The V-Krewe Brass Ensemble will perform at the 32nd Annual Denton Arts & Jazz Festival
on Friday, April 27, 2012. The group is scheduled to perform on the Festival Stage @ 10:00-pm.
Please drop by and check us out. We will be performing excerpts from our upcoming patriotic show "Amber Waves", along with other
high-energy tunes that you will be familiar with.
The V-Krewe Brass Ensemble will perform at the Texas Legends
game against the Rio Grande Valley Vipers
on Thursday evening, December 29th. The group will begin playing about 30 minutes prior to game. They will
also be performing during several timeouts and breaks during the game.
We would love to have you attend the game. The V-Krewe has tickets for sale for $18 each. Please contact Steve Severance
at steve.severance@vigilantescorps.org or by phone at
972-439-5406 and request your tickets. You will be able to pick up your tickets at the game. Checks should be made out
to the V-Krewe Brass or you may bring cash to cover the price of the tickets.
The Dr Pepper Arena in Frisco is a great venue for
families and the folks at the Texas Legends indicated the holiday season games have been very well attended. So bring the
kids and come and join in the fun!
We wanted to take a moment and update you on the happenings of the V-Krewe and the VPAA. There has been a tremendous amount of
activity going on as we are preparing for the holiday season and a variety of performances.
If you have been participating in all or some of the rehearsals for the V-Krewe you are well aware of the variety of music we have
been playing through and testing out. Now we will be focusing on the next few weeks specifically on Christmas music. We
will be performing December 2nd on Friday evening at 7:30 in Denton for the lighting of the square festival. We participated
in that last year and we were invited back to play again on the main stage for the event. Last year was a lot of fun and we
invite you to come out and take part in the evening on the square.
(Click here for more details.)
We’ve also been invited to perform in Decatur on the 3rd for a city-wide festival. This will be a new event for us but when
talking with the people who are managing the event, they are very excited to have us as part of their show.
As of today we can still use a few more low brass players to help balance out the 12 or so trumpets we’ve been having at rehearsals.
So if you play trombone, baritone, or even tuba and would like to participate in these shows and others, please come and join
in our rehearsals on Monday nights at Ranchview High School in Irving from 7-9:30. If you would like to join us for the
performances, please plan on attending the next three rehearsals so you can be prepared for the shows.
We also are looking for a set player. Several of our Christmas tunes were written with percussion parts and we would love to
have one or more players join us for these performances in December. So if you are interested or know someone that would like
to join the group, please contact us.
In addition to these two shows we have other opportunities we are working on. A new partnership is forming with a group called
Epiphany DanceArts in Dallas. They have their
annual Christmas pageant the weekend of December 9th and 10th in Garland and they have asked us to do a brass
quintet and brass ensemble at one or both of these evenings. We will promote this more as we define our participation.
We’ve also been asked to join the Turtle Creek Chorale
with a trumpet ensemble for their fanfare portion of the show. Their performances will be at the Meyerson Symphony Center on
December 4th, 11th, and 21st.
And at the end of the month we will begin what hopes to be an ongoing partnership with the
Texas Legends basketball team as their pep-band. We will be in the stands playing through upbeat music for the crowds and
also doing the halftime show.
So there is a lot happening with the V-Krewe between now and the New Year and much more to announce in the coming weeks.
As you may know, the V-Krewe resides under the umbrella of the Vigilantes Performing Arts Association. There are two other
programs that are in their start up mode as well. The VIP, Vigilantes Indoor Percussion group, is starting their audition
process this month and will be in full swing preparing for various competitions for the 2012 season. They are rehearsing at
Krum High School on Saturdays. Also, the Vigilantes Indoor Guard has announced their show for the 2012 season and they are
holding auditions in December also at Krum High School. Please check this website for more information on all of our
performing groups and schedules.
If you have any questions relating to the V-Krewe and the upcoming performances and rehearsals, please contact Mike Rossi or Steve
Severance at ContactUs@vigilantescorps.org or call at 972-439-5406.
Please check the V-Krewe
Facebook Group for more information about the upcoming rehearsals and gigs.
