Why Blue Knights?
Join the Blue Knights, where inclusivity and individuality are at our core! We embrace and celebrate the unique qualities that each member brings, and our commitment to diversity fuels our drive to excel. Be part of a community that thrives on unity and success—where everyone is welcomed and valued!
Want to know more? Check out our FAQ below or fill out the interest form and find your home with the Blue Knights.
Become A Blue Knight!
Find a Camp Near You
November 22-24: Denver (Brass, Guard, Percussion, Drum Major)
December 22-24: Denver (Brass, Guard, Percussion, Drum Major)
January 24-26: Denver (Brass, Percussion, Drum Major)
November 17: Dallas (Brass, Guard, Percussion)
December 8: San Antonio (Battery, Brass)
December 7: Indianapolis: (Percussion only)
December 1: Houston (Brass, Guard, Percussion)
December 14: South Florida (Brass only)
December 21: Japan (Brass, Guard, Percussion)
Upcoming Dates
Nov 17 | Dallas, TX
Brass, Guard, Percussion
Nov 22-24 | Denver, co
Brass, Guard, Percussion, Drum Major*
Dec 1 | Houston, tx
Brass, Guard, Percussion
dec 7 | Indianapolis, IN
Percussion only
dec 8 | San Antonio, TX
Battery & Brass
dec 14 | South Florida
Brass only
Dec 20-22 | denver, co
Brass, Guard, Percussion, Drum Major*
DEC 21 | JAPAN
Brass, Guard, Percussion
Jan 24-26 | denver, co
Brass, Percussion, Drum Major
virtual auditions
Brass, Guard, Percussion
*Drum Major auditioners must attend both Denver November and December Camps
Register now.
Not ready to register?
Dallas
Nov 17
brass, guard, percussion
Denver
Nov 22-24
brass, guard, percussion, drum major
Houston
Dec 1
Brass, Guard, Percussion
Indianapolis Dec 7
percussion only
San Antonio Dec 8
battery & Brass
South Florida Dec 14
Brass only
Denver
Dec 20-22
brass, guard, percussion, drum major
Japan
Dec 21
Brass, Guard, Percussion
Denver
Jan 24-26
Brass, Percussion, Drum Major
FAQ
Yes! We welcome everyone to attend our events, whether or not they intend to audition. However, please note that the cost to attend the camp or clinic remains the same regardless if you are auditioning.
BKXperience 1-Day Clinic
$50 Before October 1st
$100 One week before event
BKXperience 3-Day Camp
$125 Before October 1st
$175 One week before event
Virtual Audition
$175
All fees and camp/clinic registrations are non-refundable. In some cases, we may be able to transfer a fee or registration to another instrument or event.
The cost to attend a BKX camp or clinic is the same regardless if you are auditioning or attending for the experience.
Aside from your rehearsal gear and paying your audition fee and camp fee, you should have sleeping gear (sleeping bag, air mattress, etc.), toiletries, a water jug and anything else you will need for an overnight stay. For 3-Day camps, we will have a space for all participants to sleep on-site. We will have showers available at the camp location as well; two of the most often forgotten items when packing for camp are a towel and shower shoes (flip-flops, crocs, etc.)! Your camp fee will cover all of your meals during the weekend:
Friday: Snack
Saturday: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snack
Sunday: Breakfast, Lunch
BRASS
You will need a three ring binder with plastic page protectors, two pencils, your own mouthpiece, a pair of gloves for playing a corps horn, a water jug, and athletic shoes with clothing that permits movement. Please also bring a black towel proportionate to the size of your horn for when we set the instruments down on the ground. If possible, you should bring your own horn for audition camps as we only have a limited number of corps instruments available. For all auditions, you may play on your concert horn (trombone, french horn, c-tuba, etc.). If you opt to play your audition on your concert horn, you will be asked to play something on a corps instrument during your audition just to see how smooth the transition might be.
PERCUSSION
You will need sticks and/or mallets, a water jug, and athletic shoes with clothing that permits movement. Percussion instruments will be provided. Battery auditionees are highly encouraged to bring a practice pad if available.
COLOR GUARD
You will need guard gloves, a water jug, and athletic shoes with clothing that permits movement. Flags will be provided, but we will have limited weapons and you should bring your own if possible!
Since the BKXperience 1-Day clinics are only part of one day, less is required to participate! Aside from paying your audition fee and clinic fee, see below for the list of needed items for each section.
