Yamaha Drum Corps Celebrate Triumvirate of Victories at DCI 2011 World Championship

Cadets celebrate their win at DCI 2011.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — For the first time since 2005, three Yamaha-sponsored drum & bugle corps emerged victorious at the DCI World Championship, including The Cadets, winning the DCI Championship, The Cavaliers, winning the Fred Sanford High Percussion Award and Carolina Crown, winning the Jim Ott High Brass Award.

Scoring a 98.35, The Cadets prevailed in the 2011 DCI World Championship. The win marks the 15th DCI Championship won by a Yamaha sponsored drum corps since 1985, translating into 15 Yamaha Championships in 30 years or an impressive 50% average. According to Corps Director George Hopkins, "We can't thank the team at Yamaha enough for their support every year, but specifically in 2011, our 10th World Championship season. The 'Between Angels and Demons' production had a great deal of challenges, but every one of them was met by Yamaha, our design and instructional team and the remarkable members of this year's corps. In experiencing nearly 30 years of Championship-night performances, I cannot remember a more exciting Finals performance than the one this year and we thank Yamaha for their role in that success!"

When The Cavaliers took the 2011 DCI Fred Sanford High Percussion Award, it became the 13th High Percussion award won by a Yamaha sponsored drum corps since 1985, earning an impressive 3rd place overall. 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."

Placing 4th overall, Carolina Crown won the 2011 DCI Jim Ott High Brass Award. It represents the 6th High Brass award won in 12 years by a Yamaha sponsored corps, since Yamaha b Flat instruments were introduced in 2000. "We teach our students that there is no substitute for quality," said Matt Harloff, Brass Caption Head of the Carolina Crown. "Well, that also applies to the outstanding Yamaha instruments that we put into their hands."

According to Crown Director Jim Coates, "What a talented group of brass performers we have at Crown… commitment, determination and dedication to excellence along with the quality of Yamaha instruments… it just can't get any better!"

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.