March 17-19 Brass Rehearsal And Audition Weekend Details

March 6, 2017

Attend our March brass weekend at Maquoketa High School in Maquoketa, Iowa, just 20 minues south of Dubuque! Lots of information for students auditioning, members, and parents. New students welcome!

The March brass rehearsal and audition for the 2017 Colts will be held March 17 - 19, at the Maquoketa High School in Maquoketa, Iowa. For first time 2017 season camp attendees, the cost of this rehearsal is $175, ($125 for returning members). If you have already attended rehearsal weekends for the 2017 season, the cost is $60. This fee is collected at each camp and covers your meals, overnight accommodations, instruction, and materials. This fee does not apply to summer fees.

New students are welcome to attend! There are still openings in each section of the brass line.

CLICK HERE for a Google map to the facility.

Registration will begin at 6:30 pm, and rehearsal begins at 8:00 pm Friday. The weekend will conclude around 4:00 pm on Sunday. There will be a performance around 2:00 pm* Sunday afternoon to recap the weekend (*time subject to change! Check back over the weekend for the specific performance time).

Parents are welcome to bring a sleeping bag and sleep in a classroom at the facility. We also have arrangements for discounted rates at the Hampton Inn in Dubuque. The Hampton Inn is a great sponsor of the Colts! To take advantage of these rates, please call the Hampton Inn directly at 563.690.2005 and tell them you are with the Colts.

Always check www.colts.org before leaving for camp for any last-minute updates! Please RSVP now with your plans!

Guard students should contact Colts Color Guard Caption Head, Brandon Smith, at coltscolorguard1963@gmail.com, with interest in a video audition. Color guard will be expected to be at the April camp, April 28 - 30, along with the rest of the drum corps. Percussion students should contact Colts Director Vicki MacFarlane at colts@colts.org with questions about percussion spots remaining in the 2017 Colts.

PARKING
Parking is available in the parking lot of the school. Please park in the parking lot on the north side of the school and enter through the main front doors.

RSVP, APPLICATION, AND MEDICAL FORM
Please RSVP regardless of your plans for this camp, so we can keep up to date with your plans. Please also submit a Member Application on the Colts website if you have not already done so. Returning your application in advance will save you a great deal of time when you check in. For first time attendees, please print, fill out, and have the Colts Medical History Form signed in advance of your arrival. You will turn this in when you check in for camp. The Medical Form also provides permission to participate in our activities. Students 18 or older may sign their own Medical Form. Any student 17 or younger will need a parent or guardian signature to participate. Please email colts@colts.org if you have any questions regarding any of our forms. The application and medical forms only need to be submitted once per year unless information changes. The RSVP should be submitted each month by interested students.

Paying in advance can also speed up your check in process. First time attendees get a $25 discount by paying at least 48 hours before camp begins. You can pay your camp fees in advance through the Colts Mall. Returning students can save a great deal of time at check in by also paying in advance.

WHAT TO BRING
Students stay overnight in the gym on the floor, as you will all summer. Bring changes of clothes, shower supplies, towel, sleeping bag and pillow, comfortable clothes for rehearsal (no jeans please), and tennis shoes (no high tops, please). Many students will bring an inflatable mattress with a battery-powered air pump. Please bring a binder with plastic sleeves for your music and any hand-outs. Returning students should bring their Colts camp t-shirt to wear all weekend! We will have t-shirts available for sale for $8.00 if you do not have your's.

New auditioning students will receive the audition t-shirt at check in. The shirt with your name will be worn for all rehearsal segments of the weekend. If this is your first camp, please email a picture of yourself to jason@colts.org. Include your name (first and last) and section in the email. This picture is printed on your audition form so our instructional team can quickly learn your name and face.

Brass: Please bring your own mouthpiece, marching instrument, music stand, binder for music, and gloves. If you do not have access to an instrument and will need one provided, please contact colts@colts.org. Be prepared to play the exercises and excerpts provided in the brass packet that best fits your area of interest: Trumpet, Mellophone, Baritone/Euphonium, or Tuba. You may also demonstrate your abilities with any piece, etude or excerpt you feel comfortable with. For the Sunday afternoon performance, please wear the audition t-shirt.

TRAVEL PLANS
We provide ground transportation anytime to and from the Dubuque Regional Airport (DBQ) for Dubuque camps. We can also accommodate flights into surrounding airports (Quad Cities, Madison, Rockford, or Cedar Rapids). You MUST notify the office prior to booking a flight into anywhere other than Dubuque. MLI (Moline) and CID (Cedar Rapids) are very close to Dubuque and reasonable in fare. ORD (O'Hare) travel MUST land prior to 3:30 pm on Friday and depart no earlier than 7:30 pm on Sunday. MDW (Midway) travel MUST land prior to 2:30 pm on Friday and depart no earlier than 8:30 pm on Sunday. If you plan on using either of these airports, please let colts@colts.org know prior to booking flights.