BRASS
You will need your own mouthpiece, a water jug, and athletic shoes with clothing that permits movement. At 1-day clinics, please bring your own horn. For all auditions, you may play on your concert horn (trombone, french horn, c-tuba, etc.). If you opt to play your audition on your concert horn, you will be asked to play something on a corps instrument during your audition just to see how smooth the transition might be.
PERCUSSION
You will need sticks and/or mallets, a water jug, and athletic shoes with clothing that permits movement. Percussion instruments will be provided. Battery auditionees and applicable front ensemble auditionees are highly encouraged to bring a practice pad if available.
COLOR GUARD
You will need guard gloves, a water jug, and athletic shoes with clothing that permits movement. Flags will be provided, but you should bring your own weapon(s) if possible!
Parents are more than welcome to join our team of volunteers either cooking meals or working on equipment during a camp! Parents should use the camp volunteer signup on our Current Volunteer Requests page. At 3-day camps in Denver, there will be a welcome meeting at the beginning of each camp followed by a parent-specific meeting.
At BKXperience 3-Day Camps, yes, we provide a communal sleeping space for participants to set up their air mattresses and stay overnight on-site. Typically this is in a gym or other large space that can fit all or a majority of the participants. See the FAQ “What do I need for a BKXperience 3-Day Camp?” for more details.
We do not provide any overnight accommodations at other events, such as BKXperience 1-Day clinics. For those events, you will need to arrange your own accommodations and transportation.
You should try to eat before any 3-day camp on Friday. However, there are usually snacks and drinks set out after a camp begins.
At our 1-day clinics, there will be a break for lunch where food will be provided (typically pizza).
Typically, our 3-day camps in Denver start with registration at 6pm on Friday, a welcome meeting around 7pm, and end around 4pm on Sunday.
Our 1-day clinics start with a welcome meeting at 10:00am and end at 4:30pm. Check-in at the clinic will open at 9:30am.
There will be a break for lunch in the middle of the clinic, where food will be provided (typically pizza).
Yes there is! Please notify us of your flight arrangements at least one week in advance by filling out this online form with your travel itinerary. We will pick you up from the airport and bring you to the camp, as well as return you to the airport after the camp is over.
- All flights should be scheduled to arrive in Denver before 6:00 pm on Friday as best as possible.
- All return flights (out of Denver) should be scheduled after 6:30 pm to allow time to arrive at the airport. This is not always feasible, but is the ideal case.
We will provide scheduled transportation to and from the airport. Proceed from baggage claim to DOOR 404 on the passenger pick-up level of the West terminal. This sign will be red, as all signs on the West terminal are red. Blue signs indicate you are in the East terminal. - Please send us your flight information as soon as you know it so we have time to plan. You must complete the online form no later than one week prior to your arrival. NOTE: Transportation requests made after the Wednesday before camp cannot guarantee that we will be able to pick you up. Shuttle transportation is only available for Denver camps.
- For any special needs or questions regarding travel, please contact us at [email protected]
Please check-in at registration before going to audition/rehearsal. If you arrive later than that you must check-in at the next meal of the camp, or contact us at [email protected]
Please feel free to reach out to [email protected], and we’ll be happy to help answer any questions or discuss accommodations!
We hold 3-day weekend BKXperience-audition camps in November and December in Denver, and several 1-day BKXperience-audition clinics at locations outside of Colorado! We select our membership based on each individual’s talent, attitude, attendance, and ability to meet financial obligations. Our staff evaluates potential members individually, as well as in group rehearsal settings, and all returning members are required to re-audition alongside new auditionees so that equal consideration can be given to all candidates.
Once you’re registered to audition, you will be given access to the “DOT BOOK” for your section – our packet with the educational breakdown of our technique, and the audition material you’ll need to learn! Before attending your first clinic or camp, you’ll want to take the time to go through the Dot Book and make sure you understand the technique and can perform the required audition material.
After reading through the Dot Book, the breakdown of how clinics and camps work for each section are listed below:
Brass, Percussion, Color Guard
For brass, percussion, and color guard auditionees, all listed auditions are part of a two-step process. The November and December BKXperience clinics and camps are designed to both introduce you to and allow you to audition for the drum corps. It is highly recommended (though not mandatory) that prospective members attend more than one of the clinics and camps offered in November and December to increase your exposure to our instructors and materials. Several membership contracts will be awarded at our Denver December camp, and auditions for remaining spots will continue into January. Members who are accepted into the corps should plan on attending the training camps in January and April. There is an additional training camp in February for brass.
