February 2002
Andy Crews, originally from High Point, North Carolina, never marched
with a drum corps. He was however a brass player for the Marching Pirates
at East Carolina University for four years. He is an original member of
the organization, having attended the first meetings of the former Charlotte
Drum Corps Association in 1988.
Andy has volunteered for Carolina Crown
in many ways since that time including master beer salesman at Charlotte
festivals each spring, selling souvenirs on Sundays at Crown camps, and serving
several years on Crown's Executive Committee (where he is known for sometimes
wearing his "devil's advocate" hat to keep us straight), just to name a very
few. But, Andy is certainly best known as the organization's graphic
artist and designer (which is also his profession, as an art director for
Paramount Parks in Charlotte).
Andy's designs and graphics have been seen
by literally millions of people both within the Crown family and throughout the
drum corps activity as a whole. Close friend and fellow board member Doug
Madar says, "Andy Crews designed the Carolina Crown logo, and also helped update
it. He also watches over it like parents watch over their child to see
that no one inadvertently misuses it. The logo has evolved into a sign of
strength that represents Crown's growth into one of the most respected and
admired drum corps in the activity. In case some of you forgot, or didn't
know in the first place, the Crown logo is a bugle inside a Crown, with
flourishes. It was meant to have a soft association with the 'Queen City', as
Charlotte is referred to on occasion. And yes, royalty, as in 'Crown
Jewels'."
But the Crown logo was certainly not the end of Andy's
work. Andy also designed the very first NightBEAT logo ("although this is
one that Andy would like to keep buried... but, I'm a
dead man for saying that", says Doug). But the revisions,
with the now famous "bugler", are now legendary, and again, have come to
represent one of the mightiest shows in the Southeast. And, the "bugler"
now pops up everywhere... band shows, drum corps shows, guard shows. Well,
they say imitation is the best form of flattery!
And, "ART THAT
MOVES". That was 100% pure "Andy Crews". Over the years, you can
also see the Crews handiwork on many Crown and NightBEAT tee shirts. And
don't forget the NightBEAT program covers, the corps pages in the NightBEAT
program book, and so many other wonderful NightBEAT graphics that it's
impossible to mention them all. How about Crown and NightBEAT patches.
Again, Andy to the rescue! (He also designed the DCI Championship patches a few
years back!) And don't forget Crown Jewels brochures, NightBEAT newspaper
advertisements, Crown holiday cards and the absolutely fabulous NightBEAT
posters back when they were in vogue! All Andy Crews! Why he even did the
graphic of the corps' second uniform, the one that was worn when Crown won the
DCI Division II Championships in 1993!
Andy's designs and graphic artwork
is one of the aspects that gave Carolina Crown and NightBEAT much-needed
credibility in the Carolinas, as well as the drum corps and marching band
community. For this, Carolina Crown will always be thankful we were lucky
enough to have such a dedicated volunteer as Andy Crews!
Crown Members Benefit From
New Food Sponsors
Carolina Crown is very happy to announce a new "in-kind" sponsorship
from the bakery department of the new Costco (Independence) in Charlotte. Costco
is donating bakery items such as cookies, pies, cakes, bagels, etc. to the corps
every Friday for use at the corps' winter camps, spring training and on
tour.
In addition to this sponsorship, past-President Chip Smith has
assisted the corps in securing another year of "in-kind" bread donations from
Pepperidge Farm. Chip's friend Carl Thomas is the person responsible for
assisting the corps with these much needed donations for a second year in a
row!
To support this sponsorship we will need help with obtaining freezer
space (or donated freezer units) to keep the donated food in between camps as
our existing units will hopefully fill up quickly. Please contact Moe in
the corps office (803-547-2270 or email to crown@carolinacrown.org) if you can
assist!
Carolina Crown members attending the February camp really enjoyed
the donations received thus far! We wish to thank both Costco and
Pepperidge Farm for their generosity and support of Carolina Crown. These
donations will undoubtedly save the corps thousands of dollars over the course
of the year!
EROS
Eros
was the Greek god of love and sexual desire. Some claim that he was one of the
first gods to emerge from primeval Chaos, hatched from the world-egg, and thus
is considered to be one of the eldest gods. They reason that none of the other
gods could have been born without Eros.
There are other theories as to
his parentage: He is held to be the son of Aphrodite and Hermes, or even
Aphrodite and Zeus. A lyrical fancy even holds that he was the son of Iris,
goddess of the Rainbow, and Zephyrus, the West Wind.
