Elite drum corps performs here before national tour

Their original summer camp venue fell through, but the beat goes on for members of the Seattle Cascades Drum & Bugle Corps.

In La Conner, no less.

The elite group of 150 musicians has been drilling on the La Conner Schools campus since mid-June and has scheduled a July 2, 7:30 p.m. send-off performance at Whittaker Field prior to embarking on a cross-country tour ending at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Seattle Cascades is the Pacific Northwest’s oldest youth organization in the pageantry arts. Members, who range in age from 14 to 21, hail from all parts of the nation and must audition for roles.

Area residents have enjoyed seeing – and hearing – their talent on display the last couple weeks.

“I can hear them drumming in the evening when I take the dog out for a walk on Pleasant Ridge,” says La Conner Middle and High School Counselor Lori Buher.

Shelter Bay residents have also reported hearing the drummers practice.

The corps literally moved into the school, lodging in classrooms and the elementary gym, as they train for the upcoming tour.

La Conner isn’t new to Seattle Cascades, which held a weekend camp here in February. But they hadn’t planned to return so soon.

Now they’re glad they have.

“Due to unforeseen circumstances our all-days housing site had to be changed,” explains Seattle Cascades tour director Jeremy Bennett. “The La Conner administration was nice enough to work with us, and things are going real well.”

While here, Seattle Cascades has been polishing work on a thematic nine-and-a-half-minute show entitled “What Goes Around,” featuring a wide range of musical selections and moving props – leading some to call it Cirque du Soleil on a football field.

Bennett is calling the July 2 show a “thank-you performance” for La Conner.

“It’s a way for us to express our thanks to the community for all its help,” Bennett says.

Admission is free for what will be the group’s final rehearsal before going out on the road.

Bennett is hoping it will be a true dress rehearsal – one in which members are dressed for success.

“Our goal,” he says, “is to be in full uniform for it.”