Drum Major
Anyone looking to audition for a position as a Blue Knights drum major or who just wants to gain experience by going through the process should plan on attending both the Denver November and December Camps and must attend the Denver November camp. The BKXperience 3-Day Camp in Denver in November is open to anyone interested, and is the first round of the selection process. Participants at the November camp will work closely with current Blue Knights drum majors, learn and practice our conducting technique, share leadership experiences, and get several hours of instruction and discussion with our staff. All drum major participants will receive feedback. Those interested in auditioning will also go through an interview with our staff at the November camp. A number of exceptional candidates will be invited back to the December 3-Day Camp in Denver for the final round of selections.
BKXperience 1-Day Clinic
$50 Before October 1st
$75 After October 1st
$100 One week before event
BKXperience 3-Day Camp
$125 Before October 1st
$150 After October 1st
$175 One week before event
Virtual Audition
$175
All fees and camp/clinic registrations are non-refundable. In some cases, we may be able to transfer a fee or registration to another instrument or event.
Simply put, we select our membership based on each individual’s talent, attitude, attendance, and ability to meet financial obligations. You can maximize your chances of making the Blue Knights by attending our audition camps and by being able to demonstrate your performance capabilities, a desire to learn, and that you can fulfill our membership criteria.
Each year, many potential members who could have made the corps cut themselves after just one camp, or even before their first camp. Auditioning for a drum corps can be intimidating, and we know that. We take a lot of pride in and have put a lot of work into our inviting, friendly, and supportive environment. If you want to become a member of the Blue Knights, know that we truly look forward to meeting you and helping you find a plan to make that happen.
Yes, we are happy to offer an opportunity to audition for the Blue Knights virtually! Although attending one of our audition events in person certainly provides you with the best experience in meeting and learning from our staff and experiencing the atmosphere of the Blue Knights, we are happy to accept virtual auditions.
Virtual auditions must be submitted by December 14th.
Yes! Anyone looking to audition for a position as a Blue Knights drum major or who just wants to gain experience by going through the process should plan on attending both the Denver November and December Camps. The BKXperience 3-Day Camp in Denver in November is open to anyone interested, and is the first round of the selection process. Those auditioning for drum major must attend the November camp in Denver. Participants at the November camp will work closely with current Blue Knights drum majors, learn and practice our conducting technique, share leadership experiences, and get several hours of instruction and discussion with our staff. All drum major participants will receive feedback. Those interested in auditioning will also go through an interview with our staff at the November camp. A number of exceptional candidates will be invited back to the December 3-Day Camp in Denver for the final round of selections.
Questions? Email us at [email protected]!
Due to the age limit in place across all open and world class DCI corps, in order to be a member of the Blue Knights you must be no older than 21 years old. If you are currently 21, you may become a member so long as your 22nd birthday is on or after June 1st of 2025.
While most people who march for the Blue Knights are not younger than 16 years old, we recommend anyone interested come to the BKXperience clinics or camps to learn more about what is expected. It is also a chance to see how the Blue Knights operate, as well as a chance for our staff to get to know you!
The cost of participating in a world class drum and bugle corps is an expensive endeavor, and the Blue Knights strive to keep our costs as low as possible. The cost of tuition for 2025 is $6,100. We offer a $400 discount to our returning participants, for a total tuition cost for them of $5,700.
Participant tuition covers the cost of participation in the drum corps, including spring training housing and meals, airport shuttle transportation, national tour transportation and meals, instruction, equipment, uniforms, member wear, shoes, logistics, and administrative support. On average, your tuition only covers around 50% of the total cost of each season. We cover the rest of the cost of the season with grants, fundraising, and donations.
If you have questions about fees, please feel free to contact our office: [email protected]
Being able to meet the commitment of paying tuition is one factor in becoming a Blue Knight. Have a plan in place during auditions for when you are offered a contract!
Yes, there are a variety of ways to reduce your tuition! Financial assistance in the form of scholarships are available every year from Ascend Performing Arts, and are based upon need. There are numerous other scholarships available from DCI and other organizations as well. Each year Ascend Performing Arts provides several scholarships and assistance can easily add up to $500 or more.
There will be additional information and policies available in the participant contract, including information on how you can acquire your own sponsorships. These details will be provided once you are offered a contract to perform with the Blue Knights.
Have a question we haven’t anwsered about BKX24? Please feel free to reach out to us at [email protected]