Jeff Nelsen of Canadian Brass Visits Spring Training

Jeff Nelsen of Canadian Brass Visits Spring Training

Jeff Nelsen has been a performer in the Canadian Brass for more than eight years, and has a staggering resume of experience performing in the horn sections of dozens of orchestras including the New York and Los Angeles Philharmonics, and the Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Montreal, and St. Louis Symphonies. In 2011 at Indiana University, Jeff gave a celebrated TEDx Talk about fearless performance and has since given Fearless Performance lectures to fellow TED presenters, teachers, athletes, and business people around the world. Professor Nelsen gave one such talk to the 2019 Bluecoats and students of THE BLUE WAY this weekend at the beautiful Phillippe Auditorium at Indiana Wesleyan University.

Bluecoats Announce 2019 Hall of Fame, Bloo Ribbon, and Unsung Hero Awards

Iva Johnson, Kevin Stahl, and Charles Stewart to be inducted into Bluecoats 2019 Hall of Fame. Errick Jose Prince and John David Mayo receive the Bloo Ribbon Awards. Jon Millsap and Paul Todd receive the Unsung Hero Awards.

11 May 2019 - NORTH CANTON, OH - Bluecoats has announced the 2019 inductees for the Bluecoats Hall of Fame as well as the 2019 recipients of the Bloo Ribbon and Unsung Hero Awards. The award recipients were selected by the Bluecoats Board of Directors at their most recent meeting in Canton, OH.

Iva Johnson, Kevin Stahl, and Charles Stewart will be inducted into the Bluecoats Hall of Fame by a unanimous vote of the Board of Directors. The 2019 recipients of the Bloo Ribbon Award are Errick Jose Prince and John David Mayo. J. Rhodes Millsap and Paul Todd receive the Unsung Hero Awards.

Bluecoats and PPI Graphics Announce Partnership

THE CANTON-BASED PRINT, DESIGN & MAIL HOUSE JOINS ROSTER OF BLUECOATS’ COMMUNITY PARTNERS, WILL PRODUCE NEW BLUECOATS ANNUAL PROGRAM

8 May  2019 - CANTON, OH - Bluecoats is excited to announce a new partnership with a fellow member of the Canton community: PPI Graphics. The Canton-based print, design, and mail house will produce all Bluecoats printing and mailing projects including the new Bluecoats Annual Program and direct mail campaigns such as the Bluecoats March-a-thon.

“It means a lot to us to partner with another member of the Canton community,” said Mike Scott, CEO of Bluecoats. “PPI Graphics has a history of philanthropic partnerships, and we’re honored to be counted amongst them.”

Bluecoats Renews Partnership with Ultimate Drill Book for 2019 Season

Bluecoats Renews Partnership with Ultimate Drill Book for 2019 Season

Bluecoats is excited to announce its renewed partnership with Ultimate Drill Book! The 2019 Bluecoats will once again be using Ultimate Drill Book’s resources to design and perfect the 2019 program.

“The UDB app is an invaluable teaching tool. It streamlines the process of getting drill from our designers to our students,” said Mike Fanning, Bluecoats Visual Caption Co-Head. “With its features UDB deepens the understanding of the material students are being asked to learn and perform.”

Ultimate Drill Book has become an integral part of the Bluecoats staging and cleaning process and the Drum Corps is thrilled to be using the UDB app and other Ultimate Drill Book resources again this summer!

Bluecoats Composer Doug Thrower Inducted Into Drum Corps International Hall of Fame

Doug Thrower, Bluecoats Composer and Brass Designer

Doug Thrower, Bluecoats Composer and Brass Designer

We’re so incredibly excited to announce that Doug Thrower is a member of the latest class being inducted into the Drum Corps International Hall of Fame!

Doug is the first person ever to be honored by the Hall of Fame for their work at Bluecoats. Doug has been a brass staff member and designer for 28 years, bringing some of the drum corps activity’s favorite musical moments to the field.

“[Doug] has consistently delivered some of our activity’s most memorable musical moments,” DCI Hall of Fame member Scott Koter said. “Doug will always be known for making somewhat abstract pieces accessible to the masses. His creativity was paramount in leading the Bluecoats to their first DCI World Championship in 2016, using a musical program that shifted the design paradigm for every drum corps show since.”

In addition to his ground-breaking arrangements in 2016, Doug is notably famous for bringing the viral sensation “pitch bend” to our 2014 production Tilt.

 
 

“We’re so incredibly proud of Doug and this honor and I cannot think of a more deserving person,” said Dave Glasgow, Bluecoats Executive Advisor and former Executive Director. “Doug’s creative input into our activity is iconic and deserves celebration. I’m so grateful to him for his 28 years of service and excited to see what the next 28 years look like!”

Doug’s induction will be celebrated at the DCI Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony which will take place during the Drum Corps International World Championships in Indianapolis, IN from August 7th through the 10th. The Bluecoats community will celebrate his induction at the World Championships Banquet on August 11th at the JW Marriott downtown.