Everything you need to know for Thunder Brigade Open House – 11/30/13

What time does the open house start?
  The open house will start with registration at 10:00 a.m.

Where is the open house taking place?
  The open house is taking place at Laurel Boys & Girls Club, 701 Montgomery Street, Laurel, MD 20707.  Registration takes place in the gym.  As you face the building, the gym is on the right, up the stairs and through the door.

How much does the open house cost?
  1.  There is a $25.00 fee for the open house experience to cover costs for the day.  We can accept payment via cash, check, money order, or credit card.

  2.  For musicians, there is an additional music packet fee of $30.00 at the door ($25.00 if you download in advance from the website).  This music fee covers the costs of all music throughout the entire 2013-2014 season of Thunder Brigade.

What do I need to bring with me?

  All applicants should bring the following:
  1.  Brown bag lunch (Thunder will not be providing lunch)
  2.  Water bottle/Jug
  3.  Music Stand
  4.  Appropriate attire
  5.  Music Packet (if downloaded in advance)
  6.  Pencil and Pen

Additionally, applicants for the following sections will need to bring the following:
   
  Brass:
  1.  If you have your own instrument we recommend you bring it.  Thunder Brigade will make instruments available, but quantities will be limited.  The best way to insure you play all day is to bring your own horn.  Please note – Thunder Brigade will not be providing trumpets for the open house.

  Percussion:
  1.  If you have your own instrument we recommend you bring it.  Thunder Brigade will make instruments available, but quantities will be limited. 

  2.  Implements – sticks and mallets.  Thunder will have some bass drum mallets and keyboard mallets available, but again – quantities are limited.  If you have your own mallets, you should bring them.  Please note – Thunder Brigade will not be providing sticks for tenors and snares at the open house.

  Color Guard:
  1.  Thunder Brigade will provide flags/poles for the open house experience, however, quantities will be limited.  Any applicant with access to their own flags/poles should bring them with them to insure maximum time on the equipment at the open house.  Anybody interested in spinning weapon (saber/rifle) will need to bring their own, as Thunder will not be providing such for the open house experience. 

What is on the agenda for the open house?

  For Brass & Battery:
  1.  General Technique & musical exercises
  2.  Corps/Parade Tune – to be passed out at the open house

  For Front Ensemble/Pit:
  1.  General Technique & musical exercises
  2.  Pit Tune/Chart (included in musical packet)

  For Color Guard
  1.  General Technique – spin/dance/etc.

What is the schedule for Saturday?

10:00    Registration Opens
10:30    Opening Remarks
10:45    Sub Sectionals
12:15    Lunch (Brown Bag please!  Not much time to go out for food)
12:45    Sectionals
3:00      Full Brass/Percussion Sectionals (Pit moves to gym)
3:45      Stage/Move for Ensemble
4:00      Ensemble/Show & Tell
4:45      Closing Remarks
5:00      Facility Cleanup
6:00      Done/Out

If I have any other questions, whom do I contact?
  All questions can be directed to Reginald Alignay, 240-441-3775, reggie@thunderbrigade.org

Thunder Brigade is pleased to announce additions to its brass and visual teams!

Stephen Wales - Trumpet Tech
Pedro Paz - Mellophone Tech
Kevin Rouse - Baritone Tech
Ryan Lowrie - Tuba Tech
Joe Dacey - Visual Tech
Michael Boursiquot - Visual Tech

http://thunderbrigade.org/DrumCorps_Updates.html

Thunder Brigade is pleased to announce Sara McDougall as Color Guard Caption Head!

Sara McDougall is from Eldersburg, MD and has been involved with music performance since she was first given the opportunity to join chorus in 3rd grade! She sang all through elementary, middle, and high school; continuing afterwards with groups such as the Carroll Community Choir and the Maryland Choral Society. It was in high school that Sara discovered colorguard; performing with the Liberty High School “Lion’s Pride” Marching Band as well as the indoor colorguard. She continued on after school developing her skills as a performer with organizations such as the Westshoremen Drum & Bugle Corps, the Westshoremen Senior Winterguard, and THE Guard Independent Senior Guard … including five incredible seasons spent performing with the Reading Buccaneers Drum & Bugle Corps.

Sara has teched/written/taught for and consulted with several high school programs in the Frederick and Carroll county areas. Most recently, she was given the opportunity to return to her alma mater and has held the colorguard designer/instructor position for the Liberty High School “Lion’s Pride” Marching Band since the fall of 2009.

 In “real life”, Sara is a replenishment analyst in the merchandising department at Music & Arts. Music & Arts has served students, teachers, and families through retail stores and school representatives since 1952. Based in Frederick, MD, the company specializes in instrument rentals, music lessons and band and orchestra instrument sales. Music & Arts currently has 120 retail stores in 22 different states.

 A Maryland girl through and through, Sara is excited to throw her experience and energy behind the effort to establish a local drum corps presence here in the Delmarva region!

Thunder Brigade is pleased to announce additions to its design and visual team!

Mark Lortz - Program Coordinator
Glen Brumbach - Program Consultant
Amber Abbott - Visual Caption Head

http://thunderbrigade.org/DrumCorps_Updates.html

Be sure to check out Thunder Brigade's FAQ section for information on our inaugural season!

http://www.thunderbrigade.org/DrumCorps_About.html