Residents of north central Wisconsin will once again have the opportunity to experience up close and personal the excitement of a Drum Corps International (DCI) competition at the Northwood’s Encore.

The Northwoods Encore will bring seven DCI competitive drum and bugle corps to Stiehm Stadium at DC Everest Junior High School at 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 6.

The event is being produced by The Madison Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps and The DC Everest Arts Education Program.

Corps scheduled to compete in The Northwood’s Encore include the defending DCI World Champion Bluecoats, Canton, OH; Blue Stars, La Crosse, WI; Madison Scouts, Madison, WI; Troopers, Casper, WY; Pioneer, Milwaukee, WI; Legends, Kalamazoo, MI; and Shadow, Oregon, WI.

All seats are reserved and ticket prices range from $15 for standard seating to $35 for VIP sections. Discounted group tickets are available. Tickets for the performance can be purchased in advance at dcitickets.showware.com or by calling 317.275.1212.  Additional information is available at dci.org.

Each corps consists of a horn line, drumline, front ensemble and color guard.  The 150 young men and women in each of the corps are 14 to 21 years old. The corps travel over 12,000 miles each summer, going daily from city to city competing in over 35 events in two months.

While in north Central Wisconsin, each corps will be housed at an area school and spend rehearsal time perfecting their summer programs which conclude in mid-August at the DCI World Championships in Indianapolis.

Various sponsorship and volunteer opportunities are available for The Northwoods Encore. Anyone interested should contact Diane Goetsch, DC Everest Arts Education Coordinator at 715-573-4406 before June 16.

The Northwoods Encore is sponsored by Sunrise Broadcasting: Sports Fan 100.5 (WDTX-FM) and Cool Oldies 1230 (WXCO-AM) and Wisconsin Public Radio. Support for this event is provided through the Community Arts Grant Program of the Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin, with funds provided by the Wisconsin Arts Board, a state agency, the Community Foundation, and the B.A. & Esther Greenheck Foundation.

North Central Wisconsin was once home to several Drum and Bugle Corps including Wausau Story, Wausau; Bells of St. Mary, Rhinelander; Zephers, Wisconsin Rapids and Maria, Stevens Point.

Forward Performing Arts and the Madison Scouts are also excited to offer Mad Skills, a marching arts clinic for band students of all skill levels as well as their directors. Participants will learn from some of the top instructors in the marching activity, play side-by-side with the Madison Scouts, and learn important skills that you can take back to your band program. Combined with attending a Drum Corps International tour event, this is an excellent opportunity to learn from some of the best clinicians and then see some of the best drum corps perform live.

The Mad Skills clinic will be held at DC Everest Junior High at 4 p.m. and is free for those who have purchased a Ticket to The Northwoods Encore.  For more information, please visit MadSkillsClinic.org

(Photo credit: Drum Corps International)