Rochester, New York, September 2, 2011 -- Star United successfully defended its Drum Corps Associates (DCA) Mini Corps Championship title on Friday evening at the Convention Center in Rochester, New York. It's the Indianapolis-based corps' sixth consecutive National Championship. The corps scored 100.0.
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Star United's performance at DCA's Mini Corps Championship earned the corps a sixth consecutive national title. Photo by Corpsrep |
A newly formed percussion ensemble for Star United also competed for the first time earlier in the evening, claiming a championship in the membrane percussion category of the DCA Individual and Ensemble (I&E) event. The unit scored a 93.0, edging out Canadian based Cadre and units from the Skyliners, New York Police Department, and others.
Star United's membrane percussion ensemble performs at DCA's I&E competition in Rochester, NY, claiming first place.
BFD TV (web site) videotaped a post competition encore standstill at the convention center loading dock.
Attendees of the mini corps competition witnessed incredible performances and a wide array of repertoire from talented mini corps. Most notable were performances by mellophone legend Bonnie Ott (with the Kilties) and a stirring performance by the Sacramento Freelancers. Boston-based Mass Brass aptly sported intricate brass arrangements by Key Poulan while the talented Minne Brass from Minneapolis presented an all-original program about technology. The New York-based Ghost Riders continued their tradition of entertainment and innovation with strong ensemble focus and story telling techniques.
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| Star United 2011 mini corps completing its competitive program at the DCA Mini Corps championships in Rochester, New York. Photographer by Dave Valvo (web site) |
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Star United's Drum Major Becky Saddlemire following the corp's performance at Rochester at the DCA Mini Corps Championships. Photo by Corpsrep |
As defending champion, Star United
was invited to perform an exhibition at the DCA Championships on Sunday,
September 4. The corps honored this request and
closed out their season performing at Paetec
Park in Rochester, New York.
DCA rules dictate that mini corps be limited to 21 performers and a conductor.
Star United consists of performers from
Star of Indiana, Brass Theater,
Blast!, Blue Devils, Blue Stars, Bluecoats,
Black Knights, Bluegrass Brass, Brigadiers,
Capital Regiment, Cadets, Cavaliers, Geneseo
Knights, Golden Valiants, Guardsmen, Imperial
Guard, The Kilties, Limited Edition, Madison
Scouts, Music City Legend, Northmen, Phantom
Regiment, Pride of Cincinnati, The Commandant's
Own Drum and Bugle Corps, and the Santa
Clara Vanguard.
Star United dedicated all
performances this year to the memory of corps
founder
Bill Cook.
Note: this article will likely be updated over
the course of the next few weeks as video and
photos taken during the event are located. Check
back for updates.
About Star
United
Indianapolis-based Star United is a brass
and percussion performance ensemble composed
primarily of alums of the Star of Indiana
Drum and Bugle Corps, Brass Theater,
and Blast!.
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| Star United 2011 mini corps photographed on June 10, 2011 at Northern Kentucky University (not pictured: Ron Dawson). Click here for a full roster of players and management. |
Formed in 2006, Star United competes with
other "mini corps" ensembles located throughout
North America at the Drum Corps Associates' (DCA)
national championships each Labor Day Weekend in
Rochester, New York. To date, Star United
has been named the national championship corps
in each of its six years of existence.
Star United would not exist without the
support of its coaching team, Bill Cook, Cook
Group, and sponsors such as Innovative
Percussion, Chops Percussion, Evans Drum Heads,
Pearl Drums, and ChopsSaver.
Star United is also particularly grateful
to its fellow Star of Indiana alums for
all of the support the organization has provided
the mini corps. The Madison Scouts,
Carmel High School (Carmel, Indiana) and Victor
High School (Victor, New York) also deserve
special recognition for their willingness to
share resources to assist the corps in preparing
and performing.