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.
As outlined in 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.
2023 World Class Caption Award Winners
Donald Angelica Best General Effect Award
Blue Devils | Last win: 2022
Fred Sanford Best Percussion Performance Award
The Cavaliers | Last win: 2011
John Brazale Best Visual Performance Award
Blue Devils | Last win: 2022
George Zingali Best Color Guard Award
Blue Devils | Last win: 2015
Jim Ott Best Brass Performance Award
Carolina Crown | Last win: 2019
2023 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.
Best Brass Performance
Gold | Last win: N/A
Best General Effect
Spartans | Last win: 2019
Best Visual Performance
Spartans | Last win: 2019
Best Percussion Performance
Spartans | Last win: 2004 (Div. II)
Best Color Guard
Spartans | Last win: 2019
Most Improved Corps
Columbians | Last win: N/A