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.
2017 World Class Caption Award Winners
Carolina Crown won its second straight Jim Ott Best Brass Performance Award at the 2017 DCI Finals.
Donald Angelica Best General Effect Award
Blue Devils
Fred Sanford Best Percussion Performance Award
Santa Clara Vanguard
John Brazale Best Visual Performance Award
Blue Devils
George Zingali Best Color Guard Award
Santa Clara Vanguard
Jim Ott Best Brass Performance Award
Carolina Crown
2017 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 directors.
Vanguard Cadets swept the caption awards during the 2017 DCI Open Class World Championship Finals.
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
Louisiana Stars