In more recent
mythology, however, Eros is portrayed as the son of Aphrodite and Ares, and one
of the younger deities. He is represented as a playful, winged boy with a bow
and arrows. According to the philosopher Plato, Eros is the striving of
mankind to the pure, the good, and the beautiful. Eros' Roman counterpart
is Amour/Cupid. His name means,
"Desire".
He wounds both gods and men with his unerring and
irresistible arrows of desire. His arrows come in two sets: golden arrows with
dove feathers for love, and leaden arrows with owl feathers for
indifference.
It was also Eros who shot an arrow of love into the heart
of the most beautiful mortal woman, Helen, making her instantly fall in love
with the Trojan prince Paris. This infatuation led to Paris and Helen running
away to Troy, which prompted the infuriated Greeks to begin the Trojan War in
retaliation.
(Note - Eros is the mythological character that the 2002 Carolina Crown show will depict in it's second production set to the music from "Javelin" by Michael Torke. Watch for next month's CrownBeat where we will discuss the Greek myth of Icarus, the basis for the 3rd production in our 2002 show.)
Crown Summer Tour Schedule
Announced
Although still only tentative and with changes still occurring every
week, Carolina Crown's 2002 summer tour schedule was announced to corps members,
faculty and supporters at the corps' February camp. Director Kevin Smith
explained, "this year's tour is very similar to the one we did two years ago in
many ways... the trip out west is gone, with much of the summer being spent in
the south, the east and the Midwest." The DCI-run major events Crown will
be participating in this year will be in San Antonio, Indianapolis, Philadelphia
and of course, World Championships in Madison, WI.
Please click here for Crown's
complete schedule as of 2/15/02!
February Camp Includes
Drill Rehearsal!
Carolina Crown had yet another successful rehearsal camp at Ft. Mill High School the weekend of February 15, 16, and 17. With 62 brass players, 27 battery percussion, 8 front ensemble, and one drum major, the corps learned a completed version of the four-and-a-half minute Zeus opener. The horn line continued working on Medusa and Icarus while learning new parts and additional music to Eros.
The highlight of the weekend was the brass section learning 9 sets of drill to the opening fanfare of the show. Drill designer Ryan George supervised the rehearsal, with five visual technicians on the field. With sunny weather and a temperature in the mid 50’s, it was a perfect day to march on Ft. Mill High School’s new grass practice field!
The percussion section had a four hour sectional rehearsal Saturday afternoon in the band room working on the Opener and parade tune Semper Fi. The weekend culminated with a well attended "show-and-tell" performance in the commons/cafe area. The corps performed Zeus, Eros, Medusa, and Icarus.
Carolina Crown’s next rehearsal camp will be March 22-24, 2002 at Ft. Mill High School.
Purchase Tickets for Regional Events and Championships!
Carolina Crown will be assigned a
block of premium tickets for DCI World Championships and all Regional Events for
the 2002 season.
To order tickets in
this "block," click here, download
the order form, and mail with full payment to the corps office by 3/1/2002.
Carolina Crown has also reserved a block of rooms at the Regent Apartment
Hotel in Madison, WI for DCI finals.
This facility is across the street (and within walking distance) from
Camp Randall Stadium. Each suite is
$70 per night and will accommodate up to four people. These are studio apartment rooms with
two bedrooms separated by a kitchenette and bath. Each bedroom has two single beds. There is limited parking. The address is 1402 Regent Street,
Madison, WI.
Please call the Crown office to reserve your room/suite. It is imperative you pay a deposit of
$70.00 no later than May 15, 2002.
We have some rooms to arrive Tuesday, 8/6/02, and Wednesday, 8/07/02 but most to arrive on Thursday, 8/08/02. Please notify the office as soon as possible with your reservation details so we can adjust the number of suites and check-in dates.
A Word From Our Drum Major - David Roth
"BREAKING THE LAW"
There’s nothing like seeing those flashing blue lights in the rearview mirror while driving down the highway.
“Goin’ a little fast back there, weren’t we?” the officer asks as I fish out my license and registration. “Where are you guys heading in such a hurry?”
“Madison, Wisconsin, sir.” I
tell him.
“Really? And where are you
fellas coming from?” he asks.
“Fort Mill, South Carolina.”
“Fort Mill? No kidding! Hey—” he peeks into the car, notices the horn cases and drumsticks and colored flags—“Aren’t you Carolina Crown?”
“Yes sir, we are,” I say.
At hearing this, the officer lightens up, even smiles at us. “No kidding, huh? I hear you guys have had quite a winter so far—and that the Greek mythology show is coming together quite nicely.”
“That’s true,” I say. “We’ve already learned just about the
entire show—without some endings and transitions—and we can play the entire
opener and ballad as a full ensemble.
And it’s only February!”
