January Rehearsal Camp Details

UPDATES BASED ON WEATHER: Camp is still a GO for the weekend. Weather will impact travel from some areas. Please make a safe decision regarding your own travel. We will make alternative audition arrangements for those unable to get to the camp. Your position in the corps will not be jeopardized by making a smart decision for yourself. If you have a flight that is delayed, we will work with everyone to make sure you can get to the camp. If you get to the Indianapolis airport, we will get you to camp (but it might be an Uber). For those coming to camp, the weather will be much colder than normal. Please make sure to travel with a winter coat, hat or earmuffs, and gloves. Pit, especially, will need to keep your hands warm during unload and load.

On Sunday, we are cancelling the performance to get everyone on the road just a bit faster with a bit more daylight. REMEMBER: This event is in Eastern Standard Time.

The next three-day audition and rehearsal weekend for the 2026 Colts will be held January 23-25, at Taylor High School in Kokomo, Indiana (approx. 50 miles north of Indianapolis). The address is: 3794 E 300 S, Kokomo, IN 46902. The January rehearsal weekend is for BRASS, PERCUSSION and CONDUCTORS. Click here for a Google map to the facility.

Always check our website within a few hours of leaving for camp for any last-minute updates! Registration and unloading will begin at 6:30 PM on Friday. Rehearsal begins at 8:00 PM, and will conclude by 3:00 PM on Sunday. Plan on arriving at 6:30 PM to register and unload equipment.

Auditions & Callbacks

Auditions have already begun but there are still openings in every section of the drum corps. It's not too late to get started with us! YOU DO NOT HAVE TO SUBMIT AN AUDITION VIDEO IN ORDER TO ATTEND THE REHEARSAL WEEKEND. Our staff will plan to see you individually to assess your skills. All students will be evaluated within their section throughout the weekend.

The cost for the Colts rehearsal weekend is $100 which helps cover the cost of instruction, facilities, and food. IF YOU HAVE NOT YET JOINED THE RED ZONE, YOU WILL NEED TO DO SO TO DOWNLOAD YOUR AUDITION MATERIALS IN ADDITION TO THE $100 REHEARSAL FEE FOR THE WEEKEND ($200 TOTAL). You can pay the fees online for both the January camp and the Red Zone (if you have not already enrolled).

There is still time to get a head start on the audition process by submitting a video audition. Video auditions are $50 and completely optional. You will get an initial audition result based on your video audition. In some instances, students will be offered a contract of membership based on their video. To be considered for the next round of member contracts, SUBMIT YOUR VIDEO BY JANUARY 11!

Camp Paperwork

Prior to camp, you will be expected to turn in:

Registration \ Please register in advance so we can prepare for your attendance. Be sure to include all applicable flight and travel information in the RSVP. If you need a ride from the airport, you will be notified by the Wednesday immediately before the camp with shuttle information.

Member Application \ All auditioning students must submit a member application. The application only needs to be submitted once per year, unless your information changes. Email a headshot of yourself to camp@colts.org. Include your name (first and last), section, and which audition camp you are attending. This picture is added to your audition file so our instructional team can quickly learn your name and face. This picture should be submitted before the camp starts and is required of all first-time attendees. Make sure the image is clear, well lit, and contains your whole face. As awesome as your sunglasses or Snapchat filters may look, they should not be included in your headshot.

When you arrive to check in on Friday, bring with you:

Colts Medical History Form \ This form is required in order to audition. 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 must have a parent or guardian signature to participate. Medical forms only need to be submitted once per year, unless your information changes. Be sure to complete all three pages!

Travel Plans

We provide ground transportation for flights into the Indianapolis airport (IND) but you MUST indicate your flight plans on your camp registration. Please land by 5:30 PM or earlier on Friday; and depart at 3:30 PM or later on Sunday. If you need to fly outside the designated timeframe and need help getting from the airport to camp, please contact Kathleen Ballard prior to booking.

If you need help finding a ride to camp, or to arrange rides from a bus or train station, please notify us ASAP by email at kathleen@colts.org.

Parking

Please note that anyone driving should park in the rear designated lot on this map and not elsewhere. (DO NOT PARK IN THE HIGH SCHOOL EVENT LOT.) The entrance for our camp will be the door by the rear lot due to the other activities taking place across the weekend. The designated rear entrance is on this map with a red triangle. REGISTRATION will remain in the Music Cafeteria.

