Some of the country’s best student musicians and performers will be in central Iowa next week for a drum and bugle corps competition.
The competition next Thursday night in West Des Moines will include the Colt Cadets from Dubuque, Iowa’s only entry in the so-called Summer Showdown. The Colt Cadets are a feeder organization to the Colts, who are competing on the East Coast. Greg Orwell is director of the Colts operation and says the Colt Cadets are excited to perform at Valley High School Stadium.
"They have a beautiful stadium and one of the best bands around," Orwell said. "We picked the title of this show to mirror what they do in the Fall. They have what many would say is kind of the upper Midwest championship in the Fall marching band circuit and they call that The Showdown, so we named this show The Summer Showdown."
Drum Corps International hasn’t held a competition in central Iowa for two years, after a 25 year run in Ankeny. Orwell says the Colts and Colt Cadets have traditionally had a lot of members from the area. "I love those central Iowa kids that come (to Dubuque) and participate in the Colts," Orwell said.
"They can make camps, they have great band programs and I’m seeing a few less central Iowa members in our roster and that’s making a direct impact." The Colts performed in the Presidential Inaugural Parade in Washington, D.C. in January.
A total of seven groups will perform in next week’s completion, including the Drum Corps International defending World Champion Phantom Regiment from Rockford, Illinois. The other groups will come from Wisconsin, Alabama and Texas. Find out more information about the competition here.