This weekend holds the first rehearsals for The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps. The first full camp will be attended by more than 170 students who have been asked to return following the first rounds of auditions in December, as well as some new, first time audition applicants.

The corps returns to its rehearsal "home" at the Tempe Sports Complex on Friday evening, and will continue to rehearse through the weekend and finishing up at 6:00 PM on Sunday. 101 of the students have been granted membership into the corps. The remaining 49 positions and few additional alternate positions are open to the new applicants and callbacks from December. The staff looks forward to taking the next step in setting the 2008 corps membership.

Interested applicants should fill out an online application form and plan on attending the January 4,5,6 rehearsal camp in Tempe.

New in 2008 is the formalization of The Academy Booster Organization. Several charter Booster members have been planning for the last four months to launch this coordinated effort this weekend. Booster membership will include alumni, parents of the Academy programs, and volunteers and supporters of the organization.

Monthly meetings begin on major drum corps camps to coincide with parent informational meetings. The first meeting will be held at the Tempe Police Sub-Station on Hardy and Carver right next to the Sports Complex at 4:00 PM on Sunday, January 6th. Anyone interested in becoming a booster should attend.