This is from yesterday (Saturday's) Local Section:Moreno Valley drum, bugle corps prepares for RCC competition
By MELISSA EISELEIN
The Press-Enterprise
William Wilson Lewis III/The Press-Enterprise
Wendy Natividad, 21, practices with the Yamato Drum and Bugle Corps, which plans to go on a 20-day tour this summer.
William Wilson Lewis III/The Press-Enterprise
Members of the Moreno Valley-based Yamato Drum and Bugle Corps practice Thursday for a Sunday competition at RCC.
Lauren Hutson struck the bars on the marimba with a soft mallet. With each tap, the xylophone-like instrument produced a soft, rich sound that filled the room.
As Lauren, 16, of Moreno Valley practiced in Valley View High School's music room in Moreno Valley, cymbal players Travis Beaman, 16, of Moreno Valley, and Jeff Hangebrauk, 18, of Temecula, rehearsed outdoors in the school's commons area.
Meanwhile, Kirstin Stone, 19, of Riverside, twirled flags with the color guard team in the school cafeteria.
On Sunday, the 55 members of the Moreno Valley-based Yamato Drum and Bugle Corps will perform in the 28th annual Western Corps Connection drum and bugle corps competition at Riverside City College.
The event, which begins at 5 p.m. in Wheelock Stadium, will include 13 corps performances including the award winning Concord Blue Devils that took first place in 23 of 29 competitions in 2007. Admission is $25.
The Yamato Drum and Bugle Corps, which was founded 11 years ago, includes 10 members from Japan and 45 from the Inland area and nearby Southern California cities, said director and corps co-founder Edward Martin, of Moreno Valley.
Stone is looking forward to the performance and 20-day tour that will take the corps to seven states including Iowa, Ohio and Illinois. Performing for an audience gives her a thrill unlike any other, she said.
"It's a huge, huge adrenaline rush to perform in front of a group. It is indescribable," Stone said.
If the group does well on tour it could qualify to take part in the Drum Corps International World Championships semi-finals Aug. 8-9 in Bloomington, Ind., Martin said.
The travel is fun, but it was the group's diversity that sparked Travis' interest in the corps. Travis, who played snare drum in Canyon Springs High School's marching band until his recent graduation, learned about the corps from a friend. Immediately, he knew that he wanted to spend his summer traveling with the group, he said.
"We get to play with people from another country. It's a whole different experience," Travis said.
Hangebrauk was also a member of his high school marching band. He played cymbals for Great Oak High School in Temecula. His high school music instructor told him about the corps and encouraged him to audition, Jeff said.
"I've been loving it, all the excitement. It's very upbeat," Hangebrauk said. "Right when you come here, everyone feels welcomed because it's like one family. It's really cool."
Western Corps Connection
Riverside City College will host a drum and bugle corps competition.
When: 5 p.m. Sunday
Where: Riverside City College, Wheelock Field, 4800 Magnolia Ave., Riverside
Cost: $25, ticket booth opens at 3:30 p.m.
Information: www.yamatodrumcorps.org
Complete link:
http://www.pe.com/localnews/morenovalle ... c7f5d.html
