Carolina Crown held their first camp of the 2003 season November 22 - 24 at Clover HS in Clover, SC. The weekend was extremely well attended with a turnout of about 200 students from nineteen states! Executive Director Kevin Smith said, "The camp went off perfectly. The effort and excitement displayed by the students was contagious, and got us all revved up even more than we already were! We are expecting even bigger things for the December camp as more veteran members and some college students that could not attend turn out!" The highlight of the weekend camp was a "show-and-tell" performance before a large audience of parents, fans, supporters and volunteers, where each caption demonstrated their talents and improved performance skills.

A lot of parents, volunteers, fans and band directors were on hand for "Show &Tell" and a Parent's Meeting/Q&A that followed. Support Services Coordinator Teri Brinson also had people falling over each other all weekend in the food truck! A big thanks to all the parents (and others) that came out, and to the volunteers that assisted with the event!

After the weekend many compliments about the camp were expressed by both students and their parents. A sample of the feedback includes:

"While this was my first drum corps camp attended, I can definitely say that Carolina Crown made it a good one. I had an absolute blast. No one was cut, and spirits were high and joyful. The instructors in my opinion were great and definitely knew what they were looking for. I loved the atmosphere the camp had the whole weekend and I will be gladly coming back next month!" - Nate Collins (snare)

"I can tell you that those kids ate *really* good Southern cookin' this weekend. And WE helped!" - Cameron Scott (1st time Crown Volunteer)

"The camp was awesome. The pit is going to be awesome this year. I think it's going to be a good year for the corps all the way around." - Asheton Lemay (front ensemble)

"I hope I make it - Crown is awesome and the staff is unreal. We ate really great too. Props to the Crown folks!" - Edwin James (percussion)

The next camp for Carolina Crown will be held the weekend of December 13-15, 2002 at Fort Mill High School in Ft. Mill, SC. "Show-and-Tell," a free and open to the public performance event, will be held on Sunday, December 15th at about 1:00 noon.

'Tis the Season

Well, it’s that time of year again. Marching band is over (unless your football team is really, really good), football season is over (unless—again—your football team is really, really good), the leaves are changing color, the weather is getting colder, Christmas carols control the radio waves and bright colorful lights hang from trees.

In a few weeks, a new year will start, and people across the country will start making vows and setting goals and brainstorming new ways to improve themselves for the coming year.

Yet, for some dedicated, inspired, talented people, the goal setting and the improving and the making of vows have already started. For some loyal, courageous, comfort-zone-breaking students, the path to being great has already begun, and it wasn’t with a list on paper or with a kiss at midnight. For some of us, the road to excellence is already underway—with a horn, a drum, or a flag.

As the rest of the world prepares to usher in 2003 with fireworks and with celebrations, we rejoice in a different way: with weekend camps and with beef stew fresh out of the food truck (Teri, it’s great!). As the rest of the world sets goals to lose weight, stop smoking, quit drinking, or do better in school, we resolve to work harder, play better, spin faster, march smoother, rehearse more efficiently, and steadily improve from day to day.

We are a unique people, and for us, the season does not begin with festivities and with parties. For us, the season begins with a call to attention, a basics block, or a rudimental pattern.

Yep, it’s that time of year again, and it’s time to get excited. Tell all your friends: it’s drum corps season!

David Roth

2003 Carolina Crown

Drum Major

Meet the 2003 Carolina Crown Brass Faculty

Michael Klesch will be joining Carolina Crown as Brass Arranger and member of the design team for the 2003 season. Michael is currently Assistant Director of the Minuteman Marching Band, University of Massachusetts - Amherst. Since earning his Master's in 1986, Michael has arranged music for many bands and drum corps including the World Champion Cadets of Bergen County and the DCI Finalists Phantom Regiment and Crossmen. On a more personal note, please join Carolina Crown in wishing Michael and his wife Heather congratulations on the recent addition to their family, the birth of son Robert William Klesch born September 27, 2002.

Joining Carolina Crown for his first year as the 2003 Brass Caption Head is Matt Harloff. Matt holds a Bachelors Degree in Music Education from Indiana University and his Master's in Education from the University of Indianapolis. He is currently, and has been since 1996, the Associate Director of Bands at Avon High School in Indiana. His drum corps experience covers performing soprano/trumpet with Dubuque Colt Cadets, Phantom Regiment Cadets and finally moving on to many successful years with the Star of Indiana, where he was also drum major in 1993. Matt also served as student conductor and brass staff member for Star of Indiana/Brass Theater from 1994-1997. Most recently Matt was on brass staff for the World Champion Cadets of Bergen County 1998, 1999 and 2002. Matt's personal life finds him happily married to his wife Susie and the proud father of 2 1/2 year old Tyson Matthew Harloff.

