With drum corps set to return to the field this summer for the DCI Celebration Tour, Keith returns to the microphone for this long-awaited eighth episode that explores how 2020 has impacted the drum corps activity, how it moved things online, and how the ingenuity and talent of this community will ensure that members and fans will have spectacular shows to look forward to in 2021 and beyond. 

Special guests include: DCI CEO Dan Acheson, River City Rhythm executive director Bojan Hoover, Crossmen CEO Natalie Steele, Bluecoats CEO Mike Scott, and Ben Schroeder, director of Varsity Performing Arts Training Education and Events at Varsity Spirit.

Field Pass with Dan Potter

8. Finding Drum Corps: March On

In 2020 the marching arts world adopted the phrase, “March On,” and in 2021 DCI and its corps will do just that. This year Drum Corps International will present the DCI Celebration Tour with corps designing unique performances for this noncompetitive year. 

In this episode we look at the challenges facing the performers and corps—What does a noncompetitive season even look like? And most importantly, what are we looking forward to seeing on the field in 2021? 

After a year of no live drum corps, it’s time to celebrate the past, present and future of Marching Music’s Major League. 

Special guests include: Chris Holland, Geneva Le, Joshua Hecht, Dan Potter, Michael Cesario, Paul Doop, Rick Brown, Tim Hinton and Mallory Anderson.

9. Finding Drum Corps: The Celebration Tour

This week on Finding Drum Corps, we're visiting a part of the ensemble that host Keith Kelly is not the only newcomer to, as we learn about the enigmatic and the mysterious front ensemble. This week, we enter the pit.

10. Finding Drum Corps: Enter the Pit

Volunteers don’t get paid not because they’re worthless, but because they’re priceless. On this episode, host Keith Kelly finds out more about these priceless pillars of the activity—What drives them to give so much of themselves, what brings them back every year, and the voluntary history of this entire activity. This week we’re paying tribute to the volunteers, the hidden heroes of drum corps.

Special guests include: Natalie Steele, Tim Hinton, Bob Jacobs, Pat Seidling, and co-producer Mallory Anderson.

11. Finding Drum Corps: The Hidden Heroes

Dan Potter returns for the summer of 2022 with a special-edition series of the Field Pass podcast. "Traditions" celebrates 50 years of Drum Corps International, Episode 1 exploring the storied history of the DCI World Championships on television. Featuring guests Steve Rondinaro, Dennis DeLucia, Michael Cesario and Tom Blair.

Traditions: DCI on TV, Pt 1

Dan Potter delves even deeper into the storied history of the DCI World Championships on television, including some of the most memorable lines ever delivered on the airwaves, "like taking a bath in chocolate." With special guests Steve Rondinaro, Dennis DeLucia, Michael Cesario and Tom Blair.

Traditions: DCI on TV, Pt 2

Drum corps' unique legacy of "stuff" — artifacts, collectibles, old uniforms, pictures, publications, and more. There's a whole cadre of people working behind the scenes to preserve DCI's storied history, and a significant collection is currently being prepared to display as part of the 2022 DCI World Championships in Indianapolis. Featuring special guests Sue Kuehnhold, Steve Vickers, Blake Crenshaw and Bill Ives.

Traditions: Preserving drum corps history

The 2015 Drum Corps International Tour steps off in just 28 days, and many corps have already started spring training. And, if you need another sign that the summer is about to begin; Dan Potter is back with DCI's official Field Pass podcast presented by Zildjian. In today’s episode a quick look back at how the summer of 2014 ended as excitement builds to the kickoff of 2015.   


A last look back to spring into summer

One of the most tender moments this year comes during the ballad of the Troopers' 2015 show "Wild Horses," featuring a vocal solo by color guard member Madison Smith. And, that moment becomes even more special when you find out about Madison's relationship to the composer who arranged the ballad, as Dan Potter does in today's Field Pass presented by Zildjian.