The Vigilantes Performing Arts Association (VPAA) is pleased to announce the addition of 3 more groups under the VPAA umbrella. The organization is in the process
of adding a Winter World Class Color Guard that will compete in WGI, a Winter Drum Line and a Brass Ensemble that will perform locally and also compete in the mini corps
competition in Rochester NY at the DCA World Championships. All 3 groups will carry the Vigilantes name. The thought process is to have 3 core organizations that
are independent, but staff and members can be drawn from each group to field a championship competitive corps for years to come. Our goal remains the same; to deliver a
Championship level Drum and Bugle Corps year in and year out.
VPAA is exploring and evaluating their Drum and Bugle Corps value proposition. Specifically, the organization is evaluating the trade off of time and money, including
fundraising required by members, against the enjoyment or return from participation in this activity. VPAA believes the methods by which we structure dues, fundraising
and rehearsal time do not sufficiently deliver enough enjoyment, enrichment, education or performance opportunities. The organization will "fix" this value proposition.
It is believed that no one thing (dues, required fundraising, rehearsal time, etc.) is the issue, but that these issues combined become an obstacle to member participation.
Rather than a step back, this is a step forward, providing more opportunities to participate in various ways in order to build a stronger organization that allows us to deliver
a quality, fun, and competitive field corps for the future.
The decision to grow organically is the correct decision. Vigilantes Drum and Bugle Corps will be stronger from the visibility and the development of its membership, as
well as the exposure and competition from the individual groups. Each group will have a charter, goals and objectives, and will be financially self sustaining and self
sufficient. The vision is that no group will derive financial success from the other; but membership in the Drum and Bugle Corps, our single largest ensemble, could be
derived by forming the other 3 groups. The vision is for the Vigilantes Drum and Bugle Corps to win an Open Class Championship!
The board of directors, management and staff sincerely hope that each of you will want to be part of one of these activities. Information will be released via this website
very soon. The brass ensemble is already active. Information regarding the Winter Guard and Winter Drum Line will be announced very shortly. All information will be
posted on this website, or the new, soon to be live, VPAA parent website, www.vigilantespaa.org.
Each group will have a page under the VPAA website.
This is an exciting time for our organization and we are organizing to be wildly successful. If you have any questions or concerns, or would like more information, please
contact us at ContactUs@vigilantescorps.org.
Thank You,
Ted Danhauser
Vigilantes Performing Arts Association
The Vigilantes recently made a decision to stay local and not compete in the DCA shows this summer. With the focus on growing our organization, the Management Team along
with the staff and members conclude it is in the best interest of the corps to focus on building our local presence and expand the overall organization.
The corps has a very solid foundation in terms of staff, equipment (a 62 piece Bb hornline and a percussion endorsement deal with Premier), a fantastic home/rehearsal facility,
management team and stable finances.
The Vigilantes Performing Arts Association (VPAA) is in the process of starting an independent winterguard and drumline. (See related article below.) There is enough momentum
and a solid enough foundation to see this come to fruition. The hornline will continue as a brass ensemble and plans to devote time to local performances in the DFW area. Ultimately,
the objective is still to be a strong competitive marching drum and bugle corps in the future, as this new formula is a better 'value add' proposition to our current and prospective
members. Combining both a winter and summer season, as well as offering additional performance opportunities via WGI and NTCA in North Texas, we believe we will deliver the exciting
and entertaining experience our members and our fans in the DFW community expect.
The Vigilantes took delivery this week of 62 Dynasty marching brass instruments. A crew of 2 picked up the line of
Bb horns (F Mellos) in Columbus, OH on Wednesday January 5th and delivered them back to North Texas on Thursday
in time for the Vigilantes first rehearsal of the season, the weekend of Jan 8th.
“It was a tough decision to move from G to Bb so soon in our existence” said Roger Treacher, Exec. Director of the Vigilantes,
“but the opportunity was there for us to purchase a quality line of marching brass which we can grow with over the next few
years”.
“The timing of the purchase was very good” said Terry Pritchard, Program Coordinator and Brass Caption Head for the Vigilantes,
“as this allowed our arranger, Brad Green, to consider the arrangements for Bb rather than G arrangements transposed to Bb later
in the season”. This weekend the corps will receive the first movement of their show entitled Fade to Blue
and will be performing it on Sunday.
