2024 FAQs

Yes! Positions are open in all sections of the drum corps!

Brass - Trumpet, Mellophone, Baritone/Euphonium, Tuba

Battery - Snare Drum, Tenor Drums, Bass Drum

Front Ensemble - Mallet Percussion, Synthesizer, Timpani, Drum Set/Aux Percussion

Guard - Flag, Rifle, Sabre

Conductor

While the role of Drum Major is reserved for veteran members of the corps, conductor auditions are open to anyone. Conductor round one auditions will take place at the December Callback Camp on December 15-17 in Canton, OH.

Please email us at join@bluecoats.com for more information.

We’ve made our virtual option even more seamless, and more similar to the in-person audition experience at Bluecoats. Virtual auditionees will be scored on the same rubric, use the same audition sheet to receive written comments, and be considered on the same schedule as the in-person candidates!

Virtual Audition registration is open at bluecoats.school/audition.

Overnight housing is provided for the Ohio Audition Experience Camps. Like during a drum corps tour, students should bring sleeping gear (air mattress/sleeping pad, sleeping bag, pillow) for sleeping on a gym floor.

Due to facilities constraints, overnight housing is available only on Saturday night of the November Ohio Audition Experience Event.

Bluecoats will provide ground transportation to/from the airport at the Ohio Audition Event.

To request ground transportation, please visit the event page at bluecoats.com/events.

We recommend that you bring comfortable clothes to move in for your audition. You should also bring a refillable water jug to use throughout the day.

For the Texas, Ohio, and Georgia events - Bluecoats will provide a limited number of brass instruments, battery and front ensemble equipment, and colorguard equipment. If you’re able to bring your own horn or guard equipment, great!

For California - Bluecoats will provide limited front ensemble equipment. Please be prepared to bring your own horn, battery, and colorguard (flag and sabre or rifle, if available) equipment to this camp.

Overnight housing will be provided at the Ohio Audition Event. Please bring any necessary sleeping gear (sleeping bag and ground pad, air mattress, pillow, blanket).

Here’s a guide for what you should pack for auditions.

Two-Day Event
- Eventbrite QR code (printed or mobile)

Clothing
- Shirts (1-2)
- Bottoms (1-2)
- Athletic Shoes
- Socks (2-3 pairs)
- Jacket/hoodie
- Sleepwear

Hygiene
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Hairbrush
- Deodorant
- Hair ties (if needed)
- Glasses/contact lens case (if needed)
- Chapstick

Shower
- Towel
- Body wash/face wash
- Shampoo/conditioner
- Shower shoes (flip flops, crocs, etc.)

Rehearsal
- Rehearsal bag (to keep your rehearsal items in)
- Binder with music
- Pencils/pens/highlighters
- Mouthpiece (brass performers)
- Instrument (brass instrument if you’re able to transport it, battery performers should bring a practice pad & sticks)
- Guard equipment (flag and rifle or sabre)
- Valve oil/slide grease (brass performers)
- Earplugs
- Gloves
- Water jug

Bedding
- Bed (sleeping bag, air mattress, cot, etc.)
- Blankets/sleeping bag
- Pillow

Misc.
- Phone charger
- Extension cable
- Medications (if needed)


One-Day Event
- Eventbrite QR code (printed or mobile)
- Wear comfortable clothes that are easy to move in
- Rehearsal bag (to keep your rehearsal items in)
- Binder with music
- Pencils/pens/highlighters
- Mouthpiece (brass performers)
- Instrument (brass instrument if you’re able to transport it, battery performers should bring a practice pad & sticks)
- Guard equipment (flag and rilfe or sabre)
- Valve oil/slide grease (brass performers)
- Gloves
- Water jug

Your Techniques & Materials packet will contain information about what you should prepare. Musician packets are $25. Colorguard & Visual technique courses are available to you for free at Bluecoats School of the Arts.

2024 audition materials will be available soon. You can purchase & download packets at bluecoats.school/materials.

After your Audition Event or Virtual Audition is complete, there are three possible outcomes: a contract, a callback, or an opportunity to come back next year if you are able.

Typically, excellent performers who are new to the corps will be offered a callback.

The 2024 Callback Camp will be December 15-17 in Canton, OH. This camp is required for all musicians offered a callback either at an in-person event or from a Virtual Audition. Musicians offered a contract will attend this camp on a case-by-case basis.

Following the December Callback Camp, all contracted musicians, and any musicians still on callback status, will attend the January Musicians Rehearsal Camp January 12-14 in Canton, OH.

Colorguard performers on a callback status will complete their audition at our April Rehearsal Camp on April 26-28 in Canton, OH.

…now you know that’s a secret. ;)

You can expect required attendance at one Audition Event or Virtual Audition Experience in November/December. All participants will be required to complete online assignments and trainings from January - May, as well as applicable pre-season camps.

Pre-Season Camp Schedule

• November/December Audition Events

• December Musicians Callback Camp

• January Musician Rehearsal Camp

• March Brass Rehearsal Camp

• April Full Corps Rehearsal

With the start of Spring Training, all participants will be “full time” with the organization: rehearsing, living, and performing with the corps for approximately 12 weeks, beginning mid-May and ending August 10, 2023.

In order to march the drum corps this summer you must be at least 16 years old on May 1st and you must be young enough to participate in Drum Corps International competition this summer (turning age 22 on June 1 , 2024 or later). Most students in the drum corps each summer are 18 and older, but several students 16-18 do earn positions each year!

The operation of a world-class drum corps is a very expensive project. In addition to the equipment, set, and fleet of vehicles, fees also cover food, instruction, housing, fuel, costumes, and medical costs. A breakdown of the 2024 program fees can be found in this year’s Blue Pages.

Yes. The Bluecoats organization offers a season sponsorship program in which members can have friends, family, and local businesses send money directly to Bluecoats in support of your program fees. Paperwork for this program will be distributed following your signing of a participation agreement. It is the corps member’s responsibility to execute a sponsorship campaign, and ultimately to fulfill all financial obligations for participation.

In addition to the sponsorship program, Bluecoats also creates a March-a-Thon campaign each year where participants can provide to Bluecoats a list of people that might be willing to support their summer tour. Bluecoats will send a letter to these individuals explaining just how incredible their participation in the corps is. All corps members will earn a commission on all donations made to Bluecoats from this campaign.

Additionally, there are plentiful scholarships available to be applied for at dci.org/scholarships.

Unfortunately, there are no refunds available for Audition Events or Virtual Audition registration. If there’s another event you’d be able to attend, we can transfer your registration or register you for a virtual audition, just email us at join@bluecoats.com!

Send us an email at join@bluecoats.com! We’re happy to help.