Bb Horns Look Sharp
    The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps finished an outstanding season of competition with a World Championship title win--on Yamaha all-Bb brass instruments. It was their first year on the new horns, and corps director Jeff Fiedler had nothing but praise. "The horns have actually taken us to a new musical level," Fiedler boasted. "They were delivered during a drill practice, and we were all a bit nervous. It was the first time the kids played as an ensemble, and we were just amazed, it was so good. It was because they were on instruments they were used to."
    Following the Cavaliers' first season on the new horns, Fiedler concurs: "The transition was just so easy. Even in the beginning of the season, we found that the new instruments were taking us places musically that we were either never able to get to before, or didn't reach until the finals." The sound also scored highly, with the Bb instruments improving clarity in the blend of the horn line, especially in those massive tutti sections. Fiedler remarked at how "even in the really big pushes, we could still hear every voice."
    When asked about the support from Yamaha, Fiedler recounts a typical day in the life of a drum corps: "We actually crushed a tuba in a drill practice--the player fell, and another player fell on top of it! Yamaha did everything they could to get us a new horn right away. We are more than pleased with the changeover, and the fabulous backup we received from Yamaha."

Cavaliers Take Top Honors
2001 DCI World Championships

    With the excitement of the 2001 Drum Corps International season over for another year, it's time to reflect on the final Summer Music Games of August 11 in the Buffalo, New York. Scores for this 29th year of competition were tight once again between the top three corps, but it was the Cavaliers who took home the title with a total of 98.35. The General Effect category clinched it for the Green Machine with their stunningly executed show entitled "Four Corners," garnering them 39.4 out of a possible 40 points.
    Second place this year produced the surprise: the finals resulted in a tie for second place between the Cadets and the Blue Devils, both with 97.6.
    The title-winning Cavaliers were Brass Ensemble Champions, marching with Bb instruments for the first time (see above). The Cadets scooped the Fred Sanford Award for Best Percussion Performance, while 11th place Madison Scouts won the Individual Snare Drum, Multi-percussion, and Timpani Champion categories--all on Yamaha percussion instruments. The Cadets completed their first season on all-Yamaha percussion in high style, clinching their first High Percussion award in 10 years. In fact, 9 of the past 11 High Percussion winners have played Yamaha instruments, and both the 2000 and 2001 DCI Champions competed on Yamaha brass. This year's 7th place Crossmen, who marched with Yamaha percussion for the first time, will also complete their lineup next year with all-Yamaha brass.

--For full DCI results visit: www.dci.org

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