The Vigilantes will be competing in DCA Class A competition in 2011. The management team and membership are extremely excited
about what this year will hold for the organization. The group is positioned well for a strong season and future growth.
They will continue to build on their first two successful years with a fun, entertaining, championship quality field show for years
to come.
With the purchase of the new brass line, the Vigilantes have a larger number of G Bugles that they will be selling immediately.
If you are interested in any the G bugles (or any other equipment we have for sale, click here.
Patrick's Commemorates Vigilantes Inaugural Season
31 Mar 2010
If you’ve never been to Patrick’s you are missing out on a wonderful piece of drum corps heaven. Patrick’s is in St. Peter, MN, which is home to the Govenaire’s
Drum & Bugle Corps. The establishment is a large bar/restaurant with several rooms and an outdoor patio full of pictures, instruments, memorabilia, and is
generally a living drum corps museum. Pictures from old Govie’s corps and competitions from all over the country are displayed on the walls. Video monitors
play sporting events, but on drum corps weekends, you will find video of past drum corps competitions for all to see.
2009 was Vigilantes inaugural year. So to commemorate that achievement and honor the goodwill shown to the corps by the Govies, all members and staff signed a
T-shirt that now proudly resides on the walls of Patrick’s. Vigilantes wishes the Govies continued success and looks forward to many more years of friendly
competition and plenty of visits to the one and only drum corps bar, located in St. Peter, MN!
The Vigilantes Drum & Bugle Corps held its annual banquet on Saturday, November 7 th at the Oakmont Country Club. After enjoying
a wonderful meal, the corps watched their 3rd place finals performance at the 2009 DCA World Championships, followed by a video scrapbook of the
past year, created by Brad Faidley.
The banquet wrapped up with the annual presentation of awards for the past season. The winners were:
The Vigilantes are very excited to annouce their staff for the upcoming 2010 season. Leading the brass as caption head is
Terry Pritchard. New to the Vigilantes this year is the Color Guard
caption head and designer, Antares Alleman and the visual caption head and
drill writer, Justin Morris. Continuing in 2010 as the Percussion caption
head will be Paul Rennick.
Terry Pritchard began his performing career aging out with the Drum Corps International World Champion Star of Indiana. During
his time at Star he studied brass under Donnie Van Doren and design under the late George Zingali and technique from Dr Len
Kruzecki and Todd Ryan. Following in the footsteps of these great instructors, Terry developed a style that is
innovative, creative and unmistakable.
Terry Pritchard’s style has led to several world championships beginning in 1994 with the Chimeras Winterguard, WGI Open
Class Champions. Terry began teaching indoor drum lines with Music City Mystique. This led to successful early
years and multiple World Championships for Mystique while developing a young WGI indoor marching percussion activity.
During this time he developed a movement technique that allowed for greater clarity visually. His technique has since
been used by many groups across the country.
Pritchard continued his performing career with the Tony and Emmy Award-winning show, Blast! As a cast member in the
Broadway Cast he played Tuba, percussion and voice. Terry was also the visual instructor for both the North American
touring cast and the Broadway Cast.
Terry has been an instructor or designer for some of the best ensembles in the country. The list includes Star of
Indiana drum and bugle corps, Carolina Crown drum and bugle corps, Spirit of Atlanta drum and bugle corps, Dutch Boy drum
and bugle corps, Music City Mystique, Avon High School, Mission Viejo High School, Diamonds Indoor Percussion, Chimeras
Winter Guard, Brentwood High School, Middle Tennessee State University, University of New Mexico, Dobyns-Bennett High School,
and Science Hill High School.
New to the Vigilantes this year is the Color Guard caption head and designer. The corps is pleased to introduce
Antares to the corps.
Antares Alleman is a performance veteran of the Sky Ryders Drum and Bugle Corps and Cadets of Bergen County (winning a DCI title in
1993 and high auxiliary in 1993, 1994, and 1996). She has also served on administrative staff with the Cadets of Bergen
County in 1997 and the Santa Clara Vanguard in 1998.
She also has winterguard performance experience with Contempo Winterguard of Dallas, Allure Winterguard of Dallas, Escapade
Winterguard of Dayton, OH (a WGI World Class Bronze Medalist in 1994, Silver medal in 1995 and voted WGI Fan Favorite for
1993-1995), and Ascension Winterguard of Houston, TX (WGI World Class Finalist in 1996).
