2024 Season Planning

The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps is excited to begin planning for the 2024 season, our 18th year as a World Class institution.  The corps will be embarking on a 74-day summer tour spanning from coast-to-coast, ending in Indianapolis for World Championships. 

Join The Academy family and be an integral part of the 2024 chapter of our story.    

Auditions

Auditions continue through the Spring with opportunities for students to audition virtually through an initial video evaluation and through our live audition camps held in once a month.   

Prospective members attending a LIVE event may be offered a membership position or callback to a subsequent camp, when most of the membership placements occur.  Staff are not able to place a student in a membership position without an in-person evaluation.  If attendance at a LIVE event is not an option, Video auditions are the next best way to get into the mix in order to be invited to a Callback camp.  Special circumstances may allow for membership placement without attending a live event, determined on a case by case basis, typically with an accompanying staff recommendation.  

Upcoming Live Audition Event Locations

February Brass Audition Camp
Date

February 9-11

Location

Betty Fairfax HS
8225 S 59th Ave,
Laveen Village, AZ 85339– Map

Sections

Brass & Drum Majors

March Brass Audition Camp
Date

March 8-10

Location

Betty Fairfax HS
8225 S 59th Ave,
Laveen Village, AZ 85339– Map

Sections

Brass & Drum Majors

April Brass Audition Camp
Date

April 5-7

Location

Betty Fairfax HS
8225 S 59th Ave,
Laveen Village, AZ 85339– Map

Sections

Brass & Drum Majors

April Full Corps Audition Camp
Date

April 26-28

Location

TBA

Sections

Brass, Percussion, Guard

 

VIDEO AUDITIONS
While the live audition events are the primary method of achieving membership, a video evaluation is your way to get in the mix NOW, particularly if you just can’t attend our scheduled live events. Here are your guidelines to get going on that process.  Here, the process becomes simply to Register, Prepare, Upload, and Submit.  Visit the Video Audition Guidelines page for all of the details. 

Video Audition guidelines Register for Video Here

 

AUDITION PACKETS

Audition packets are provided for FREE when you register for one of our audition events listed above.  However, if you want to only purchase the packets to learn more about The Academy and our technique and exercises, you can purchase that individually by following the links here.

MORE ABOUT THE 2024 SEASON

2024 Season Training Camps

For those planning on joining us for the 2024 season, below are our live training camps scheduled to prepare for the rigors of the summer tour. Training camps for the 2024 season have been preliminarily set for the following dates:  

December 1-3 – Move-in Audition Camp (All Sections)
January 12-14 (updated)– Audition & Training Camp #1 Callbacks/Members/Applicants (All Sections)
February 9-11 – Audition & Training Camp #2 (Brass Only)
March 8-10 – Audition & Training Camp #3 (Brass Only)
April 5-7 – Audition & Training Camp #4 (Brass Only)
April 26-28 – Audition & Training Camp #5 (All Sections)

Summer Tour

The Summer experience begins for the 2024 corps with a tentative move-in date beginning Tuesday, May 28th (updated 11/12/23).  A 70+-day period follows with the conclusion of the season in Indianapolis for Drum Corps International World Championships.  Details of the summer tour will be announced in late November.  Members will travel to Phoenix Arizona on May 28 and then return home from Indianapolis on August 11.  

Tuition

The anticipated cost of tuition for 2024 membership to be approximately $5,500 (updated 11/12/23).  Often referred to as Membership Dues, this fee covers nearly all related costs to the experience including training camps, most meals throughout the summer, housing, instruments, equipment, uniforms, and travel.  (transportation to the corps and home after tour is not covered in this fee).

Fundraising

The Academy has two programs to assist members in raising money to offset their membership dues.  The first is the National Tour Raffle, where students sell tickets for the annual raffle, receiving 100% of the proceeds from their sales.  The second includes Member Sponsorship materials that are available to the members that can help secure support from their local community.

Scholarships

The Academy is thankful for a growing community of support that allows us to offer several internal opportunities for financial aid for our members.  See the list of current scholarship opportunities.  Other scholarships opportunities are available through DCI made available in the spring.  

A few sections have just launched new Facebook Info Groups. Check them out here:

Brief History

In 2001, The Academy Brass & Percussion Ensemble was formed to give some of Arizona’s finest young musicians an introduction to the incredibly unique activity of drum and bugle corps. Over the course of three summers, the young group of 52-60 performed for several local events and had taken the opportunity to perform in exhibition at its home show, the Southwest Corps Connection. In 2004, the group added the final element of the color guard, was accepted as a DCI sanctioned unit, made the name change to The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps and began competing for the first time. In 2006, the corps had grown to 128 members and competed for the first time in Drum Corps International World Championships in Madison, Wisconsin where they earned the title of Division II World Champion. 2007 marked their first year competing in Division I, now called World Class, where they continue to compete today. In 2009, The Academy was named the official drum and bugle corps of the City of Tempe. 2016 marked an historic season for the corps with its first appearance in World Class Finals competition, placing 11th overall. The Academy postponed operations in 2020 for Covid-19 related reasons, and made its successful return to the big stage in August of 2021.  We look forward to 2024, our 18th year as a World Class corps.

Questions? Who do I contact?

General questions about auditions or The Academy: audition@arizonaacademy.org