Get on the list to receive updates and notifications on the 2025 season and auditions with The Academy Interest Form.
Submit the 2025 Interest Form here2025 Season Planning
The Academy Drum and Bugle Corps is already planning for the 2025 season, which is remarkably our 25th year of programming in the Drum and Bugle Corps Space. The corps will be embarking on another amazing journey soon, and your first step begins with the audition process. We hope you will join us.
Auditions
Auditions begin this fall with opportunities for students to audition at one of our one-day remote audition experiences, or our primary Arizona Audition Camp in December (6-8). Students who absolutely cannot attend a live event are encouraged to submit a video evaluation to get their foot in the door.
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 EVENTS:
DATE:
April 25-27
LOCATION:
Mountain Pointe HS
4201 E Knox Rd
Phoenix, AZ 85044 – map
SECTIONS:
Full Corps – Brass, Color Guard, Percussion, Drum Majors
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.
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 when they become available.
MORE ABOUT THE 2025 SEASON
2025 Season Training Camps
For those planning on joining us for the 2025 season, below are our live training camps scheduled to prepare for the rigors of the summer tour. Training camps for the 2025 season have been preliminarily (Subject to change) set for the following dates:
December 6-8 – Move-in Audition Camp (All Sections)
January 17-19 – Audition & Training Camp #1 Callbacks/Members/Applicants (All Sections)
February 14-16 – Audition & Training Camp #2 (Brass Only)
March 7-9 – Audition & Training Camp #3 (Brass Only)
April 4-6 – Audition & Training Camp #4 (Brass Only)
April 25-27 – Audition & Training Camp #5 (All Sections)
Summer Tour
The Summer experience begins for the 2025 corps with a tentative move-in date beginning Tuesday, May 27th. 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 27 and then return home from Indianapolis on August 10.
Tuition
The cost of tuition for 2025 membership will be $5,850. 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. A list of current scholarship opportunities for The Academy is available for viewing HERE. Other scholarships opportunities are available through DCI made available in the spring.
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 2025, our 19th year as a World Class corps.
Questions? Who do I contact?
General questions about auditions or The Academy: audition@arizonaacademy.org