Cavaliers March Yamaha Instruments, Clinch DCI Championship

BUENA PARK, CA (August 20, 2004) — Marching entirely with Yamaha brass and percussion, The Cavaliers (Rosemont, IL) won the 2004 Drum Corps International (DCI) Division I World Championships with a score of 98.70. This is the fourth time in five years The Cavaliers, a longtime Yamaha affiliate, have taken top honors. The 32nd annual competition for the world's top drum and bugle corps took place in early August at Invesco Field at Mile High Stadium in Denver.

Two Yamaha groups finished third and fourth, respectively. The Santa Clara Vanguard (Santa Clara, CA), using Yamaha brass, had a score of 96.825, and The Cadets (Bergenfield, NJ), using Yamaha brass and percussion, finished with a score of 95.60. The Madison Scouts (Sun Prairie, WI), using Yamaha percussion, finished eighth with a score of 91.175, and The Crossmen (Bergenfield, NJ), using Yamaha brass and percussion, finished eleventh with a score of 87.425.

"The level at which these groups perform improves year after year, and Yamaha is proud to be involved with such talented musicians and a well-respected organization," said Kurt Witt, Manager, Wind Instruments, Yamaha Corporation of America, Band & Orchestral Division. The company involves the drum corps activity with new product development and field-testing of future products.

Prior to the 2004 season, the DCI board of directors allowed the use of amplification for pit instruments. Of the nine groups using amplification, eight used Yamaha professional audio gear such as speakers, mixers and amplifiers.

Drum corps that have won the DCI Division I World Championship embarked on a tour of California. San Diego hosted the first event where the corps played at Qualcomm Stadium. The tour then performed at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, the Flint Center at De Anza College in Cupertino and Spartan Stadium at San Jose State University. During the tour, more than 200 corps members from The Cadets and The Cavaliers stopped by Yamaha's corporate office in Buena Park, CA for a visit and concert for Yamaha employees.

Drum Corps International (DCI) is a nonprofit youth organization serving junior drum and bugle corps the world over. Since its inception in 1972, DCI has developed into a powerful youth activity with numerous influences on the world's drum and bugle corps, marching bands and related activities.

For more information, write Yamaha Corporation of America, Band & Orchestral Division, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622; telephone (714) 522-9011; or e-mail infostation@yamaha.com.