Antares’ instruction resume includes colorguard and winterguard units at multiple Dallas, TX area high schools, Insignia Senior
Winterguard of Dallas, High Schools in Georgia, Georgia Tech University, and Westfield High School in the Houston, TX area.
Currently she is working on her dissertation while she teaches English at the University of North Texas in Denton, TX.
RICHARDSON, TEXAS (September 10, 2009): Richardson’s own drum and bugle corps, the Vigilantes, made history on Labor Day weekend while competing at the Drum Corps Association (DCA) Championship in Rochester,
New York. For three days of music and entertainment, more than 50 organizations showed off their musical prowess by competing in individual, percussion, mini corps,
and drum corps events at this year’s championship. The Vigilantes made their inaugural debut competing against 11 drum corps.
Richardson’s Vigilantes began the weekend in fifth place, were in fourth place after the preliminaries, and moved to third place after the finals. The corps capped
its season with a score of 76.338 which included a first place finish in the percussion caption. It is unique for a drum and bugle corps to make finals and place in
its inaugural season. “The weekend in Rochester was all about the Vigilantes from Richardson, Texas. In our inaugural year, we rocked the drum corps world with
a 3rd place finish in Class A. We were the talk of the town!” said Ted Danhauser, who is on the Vigilantes management team and plays the soprano bugle.
The 47-member corps brought the audience to its feet with its baseball-themed show called “Pastime.” Showcasing a medley of favorites, the corps opened its performance
with a toe tapping rendition of Duke Ellington’s “It Don’t Mean a Thing if it Ain’t got that Swing,” then progressed through the history of baseball with “Prologue 1915-1923”
and “Knock the Cover Off the Ball” by Randy Newman from the movie score “The Natural.” The corps finished its performance with “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” and
“Sing Sang Sung” by Gordon Goodwin, arranged by the Vigilantes’ own brass caption Mike Rossi.
RICHARDSON, TEXAS (September 10, 2009): The Vigilantes' had 17 entries at the Drum Corps Association
(DCA) Championship I&E competition in Rochester, New York. Out of those entries, 2 individuals came
home with 1st place medals and 12 of the entries finished in the top five of their respective
categories. The Vigilantes' also debuted in the mini-corps competition and finished in 7th place.
Paul Rennick Joins Vigilantes Drum and Bugle Corps
RICHARDSON, TEXAS (May 12, 2009): The Vigilantes Drum and Bugle Corps, a Richardson-based competitive, all-age performance group,
is pleased to announce Paul Rennick has joined the organization's staff as percussion caption head.
Paul Rennick has served on the faculty of the University of North Texas since 1991 and is also Adjunct Faculty at Texas Christian University.
Paul is a leading figure in the world of marching percussion and education, with a long history of successful students and performing
ensembles. He has been a featured clinician at many Percussive Arts Society International Conventions, Music Educators Association
Conventions, and many Percussive Arts Society State Conventions. Since 1989 he has also written and designed the shows for the 14-time
Percussive Arts Society National Champion University of North Texas Indoor Drumline. He is currently the director of percussion for
the Phantom Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps, recently named winner of the 2006 and 2008 Drum Corps International Fred Sanford award for percussion
performance. Paul was a design team member, music composer/arranger, instructor, and percussion manager for the Tony & Emmy Award-winning
Broadway production “Blast!” Paul is currently on staff as an artist/clinician with Dynasty USA, Remo Inc., the Avedis Zildjian Co., and
a Signature Artist with Innovative Percussion, Inc.
"We are extremely excited to have Paul join the Vigilantes," said Ted Danhauser, Logistics Coordinator for the corps. "Our volunteers' passion
is to compete on the national stage. Having someone of Paul's caliber on our staff, along with a new name suited to our goal, will take our
performance to the next level and help attract top talent to our organization."
Vigilantes Drum & Bugle Corps will debut a new uniform this summer.
The uniform is a modern and sleek design that will introduce the
new corps to the audiences across the country. The jackets have a distinct color block pattern on the front and a
solid black look when the corps faces backfield. With black gauntlets, black gloves, a black shako and plume, the
new corps will have a dark, but distinctive look.
