Instruction, Design, and Production Teams Gear Up For 2020!

Written By Mike Scott
Bluecoats Composer / Brass Arranger Doug Thrower accepts his DCI Hall of Fame award at the 2019 DCI World Championships.

Bluecoats Composer / Brass Arranger Doug Thrower accepts his DCI Hall of Fame award at the 2019 DCI World Championships.

Following a magical 2019 drum corps season, the Bluecoats organization has begun preparations for another whirlwind summer of drum corps. Fans can expect a lot of the same - another 10,000+ mile tour across the US, about thirty incredible performances, and a production designed and instructed by the same team we’ve come to love so much.

DESIGN TEAM UNDERWAY

This summer, the Bloo20 production will be created by the same team that dreamed up the magic of The BLUECOATS. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Jon Vanderkolff and Program Coordinator Dean Westman, the team, including Aaron Beck, Dr. Matthew Jordan, Greg Lagola, Jim Moore, Michael Raiford, Tom Rarick, and Doug Thrower are all returning. In fact, the team just arrived home from a four-day retreat to NYC where they spent the weekend dreaming about 2020 and exploring the art, theater, and music of the city.

CAPTION LEADERSHIP RETURNING

Also returning to the corps is the caption leadership team of Derek Gipson (brass), Roger Carter (percussion), Lindsay Kusmierczak (color guard), Mike Fanning (visual), and Jarrod Huntley (visual), along with dozens of familiar senior staff like Dave MacKinnon (brass), Brad Palmer (front ensemble), Kathy Pearson (color guard), Ryan Anderson (battery), Joe Hobbs (battery), Samia Mooney (movement), and Colten Hyten (audio). Altogether, fans and performers can expect the same world-class staff that makes the Bluecoats Experience standout year after year.

Bluecoats staff and volunteers cheer on The BLUECOATS at the Drum Corps International World Championships in Indianapolis last month.

Bluecoats staff and volunteers cheer on The BLUECOATS at the Drum Corps International World Championships in Indianapolis last month.

AUDITION for 2020!

Right now, eligible performers can start their journey toward Bloo20 at bluecoats.com/twenty. Registration for four US audition events will open this week. The Bloo20 Audition Experience Camps will be held in Dallas, Canton, Atlanta, and SoCal in November and December, with an invite-only callback event held on January 3-5 in Canton, Ohio. Bluecoats expects hundreds of aspiring performers to join us at these events, with dozens more applying via a video option that will be posted later this month.

Still excited about 2019? Don’t fret - merchandise is still available, including these awesome Sgt. Bluecoats tees!

…and for those of you ready for 2020, keep an eye out at bluecoats.com. ;)


Mike Scott
Mike Scott is a clinician, consultant, and the CEO of Rhythm X, Inc., a non-profit music education company in Dayton, Ohio. Mike earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio in 2012. There he studied percussion and conducting and completed the Farmer School of Business Summer Institute. Before beginning his career as an administrator and teacher, Mike was an active performer in the marching arts. In 2011 Mike was the conductor of the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps of Canton, Ohio and was a performer in Rhythm X’s percussion ensemble from 2011-2012. Mike was also a member of the Miami University Marching Band for four years, serving as the drum major during the 2011 and 2012 seasons. In 2013 Mike began work at Rhythm X, Inc. as the Operations Director, managing the business development and logistics of the organization. He was also the Director of Instrumental Music at St. Ursula Academy in Toledo, Ohio. There he taught band, orchestra, and general music in grades 6-12. Prior to the 2015 competitive season, Mike became the first full-time employee at Rhythm X, Inc. as the company’s CEO. There he works with the organization’s President Tim Fairbanks to develop the future strategy of the company. During the summer months, Mike travels the country with the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps as the group’s Tour Administrator. He has also served as the tour manager of The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps of Allentown, Pennsylvania. Mike proudly endorses Innovative Percussion, Etymotic Research, and Fred J. Miller Inc.
http://mikewscott.com
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