“Wow.” he says. “That’s pretty impressive. Word on the street is that you all set ten pages of drill already, too. Is that right?”
“Well, actually,” I say, “it was eleven pages—you know, subsets and all.”
He whistles. “Eleven pages. Well, I’ll tell you what, son. You seem like a good bunch of kids and I can tell you’ve been working hard. I’ll let you off with just a warning this time, okay?”
“Thank you very much,” I say.
“We really appreciate that.”
“Just promise me you’ll slow down, alright?” he continues. “You could make a lot of other cars on the road nervous if you keep up this pace of yours. Understand?”
I smile. “Well, officer,” I
say, “I’m sorry, but we just can’t do that. Truth is, we don’t plan on slowing down
at all, not one bit… At least not until the season’s over.”
And with that I step on the gas and hightail it out of there, leaving him
standing dumbfounded in a cloud of dust.
Carolina Crown Announces Second Drum Major
Kevin Smith announced at the February Camp’s Show-and-Tell performance
the appointment of the corps' second drum major for the 2002 season. Joining
David Roth in front of the corps this year will be returning contra player Laura
Young.
Laura served as the horn sergeant for the last half
of the 2001 season with Carolina Crown. In high school, she was an officer to
the low-brass section in her junior year and drum major of the band her senior
year. Laura currently is studying at the University of Central
Florida. She has been an on-field
and music staff member her sophomore and junior year and was recently named as
an assistant drum major for the 2002 UCF Marching Knights season. Aside from her marching band
credentials, Laura is a dual major in psychology and social science education
with a minor in music. She is also involved in a service sorority
dedicated to serving the music department at UCF. Congratulations Laura!
2nd Annual CrownClub Weekend Set for
4/19-21
Carolina Crown will be holding our 2nd annual CrownClub Weekend on April
20-21st. This fun-filled educational weekend is open to everyone- parents, fans, volunteers, alumni,
etc. This year's event is being held at a local hotel on the same weekend
as Crown's April camp weekend. This will give all the attendees the best
of both worlds... a fun and educational "get-away" event combined with the
excitement of a Crown camp! And don't worry; we are securing a local band
booster group to handle the cooking at the camp for the weekend so everyone can
attend! So, what better way to spend a weekend than with other fans &
supporters of Carolina Crown!
A general schedule of the weekend is as
follows:
Friday, 4/19
Saturday, 4/20 - morning Welcome,
Introductions & Educational
sessions at a local hotel
afternoon- Educational sessions
*evening- Dinner at local restaurant, & then
maybe a show/movie/bowling/ballgame/karaoke,
etc *(optional)
Sunday, 4/21 - morning- Group Breakfast &
Wrap-up*(optional)
afternoon- "Show & Tell" performance at camp
More information,
registration and hotel reservation forms will be emailed soon and included in
the March edition of CrownBeat!
Carolina Crown Hosts Second Annual Union County Middle School Honor Band!
Carolina Crown hosted the second annual Union County Middle
School Honor Band the weekend of February 22 and 23 at Wingate University.
All six middle schools in Union County participated, including Monroe
Middle, Weddington Middle, Parkwood Middle, Piedmont Middle, East Union Middle,
and Sun Valley Middle.
Over 90 students participated in the two-day event, which included three
long rehearsal blocks, a trip to the Wingate student cafeteria, a pizza lunch
organized by the directors and a public concert.
Dr. Royce Lumpkin served as this year’s guest conductor. Royce Lumpkin, a native of Kilgore,
Texas, is in his fourth year of service as the Chair of the Department of Music
at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Prior to his coming to Charlotte, he was
a member of the faculty of the College of Music of the University of North Texas
in Denton, Texas, where he taught applied trombone and brass chamber music and
performed regularly in the Texas Brass Ensemble. He also served as Assistant Director of
Bands from 1971-1976 and as Assistant Dean of the College of Music at UNT from
1990 to 1993.
Saturday’s concert, well attended with over 200 parents,
family and friends, included five pieces highlighting the 2002 Honor Bands
talents and achievements.
Crown’s own Ryan Summers has been contracted to record all the Carolina
Crown Honor Bands this year, making Compact Disc recordings available to
participants and their parents.
Many thanks go to all participating directors as well as Wingate
University and The Union County Community Arts Council for their support of this
event!
Calling All
Volunteers!
For 13 years you
have heard our cry, "Calling All Volunteers"! Yes, it is once again time
to ask for the assistance of all our supporters in getting the corps down the
road on yet another summer tour. Support staff are needed to do everything
from cook and serve food four times a day; prepare over 12,500 gallons of drink
mix; mend a torn uniform or flag in a rush before a big show; empty trash bag
after trash bag; and "just be there" to answer a question, lend a helping hand
and be a nightly cheering section for our members! We promise, it will be
an experience you will never forget!
