INDIANAPOLIS, IN – The 2015 season is off to a cool start after representatives from over 100 World and Open Class drum corps met in Indianapolis for DCI’s annual winter business meetings on February 6-7. An exciting facet of this event is the DCI Drum Majors Summit, which gathers drum majors past and present, together with administrators and instructors, for a weekend of specifically drum-corps-oriented leadership training. Among the 44 participants were all three of the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps’ 2015 drum majors: Myles Giller, Adora Choquette, and Aaron Bradford.
The trio attended various sessions designed to improve leadership and problem-solving skills for people in their position, while focusing on growing the activity and networking with the other students. Myles Giller says that the different corps and backgrounds presented valuable insight.
“[It] doesn’t take away from the wonderful friendships that have been made, and the opportunity that each of us were given to experience viewpoints and opinions of people in our very same position from all corners and levels of DCI,” says Giller. The other two echo this sentiment, with Choquette emphasizing the “common goal of helping our respective drum corps function as best as they can.”
The weekend focused not only on the growth of the participants as drum majors, but also as individuals. Bradford said he “found many aspects of lectures and activities to beneficial for [him] in everyday life.” He continued, “I cannot wait to take these lessons … and put them to use.”
The three each expressed incredible gratitude for their experiences during the event, as well as the opportunities for growth and relationships formed that will carry on long after the weekend has ended.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rachel Hanna is a native of Des Moines, Iowa and is currently pursuing degrees in Communication and English at Truman State University, located in northeast Missouri.
Rachel has been a passionate supporter of music and the marching arts for many years; she performed in Truman’s Statesmen Color Guard in 2014 and has been involved in various choirs throughout her life. She continues her involvement in Truman State’s music department through Sigma Alpha Iota, a national music sorority. She is excited to combine her professional communication interest with her love for the arts as a member of this brand new internship team.