GREENSBURG - Music Equipment: $75,000. Travel trailer and equipment: $60,000. Travel time: 14 hours. The Dreams of a National Drum Corps Title: Priceless. This receipt is the realistic bottom line for the Blue Saints Drum and Bugle Corps.
The Decatur County Family YMCA played host to the Canadian drum corps at the end of last week. The team of 33 youths, ages 11-20, and a staff of eight adults, used the YMCA’s facilities as a temporary home as they competed in the Open Division of their ninth Drum Corps Indianapolis World Championships at Lucas Oil Stadium.
The 14 hour drive from Sudbury, Canada was complicated by engine trouble in their motor coach. Even the extra four hours didn’t dampen the corps’ spirit. They arrived in Greensburg at about 9pm on Wednesday night. The musicians were ready to call it a night after their long voyage.
Following a full night’s sleep, the 11-time Canadian National Champions were up and ready for a full day’s worth of practice and competition. The grueling 10 hours of training and competition was nothing new to the group. In fact, the group is in the middle of their 17 day summer tour. By the end of the summer they will have competed in eight competitions and four parades. The corps director, Mark Ripley, estimates that the group will have spent more than 700 hours training and competing.
As a special thank you to their temporary host, the corps gave a special demonstration to the YMCA’s preschool camp and staff.
“It is a treat to have such a talented group give such an intimate demonstration to our kids. Many of the kids now have dreams of being drummers, dancers, and musicians.” Devon Brown, the YMCA’s Program Director, said. “We are honored to help the traveling group with a temporary place they can call home.”
Once the week of competition is over, the group will leave the YMCA and take their heritage as the oldest continuously active drum corps in Canada and the fifth oldest corps in North America back across the border. There the group will continue to hone their skills. Since their local schools do not have a marching band or internal school band program, they will work together as a group while getting ready for next year’s tour.
Those interested in learning more about the Blue Saints Drum and Bugle Corps or any other special events at the YMCA, please call 812-663-9622. Those interested can also visit the YMCA’s blog at www/decaturcountyfamilyymca.org for more.
