For the first time in recent Culver City High School history, four AVPA/Band students auditioned for and were accepted to Drum Corps International (DCI) bands. Self-described as Marching Music’s Major League, DCI bands are elite, audition-only ensembles consisting of brass, percussion, and color guard who perform complex field shows and compete nationwide.
Henry Jamrok (11th) will perform with Gold Drum & Bugle Corps based out of San Diego, while Casey Breton (10th), Miles Hoover (11th), and Zander Galloway (11th) will perform with Impulse Drum & Bugle Corps based out of Buena Park.
All four students pledge their Spring weekends to their respective bands and once they are relieved of their high school duties for the Summer, their loyalty shifts to full daily rehearsals before beginning tours in late June. Gold will tour California, Texas, much of the Midwest, and finish with DCI World Championships in Indianapolis, Indiana, while Impulse will tour the West Coast from Washington down to California finishing at the SoCal Classic Championships in Buena Park.
DCI has been around for decades, but gained more attention at Culver City High this past school year due to the hiring of Ms. d’Lainey Forrester, Assistant Band Director of the Marching Centaurs who works alongside CCHS Music Director, Dr. Tony Spano (Forrester is also the CCMS Band Director). Forrester has an extensive DCI background, having marched with two World Class national champions–Bluecoats (2016) and Blue Devils (2017)–and her experience with these high-level corps has proven to be an inspiration to her students.
Forrester’s positions at CCHS and CCMS were made possible by Prop 28 funding. Prop 28 not only allowed for CCUSD to hire more arts teachers, but it’s evident those benefits are extending beyond the classroom—opening students’ eyes to opportunities that they might not have otherwise recognized.
Both Impulse and Gold will perform locally at Drum Corps at the Rose Bowl on July 11th and the SoCal Classic in Buena Park on July 12th. Tickets are available through www.dci.org.
