Yamaha Celebrates Another Strong Showing at DCI Championships with Bluecoats Taking the Gold Medal
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| The Bluecoats Drum & Bugle Corps pose with DCI Championship Trophy |
Yamaha Celebrates Another Strong Showing at DCI Championships with Bluecoats Taking the Gold Medal
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (August 17, 2016) — For the past 32 years, Yamaha has supported music education activities in the United States by sponsoring many of the top competitors at the Drum Corps International (DCI) World Championship.
The Bluecoats Drum & Bugle Corps proved their mettle this past Saturday, delivering a stunning performance that helped them capture a first place win at this year’s DCI Championship, held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The Bluecoats, hailing from Canton, Ohio first joined forces with Yamaha in 2005. During this year’s finals, a crowd of more than 22,000 greeted them with the signature "Bloo!" cheer as they took home the top prize, with a score of 97.65 for their innovative "Down Side Up" show. The organization becomes only the 10th corps in 44 years to have its name displayed on DCI’s Founders Trophy.
According to Yamaha, this is the 17th DCI Championship won by a corps using the company’s instruments and equipment since 1985, which represents nearly half of all winning drum corps.
Carolina Crown, a drum and bugle corps based in Fort Mill, South Carolina that came to Yamaha in 2007, earned bronze with a score of 97.088, as well as this year’s High Brass award. This achievement represented the corps’ 5th such distinction in eight years, as well as the 10th High Brass award won by a corps using Yamaha instruments since 2000 – nearly 60 percent of all awards.
"The Bluecoats and Carolina Crown are very deserving of their respective wins this year, and Yamaha is extremely honored to have them on our prestigious drum corps roster,” said Troy C. Wollwage, percussion marketing manager, Band & Orchestral division, Yamaha Corporation of America. “Corps using Yamaha instruments have won more gold, silver or bronze medals than corps using any other brand since 1985. Year after year, these renowned drum and bugle corps rely on quality Yamaha instruments and support to consistently put on demanding performances that embody the goals of world-class music education. This year, more than 1,400 DCI members had the benefit of playing on a Yamaha musical instrument showcasing our commitment to music education from coast to coast."
Yamaha introduced two new, world-class "All-Yamaha" drum corps for 2016: The Blue Stars from Lacrosse, Wisconsin which placed 9th overall at this year’s DCI Championship, and Boston Crusaders from Boston, Massachusetts, which placed 12th. The company’s relationship with DCI began more than three decades ago with the Madison Scouts from Madison, Wisconsin. For 30 years, Yamaha has sponsored the Cavaliers from Rosemont, Illinois and the company also enjoys longstanding relationships with the Cadets, Crossmen, Colts, Santa Clara Vanguard and the Troopers. The Battalion also began its partnership with Yamaha this year. As a testament to the quality and playability of Yamaha instruments, the Yamaha brand is the most preferred musical instrument brand in the drum corps activity.
DCI is a non-profit, global youth activity that takes the lead in music education by holding well-attended competitions and entertaining millions through live performances and nationally televised events. Known as Marching Music’s Major League, the DCI season culminates with the World Championship, held each year in early August at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
For more information, visit http://usa.yamaha.com/products/musical-instruments/marching/dci-2016/
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For more information, contact:
Peter Giles/Giles Communications
(pgiles@giles.com) (914) 798-7120