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#growmndrumcorps Archives - Minnesota Brass

Minnesota Brass, Bands Form Bonds at Vikingland Festival

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Minnesota Brass will join six other units in the inaugural Minnesota Drum Corps Premiere on June 25 as part of the 32nd Annual Vikingland Band Festival Parade Marching Championship in Alexandria, Minn.

The show will be held at the Alexandria Area High School’s Viking Savings Bank Field at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, June 25. MBI will be joined by the Govenaires of St. Peter and Minneapolis’ Chops Inc. in presenting their 2016 field shows for the first time. Also appearing will be the Calgary Stampede Showband, Calgary Stetson Show Band and Calgary Round-Up Band, all from Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The host Alexandria Marching Band will also perform.  Tickets to the show are $6 in advance; $9 at the door.Vikingland Band Festival

Show co-founder Ken Martinson, an Alexandria native who now lives in Nashville, Tenn., said the unjudged show will feature the presentation of a “fan favorite” award, noting the show will be “nice for the corps to participate in a supportive and relaxed dress rehearsal for everybody to debut their shows.”

The following day will feature the annual Vikingland Band Festival Parade Marching Championship, a bands-only event that will feature more than 2,000 performers representing 24 units, including 19 in competition and the units appearing Saturday night.

Martinson, whose drum corps experience was playing with the Hutchinson (Kansas) Sky Ryders, is also a judge, instructor and founder of the popular marching.com website. For him, the highlight of the weekend is “the camaraderie that exists between MBI and all the high-school bands that compete. Most of MBI’s staff has either marched with or are on staff with the high-school bands appearing at Vikingland. Plus, the audience gets to see both the field-show and street sides of the marching activity during the weekend.

“We tend to forget there is always a new audience among the kids,” he said. “A good number of people here have never seen a drum corps show. This event introduces a whole new generation to the drum corps activity, and lets them know that after graduation the all-age corps offer an opportunity to continue to perform.”

Color Guard and Front Line Auditions April 20 (no rehearsal April 13)

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Attention all passengers!  Minnesota Brass’s 2016 production, Now Boarding is preparing for take off and we’re looking to fill our last few seats.

Wednesday evening, April 20 auditions for the color guard and front line ensemble will take place at Brooklyn Center High School starting at 6:30 p.m.  RSVP today and let us know you’re planning to soar this summer.

There is NO REHEARSAL for any section on April 13.

Rehearsal starts at 6:30 but plan to arrive between 6 and 6:30 to get registered and get equipment. (If you haven’t already paid a 2016 audition fee to any Minnesota Brass ensemble, you will also pay your $25 audition fee when you register.) Check out these important details about Wednesday’s rehearsal and audition schedule:
  • Brooklyn Center High School is located at 6500 Humbold Ave. North in Brooklyn Center
  • Registration opens at 6 and rehearsal starts promptly at 6:30.  Rehearsal ends at 10 p.m.
  • Please enter through Door 23–the door closest to the large parking lots.
  • Bring a friend!  We will welcome walk-ins so feel free to invite others or forward this note.
  • Color Guard auditionees:  You’ll be moving and spinning so dress ready to move!
  • Positions in the horn line and battery are currently full.  However, we are accepting a select group of individuals to serve as alternates this season if a spot opens up.  Please email us (or simply stop by a Wednesday rehearsal) if you’d like to be considered for an alternate role.
Still not sure?  Check out our quick guide for more information!

System Blue Partnership Announced

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Minnesota Brass is pleased to start 2016 with a new endorsement of System Blue brass instruments.  Designed by the corps’ brass music arranger, John Meehan, all-new System Blue equipment will debut in the upcoming season.

SystemBlue_STACKED_PMS280_resized medium“We’re thrilled to partner with System Blue and provide these world class instruments to our members,” said Eric Molho, executive director of Minnesota Brass.  “The endorsement of this equipment provides new opportunities for our organization and supports our ongoing pursuit of excellence in all aspects of our operations.”

On the heels of winning the DCA Horn Championships in 2015, Minnesota Brass’ partnership with System Blue will showcase the new brass instruments in 2016 and continue their pursuit of excellence for Drum Corps Associates highest honor.

With its far-reaching artistic and educational influence, System Blue’s partnership with Minnesota Brass hopes to further the success of the drum corps and help them to achieve excellence in the DCA arena.

“Minnesota Brass will bring a profound energy to the System Blue family,” says Systems Blue’s President, David Gibbs, “and we are excited to have them onboard.”

This highly collaborative partnership will allow both partners to grow stronger together. Minnesota Brass is a big-ticket in the DCA marching world and is a dynamic endorsee that brings talent and extensive experience. With partnerships as such, the future is bright for both organizations. Together, we grow.

Come Soar With Minnesota Brass

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“Now Boarding,” the 2016 production from Minnesota Brass began its journey on Saturday, January 2 during our audition camp in Brooklyn Center.  Even if you missed takeoff on Saturday, you can still print your boarding pass at home to join us on the next leg of our trip.  Horn and percussion auditions continue on Wednesday evening, February 10 at Brooklyn Center High School.  Our departure time is 6:30 p.m.  Bring a friend and pack comfortably for an evening rehearsal including music and movement.

New Horns; New Battery; New Front Line!

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At their December meeting, the Minnesota Brass board of directors approved the purchase of an entire new set of brass instruments for the corps to begin using in the 2016 season!  Our new horns are scheduled to arrive this Spring and will be ready for all of our uniformed performances this season.

In addition, Minnesota Brass is excited to announce the continuation of our long-standing relationship with Dynasty USA for our battery and front line percussion equipment  Our arrangement with Dynasty allows the drum corps and Minnesota Brass Indoor to perform on all new battery equipment each season.

In 2016 the corps will also be replacing our entire line of percussion keyboard equipment through Dynasty USA including an entire new set of Bergerault, Rosewood marimbas, Bergerault vibes and a Bergerault pedal glockenspiel.  This equipment is currently being manufactured in France for Minnesota Brass in time for our 2016 performances!

The 70th Anniversary season for Minnesota Brass begins on Saturday, January 2, with auditions for horns and percussion.  Register now!