The Cavaliers Win Fred Sanford High Percussion Award at DCI 2011 World Championship
Long-time Yamaha drum corps The Cavaliers won the DCI 2011 Fred Sanford High Percussion Award.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The Cavaliers, a long-time Yamaha drum corps, marched to victory at the DCI World Championship 2011, winning the Fred Sanford High Percussion Award. For the first time since 2005, three Yamaha-sponsored drum & bugle corps emerged victorious at the Championship. The other winning corps included The Cadets, which won the DCI Championship overall and Carolina Crown, which won the Jim Ott High Brass Award.
The 2011 DCI Fred Sanford High Percussion Award is the 13th High Percussion award won by a Yamaha sponsored drum corps since 1985. The Cavaliers also earned an impressive 3rd place overall at the Championship. Yamaha drum & bugle corps have amassed 13 percussion award wins in 27 years. "We work with Yamaha on testing their equipment and are continually amazed at how they keep advancing their standards," said Cavaliers Director Adolph De Grauwe. "They even provide gear in wonderful colors to match our show designs. The equipment from Yamaha is superior, and we're thrilled to death to partner with them."
"Yamaha affords The Cavaliers the opportunity, through quality percussion instruments and audio gear, to explore new levels of sound production," said Mike McIntosh, Cavaliers Percussion Composer/Arranger. We can produce incredibly soft acoustic textures, and pan super low-frequency electronic sound samples 15-yardline to 15-yardline. Why? Because the gear produces day in and day out, in the hottest temperatures and most extreme conditions. It's built to exacting standards and built to last."
Other Yamaha sponsored corps also placed as follows:
- The Bluecoats: 7th overall.
- The Madison Scouts: 10th overall.
- The Colts: placed 16th overall.
- The Crossmen: placed 17th overall.
"Yamaha values its long-standing partnership with The Cavaliers and are thrilled to support their great accomplishment," said Troy Wollwage, Band & Orchestral Percussion Manager, Yamaha Corporation of America.
Yamaha and Drum Corps International have enjoyed a partnership in support of Music Education that spans more than a quarter of a century. Yamaha additionally values its long-standing partnerships with the following distinguished corps:
The Madison Scouts hold the longest running tenure with Yamaha, since 1985. Founded in 1938, the Scouts were 1988 DCI Champions with Yamaha instruments.
The Cavaliers hold the 2nd longest running tenure with Yamaha, since 1986. Founded in 1948, The Cavaliers are 1992, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004 and 2006 DCI Champions, all with Yamaha Instruments.
The Cadets celebrated 12 years with Yamaha in 2011 and were 2000, 2005, and 2011 DCI Champions with Yamaha instruments. They also won three consecutive High Percussion Awards, 2001 to 2003.
The Crossmen celebrated 11 years with Yamaha in 2011. Operating for 37 consecutive years, they are a 22-time DCI finalist.
The Colts celebrated seven years with Yamaha in 2011. Seven-time DCI finalists, The Colts were founded in 1963.
The Bluecoats celebrated seven years with Yamaha in 2011. Founded in 1972, their highest placement ever (3rd place) was in 2010.
Carolina Crown celebrates five years with Yamaha in 2011. Founded in 1988, their highest placement ever (2nd place) was in 2009.
About Drum Corps International
From modest beginnings more than three decades ago, Drum Corps International (DCI) has developed into a powerful, nonprofit, global youth activity with far-reaching artistic, educational and organizational influence. Through the annual DCI Tour and more than 35 World Championships in 17 North American cities, Drum Corps International provides entertainment to millions through live performances and nationally-televised events. Drum Corps International is Marching Music’s Major League™. Boasting more than 250,000 active DCI alumni, DCI marked its first year on PBS in 1975 and ESPN II broadcast its finals from 2005 to 2007. Finals have been held in 20 different cities since 1972. Since 1985, Yamaha has supported 24 different drum & bugle corps. Learn more at 4wrd.it/DCIHOME.
DCI By the Numbers
- 400,00 fans attend DCI shows each summer
- 135+ events held each year
- 60-day summer tour visits 40+ cities
- 8,000 musician athletes audition for some 3,500 positions
- 10,000: average number of miles each corps will travel over the summer
- 1,200,000: number of meals corps feed their 5,000 performers and staff each summer
- 35,000 visit Indianapolis each year for DCI Championships
For more information, write Yamaha Corporation of America, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622; telephone (714) 522-9011; e-mail infostation@yamaha.com; or visit www.yamaha.com/press.