2015 Local Corps Members

2015 Local Corps Member: Anna Hirsch Performing Corps: The Cadets Newburgh, IN native Anna Hirsch and The Cadets will be in Evansville in less than 24 hours! Anna is a very recent 2015 graduate of Castle HS, and a brand-new color guard member of the 10-time world champion Cadets Drum & Bugle Corps of Allentown, PA. Despite her young age, Anna has been riding high in the color guard world! She was a member of the three-time Class A State Champion Castle Winterguard, and despite being a rookie member of the Cadets guard this summer, she is already spinning rifle, flag, AND [...]

2015 Local Corps Member: Blake Patton Performing Corps: Spirit of Atlanta As the clock ticks down to DRUMS on the OHIO this Wednesday, Blake Patton of Maceo, KY finds himself getting nearer and nearer to home...Patton was just interviewed in an article in today's Evansville Courier & Press, and he's ready to return to Reitz Bowl for his home show! Blake is 21 years old and currently attends Murray State University where he studies graphic design, and is a 2012 graduate of Daviess County High School in Owensboro. In 2013, Blake marched with Music City Drum and Bugle Corps, and he's spent [...]

2015 Local Corps Member: Benjamin Lay Performing Corps: Music City Drum and Bugle Corps Benjamin Lay of Sturgis, KY, is spending the summer marching with the Music City Drum and Bugle Corps of Nashville, TN! Ben is currently a music education major at Campbellsville University, and graduated from Union County HS in 2014. In his rookie season with Music City, Ben is a member of the euphonium section -- "it's a very cohesive family that I'm glad to be a part of!" he said. Ben has also been a past member of community bands in Newburgh, Henderson, & Owensboro, and performed on trombone [...]

2015 Local Corps Member: Ethan Wilkinson Performing Corps: Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps Newburgh's Ethan Wilkinson is yet another local musician who is marching with Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps this summer! He is a 2015 graduate of Castle HS and is marching his rookie drum corps season in the Troopers mellophone line. Ethan first attended DRUMS on the OHIO two years ago and discovered that drum corps can sound VERY different than a high school marching band! "Since the return of Drums on the Ohio, I have always been anxious to attend the shows and be mesmerized by the sights and [...]

2015 Local Corps Member: Roy Stewart Performing Corps: Music City Drum and Bugle Corps As the DCI season "officially" opens, Roy Stewart of Flora, IL, is hard at work at spring training in Nashville with Music City Drum and Bugle Corps. A 2014 graduate of Flora HS and currently studying music education at Olney Central College, Roy is performing in the Music City euphonium line in his rookie drum corps summer! Roy says he really appreciates the "fantastic" family atmosphere that Music City cultivates, and that encouraged him to become a member of the corps. "The members and staff treat everyone with respect and [...]

2015 Local Corps Member: Brian Reel Performing Corps: Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps Marching mellophone with the Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps is Newburgh's Brian Reel. Brian graduated in May from Castle HS, and has been at spring training in Lebanon, IN ever since! He'll attend Ball State University next fall, majoring in music education. This is Brian's first season marching drum corps, and it has apparently been a goal of his since "the first day I marched on the parking lot at Castle High School" with directors Faril Bunner, Mark Eifler, and Tom Dean. He feels that it is a real honor marching [...]

2015 Local Corps Member: Kari Keeley Performing Corps: Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps Kari Keeley is marching in the mellophone line of Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps in her rookie year, and is obviously loving every minute! She's a 2013 graduate of Jasper HS and currently attends Vincennes University majoring in Health Information Management. Kari was inspired to march partly by her dad, Jasper band director Patrick Keeley, "after being my band director and then hearing all the stories from when he marched in Star of Indiana in '86 really motivated me to want to march." Kari's mom, it turns out, also marched [...]

2015 Local Corps Member: Hayden McClure Performing Corps: Blue Stars Hayden McClure of Vincennes, IN is spending his fourth year with the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps. This season, Hayden has the incredible honor of serving as drum major, after serving as mellophone section leader in 2014. Hayden is a junior at the University of Evansville where he studies saxophone and majors in music education. In the Fall, Hayden keeps himself busy by working with the Vincennes Lincoln "Pride of the Green" and the Forest Park "Marching Rangers.” As drum major of the corps, Hayden is not only a conductor, but plays an [...]

2015 Local Corps Member: Corey Hatfield Performing Corps: Phantom Regiment Evansville Westsider Corey Hatfield  is currently in spring training with Phantom Regiment up in Rockford, IL! A 2014 graduate of F.J. Reitz HS, Corey is a tuba player and music education major at Iowa State University. This summer marks Corey's third season in the powerful Phantom Regiment contra line. Last year around this time, Corey was ready to bring the Regiment back to Evansville and march in his home show...THIS summer, the Regiment is heading out to California for the west coast DCI tour. Corey says Phantom's show this year "City of Light" [...]

2015 Local Corps Member: Austin Armstrong Performing Corps: Madison Scouts Local trumpeter Austin Armstrong is having the summer of his life as a first year member of the Madison Scouts! Austin is currently up at spring training up in Trafalgar, IN...somewhere between Bloomington and Indianapolis. He’s a 2014 graduate of Jasper HS, currently studying music education at Murray State University. Austin says he couldn't imagine being anywhere else right now. “I wanted to march because I've always loved marching music, and I wanted to take it to the next level. I saw my first DCI show in 2011 at MTSU and I have been [...]