While most Pampa High School youth will be traveling with their families or preparing for their upcoming athletic seasons, Pampa High School senior Brayden Arriola and junior Korbin Cole will be going across the country with Drum Corps International (DCI).
DCI was founded in 1971 with 13 member ensembles focused on organizing and unifying leadership for youth-focused drum corps events. Today, there are 44 different ensembles.
“I was e-mailing all kinds of different corps saying I wanted to audition in March to play this summer,” Cole said. “I got a call from the Seattle Cascades, they wanted to give us (Cole and Arriola) a contract because they heard our ability.”
Cole said DCI is like “NFL for marching bands.” Each of the corps will spend two months working on their programs before the DCI competition in Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium.
“We’re going to be touring all over the U.S. and ending in Indianapolis,” Arriola said.
Stops for the duo will include Washington, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, Canyon (Texas), Mississippi and more. The pair will leave for Seattle on June 11 and be back by mid-August.
While Cole and Arriola said having each other on the tour is a nice perk, they like being able to meet new music enthusiasts at the events.
“When we auditioned for the Santa Clara Vanguard (also DCI), we were there for about two weeks,” Arriola said. “We went together but we made friends there and didn’t feel alone at all. They are all people with the same desires as you and the same ambitions.”
The cost for tuition with DCI is $4,250 and both musicians have GoFundMe pages set up and are seeking sponsorships.
Arriola is excited to see other drum corps.
Cole is excited to be a part of something bigger than high school.
“This is something so much bigger than Pampa band, honestly it’s probably bigger than some college bands, too,” Cole said.
Sections of the ensembles do receive commendations for performances and the winning corps does receive some compensation.
The duo has received three of the five musical pieces they will be working while touring with the drum corps.
Both musicians said being a part of Pride of Pampa band has helped to cultivate and enhance their passion for music; which is a good thing because the work with the drum corps tend to be an all-day affair.
“It’s from 7 a.m. in the morning to 9 or 10 p.m. at night,” Cole said.
Arriola added for those interested in joining DCI this summer, to not be shy and just try it.
“Try out for it and don’t hesitate at all,” Arriola said. “We wouldn’t have been granted this opportunity if we weren’t looking.”
Cole said there are positions on corps everywhere across the country.
“It’s good to get your name out there, even if you don’t make it,” Cole said.