What To Bring

Students stay overnight at the school on the gym floor, as you will all summer. Many students will bring an inflatable mattress with a battery-powered air pump. Cots are NOT PERMITTED at camps or on tour in order to prevent damage to gym floors. Bring changes of clothes, shower supplies, towel, sleeping bag and pillow, comfortable clothes for rehearsal (no jeans), tennis shoes (no high tops), and a water bottle. Bring a binder with plastic sleeves for your music and any handouts. If this is your first camp, you will receive an audition T-shirt at check in. Write your name on your audition shirt as you will wear it for all rehearsal segments throughout the weekend. If you previously attended a Colts audition event, bring your audition shirt with you.

Brass: Bring your own mouthpiece, marching instrument, music stand, binder for music, and gloves. If you have absolutely no access to an instrument and need one provided, contact colts@colts.org. Be prepared to play the exercises and excerpts provided in the brass packet that best fits your area of interest. We will evaluate you individually, and as a part of the ensemble.

Percussion: Bring your own sticks and/or mallets and a practice pad. A stand for your pad is beneficial if you have one available. We will provide all other instruments for camps. Prospective members should be familiar with the exercise packet that best fits your area of interest. Front ensemble students are expected to perform a short segment of a personal selection for the individual audition. We will evaluate all percussion students individually, and as a part of the group.

Membership Contracts

There are spots available in all sections. A small number of contracts will have already been determined based on audition videos and our earlier camps. Following the weekend, you will receive 1) an offer of membership, 2) a callback for a second event, 3) a recommendation to consider Colt Cadets to gain a year of drum corps experience, or 4) a suggestion to come back again next year. Most will receive a callback to a second rehearsal, so please plan accordingly. Attend early and attend often for your best chance at a position in the 2026 Colts.

Colt Cadets 2026

Students interested in joining Colt Cadets in 2026 are welcome to attend Colts camps. While there is no formal audition for Colt Cadets, many of the battery members in Colt Cadets are students who we've first seen at Colts camps as the battery percussion positions are often in high demand. If you are not auditioning for Colts, you do not need to enroll in the Red Zone but you must register for the camp and pay the $100 fee. The camp fee helps cover the cost of food, housing and instruction for the weekend. Once you pay for the weekend, we'll send you our 2026 exercise packet FREE OF CHARGE ($25 value) so you can prepare prior to attending camp. If you are not attending camp, you can download the packet of audition exercises for $25. Questions? Reach out to Harlan Pfohl, Colt Cadets Director, via email. Only students enrolled in the Red Zone will receive an audition result.

Schedule Conflicts

Camp attendance is critical to our mutual success. If you cannot attend this rehearsal but are planning to attend an upcoming audition, please communicate in advance by emailing colts@colts.org. It is important to communicate with your caption head as well. Too much communication is ALWAYS better than not enough. If you have schedule conflicts with our preseason rehearsals, talk with us. Attending part of the weekend is better than not attending at all. Do not lose your opportunity to earn a position with the Colts over a lack of communication.

Parents

An informational meeting for parents will be held Friday evening at 8:45 PM. Bring all your questions you may have about auditions or summer tour! Schedules will be available at the registration table with locations for everything going on throughout the weekend. If you arrive at a random time throughout the weekend, the kitchen or registration table are great places to start with questions anytime you visit or to find out where you can help.

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 other parents, and get comfortable with what drum corps is all about. You will find a very welcoming and exciting opportunity here.

Parents will cook and serve the meals throughout the weekend and coordinate sewing projects. We always have things to do for anyone willing to lend a hand!

Parents are welcome to stay overnight in designated rooms at the school with sleeping bags and air mattresses. If parents are interested in hotel accommodations, there are a variety of hotel options in town. Auditioning students are expected to stay with the group overnight at the school. As always, email or call us with any questions you may have.

Parents should fill out the Adult Medical Release Form prior to arrival. Parents are encouraged to sign onto the email distribution list to receive Colts information via email.

Souvenirs

Throughout the weekend, items from the Colts Mall will be available for sale. Anyone is able to purchase souvenirs — students, parents, friends, family and alumni. The souvenir racks will be set up near the registration table. The best time to purchase souvenirs is during the Saturday evening dinner break (Meal 3), following rehearsal (Meal 4), or following the performance on Sunday until 1:00 PM.

Sunday Afternoon Performance

We are cancelling the performance to get everyone on the road just a bit faster with a bit more daylight.

Email And Facebook

All students will need to enroll in the Red Zone to receive audition information and exercises. These materials are emailed to you after enrolling online. Be sure to check your email frequently. Also, join our Facebook groups! These pages will help you meet other members prior to auditions and clarify questions you may have.

General Interest Group

Percussion Interest Group

Colts Cooks, Parents & Volunteers (for parents)

Parents, please sign onto the email distribution list to receive future information about auditions and summer tour!

Thank you for choosing the Colts. We are excited to enter 2026 with a full head of steam!