The summer tour is broken down below into the seven teams by
date. The length of time commitment varies by the team you select.
For teams not originating in the Ft. Mill/Charlotte area, Crown will run a
shuttle out to the corps and back from Ft. Mill (or pick you up and/or drop you
off along the way if it is on the way to/from the starting/ending point).
We also encourage you to sign up for more than one team if you are
available! And if you are not available to sign up for one of the teams,
we encourage you to call/email the office about helping out for all or part of a
day when the corps comes to a town near you (click here to see the
corps tentative summer tour schedule)!
If you can help on one of these
teams, please call (803-547-2270) or email (crown@carolinacrown.org) the corps
office at your earliest convenience.
A tour "Volunteer Handbook" will be
sent to you after you sign up, but we also encourage you to ask questions when
you call/email the office. But, the best way to learn what being a member
of the corps' support staff is all about before you come out on tour is to
call/email the office and sign up for one of our remaining winter
camps.
2002 Summer Tour Support Staff Teams:
Team #1 -
Begins 9:00pm Friday 6/21 (from Ft. Mill) - Departs 11:00 pm
Wednesday 6/26 (from Winston-Salem, NC)
Team #2 - Departs 6:00 pm
Wednesday 6/26 ( to Winston-Salem, NC) - Departs 11:00 pm Saturday 7/6 (from
Syracuse, NY)
Team #3 - Departs 7:00 pm Friday 7/5 (to Syracuse,
NY) - Departs 11:00 pm Saturday 7/13 (from Cincinnati, OH)
Team #4 -
Departs 7:00 pm Friday 7/12 (to Cincinnati, OH) - Departs 11:00 pm Wednesday
7/24 (from Kennesaw, GA)
Team #5 - Departs 3:00 pm Wednesday 7/24 (to
Kennesaw, GA) - Departs 11:00 pm Tuesday 7/30 (from Charlotte, NC)
Team
#6 - Departs 9:00 pm Tuesday 7/30 (to Charlotte, NC) - Departs 9:00 am
Monday 8/4 (from Canton, OH)
Team #7 - Departs 7:00 pm Sunday 8/3 (to
Canton, OH) - Arrives 7:00 pm Sunday 8/11 (at Ft. Mill,
SC)
Meet the Brass Caption!
Returning for his second year as Carolina Crown’s brass caption head is Larry Markiewicz (MAR-KEV-ICH). Larry is presently in his second year as the band director at Bridgewater-Raritan HS in New Jersey. His vast experience includes 1) 1996-Present, Music Caption head, and part of the design team for North Penn HS band (undefeated in Music since 1996 and current 3 time defending champion USSBA V open); 2) 1998-Present, Staff Coordinator/Program Coordinator, and Design Team Consultant for Syracuse Brigadiers (DCA World Champions); 3) 1994-1997, Brass Caption Head and design consultant for Pride of Soka Drum and Bugle Corps, Tokyo, Japan; 4) 1993-1997, Cadets of Bergen County Brass, Brass Caption Head 1995-97; 5) 1998-2000 Brass Caption Head of the Glassmen; 6) 1991-1992 Brass Instructor for the Crossmen. In his free time Larry enjoys baseball (YANKEES) and spending time with his friends and family.
Sean Furilla also returns for his second year with Carolina Crown. Sean received his B.S. in Music Education Degree from West Chester University. He is currently in his second year as the band director at Skyline Middle School in Wilmington, Delaware. Sean marched in the Cadets of Bergen County in 1997 under Larry's instruction. His teaching experience includes: 1) 1997-present - Music Staff, North Penn High School Band (5 time defending USSBA V Open Champion), 2) 1999-present - Music Caption Head, Chichester High School, 3) 1999-2000- Brass Instructor - Glassmen Drum and Bugle Corps, 4) 2000 - Brass Instructor, Syracuse Brigadiers Drum and Bugle Corps (DCA World Champions).
Jason Buckingham joins Carolina Crown’s brass faculty for
the first time in 2002. A Wyoming
native Jason began in Drum Corps as a Trooper under Mr. Jim Jones from
1984-87. He then marched for two
years with Star of Indiana, ageing out in 1989. Since then Jason has been teaching,
including nine years with the Blue Knights (serving as brass caption head and
staff coordinator in 1999-2001), Green Bay (Northmen), and Crossmen (1994). In 1999-2000 Jason was a Cast Memeber
and Co-manager of the Brass Cast of 'Blast!' with Ray Linkous. In
addition, Jason holds 2 Bachelor of Arts degrees, one in Music Theory/
Composition from the University of Wyoming (93) and a Bachelor’s Degree in Music
Business/Management from the Berklee College of Music in
Boston.
