Since 2001, caption awards at the Drum Corps International World Championship have been determined by averaging the scores from all three nights of the World Championship competition.

According to the DCI rulebook:

At the World Championships, World Class caption awards will be determined by averaging scores at Prelims, Semifinals, and Finals. Ties will stand.

BEST BRASS – based on Music Brass score
BEST PERCUSSION – based on the total Music Percussion score
BEST VISUAL – based on Visual Proficiency score
BEST COLOR GUARD – based on Visual Color Guard score
BEST OVERALL GENERAL EFFECT – based on combining 4 General Effect scores

The average for each double-paneled caption will be used in determining caption awards.

2015 World Class Caption Award Winners

Crown General Effect
Carolina Crown drum majors accept the Donald Angelica Best General Effect Award.


Donald Angelica Best General Effect Award
Carolina Crown

Fred Sanford Best Percussion Performance Award
Blue Devils

John Brazale Best Visual Performance Award
Blue Devils

George Zingali Best Color Guard Award
Blue Devils

Jim Ott Best Brass Performance Award
The Cadets

2015 Open Class Caption Award Winners

Caption awards for Open Class corps are determined by scores earned during the Open Class World Championship Finals competition. The Most Improved Corps award is determined by a vote of Open Class corps directors.

Vanguard Cadets
Vanguard Cadets drum major Carl Huang receives a caption award at the Open Class Finals in Michigan City.


Best Brass Performance
Vanguard Cadets

Best General Effect
Vanguard Cadets

Best Visual Performance
Vanguard Cadets

Best Percussion Performance
Vanguard Cadets

Best Color Guard
Vanguard Cadets

Most Improved Corps
Legends