The Blue Devils and Santa Clara Vanguard announced on Wednesday that their respective Open Class corps, Blue Devils B and Vanguard Cadets, will keep their recruitment focus and summer tours confined within the borders of their home state of California in 2019.
In separate releases issued earlier today, both organizations cited the change in touring model as better aligning with their respective mission statements, while not affecting the fundamental objectives of the two Open Class corps — which have been among the most successful in Drum Corps International history.
“[Vanguard Music and Performing Arts] will focus the Vanguard Cadets on being a quality program that will increase music and color guard education in the Bay Area,” reads a statement on scvanguard.org. “This move will allow the program to keep the standards it has grown to know, while serving the community and building new skills for local youth.”
“Blue Devils B is a valuable and important part of our organization and that will not change,” said Rosa Lee Harden, president of the BD Performing Arts board of directors in a statement on the organization's website. “We will continue to offer a positive, life-maturing experience for all members of BDB.”
Drum Corps International executive director and CEO Dan Acheson has been in contact with both organizations throughout their respective planning processes. “I am always in support of corps making responsible business decisions in line with serving their members,” he said.
On an annual basis, the state of California hosts more events than any other on the Drum Corps International Summer Tour. A complete list of those competitions will be available with the release of the 2019 DCI Tour schedule at the end of November.
Audition camps for Blue Devils B and Vanguard Cadets are scheduled to take place beginning in December.
Blue Devils B Update for 2019 (bluedevils.org)
Vanguard Cadets Launch California Initiative (scvanguard.org)