The uniform design and production are that of Stanbury. We appreciate the work the company has put in to this
uniform and we look forward to showing off this summer.
Vigilantes Drum and Bugle Corps is pleased to announce the 2009 field show entitled Pastime. The show involves the audience in childhood memories of America’s
pastime and its love affair with the game as individuals grow up personally and through time.
The show is an audience pleaser and designed in three distinct movements.
The opening movement is based upon the Duke Ellington jazz standard “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If it Ain’t Got That Swing).” This section will have the audience
tapping toes and relive the game of their youth through musical and visual cues.
The middle movement is based upon “Prologue 1915-1923” and “Knock The Cover Off the Ball” by Randy Newman from the movie score “The Natural.” This portion of
the show will have varied moods in portraying the growth of the game from the Golden Age of Baseball and transitioning to its mature state. The soaring theme
from “The Natural” will play prominently in this movement.
The final movement is a medley based upon the venerable ballad Take Me Out the Ballgame and Sing Sang Sung by Gordon Goodwin arranged by our brass caption head Mike
Rossi. The movement will portray the moods and sounds of the “big game.” Pay special attention for audio cues that remind all of us of our experiences
with the much beloved game of baseball and the major leagues. The rush of the game and crowds will culminate in a triumphant conclusion that you won’t want to miss.
This summer it is drum corps and America's Pastime:
Play Hard, Play Loud, Play Ball!
Vigilantes Drum and Bugle Corps is an all age unit that will perform and compete in DCI-All Age and Drum Corps Associates
(DCA) circuits. The corps is equipped with brand new Dynasty Percussion and enough G Bugles to man a 60 member
horn line. The corps will travel this summer within the state of Texas as well as Minnesota and Rochester, NY
to compete and entertain drum corps fans. The corps will bring its fan friendly program entitled “Pastime” to
the field this summer with its baseball themed show.
The name is a reflection upon the heritage of Texas justice in the old west. In rural and undeveloped areas military
had no jurisdiction over civilians and there was simply no law available because the town was not organized enough to collect
taxes for salaries for lawmen. rime ran rampant, and citizens finally saw something had to be done.
As happened in so many lawless boom towns of the West, the only answer seemed to be a citizen's committee to take control.
No matter the title, all were eventually called vigilantes. In Fort Griffin, the violence grew to the extent a vigilante
group called the OLM, or Old Law Mob, was formed. The group's members met, made up a list of the undesirables,
posted it in saloons, told those on the list to leave town or suffer the consequences. After a short waiting period
those listed and still in town were simply captured, shot to death or hung from the nearest tree with the letters "OLM" printed
on the bodies for all to see. As expected, crime rates dropped drastically and calm reigned.
Today, only foundations and ruins remain of once-rowdy metropolises, home to the unlawful elements of the Texas frontier.
The corps will unveil a new logo shortly, but has selected corps colors of Black, Red, and White. The corps will appear
this summer in brand new uniforms from Stanbury.
The Vigilantes Drum and Bugle Corps will perform at the Wildflower! Festival at the Eisemann Center for Performing Arts in Richardson
on Saturday, May 16. The group will perform in the Countrywide Hall as well as in the outdoor pavilion. In
addition, the Vigilantes will host a "petting zoo" where kids of all ages will be allowed to see and touch the instruments.
The corps is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization doing business in the state of Texas. The corps has developed a partnership
with Centerplate concessions to work events at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, TX. This arrangement allows the corps to man
concession booths at local MSL soccer games and headliner concert events. The corps recently handled a successful alternative
rock festival that netted the corps thousands of dollars in needed funds. With this resource for fundraising, the organization
is looking to grow and succeed in the north Texas area.
The Vigllantes now have an equipment truck to call their very own. The 24-ft truck
is capable of holding all equipment currently owned by Vigilantes Drum & Bugle
Corps, with room to spare!
“It was a tough decision to move from G to Bb so soon in our existence” said Roger Treacher, Exec. Director of the Vigilantes,
“but the opportunity was there for us to purchase a quality line of marching brass which we can grow with over the next few
years”.
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