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.
2024 World Class Caption Award Winners
Donald Angelica Best General Effect Award
Bluecoats | Last win: 2019
Fred Sanford Best Percussion Performance Award
Santa Clara Vanguard | Last win: 2019
John Brazale Best Visual Performance Award
Bluecoats | Last win: N/A
George Zingali Best Color Guard Award
Boston Crusaders | Last win: 2022
Jim Ott Best Brass Performance Award
Bluecoats | Last win: N/A
2024 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
Spartans | Last win: 2019
Best General Effect
Spartans | Last win: 2023
Best Visual Performance
Spartans | Last win: 2023
Best Percussion Performance
Blue Devils B | Last win: 2016
Best Color Guard
Spartans | Last win: 2023
Most Improved Corps
The Battalion | Last win: N/A
2024 All-Age Caption Award Winners
Caption awards for All-Age corps are determined by scores earned during the DCI All-Age Championship competition.
World Class
Hy Dreitzer Memorial Trophy for High Brass
Reading Buccaneers
High Percussion
Reading Buccaneers
Jim Costello Memorial Trophy for High Visual
Reading Buccaneers
Frank Gerris Memorial Trophy for High Total Effect
Reading Buccaneers
Harvey Olderman Memorial Trophy for Best Color Guard
Reading Buccaneers
Open Class
High Brass
White Sabers
High Percussion
Cincinnati Tradition
Bob Holton Memorial Trophy for High Visual
Cincinnati Tradition
High Total Effect
White Sabers
High Color Guard
Cincinnati Tradition
A Class
High Brass
Govenaires
Sean Holton Memorial Trophy for High Percussion
Govenaires
High Visual
Govenaires
High Total Effect
Govenaires
High Color Guard
Govenaires
Additional Awards
Best Honor Guard
Hawthorne Caballeros
Butch Anderson & Walt Winkleman Memorial Trophy for Best Drum Major
Kimberly Roman, Hawthorne Caballeros
Lou Storck Memorial Trophy for Best Showmanship
Marco Spinetti, Connecticut Hurricanes