This summer Drum Corps International has the unique opportunity to collaborate with United Sound, a nonprofit organization whose mission is “to provide musical performance experiences for students with special needs through peer mentorship.”
With that in mind, as part of the 2019 DCI Summer Tour, DCI and United Sound are working together to bring the life-enriching drum corps experience to special needs musicians across the country.
“Through our own experiences, we know that the joy of learning in and performing with an ensemble can be life-changing for a child,” United Sound notes on its official website. “We believe that all children, especially in the public school setting, should have this opportunity.
“Our goal is to support individual music educators in creating their own United Sound ensembles through training, support, and organizational resources so that all children have access to meaningful and authentic music education and musical experiences.”
So incredibly proud of Christopher and alumni @JacobKHarker for making a moment the audience will never forget! United Sound performed with @TheBlueDevils and did amazing! @julie_duty @CVHSYotes pic.twitter.com/38EznmPk0o
— Campo Verde Bands (@cvhsbands) July 1, 2019
June 30 in San Bernardino, many of these musicians were able to perform with the 18-time world champion Blue Devils, and will have the chance to do so again when the Concord corps performs in Murfreesboro, Tennessee on July 26.
Blue Devils team up with United Sound
In August, as part of the DCI World Championships, they’ll also have the opportunity to take part in DCI’s INpact Band experience.
Now in its ninth year, INpact Indiana’s Future Band allows young musicians on any instrument to take part in a variety of music-related activities in Indianapolis, culminating with performances at the SoundSport International Music & Food Festival and the DCI World Championship Finals.
This year’s experience is set to take place August 9-10, coinciding with the final two days of the DCI Summer Tour.
The two-day, immersive experience provided by the INpact Band program comes at a cost, but fans can help bridge that gap by way of donations, which will go directly toward funding young musicians’ food, equipment, and other costs involved.