If you need help finding a ride to camp, or to arrange rides from an airport or bus station, please notify us ASAP by email at colts@colts.org or call 563.582.4872. You can also help fellow members by offering a ride in your vehicle. You can let us know if you have extra room or if need a ride on your RSVP. All flight details should also be listed on your RSVP.

MEMBERSHIP PROCESS & CONTRACTS
There are positions available in every section of the brass line. Individuals attending our first events are given priority over those who do not attend these rehearsals. Following the weekend, you will receive 1) an offer of membership, 2) a recall for a second and final audition, or 3) a suggestion that you come back again next year. Most will receive a recall to a second rehearsal, so plan accordingly so we can be sure of our commitment to each other.

If this is your second or third rehearsal, we are specifically looking for the growth you have made in the past month. Your audition will be very similar to the prior month, and please be prepared in the same manner as which was asked for your first audition. A decision will be made regarding your membership after this camp. If you cannot attend this camp, please make sure you are communicating with the office and your caption head about when you will be here.

Individuals offered a contract should begin making payments on your fees immediately when you submit your contract. If you cannot attend this rehearsal, you must be in touch in advance to preserve your position in the corps. Initial contract offerings are valid until noon on Saturday of this rehearsal. We must have a signed contract with initial payment by that time, or the spot will be released to someone else.

SCHEDULE CONFLICTS
Camp attendance is critical to our and your success. If you cannot attend this rehearsal but are planning to attend an upcoming audition, you must be in touch in advance with the office through the RSVP form. It is important to communicate with your caption head as well. Too much communication is better than not enough.

If you have schedule conflicts with our preseason rehearsals, talk with us. We can usually work it out with you. Attending part of the weekend is better than not attending at all. Do not lose your opportunity to perform with the Colts over a lack of communication.

PARENTS
An informational meeting for parents will be held Friday evening at 8:45 pm in a location to be announced. Detailed schedules with the location will be at the check-in table. Bring all of your questions!

Parents are strongly encouraged to attend the weekend. Parental support is what makes the Colts successful, and you are needed to give the kids the incredible Colts experience we are known for. Also, this is the best way for you to find out about our program, meet the other parents, and get comfortable with what this is all about. You will find a very welcoming and exciting opportunity here.

Parents will cook and serve the meals throughout the weekend, coordinate sewing projects, and assist with some repair work. We always have things to do for anyone willing to lend a hand.

Parents are welcome to bring a sleeping bag and sleep in a classroom at the school, or you can find a discounted rate at the Hampton Inn here in Dubuque. Please call the hotel directly at 563.690.2005 and ask for the Colts Drum Corps rate.

Parents are encouraged to sign onto the email mailing list to receive Colts information via email.

All parents and volunteers are Colts Boosters! Plan on joining us Saturday morning, before or after breakfast (approximately 9 am), to divide for Saturday projects. If you arrive at a random time, the kitchen and check in tables are good places to start with questions about where you can help.

REMAINING REHEARSALS
April 28-30, 2017 | Full Corps, Hempstead High School, Dubuque, Iowa

May 21, 2017: Pre-season Move In for Guard and Percussion, Dubuque Armory
May 26, 2017: Move In For Summer, Roosevelt Middle School, Dubuque
May 29, 2017: Parade and Summer debut concert in Dubuque, Iowa

EMAIL AND WEBSITE
Please make sure you have received audition information in your area of interest! These materials are emailed to you after requesting information for the current season.

Join our Facebook groups for your area of interest! These pages will help you meet other members prior to auditions and clarify questions you may have. We will also be distributing music through the Facebook pages.
2017 Members Group
Brass Members Group
Percussion Members Group
Guard Interest Group

SUMMER TOUR HELP!
We are scheduling summer volunteers. Check your schedules and let us know. Remember, we can be very creative in getting you in and out of tour. Cooks, Van Drivers, and/or Those Who Sew email colts.cooks@comcast.net. Other Tour Drivers email colts@colts.org

Most parents purchase their own airline tickets, if necessary, to get in and out of tour, but if you volunteer two weeks or more, we can furnish your air travel upon request. Even one day helps! Come as early as you can to give us a hand (and bring fresh fruits or vegetables!).

COLTS WISH LIST FOR IN-KIND DONATIONS
Your time on tour with us!
8-12 Board room chairs
Medium weight plastic silverware
Gift certificates for fuel and office supply
An RV
Coffee - definitely caffeinated!
Paper towels
Fresh Fruits or Vegetables
Did we mention, a week on tour with us!

For a detailed list, CLICK HERE

Welcome! We would love to have you as part of the Red Team family!

COLTS OFFICE
2300 Twin Valley Drive
Dubuque, IA 52003
Phone 563.582.4872
Fax 1.844.347.5323

Vicki MacFarlane, Director
vicki@colts.org
Cell: 563.564.9016

David Alford, Colt Cadets Director
david@colts.org
Cell: 773.308.6710

Jason Schubert, Colts Tour Director
jason@colts.org
Cell: 630-666-7489

Jeff MacFarlane, Executive Director
jeff@colts.org
Cell: 563.599.8553

Return to Colts News.