Andrea Brown returns for her fourth season on the Crown brass team. Andrea attended UNC-Greensboro where she completed her Master of Music, Horn Performance. She marched in the 1994 mellophone line at The Cadets, and also marched with Southwind in 1993. Besides Crown, she has taught at Maple Dale Middle School in Milwaukee (2002), Wisconsin; McGavock H.S., Nashville, TN (1998, 1999) and Northwest Guilford H.S., Greensboro, NC (2000). She is currently the assistant band director at McKinney High School.   Andrea is originally from Milan, TN, and is engaged to be married in June to Crown Percussion Coordinator, Eric Willie!

After working briefly with Carolina Crown in 1999, Bob Chreste has returned for the 2003 season. Bob spent most of his life in Houston, Texas where he attended Westfield High School and then the University of Houston. He received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Houston and then went on to pursue his Masters degree in conducting at Sam Houston State University, in Huntsville, Texas. Bob has taught at many top programs in and around Texas, including: Westfield HS (TX), LD Bell HS (TX), Richland HS (TX), Klein HS (TX), Cypress Falls HS (TX), Union HS (OK), and most recently at Avon HS (IN). Beginning his musical career as a saxophonist, Bob later learned to play euphonium in college because of his desire to march drum corps. Bob spent three summers marching with The Cadets of Bergen County (1996-1998). In addition to winning the DCI World Championship in 1998, Bob also learned a great deal that summer from Matt Harloff (Carolina Crown's new brass caption). From May 2001 to August 2002, Bob was a member of the US Tour cast of Blast! Bob's primary role in the show was as conductor; however, he also played euphonium in part of the show. Bob currently resides in southern Indiana.

Tommy A. Feagin is in his first year at both Carolina Crown and Memorial High School in Victoria, Texas where he co-directs the 200 member marching band, and conducts the concert band. While at Memorial, the band has received many honors including a trip to the 2002 5A State Marching Band Championships; a first in the school's history. Tommy is also the co-director and founder of Pageantry, the high school winter guard where he serves as program coordinator and visual designer. Along with his high school duties with Memorial High, Tommy is a woodwind private teacher and Assistant Conductor at The Victoria College, also in Victoria, Texas. He has also been a clinician and adjudicator, and is currently visual designer for over 15 schools in 6 states. His drum corps experience includes four years as conductor with the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps from Rockford, IL. While with Phantom Regiment he received the Drum Corps Midwest High Drum Major Award and was the 2000 recipient of the Jim Jones Leadership Award, the highest award given to any drum major in Drum Corps International. Tommy's primary instrument is clarinet and he has been playing for the past 15 years. Outside of his music, Tommy enjoys reading and spending time at home with his family.

Chris Holland begins his first season with the Carolina Crown brass faculty this season. However, he started his drum corps career in 1986 at the age of twelve with the Boston Crusaders, earning the corps' "Rookie of the Year" award. A family tradition, Chris marched alongside both of his brothers until aging out on the podium in 1994 at the DCI Championships in Foxboro, Massachusetts. Earning several leadership awards with the Crusaders, as well as a DCI-Berklee College Scholarship award in 1993, Chris would go on to attend the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, pursuing a Music Education degree. Chris served as Caption Head with the Boston Crusaders in 1997, gaining valuable experience working with Michael Klesch, Thom Hannum, and Colin McNutt. He then later reunited with Klesch at Phantom Regiment in 2001. Serving as Director of Bands at Norwood H.S. in Norwood, Massachusetts Chris experienced great success on the marching band field, as well as in the concert hall. His Wind Ensemble and Orchestra performed yearly at both Boston Symphony Hall, as well as Ozawa Hall at Tanglewood, as a result of their Superior ratings at the State evaluations. The acclaimed Norwood Jazz Ensemble earned four State Championships, four Regional Championships, and was awarded the Nation's Most Outstanding Jazz Band in 2000 in Branson, Missouri. The Marching Band consistently earned Superior ratings, as well as two New England Scholastic Band Association Championships, going undefeated over two and one half seasons. Chris has also worked with the King Philip Regional Marching Band, and has judged marching and jazz festivals in MA, CT, and ME. Chris resides in Boston with his wife Darlene, and is currently working with the Burlington Middle School select Band and Jazz Ensemble as he works towards his J.D. at the Massachusetts School of Law.

Ryan Summers returns for his second year on the brass faculty, having taught the low brass in 2001. He is also an alumnus of the corps, having marched in the contra and baritone lines for a three-year stint from '97-99. Ryan graduated from Appalachian State University in December, 2001. He is currently the Band Director at Lincolnton Middle School, as well as the Assistant Band Director for Lincolnton High School, in Lincolnton, NC. Ryan is also very interested in music recording, and does so for all of the Middle and High School Honor Band events that Carolina Crown sponsors.

