Drum and bugle corp competition set for Monday

Pat Auckerman/Staff photographer Members of the Caveliers perform during the Summer Music Games in Cincinnati drum and bugle corps competition at Fairfield Stadium 2008. File photo

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By Richard O Jones, Staff Writer 8:38 PM Saturday, July 4, 2009

FAIRFIELD — Eight of the nation’s top drum and bugle corps will once again descend on Fairfield Stadium for the ninth year as the Summer Music Games comes to town.

Drum and bugle corps is an intense, competitive choreographed musical experience staged on a football field by young people achieving high levels of excellence, according to information provided by event organizers. Through the drum and bugle corps experience, young people develop life skills including discipline, teamwork and leadership.

The Summer Music Games Tour is a series of more than 100 competitive events across North America. Every summer, each of the world-class performing units, which comprise Drum Corps International will travel up to 10,000 miles, performing and competing in stadium venues across the United States.

The performances are judged on general effect, music and visual elements.

The event has local roots dating back 24 years when it was called the Queen City Classic, held at Galbreath Field north of Kings Island. In 1996, the venue changed to Nippert Stadium at the University of Cincinnati, and it was first called the Summer Music Games. The event re-located to Fairfield in 2000.

The 2009 line-up includes Phantom Regiment from Rockford, Ill.; the Cavaliers from Rosemont, Ill.; Glassmen from Toledo, Ohio, Blue Stars from Lacrosse, Wisc.; Spirit from Jacksonville, Alabama; Legends from Kalamazoo, Mich., Memphis Sound from Memphis, Tenn. and Cincinnati Tradition.

The drum corps activity spawned from VFW and American Legion posts in the late 1940s and ‘50s. There are currently more than 70 junior drum and bugles corps in the United States, Canada and around the world affiliated with Drum Corps International.

HOW TO GO

WHAT: Summer Music Games in Cincinnati

WHEN: 7 p.m. Monday, July 6

WHERE: Fairfield Stadium, Fairfield

ADMISSION: $10-$18 advance; $12-$20 at the gate

INFO: (513) 243-3208; www.summermusicgamescincinnati.org

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