Andrea Brown returns for her third season on the Crown
brass team. Andrea attended UNC-Greensboro where she recently completed
her Master of Music, Horn Performance. She is currently the band director
at Maple Dale Middle School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Andrea marched in Larry's 1994
mellophone line at The Cadets, and also marched with Southwind in 1993.
Besides Crown, she has taught at McGavock H.S., Nashville, TN (1998, 1999)
and Northwest Guilford H.S., Greensboro, NC (2000). Andrea is
originally from Milan, TN, and is engaged to be married!
Mike Lonesky is
a December 2001 graduate of the University of Toledo with a Bachelors in Music
Education. He is currently employed by the Convergys Corporation. He
marched with the Glassmen in 1996 and 1999, the second year under the
instruction of Larry and Sean. Mike
is returning for his second year with Carolina Crown.
Brian Clayton joins Carolina Crown for the first time this season. Brian is a low brass technician at North
Penn High School and will be graduating from West Chester University in the
spring. Welcome Brian!
Dallas Taylor joins Carolina Crown for the first time this season as a
brass technician. Dallas was a member of The Cavaliers from 1999-2001,
where he marched soprano and mellophone. He is in his final year at The
University of Texas at Arlington as a Music Business/Music Media major. He
also teaches private trumpet lessons in the Keller, TX school district, and will
be a marching tech at Keller High School. Other bands he has worked with
include The University of Central Arkansas, where he arranged music, and served
as a marching tech and drum major, Marion High School, and Heber Springs High
School, both in Arkansas. Dallas plans to continue arranging, teaching and
teching, as well as attending The Dallas Sound Lab for Audio Engineering.
Dallas lives in North Arlington with his wife Leigh and their miniature
dachshund, Guido.
New
"Tune-Any-Note" Horns Begin Arriving
Our new Tune Any Note (TAN) horns have started to arrive with the
delivery of the mellophones prior to Crown's February camp. The conversion
to the newly designed TAN horns was part of Crown's agreement with Dynasty last
spring when the corps purchased a complete set of Bb/F instruments to replace
our G bugles. Although the corps expected to receive the horns prior to
this time, the development of the TAN feature took longer than expected to
perfect. Brass icon Wayne Downey was the lead consultant working with
Dynasty during the dynasty process. The corps expects the other voices to
arrive prior to our March camp. The "old" horns are being packed up and
returned as the new ones are received.
The members of Carolina Crown wish
to again thank all those supporters that contributed to the corps' annual
holiday fund drive over the past two years to help pay for these new
horns!
1st Annual Drum
Major/Percussion/Guard Camp
Set For June
1st
Carolina Crown is proud to announce their 1st annual Drum
Major/Percussion/Guard Camp for high school students. The event will be held on
Saturday, June 1st, at Clover HS, and will be run concurrent with Crown's own
Student Leadership Camp. The Drum Major/Percussion/Guard camps will run
concurrently during the day using Crown faculty and area band directors as the
primary clinicians. The attendees of the camps will also be able to
socialize with the Crown's Student Leadership Camp attendees during a joint
lunch planned for all.
The goals of these camps are to: 1) educate local
High School students in the methods used by Crown that have made us a 7-time
World Championship Finalist; 2) enhance our Partnership in Education with local
schools; and 3) promote Carolina Crown. Watch for more details in the
March edition of CrownBeat and in a special release to area high school
bands.
Brian Nozny (P97) will be graduating from the University of
Miami in May with a Masters in Composition. He was recently in attendance at the
College Football National Championship festivities in Pasadena, California as
the Head Percussion Instructor for the University of Miami Drumline.
Mike Lane (P95, 96) is currently a band director/percussion
specialist at Nash Central Junior High and Northern Nash Senior High in Rocky
Mount, NC.
Chris Goldston (P90) has recently located from Chicago to
Washington DC and is teaching private piano lessons. He is also composing and you can check
it out at http://www.fjhmusic.com/composer/cgoldston.htm.
Marcus Jones (B 91, 92) has continued on with Carolina
Crown since aging out, helping with operations and driving. He is currently working for the
Charles A. Torrence Co. in Charlotte and plans to return to K-12
Education/Teaching in the near future.
Glenn McIntyre (B 01) is studying Instrumental Music
Education at UNC- Greensboro.
Chris Green (B 92-94, 96) works as a Project Coordinator
with General Dynamics in Richmond, VA and is arranger/program coordinator for
the newest Senior Corps, Carolina Gold.