city and people travel from all over the world to be a part of what ever corps they chose. The corps travel all over the country over the summer, competing in shows from town to town, eventually culminating to the DCI finals, which is a three day event at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Move ins for the Colts are on May 25th, and I would be out working all day every day until August 11th.
The Colts are a world class drum corps which has been seen in DCI finals in the past. They frequently finish in the top 15 of all world class drum corps across the country. They are an extremely well known group who has always been very successful.
Here is a link to a hornline warm up from last summer.
Please help make my dreams of marching become a reality! I was very lucky to make it this far, help me finish the journey and make all of my hard work pay off.
Over the summer, I decided I wanted to start the journey towards auditioning to be a part of The Colts. Drum corps do not march trombones (my primary instrument), so I had to learn a new instrument with valves called a baritone (essentially a bigger trumpet). I put in endless hours of practice, both independantly and with a teacher, worked on my own on marching technique, and studied basically everything about drum corps. It was a very frustrating process and was very difficult at first, but seeing the pay-off of so much practice was extremely rewarding.
I faced many doubts along the way: not being sure if I was ready, not feeling good enough, being afriad of failure. But eventually the audition weekend came, so I traveled to Dubuque on a Friday to begin the audition process.
After waking up Saturday morning, I knew immediatly that something felt off, and of course with my luck I got sick. I was battling the stomach flu for the entire rest of the weekend, but would not let myself give up on this dream, and pushed through.
Following the conclusion of camp Sunday afternoon, I was very exhausted but very proud of myself.
Most people their first year are offered a callback to come to another camp to see how much they improved. Most veterans are offered contracts to march for the summer after their first camp. I was beyond shocked when I found out that I was offered a contract following the first audition. I had spent so much time idolizing drum corps, and the fact that the opportunity was finally right in front of me is still absolutley unbelievable.
This activity is not cheap. And being a senior in high school, about to have to start dealing with student loans, I could use any help I can get. The cost goes towards paying for tuition, all of my meals (4 meals a day off of a trailer kitchen) for the entire summer, uniform fees, housing, transportation (charter busses for the whole summer), registration fees, instructors, drill, music, design, instruments, and what ever other fees come up along the way.
The grand total will come to be around $3,700.
If I was not extremely serious in taking part in this life changing experience, I would not bother to put in months of work, training, and lots of money. I am very passionate about pursuing this dream and am willing to do whatever it takes to acheive this goal.
The Colts will be performing roughly 30 shows over the summer. Here is a map of all of the shows:
Even just $5 would help. That would cover a load of laundry over the summer!!! I am willing to take anything you have to offer.
Here is more information about drum corps and The Colts if you are unfamiliar with them:
Drum corps is most easily related to marching band, except it is on a whole different level. The group consists of only brass, percussion, and color guard. The musical and visual demand is FAR more advanced than your typical high school marching band.
The overall organizaiton is called Drum Corps International (DCI), and within the organization are individual "drum corps."
Each group is centered out of a city and people travel from all over the world to be a part of what ever corps they chose. The corps travel all over the country over the summer, competing in shows from town to town, eventually culminating to the DCI finals, which is a three day event at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Move ins for the Colts are on May 25th, and I would be out working all day every day until August 11th.
The Colts are a world class drum corps which has been seen in DCI finals in the past. They frequently finish in the top 15 of all world class drum corps across the country. They are an extremely well known group who has always been very successful.
Here is a link to a hornline warm up from last summer.
Please help make my dreams of marching become a reality! I was very lucky to make it this far, help me finish the journey and make all of my hard work pay off.
Organizer
Alayna Verduyn
Organizer
Clive, IA