Corps Encore | About the Tour

Starting in the autumn prior to the season, drum corps from around the continent begin auditioning prospective members. Over the next several months, the personnel of the corps is shaped and molded during return auditions. In the winter and early spring, the corps begin learning their production while honing their skills. Once Memorial Day arrives, most corps have started 12 hour daily rehearsals to develop the show and prepare for to tour. After 2-3 weeks of 'all-days,' the corps depart for a grueling 2½ month tour featuring about 30-40 performances in about 20 states. Performers sleep on buses and gym floors as they trek from city to city, and a crew of volunteers operate large, rolling kitchens out of semi truck trailers to feed the caravans.

The tours culminate with the DCI World Championships, held this year in Indianapolis, Indiana. As dozens of drum corps converge on the World Championships, the Division I ensembles engage in a series of three competitions to establish their final ranking. The top twelve scoring groups in the Semifinals qualify for the Finals, which is the most elite stage in marching music.