Less than a point separates top three as Bluecoats enter DCI Tour

MASON, Ohio – In their 2024 DCI Tour debut on Tuesday, the Bluecoats gave fans plenty to talk about after securing a win versus a formidable lineup of corps. 

The Summer Music Games in Cincinnati, hosted July 2 at Mason High School, marked the Bluecoats’ first competitive event of the 2024 season. Facing off against a lineup that included three of last year’s finalist corps that have been scoring at the top of the DCI Tour since opening weekend, the ’Coats eked out the win by three tenths of a point over the Boston Crusaders. 

“To finally get out in front of a crowd and throw down with one of the most emotionally-charged and together performances that I think we've ever had, it just felt like we really came into this as one unit,” Bluecoats drum major Catherine Oles said. “We can't ask for anything more. To be starting off this entire tour on the same page ready to throw down, it's so, so exciting.”

1. Bluecoats » 78.750
2. Boston Crusaders » 78.450
3. Carolina Crown » 77.950
4. Phantom Regiment » 75.600

Despite finishing second in overall visual and music on the scoresheets, Bluecoats’ 0.4-point advantage in general effect was the deciding factor in Tuesday’s victory. The Canton, Ohio corps took first or second in most captions, though finished as low as third in visual proficiency and brass. 

View all scores from the Summer Music Games in Cincinnati

The Boston Crusaders’ score of 78.450 marks a 1.85-point improvement over their last competition Sunday in Lisle, Illinois, where they finished behind Carolina Crown. Boston’s half point advantage on Tuesday is an exact reversal of the two corps’ finish two days ago, a strong indication that a neck-and-neck race will ensue in the coming days. 

At the Cinciannati event, Boston took first in overall visual by a tenth of a point over Bluecoats and tied Bluecoats for second in overall music. 

Despite falling behind the Crusaders for the first time this season, members of Carolina Crown added 0.85 points to their total score since their last competition. For the 2023 Jim Ott Brass Caption Award winners, the music caption is shaping up to be a continued strength for the South Carolina corps in 2024. 

Crown took first in brass on Tuesday, four tenths of a point ahead of the competition. An additional first-place finish in the music analysis caption allowed Crown to post a two-tenths advantage in music overall. 

 

Phantom Regiment rounded out the World Class competition in fourth place with a score of 75.600, taking fourth in all captions across the board.

With the corps returning to its Rockford, Illinois hometown over the 4th of July holiday, including its annual Show of Shows DCI Tour event on July 5, performers are looking forward to the opportunities ahead. 

“We have the best drum corps Phantom Regiment has had in a really long time,” Phantom Regiment conductor Keri McCourt said. “We started off with a great spring training, and we've been getting stronger and stronger every day.”

 

1. Cincinnati Tradition » 74.950

Cincinnati Tradition performed as the lone entry in DCI’s All-Age Class, the inaugural year of the newly-formed division. Tradition posted a score of 74.950 in their 2024 debut performance. 

Read about DCI's All-Age Class in the latest issue of Drum Corps International Magazine

“Everybody's had this circle on their calendar for months now,” Cincinnati Tradition drum major Tanner Stacy said. “Being here in our home city, performing for a sellout crowd, and in the first year of DCI’s All-Age Class, it’s just electric.

Eclipse » Silver

Indianapolis-based SoundSport team Eclipse rounded out the performing ensembles at Tuesday night’s event earning a Silver rating. 

For the World Class corps at Tuesday’s event, tour schedules will diverge in the coming days. Phantom Regiment will stay in the Midwest for their next event July 5 in their Rockford, Illinois hometown, as will the Bluecoats who will compete July 6 in Whitewater, Wisconsin. Carolina Crown and the Boston Crusaders will both head east for July 5’s brand-new event in Conway, South Carolina. 

View the 2024 DCI Tour schedule

gallery-2024-summer-music-games-in-cincinnati-mason-oh