Rhythm IN BLUE announces 2017 plans
Bluecoats Rhythm IN BLUE Announces Exciting 2017 Organizational Structure
November 1, 2017. The World Champion Bluecoats alumni performance organization, Rhythm IN BLUE has announced its organizational structure and plans for 2017. Rhythm IN BLUE is comprised of three performance ensembles, the all-alumni, summer performing Legacy Arc, a locally produced small music and visual ensemble called Curbside and a growing DCI SoundSport group.
Jay Wise, who enters his fourth year as the Director of the organization, will produce the Curbside and SoundSport ensembles. Taking over for Wise as the Artistic Director of the Legacy Arc is Kimberly Schillaci-Wise. Wise shared the reason for the leadership change, “Every year we have grown a portion of the organization and it has become harder for one person to provide the right leadership for all three groups.” The alumni-based series of ensembles are staffed by alumni on a voluntary basis.
“Kim was a natural, and logical, choice to take on the Legacy Arc, most established of our groups.” The Legacy Arc performs twice each summer at the Bluecoats home DCI shows in June and August.
“She is a Band Director, and also serves as the Executive Director of the NBA Charlotte Hornets’ in-house entertainment group The Buzz City Brass. It was the right combination of experiences to lead our biggest group.”
Schillaci-Wise marched mellophone with the Bluecoats from 1992 to 1996, then became part of the corps’ administrative team during the 1997-1998 seasons. She shared, “I am very excited about this opportunity to organize alumni to honor our past, entertain the home crowd, and to give back to the Bluecoats’ organization.” Joining Schillaci-Wise on staff for the Legacy Arc are the Caption Heads from 2016, Shelly Irvine (Percussion), Charles Vidourek (Brass) and Nancy Johnson (Guard).
In 2017, Rhythm IN BLUE’s Legacy Arc seeks to honor the 40th anniversary of the first corps song, Bridge over Troubled Waters and the 30th anniversary of making DCI’s top 12 with current corps song, Autumn Leaves.
Jay Wise will devote increased attention to the other two Rhythm IN BLUE ensembles. “Our Curbside group has provided a fantastic link between the Bluecoats name and the Canton area community. We have performed at area events the Bluecoats are unable to because they are either on tour or in their off-season.” Curbside performs about 10 to 12 events each year, including the Pro Football Hall of Fame Marathon, the ALS Society charity walk, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Light the Night walk and downtown Canton’s Light up Downtown holiday festival. “We are looking at ways to increase our outreach in the community in ways beyond just performing,” said Wise, “there are some exciting possibilities we would like to explore.”
The Rhythm IN BLUE SoundSport group looks to expand upon its 2016 debut. “We pretty much decided early in the summer to go to Indianapolis to perform to both check out the SoundSport activity but also to cheer on the championship run of the Bluecoats,” Wise shared. “This year we are looking to add movement to half of the 7-minute show to give us a more corps-like look.” 
He continued, “it’s a big challenge for an alumni base of performers from around the country who will only be together for a brief amount of time, but it’s also going to be a lot of fun!” The SoundSport group hopes to perform at least four times in the summer of 2017. Andrew Whitman will design the visual package for 2017 and assist with music. The remainder of the SoundSport staff will be filled in early 2017.
Rhythm IN BLUE was founded in April 2014, performing originally at the 2014 Bluecoats Innovations IN BRASS DCI show and then three times after that by the end of the Fall. In 2015 the organization expanded to add a year-round small ensemble and in 2016 added a DCI SoundSport group that in its first appearance achieved Silver Medalist status the morning of DCI World Championships in Indianapolis, Indiana. Rhythm IN BLUE is a program of the Bluecoats.
Visit Rhythm IN BLUE on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rhythminblue.canton/