Photo: Marissa Moeller
Minnesota Brass is excited to be competing in the 2014 DCA World Championships in Rochester, N.Y. this weekend. Whether you’ll be with us in person or following us from afar, here’s everything you need to know about what the corps will be doing and where it will be in the coming days. In addition, we have a Fan’s Guide that’s neatly contained on one sheet for you to print out, which you can find here.
Wednesday, Aug. 27
Buses depart the Kmart in Oakdale (7191 10th St N, Oakdale; just off of I-694). We’ll be stopping along the way to pick up members in River Falls and Madison, Wis., and Chicago, plus meal and bathroom breaks.
Thursday, Aug. 28
The buses are scheduled to arrive at the Doubletree hotel in Rochester (1111 Jefferson Rd., Rochester; phone 1-585-475-1510, fax 1-585-427-8673) at 3 p.m. Members are on their own for dinner. Then everyone will gather in the parking lot from 6-9 p.m. for a light rehearsal and complete standstill performance of our show, “Supernova.” All guests are welcome. Oh, and the rehearsal attire theme is “tacky” (a la Weird Al).
Friday, Aug. 29
The corps will rehearse from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. at Badgerow Park (4614 Dewey Ave., Rochester). The rehearsal attire theme is “America” — or, as everyone in the corps says, ” ‘Merica!” Once the buses arrive back at the hotel around 7 p.m., members have the evening off.
Saturday, Aug. 30
Photo: Eric Molho
We’re back at Badgerow Park from 8-10:30 a.m. for a short morning rehearsal. The rehearsal attire theme is section pride (hornline, guard, percussion). After a break for lunch and show preparation, we’ll leave the park at 12:30 p.m. and arrive at Sahlen’s Stadium (460 Oak St., Rochester) for our Prelims performance. Minnesota Brass is seeded No. 3 and goes on at 3:22 p.m. After Prelims conclude, buses will depart the stadium at 4:45 p.m. There is a mandatory full corps meeting — all staff, support staff, performers — at the hotel from 5-6 p.m. at which we will review the schedule for Sunday and provide other critical information. Members have the evening off and are free to attend the Individual & Ensemble and Mini Corps Competition at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center (123 E. Main St, Rochester). Our own Minne-Brass goes on at 10 p.m. This year, DCA is adding a feature in which the fans can vote for their favorite mini corps.
Sunday, Sept. 1
The corps will rehearse at Badgerow Park from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. The rehearsal attire theme is Minnesota Brass apparel — aka “Let’s kick some Brass.” Members will return to the hotel at 3:45 p.m. to shower and eat. Buses will leave for the stadium at 6 p.m. Details for the evening’s schedule will be set based on the results of Prelims. (If you aren’t going to be in Rochester, you can watch Finals online via the DCA Fan Network, hosted by Steve Rondinaro and including an interview with our very own executive director, Eric Molho.) Buses will leave the stadium at 1 a.m. (Monday), and then it’s back to Minnesota.
Monday, Sept. 2
If everything goes as planned, the buses should arrive back in Oakdale around 4 p.m. What a season!
What is the history of the Minnesota Brass ?
who founded them? when and where?
Respectfully ,
Mike Shaw of Minn. Music Hall of Fame
Hi Mike,
Minnesota Brass was founded in 1946 as the Cecil Kyle Legion Corps. Between the years of 1946 and 1968 the corps operated under the names of William Laidlaw Legion Corps, Laidlaw Toreaders, Grain Belt Diamonds, and Men of Laidlaw. In 1969, the organization became a self-supporting non-profit under the name of Brass, Inc. In 1980, the organization adopted the name Minnesota Brass, Inc.
I’m not exactly sure who the founding member are. Over the years we’ve had many leaders from within the local drum corps community including Frank Lozar, Lee Portz, Roger Grupp, Scotty Wild and Jeff Burnham.
Hope this information is helpful!
Eric