On the Road with Crossmen
Donation protected
I have been selected to perform as a member of the World Class Crossmen Drum Corps for the 2014 season! Over five hundred individuals from around the world auditioned for the corps, and I earned a position as a mellophone in the ensemble. As a member of Crossmen, I will train in San Antonio, Texas through May, before spending the summer traveling across the United States to perform and compete in the Drum Corps International Summer Music Games.
At its surface, Crossmen is a non-profit organization that is comprised of very talented musicians/performers from one of three categories: brass, percussion, or colorguard. Along with 150 other very talented members and many highly skilled instructors, I will be travelling the country competing with several other corps. The complete production combines the music, theatrics, and pageantry of high school and college marching bands, with the talent and innovation of Broadway productions such as BLAST! and Cirque de Soleil. We tour for approximately ten weeks, and end our season at the DCI World Championships hosted at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. In addition to the tens of thousands of fans who attend these live performances, these shows have been televised live on PBS, ESPN and in movie theatres around the United States, for an audience of more than eleven million people.
The most important product of this experience, however, isn't just a finished show on Finals night in Indianapolis. The summer will improve me as a player, as a marcher, and as a person. This experience teaches discipline and harnesses passion. I'll also have the opportunity to become a part of the Crossmen family, which will provide me an invaluable experience.
In order to participate in Crossmen this summer, each member of the organization is required to pay $3,000 in member and touring fees. The price of membership includes travel, instruction, food, uniforms, equipment, housing, and many other expenses incurred over the tour. If I do not raise that amount by May 15th, I won't be able to partake in this amazing season and will ultimately miss an opportunity with lessons and experience that extend through a life-time.
-Kaelee
At its surface, Crossmen is a non-profit organization that is comprised of very talented musicians/performers from one of three categories: brass, percussion, or colorguard. Along with 150 other very talented members and many highly skilled instructors, I will be travelling the country competing with several other corps. The complete production combines the music, theatrics, and pageantry of high school and college marching bands, with the talent and innovation of Broadway productions such as BLAST! and Cirque de Soleil. We tour for approximately ten weeks, and end our season at the DCI World Championships hosted at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. In addition to the tens of thousands of fans who attend these live performances, these shows have been televised live on PBS, ESPN and in movie theatres around the United States, for an audience of more than eleven million people.
The most important product of this experience, however, isn't just a finished show on Finals night in Indianapolis. The summer will improve me as a player, as a marcher, and as a person. This experience teaches discipline and harnesses passion. I'll also have the opportunity to become a part of the Crossmen family, which will provide me an invaluable experience.
In order to participate in Crossmen this summer, each member of the organization is required to pay $3,000 in member and touring fees. The price of membership includes travel, instruction, food, uniforms, equipment, housing, and many other expenses incurred over the tour. If I do not raise that amount by May 15th, I won't be able to partake in this amazing season and will ultimately miss an opportunity with lessons and experience that extend through a life-time.
-Kaelee
Organizer
Kaelee Belletto
Organizer
Lake Orion, MI
