The Journey To Membership.

You have a home in the Colt Cadets! We work hard to make the process of becoming a member accessible and rewarding. Membership in the Colt Cadets is an amazing experience for you and your entire family, and one that takes dedication, personal responsibility, and a desire to be great.

THERE IS NO OBLIGATION TO BECOME A MEMBER BY ATTENDING REHEARSAL. Find out what we're all about. Even if you don’t become a Colt Cadet, you will learn a great deal. You will participate in the ensemble and perform at the end of each rehearsal. In the process, we will assess your skills, answer your questions, and determine how to make your membership a reality.

There is no formal audition to be in Colt Cadets but WE CANNOT ALWAYS GUARANTEE YOUR FIRST CHOICE OF INSTRUMENT — especially in the battery percussion section because we have a limited number of snare, tenor and bass instruments available. Final instrument assignments are made following the May camp.

Here's all you need to do to get started...

• Request Information. This is your initial entry to our student database and lets us know which section and/or instrument you're interested in. Our 2024 Membership Brochure is available online here, to learn more specific details about the program.
• Take some time to work through our exercise packet specific to your instrument/section. Packets will be sent via email after you fill out an Information Request.
• REGISTER in advance for our three-day camps so we can prepare for your arrival. There is no need to register for the Open House rehearsals.
  
  • For the three-day camps, we provide transportation to and from the Cedar Rapids (CID) and Moline (MLI) airports on Friday and Sunday afternoons. Please note these airports close over night so do not plan on spending the night before or after the camp at these airports.
  • If you need help finding a ride to camp, please notify us ASAP by email at harlan@colts.org. You can also help fellow members by offering a ride in your vehicle.
  • Always check the home page at colts.org within a few hours of leaving for an event. Any updates or changes will always be posted here first. Specific rehearsal information is released a week or so prior to each event.
• Become familiar with our preseason calendar. Our preseason schedule is limited, so attendance at our one-day Open House rehearsals is strongly encouraged if you live within a couple hours drive of Dubuque, and attendance at our three-day camps is expected of all members. Attending part of the camp is better than not at all. If you have conflicts, talk to us, we will work with you! COMMUNICATION IS KEY!

NOTE: One-day Open House rehearsals are free to attend. The cost for our three-day weekend camps is $60 to help cover the meals and instruction. Pay the fee online to save time at check-in. This fee does not apply toward your summer tuition.