Help Matthew Schafer March his Age Out Season!

Help me March my Age Out Season!

Hello everyone! My name is Matthew Schafer and I am a Genesis Drum and Bugle Corps Veteran! I was lucky to march my rookie season with such an amazing corps and I would love to come back for my very last season I can ever march!

For those who are unfamiliar, Drum Corps International is a high-intensity, highly prestigious and demanding sport. It's the pinnacle of musical excellence! These amazing corps create world-stopping shows that are about 12 minutes long each. The world of Drum Corps will have all the members of each corps live with each other on the road for the summer, touring across the country, spreading this incredible music.

However, it's more than just a performance. This is about the lifelong memories, bonds, and skills that will carry me throughout my life forever, and this is the last season I can ever march with Genesis.

My DCI Journey

My brother has been watching the sport since 2011, watching the championship recordings when they used to be streamed in theaters for quater finals. He is the one who inspired me to pick up an instrument when I was able to at my middle school. My school did not have any marching band, so I barely knew anything about DCI until my brother would take me to a showing at our local AMC and that's when it all changed. I was so interested in DCI, we drove all the way to Indianapolis to see DCI Finals at Lucas Oil Stadium.

That's when it truly changed me forever. The next thing I know, as a Florida kid with no prior marching experience whatsoever, I was auditioning for a World Class Drum Corps.

After countless hours of practice and marching until I finally got it, I became a member of Genesis Drum and Bugle Corps. I had an incredible once in a lifetime experience!

How You Can Help!

The cost of my tuition with this amazing corps is $5,300 dollars. This covers housing, food, instruction, travel, and a multitude of other factors that a corps must pay for a summer tour. I'm asking for your support to make this dream of mine a reality. DCI has an age limit of 21, which makes the 2026 season my final year to march.

Although my marching years are almost up, I am asking for any support to help me march my last season!

Every contribution helps, no matter what size! Anything that can help me achieve my goal is appreciated and cherished. If you cannot donate, please share this! Sharing this also supports my dream and gets me closer to my goal! I cannot explain how much your support means to me.

I highly recommend you watch a DCI show live sometime this Summer! It supports the corps and the sport as a whole! Plus, you get to see some of the best programs in the entire world, you won't regret it!

Thank you for all your generosity and support, it means the world. I hope to see you all on the field!

Matthew Schafer