If Music Education teaches us one all-important lesson, its that we are more successful when we work together.
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It takes a community of students, performers, educators, parents, school music retailers and those who design and craft the instruments to bring music to life.
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The KHS America Academic Alliance is designed to facilitate and strengthen the important symbiotic relationships with the music education community, offering music programs a unique opportunity to access benefits intended to enhance the student experience, promote program growth, and bring attention to the great work that they do. Such benefits include instrument trial opportunities, participation in advisory groups, purchase rewards, artist appearance support and national exposure for member programs.
The Academy would like to express our heartfelt thanks to KHS America Academic Alliance for the support of tonights event, and for our partnership spanning over 15 years.
8:30 - NATIONAL ANTHEM
Performed by:
Navy Band Southwest vocalist,
Taylor Johns
Learn more about Navy Band Southwest here.
8:40 - THE ACADEMY YOUTH GUARD
Tempe, Arizona
The Academy Summer Youth Guard is comprised of performers ages 5-14. They have been working hard throughout the month of June to practice their dance, flag, rifle, and sabre skills and learning choreography to perform for you today. Please enjoy their performance "I2I" (eye to eye).
8:50 - ARSENAL
El Paso, Texas
2023 Repertoire
Movement 1 - The Procession and Celebration of life
by Key Poulan
Movement 2 - Lovely
by Billie Eilish O'Connell, Finneas O'Connell, Khalid Robinson
Movement 3 -
Remembrance and Renewal
by Key Poulan
Established in 2016, Arsenal has been a staple of Drum Corps International's SoundSport program, providing performance opportunities to young performers in the El Paso, Texas area and beyond. The group took home "Best of Show" honors at the DCI Southwestern Championship in San Antonio 2017 and 2018 and was a 2022 SoundSport Virtual Gold Medalist.
9:02 - MANDARINS
Sacramento, California
2023 Repertoire
Movement 1 - One vs. Many
Movement 2 - Yin & Yang
Présage by Univers Zero
Movement 3 - Joker
Swing Symphony (4th Movement) by Wynton Marsalis,
Smile by Nat King Cole
Movement 4 - Repent
I'm Tired by Labrinth Zendaya,
Take Me to Church by Hozier
Movement 5 - Sinnerman
Sinnerman by Nina Simone
Founded in 1963 and celebrating 60 years in 2023, the Mandarins organization has long been known for blending Asian traditions with drum corps. The corps has been a DCI World Champion in its class eight times, including an unmatched string of four titles as a Division III unit between 1996 and 1999. Mandarins started competing as a World Class corps in 2003 and earned a spot as a DCI World Championship finalist for the very first time in 2018.
9:19 - BLUE DEVILS
Concord, California
2023 Repertoire
The Rise
by David Glyde
Caves
by Cody Fry
Jojo's Bizarre Adventure
by Tominaga, Fujibayashi, Tanaka
Stardust Crusaders "Jotaro's Theme"
by Yugo Kanno
Resistance
by David Glyde
Both Sides Now
by Joni Mitchell
Of Energy
by TesseracT
Incident In Jazz
by Bob Graettinger
Grand Canyon Fanfare
by James Newton Howard
Founded in 1970 from a drum and bell corps, The Blue Devils hold the record for the most Drum Corps International World Championship titles. The corps has won a total of 20 times, most recently in 2022, and has not placed lower than fourth in the last 30 years. The BD Performing Arts organization sponsors The Blue Devils and a variety of performing arts ensembles including two Open Class drum corps.
9:36 - THE ACADEMY
Tempe, Arizona
2023 Repertoire
Act I - Sun & Moon
by Ryan Erick Adamsons, Fred Emory Smith
Act II - Can't Help Falling in Love
by Luigi Creatore
Act III - Fate Written in the Stars
by Adamsons & Smith
Act IV - Rocket to the Moon
by Thomas Bergerson
In 2001, the Academy Brass and Percussion Ensemble was formed to introduce the youth of Arizona to the drum corps experience. In 2004, the group was approved as a DCI sanctioned unit, changed its name to The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps, and began competing for the first time. In the corps first trip to the DCI World Championships in 2006, it won the gold medal in Division II competition. 2016 marked the corps' first year as a World Class DCI World Championship finalist.
The AAPA Board of Directors and Staff wish to thank the many wonderful donors who have so generously contributed to The Academy's success this season. Support The Academy at ArizonaAcademy.org.
Our sincerest thanks to the countless volunteers who donate their time and talents in wonderful ways. Volunteer hours represent over $700,000 contributed to The Academy's overall budget. We simply could not do what we do without you! There are still volunteer opportunities on THIS SUMMER TOUR! Drivers for our auxiliary vehicles and support staff on our food crew are needed between July 22 and August 15. Learn about volunteering here.
