Rochester, New York, September 5,
2009 -- Star United was named Drum Corps Associates (DCA)
(Web Site)
Mini Corps National Championship Title on Friday evening in
Rochester, New York.
Star United entered the field of
competition on Friday evening against the strongest contingency of
mini corps assembled in the modern era. The Indianapolis-based drum
and bugle corps successfully fended off 12 other units from across
the United States, claiming their fourth consecutive championship at
the DCA Individuals and Ensemble (I&E) event at the Rochester
Riverside Convention Center in downtown Rochester.
Star United is
pictured during their championship performance in
Rochester on Friday, September 4, 2009. Photo by Dave
Valvo (link)
The annual I&E event is the kickoff of
the DCA championships. Events including exhibition performances of
alumni corps and competition for Class A and Open Class senior drum
and bugle corps will continue through the weekend, concluding with
performances of finalist corps on Sunday evening in Rochester.
Star United Mini Corps performed an
original work by Frank Sullivan entitled "Deja View" (in four
movements). “This program is an ambitious
undertaking for our ensemble,” admits Sean Conley, Star United
Corps Director and a mellophonist with the ensemble. “It relies
heavily on an expanded percussion section,” says Conley who adds
that each brass player will also perform with a percussion
instrument at some point in the program.
For the second year in a row, Star
United was invited to perform in exhibition at the
championships on Sunday evening, immediately following the last
competing corps, the Reading Buccaneers (Web
Site) of Reading, Pennsylvania.
Star United during
their competition performance (click image to access an
mp4 video of the full performance. Video by Dave Valvo (link)
Thirteen units from across the United
States participated in the event:
1. Star United (97.83)
2. Mass Brass (93.5 - Tie) & Music City Legend (93.5 - Tie)
4. Ghost Riders (93.17)
5. Golden Eagles (92.17)
6. Minne Brass (92.00)
7. Skyliners Alumni (85.67)
8. Vigilantes (83.00)
9. Sacramento Freelancers (82.00)
10. Gulf Coast Sound (75.33)
11. Generations (73.67)
12. Cincinnati Tradition (68.83)
Star United
performers consists of alumni from Star of Indiana,
Brass Theater, Blast!, Blue Devils, Blue Stars,
Bluecoats, Black Knights, Bluegrass Brass,
Brigadiers, Capital Regiment, Golden Valiants, Imperial Guard,
The Kilties, Limited Edition, Madison Scouts, Music City
Legend, Northmen, Pride of Cincinnati, The Commandant's Own
Drum and Bugle Corps, and the Santa Clara Vanguard.
Star United
undertaking their warmup immediately prior to their
competition performance. Photo by Dave Valvo (link)
Star United would like to thank
its coaching team,
sponsors (Vic Firth, Chops Percussion, Evans Drum Heads, Pearl
Drums, and the Cook Group), and fellow Star of Indiana alumni
for all of their tremendous support through the years. Carmel High
School (Carmel, Indiana) and Victor High School (Victor, New York)
also receive special recognition for their willingness to share
resources to assist the corps in preparing and performing.
A Moving Encounter at 2009 DCA
Star United Drum Major Becky
Saddlemire offered a moving story on the Star Alumni site that is
presented below in her own words:
A very kind older man came up to me
at the run thru at Victor High School. He shared that his wife loved
our corps and that she would be coming to the show on Friday night.
He proceeded to share that she is very sick with cancer and most
likely this would be her last drum corps/DCA event. At the show on
Friday, I found both of them, with their daughter....tears in their
eyes after our performance. They hugged me, said thank you and
followed us out for the encore. When our evening came to a close,
the man's dear wife came to me and said, "When You Wish is a
blessing and the way you play it is amazing....please remember that
in this life you will never know just how far your influence goes."
Of course, I cried with her...very
proud to be a part of this group.
