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November 23, 2007


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NEWS

Memphis Sound Drum and Bugle Corps to Return to Bethel College Auditions are November 30

Coming off an incredible championship season in 2007, the Memphis Sound Drum and Bugle Corps is ready to begin another exciting season. Auditions take place during camp Nov. 30- Dec 2 at Bethel College in McKenzie, Tenn. Auditions are for drum major (two spots open), brass, percussion (battery and front ensemble), and color guard. Local musicians and bandsmen, ages 14 to 21, are encouraged to apply for this program.

Interested persons should complete an application form and submit with fee to receive a perspective audition packet. Please download the application form at http://memphisdrumcorps.org/pages/application.pdf and mail to: Memphis Sound, 1779 Kirby Pkwy, #1-93, Memphis, TN 38138.

Memphis Sound is a non-profit organization under the parent company of Mid-South Youth Performing Artists Association (MYPAA). Started in Memphis in 2002, the troupe recently moved it training camps to the Bethel College campus in McKenzie. During the 2007 competition season, the group won the Drum Corp International Division III World Championship in Pasadena, California on August 11. Other awards received this year were: Best Brass Performance, Best Visual Performance, Best Percussion Performance, Most Outstanding Drum Major, and Director of the Year.

“We started coming to Bethel College last year in April as kind of a fluke thing. We needed housing for our camp one weekend, and they provided it for us. We had no idea of the great relationship that was about to begin. They (Bethel) are in the process of renovating a building in McKenzie to house the fine arts department and have agreed to let us have our camps there starting in November. Auditions for the corp will be November 30-December 2, 2007. The 2008 camp dates are as follows, but are subject to change: Jan. 4-Jan. 6, Feb. 8-Feb. 10, March 14-16, April 18-20, and May 16-18,” said Johna Burks of the Memphis Sound.

Memphis Sound members, who come from throughout the mid-south, practice 14-hour days during summer camp. After the summer camp, the young people travel throughout the United States for nightly competitions. Most of the sleep the participants get is in a bus seat in the middle of the night. They arrive at another school, that has agreed to house us, get a few hours of sleep on mats on the gym floor, practice all day again until time to go to the competition of the night. This is a revolving process all summer long.

“Parents and volunteers of the corps do all the cooking for the members and staff every day providing them with four meals that are cooked out of the
back of our food truck. They are fed high protein and high carbohydrate meals to keep them going. It is truly incredible,” said Burks.

For more information, visit www.memphisdrumcorps.org.

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November 23, 2007