On the night of the 2011 DCI World Championship Semifinals, Blue Devils B corps director Rick Odello was upset at his corps’ drum major — or, at least, he seemed to be.
He wasn’t — quite the opposite, actually — but DaJuan Brooks, the drum major in question, didn’t know that.
“He calls me,” Brooks said. “And he's really angry.”
“I need you to get over to the truck right now,” Brooks recalled Odello saying to him over the phone.
When Brooks reached his corps’ equipment truck, Odello remained curt.
“‘Where’s your uniform?’” Brooks continued to recall. “‘Go get dressed.’”
Odello’s ruse was working to perfection.
When Brooks, escorted by Odello, arrived on the field at Lucas Oil Stadium in full uniform and was interviewed as the recipient of that year’s award for Open Class drum major of the year.
“They announced that I got the award, and I think I looked pretty shocked,” he said. “Odello was like, ‘I got you.’”
“You see me in the photo, and I’m laughing.”
Brooks’ surprise honor was just the beginning of his many waves made in the music industry and marching music activity.
An accomplished musician and educator of color who now serves as the director of The Cavaliers’ indoor ensemble, Chromium Winds, Brooks’ career in performing arts has touched countless audiences, school programs and students in the decade since his marching days.
“(Drum corps) was such an incredible experience,” Brooks said. “It gave me lifelong friends — so many people that I'll never forget. There were so many life lessons I learned, and so many things I learned about how to run an organization.”
The wheels of Brooks’ drum corps career began turning after an introduction to live drum corps at a 2010 DCI Tour event in Riverside, California. Brooks’ excitement quickly led to an audition, which earned him a spot, and eventually the position of drum major in Blue Devils B.
Two summers as Blue Devils B drum major produced countless memories and lessons for Brooks — including, of course, his drum major of the year title; he made a point to mention the many forms of unique relationship-building brought about by his time in drum corps.
“I think that the thing that I hold the most dear to me from my time in DCI, specifically, was all of the drum major retreats,” Brooks said, referring to the announcement of scores at the end of DCI Tour events where drum majors line up and salute as their respective corps are called. “We all were such friends. Those are the people I still really remember.”
“One of my favorite moments was watching the drum corps at Finals in Michigan City,” he added. “Just watching them interact with one another, and seeing that we all do this activity together and really value one another.”
Following the completion of his drum corps career, Brooks’ next step was to complete a pair of degree programs; he first earned a bachelor’s degree in music performance from the University of Arizona, before completing a Master’s program in clarinet performance and music education at Northwestern University. He’s currently pursuing a second Master’s degree in leadership and organizational change, with a focus in diversity, equity, inclusion and justice, from Northwestern.
In the meantime, Brooks has filled several positions in various corners of the marching arts universe, including instructional and director roles at multiple high schools, as well as an instructional role with Chromium Winds prior to his current position of director.
After a winding career path, Brooks ultimately landed in the role of Chromium Winds director when he was sought out directly by Cavaliers executive director Monte Mast upon his return to Northwestern for a second master’s degree.
“(Mast) called me, and said, ‘Hey, I heard you’re back. Are you interested in this?” Brooks said. “I met up with him and I had an interview, and then after that, that's when I got the job.”
We are thrilled to announce that DaJuan Brooks is stepping into the role of Director of Chromium Winds. Read more about DaJuan here!
Posted by The Cavaliers on Tuesday, September 27, 2022
Brooks is passionate about matters of inclusion and equal representation, and has a very clear vision for the impact he can and hopes to have in his influential role as Chromium Winds director. His primary objective is to create as much opportunity as possible for as many people as possible.
“My goal is to diversify the field by truly broadening the networks in which we bring people into our spaces,” he said. “We want to be diverse … but we don’t talk about access. That's what I want to do in my position, is to continue to pioneer advocacy for a holistic approach.”
In discussing the importance of access, he touched not only on racial diversity, but also on persons with disabilities.
“If there was someone who did have special needs, and they really wanted to be a part of our organization, how do we do that?” He said. “Do we have the infrastructure to help them and make sure that they have the aides that they need? It should be accessible for everyone, right?”
Beyond his own role and his own organization, that’s Brooks’ long-term dream for those involved in marching music; as he described it, he wants to tear down as many barriers as possible that may keep interested individuals from taking part in the activity from which he gained so many life-changing experiences.
“I want to be able to say, ‘Hey, if you don't have the money to do this, let's go ahead and let's find a way that you can do this,’” he said. “If we really want to diversify, and we really want to give access to people across the board, then we need to make sure that there are scholarships available for students who need support.”
“How can we get to that level where we have that experience for people who want to be a part of the organization?” He said. “That's what I want to see, is that access is there for those who want it and need it.”
According to Brooks, the inspiring words of Andre de Shields are arguably the best and most succinct descriptor of his experience within the vast world of marching music, his hope for how the activity and community can grow, and his vision for how he can help motivate that evolution.
“Andre de Shields talks about his three cardinal rules of sustainability and longevity (in the arts),” Brooks said. “First, surround yourself with people whose eyes light up when you see them coming. Second — slowly is the fastest way to get to where you want to be.”
“And third, the top of one mountain is the bottom of the next,” he concluded, “so keep climbing.”