Drum Corps International’s growing SoundSport® program will offer an expanded competitive schedule in 2015, with events taking place across the United States and internationally beginning this spring.
This year’s schedule includes five competitions in the U.S. and seven others around the globe, as far reaching as South America, Europe and Asia.
“We have seen a growing demand for SoundSport events all over the world in the last two years, and we are gradually expanding our capabilities to serve all interested teams,” said John DeNovi, Sr. Director of Global Business Development for Drum Corps International.
U.S.-based events will once again culminate at the DCI World Championships in Indianapolis this August, with a number of new and exciting stops along the way.
U.S. Competitions:
Returning for their sophomore year as part of the Drum Corps International Tour will be the SoundSport Atlanta and SoundSport Indianapolis competitions. New to the schedule will be events in San Antonioand the Nashville area, in addition to Michigan City, Indiana, as part of the Open Class DCI World Championships. A tentative Florida event is anticipated to add another date to this lineup of events in the coming weeks.
Each SoundSport® team consists of 5 or more members of any age and any instrumentation. Competing groups perform five- to seven-minute productions on a 30- by 20-yard performance area. A three-judge panel adjudicates the teams and will provide them with a ranking and helpful critique on their performances.
In addition, each of the above SoundSport events will also feature DrumLine Battle competitions, creating an additional exciting, high energy and entertaining evening for participants, sponsors and audience members alike.
Admission to all U.S. SoundSport competitions is free with the purchase of a ticket to that day’s DCI Tour Event.
International Competitions:
Europe will experience its first SoundSport events in March with the debut of competitions in Ireland and England that will feature a wide variety of performing ensembles.
“SoundSport is the perfect vehicle for inactive corps to re-launch themselves and for new corps to start up” said Andy Hewlitt, event organizer for SoundSport Bristol England. “It’s all about entertainment without a large number of strict rules and regulations, which definitely appeals to other types of musical ensembles that might not normally take part in marching events.”
Asia will have its share of events this year with the return of three popular SoundSport competitions in Taoyuan, Taiwan and Shanghai, China in May, and Okayama, Japan in the fall.
Following a successful showing of several ensembles from Central America in 2014, two SoundSport events are currently developing in Central and South Americas. An event in Medellin, Colombia, is expected to take place in May. This town is home to the Medellin Gran Banda, the 2014 SoundSport Indianapolis “Best in Show” ensemble. Xela, Guatemala is expected to be the site of the first SoundSport event in Central America with a competition tentatively scheduled for September 15.
2015 SoundSport Competition Schedule:
SoundSport Athlone Ireland
Athlone Castle – Athlone, Ireland
Friday, March 20
SoundSport Bristol England
SGS College Sports Hall – Bristol, England
Saturday, March 21
SoundSport Taoyuan Taiwan
Taoyuan Arts Plaza – Taoyuan. Taiwan
Saturday, May 2
SoundSport Shanghai China
Shanghai, China
Friday, May 22
SoundSport Medellin Colombia
Medellin, Colombia
May Date TBA
SoundSport San Antonio
Alamodome, San Antonio, TX
Saturday, July 18
SoundSport Tennessee
Nashville Area
Friday, July 24
SoundSport Atlanta
Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GA
Saturday, July 25
SoundSport Michigan City
Ames Field, Michigan City, IN
Monday, August 3
SoundSport Indianapolis
Pan Am Plaza, Indianapolis, IN
Saturday, August 8
SoundSport Xela Guatemala
Xela, Guatemala
Tuesday, September 15
SoundSport Okayama Japan
Okayama, Japan
Monday, October 19
How to Get Involved
More information on these exciting performance opportunities can be found on the Events page at www.soundsport.com. Email soundsport@dci.org for additional info on starting a SoundSport team.