The Midwest Combine Experience Camp is designed to give aspiring drum corps members an easy, no-pressure way to learn about the drum & bugle corps activity. Jointly hosted by the seven Midwest corps, instructors and administrators from the Blue Stars, Cavaliers, Colt Cadets, Colts, Madison Scouts, Phantom Regiment, and River City Rhythm will be on hand to make it a fun, educational introduction to the activity. What you can expect from the day:

• Instruction from some of the best brass, guard, percussion, and visual staff members in DCI
• An opportunity to learn about the activity in general and how you can join a group for the 2024 season or beyond
• A chance to talk directly to the leaders of the seven Midwest corps and learn about their unique organizations

Directors from each corps will answer any questions you may have about their audition process and how you can become a DCI member. Corps merchandise will also be available. The cost is just $40 and includes a full day of instruction, Midwest Combine Experience shirt, Midwest Combine sticker, and lunch.

From DCI.org:

Open houses and “experience camps” have been commonplace among drum corps across the country for years. They serve as an opportunity to kick off each new season’s recruitment efforts and get prospective students in the door to introduce and acclimate them to what it’s like to join and be a part of a drum and bugle corps.

But those opportunities have traditionally been done on an individual corps-by-corps basis. For students who are “on the fence” about joining a drum corps, having to travel to different locations to experience different groups can often be a time-intensive and costly endeavor, especially for those still trying to gauge if the experience and commitment is right for them.

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WHERE

Oak Creek High School, 340 E. Puetz Rd., Oak Creek, WI 53154.

WHEN

Sunday, October 22, 2023, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM.

HOW much does it cost?

$40

WHAT’s provided?

Full day of instruction, Midwest Combine Experience T-shirt, sticker, lunch.

WHO should attend?

Students from the greater Milwaukee area that love performing and would like an introductory experience to the drum corps activity from some of the best educators currently working with the Midwest Corps.

SCHEDULE

8:00–9:00 AM — Registration
9:00–Noon — Sectional instruction
Noon–12:45 PM — Lunch and visit the corps information tables
12:45–3:15 PM — Sectional instruction
3:15–4:00 — Q&A with the corps directors
4:00–5:00 — Info fair with individual corps

REGISTER TODAY! (Registration will be through the Blue Stars website).

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The FAQs.

Is this an audition camp, and will membership agreements be offered?

This experience is not designed as an audition camp. The purpose of this event is to introduce you to the drum corps activity with instruction and information provided by the Midwest drum corps. At the end of the event, it’s entirely possible for an attendee to be invited to one or more audition camps of the seven corps.

Is there any transportation or housing provided?

No. This event is designed for attendees to drive in and out. No airport transportation or housing is provided. While it is possible to fly in for the event, you would be responsible to get to the camp location on your own (Uber, Lyft, carpool, etc.).

Is equipment provided?

Brass players should bring a bell front marching horn, if possible. There will be some brass available to use for the day, especially tubas, but quantities may be limited. Please indicate on the registration form if you will need an instrument.

Battery players should bring marching sticks and practice pads. Drums will be provided.

Front ensemble players should bring their own mallets, if possible.

Color guard students should bring their own gloves and knee pads, if they prefer. Practice flags will be provided.

Is there a conductor track at the event?

No, there is not a conductor track for the 2024 event.

Do I have to register in advance, or can I pay at the door?

It is possible to show up and register on-site the day of the event; however, you are strongly encouraged to register in advance. Registering in advance allows us to better plan for t-shirt sizes, meals, instruction, etc. While we will have extra shirts made to account for some walk up registrations, T-shirts will be given to people that register in advance first. It’s possible we could run out of shirts if there are a large number of students who show up the day of the event.

Will there be souvenir merchandise available for sale?

Yes. Some corps will have souvenir merchandise available for purchase at the event.