Charles Stewart has been involved in the drum corps activity since the early 1990s, having performed with both Bluegrass Brass (tuba, 1992) and Bluecoats (drum major, 1994-95). He now works as the band director at Jeffersontown High School in Louisville, Kentucky, and is a member of the Bluecoats Hall of Fame.
What was your first drum corps experience like?
My first experience with DCI was watching the Santa Clara Vanguard and a host of other magnificent drum corps on VHS — I know, VHS — at my friend’s house in the fall of 1989. I’m pretty sure he recorded the performances from the annual PBS TV broadcast, and what I remember most about this early experience was how wonderfully excited he was to share the performances with me and with several of our other band friends as well.
I remember how astonished we were right away by what we saw and heard, and I also remember that we couldn’t stop talking about the amazing display of entertainment and excellence we witnessed from each of the corps. Looking back, I think we watched that video so many times that we must have worn out the tape completely after just a few months.
Sometime later that year, our band directors told us that some of those same drum corps we watched were going to be touring at shows in our area soon and, of course, we did everything possible to attend that summer! Going to those shows in the early 1990s to see the Star of Indiana, Phantom Regiment, Cadets, Blue Knights, and so many more was a dream come true. The marvelous sights and sounds were unbelievable; it was like nothing I had ever experienced. I was hooked and still wanted more!
How did that lead you to involvement in DCI?
In 1992, a new corps called the Bluegrass Brass Senior Drum & Bugle Corps was being formed in my hometown of Lexington, Kentucky, and to my delight, I was invited to join them during their inaugural season. I can’t begin to describe how incredible it felt to hold and play a G bugle contrabass (tuba) for the first time and how awesome it felt to rehearse with that dedicated group of performers.
The rich and powerful experiences gained in that multi-generational corps were invaluable to my development. The people were great to work with, so supportive, and always encouraging. One of our early performances that year was at a show in Toledo, Ohio, and among the many exciting groups on hand that day, I was able to see the Bluecoats Drum & Bugle Corps live, up close, and personal for the very first time. My early memories of the 1992 Bluecoats could be summed up as follows: new uniforms, new music style, and Chris Miles.
While watching them I couldn’t help but notice the stark contrast from what I had seen and heard from them in prior years, and I also noticed one of the two drum majors, Chris Miles, was an African American gentleman just like me. In 1993, I was encouraged by one of my friends, Darren Webb, to come up to a Bluecoats audition camp to check things out. The rest, as they say, was history. I joined the Bluecoats as a member of the contrabass/tuba section, and during my time would later get to know Chris Miles as a friend and have the opportunity to learn directly from him too. In 1994 and 1995, I had the pleasure of serving as the drum major of the Bluecoats and was blessed to have Chris Miles on board as a friend, supporter, and mentor during those early years.
How would you describe your experience in DCI?
My overall experience with drum corps was super-positive, incredibly worthwhile, and a dream come true. Like any activity one can be involved with, there were many ups and downs and twists and turns along the way — both anticipated and often unexpected.
I was initially drawn to the drum corps activity for the sheer entertainment value and the pure pursuit of excellence, and to my immediate surprise, I also gained an extended family. Through the drum corps experience, I’ve had the opportunity to meet and work with so many great people from all over the world that represent a true mosaic of diverse backgrounds, thoughts, and perspectives.
Of the many folks I’ve met along the way, I consider my fellow Bluecoats alums, John David Mayo and Errick Prince, to be some of my lifelong friends. Like so many others in the activity, we had never met until we marched together, but now, we maintain an unbreakable bond. Both of these men agreed to be groomsmen in my wedding party several years after we aged out and, even though we live several states away, we still manage to stay in touch regularly amidst our busy schedules.
The bond I have with them, along with so many others I marched with too, is an unbreakable bond forged by our shared passion through the DCI experience.
How did DCI affect your future?
I am currently a band director in Louisville, Kentucky, and next year will mark my 25th year as a music educator. Looking back, I must say the influence of drum corps on my career has been undeniable every step of the way.
When I reflect on the regular things that are just “part of the job”, I can easily get overwhelmed as I think about building a team atmosphere, rehearsing the band, selecting music, hiring staff, planning trips, coordinating with parents, working with administrators, and more. I can honestly say that my experience in drum corps served and continues to serve as a firm cornerstone for approaching each of these opportunities or challenges with efficiency, class, and grace.
Even though I struggle regularly to balance much of this — along with serving my own family too — the constant lessons taught via drum corps serve as a constant compass throughout each day. When times are good or bad, drum corps teaches you to keep pushing toward greater heights and to do so in tandem with others. The people you serve and work with must be part of that pursuit and everyone involved must remember that great things can only be accomplished when the team works together! As I near the end of my career, I still look forward to many more great experiences along the way, and as it relates to future drum corps experiences, there is a new opportunity on the horizon.
This coming year, I’ll have the opportunity to perform once again with the Bluecoats as one of the conductors of the 50th Anniversary Bluecoats Alumni Drum & Bugle Corps. The Alumni Corps will perform at the end of the DCI Championship Semifinals and will feature all generations of Bluecoats, all in one place, all at one time as we celebrate the birth of our corps along with DCI’s 50th Anniversary as well. As a side note, this once-in-a-lifetime experience will also mark 30 years since I entered the field as a drum and bugle corps performer and I truly can’t wait to share this with my Bluecoats family at Lucas Oil Stadium in August 2022.
What would you like to see from DCI in the future?
I would like to see DCI continue to push the envelope of creativity and innovation while keeping several of its entertainment roots planted firmly in the ground. I hope we can continue to work together to create shows and experiences that maintain and promote a healthy balance of entertainment and excellence as we move forward.
For DCI to survive and thrive, we must keep our current fan base while consistently drawing in more and more new fans too. As a long-time fan and supporter of the drum corps activity, I want to thank the incredible folks at DCI for the unforgettable, life-changing opportunities and experiences you’ve provided for me and countless others as well. During the next 50 years and beyond, I trust that those experiences will continue to be greater and greater for future generations.
"Happy 50th Birthday, Bluecoats and Drum Corps International!" - Charles Stewart