Volunteer Profile - Marcus Jones

The name "Marcus" is well-known around the Carolina Crown organization. There probably isn't anyone that has been with the organization for any length of time that does not know the name. Some might not know that Marcus' last name is Jones, or even much about him, but nearly everyone knows Marcus!

Marcus, also now known by his friends as "Big Daddy", has been a member of the Crown family for over ten years. While marching his second season in the contra line at Spirit of Atlanta in 1990, Marcus took notice of the new start-up corps, Carolina Crown, in Charlotte... his "hometown". He joined Crown during the corps' 2nd season in 1991 and was part of the first Carolina Crown to obtain membership status in Drum Corps International. He returned to the corps the following year to age-out of the hornline in 1992.

But just being a member during two of the corps' very important formative years was not enough for Marcus. Immediately after aging-out, he starting volunteering for the organization. "Marcus has remained an integral part of the corps since the first camp he attended as a member," notes Executive Director Kevin Smith. "I don't believe we have another alum that has maintained as active for as many continuous years as Marcus."

Marcus began the volunteer phase of his Crown life as a volunteer driver of the smaller vehicles the corps then used to transport equipment, souvenirs and support staff/faculty. Besides his driving, over the years Marcus has been active in corps operations volunteering recruiting at bands shows, selling souvenirs, working registration at camps, assisting at fund-raising events, processing CrownStore orders, and running countless errands.

Marcus is also the organization's "trivia king" and unofficial historian. He is called upon regularly by Kevin Smith and others when a bit of Crown history needs to be re-told. Last summer during Spring Training Marcus was part of a small group of alumni that spoke to the 2002 members about the history of the corps and the progress made over the years - a new tradition that will be continued each summer with Marcus playing a key role. But Crown history is not his only specialty. "He has the largest working knowledge of buses of anyone I know... from old GMC 'Buffalos' to new coaches," notes Crown Transportation Coordinator Steve Hoyle. "In addition, his vast knowledge of historic events and places has helped kept us drivers awake during nights on tour for years!"

Like most of us, Marcus has a few "skeletons in his Carolina Crown closet". Probably the funniest one of all is his periodic "run-ins" with the law! Now don't get worried, its not he's a criminal or anything! Its just that Marcus seems to always be the victim of poor communications when it comes to who paid for the fuel at one of the many truck stops we patronize on tour each summer! The local authorities have not been too amused on at least two occasions so far! Of course, this accidental communication breakdown usually leads to alot of kicking of bus tires, stomping of feet, and a few other Marcus-isms that we have all grown to love over the years! Speaking of driving on tour, Marcus also holds the record for most stop lights fallen asleep at... thankfully, just ONE!

Marcus graduated from Olympic HS in Charlotte. He performed on tuba with the Olympic Band, then under the direction of Larry Wells. He then went on to college at Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, NC where his father was a professor. He currently works for America Charters/Coach USA booking bus trips for all kinds of groups!

Because Marcus cares so much about them, he always develops a special closeness with the members each season! Carolina Crown is definitely his 2nd family, and he works his hardest to make each years' members feel like it is theirs as well! Thanks, Marcus!

Carolina Crown Inks Agreement with Division II/III Corps

Carolina Crown and Scenic City Drum & Bugle Corps of Chattanooga, TN are very pleased to announce a new working agreement between the two organizations. The intent of the agreement is for Carolina Crown and Scenic City to apply their complimentary capabilities and assets to strengthen and grow their respective program offerings. Under the agreement both organizations retain their separate corporations, and there is no transfer of assets.

Carolina Crown Executive Director Kevin Smith said, "We are very happy and excited about the opportunity to work with such a fine young corps. We hope we can provide some assistance that will enhance their development in such a way that it's easier for them than it was for Carolina Crown in our early years!"

"I think that in order for the Division II/III activity to prosper we need this kind of collaboration with the more experienced corps", says Elmo James, Executive Director of Scenic City. "I picked Crown to follow because of their consistency in moving up divisions, and I just plain love the organization!"

Under the agreement, Carolina Crown will assist Scenic City in several areas including, but not limited to: o Board organization, roles and responsibilities o Financial management and reporting o Volunteer organization and recruitment, and o Educational and operational "Best Practices" for drum corps

Crown will also promote Scenic City to students not being offered membership in Carolina Crown.

In exchange, assistance will be provided to Carolina Crown in several areas of strength for Scenic City including, but not limited to: o Grant writing o Securing sponsorships and in-kind donations o Securing media services, and o Fund-raising

The two corps also hope to participate in some events together throughout the year such as Carolina Crown's "CrownClub Weekend", an educational event for volunteers and supporters, and "Preview", Carolina Crown's annual dress rehearsal type event just prior to the start of tour.