Like father, like daughter

Dozens upon dozens of DCI corps have played composer John Mackey's music. Hundreds more high school and college marching bands have as well. This year, the Cadets' production "Awakening" contains two Mackey pieces, "Turning" and "Wine-Dark Sea." But, John Mackey almost never goes to see his music performed on a football field. 

Lately, though, that's been changing. Mackey is in Indianapolis to attend his first DCI World Championship Finals and, for many reasons, he's really looking forward to it. 

Today, Dan Potter had lunch with John Mackey and they talked about drum corps, about composing, and about Mackey's surprising background in music. Grab yourself a snack and enjoy this in-depth conversation with one of the world's most prolific wind ensemble composers in a special edition of the Field Pass presented by Zildjian.


Popular composer in the stands for first DCI Finals

The Blue Stars are hard at work, framing and finishing their 2018 production, "The Once and Future Carpenter." Dan Potter found out, it's a show that reboots the music of The Carpenters, merging it with the contemporary compositions of John Alden Carpenter, and mixing in the soundscape of a carpenter's workshop.

Blue Stars framing and finishing 2018 production

Two of the reasons why 2018 has quickly become one of the most memorable drum corps seasons ever are Megan Hutera and Olivia Hayter. Megan is the flugelhorn soloist for the Madison Scouts and is the traditionally all-male corps' first, full-fledged, female member. Olivia is the remarkable vocal soloist belting out tunes by Joni Mitchell and Billie Holiday in Bluecoats' production "Session 44." Dan Potter introduces us to both in this edition of DCI's Field Pass podcast.

Two of 2018’s dynamic soloists

Just over a month since the DCI World Championship Finals wrapped up in Indianapolis, Dan Potter takes a look and listen back through 2018’s Top 12 with DCI.org columnist Michael Boo.

Finals night one month later

One of the last corps to release info about their 2019 competitive production, DCI's Dan Potter catches up with Bluecoats program coordinator Dean Westman for the full reveal.

Bluecoats 2019 show reveal

The 2019 DCI World Championships were full of incredible musical moments. Dan Potter teams up with DCI's Michael Boo and Jeff Griffith in this six-part series this week covering Boston Crusaders, Phantom Regiment, Troopers, Jersey Surf, and Seattle Cascades.

Best musical moments of 2019 (Part I)

The 2019 DCI World Championships were full of incredible musical moments. Dan Potter teams up with DCI's Michael Boo and Jeff Griffith in this six-part series this week covering Gold, Colts, Mandarins and Carolina Crown.

Best musical moments of 2019 (Part 3)

The 2019 DCI World Championships were full of incredible musical moments. Dan Potter teams up with DCI's Michael Boo and Jeff Griffith in this six-part series this week featuring Santa Clara Vanguard, The Cadets, The Academy and Legends.

Best musical moments of 2019 (Part 4)

The 2019 DCI World Championships were full of incredible musical moments. Dan Potter teams up with DCI's Michael Boo and Jeff Griffith in this six-part series this week covering Genesis, Pacific Crest, Blue Stars and Bluecoats.

Best musical moments of 2019 (Part 5)

Blue Devils, Blue Knights, Spirit of Atlanta, Spartans. The 2019 DCI World Championships were full of incredible musical moments. Dan Potter teams up with DCI's Michael Boo and Jeff Griffith in this six-part series.

Best musical moments of 2019 (Part 6)

Keith Kelly takes the reins of the Field Pass in his special edition series, “Finding Drum Corps.” In Episode 1, Keith talks through his introduction to the drum corps activity and learns more about the drum corps origin stories of a bevy of special guests including: Mark Nichols, Oisin Molloy, John DeNovi, David Glasgow, Dan Acheson, John Meehan and Mallory Anderson.

1. Finding Drum Corps: Origin Stories

In Episode 2, Keith has an eye on the past to better understand the future, tracing the history of the drum corps activity from before the founding of Drum Corps International through changes and developments that have shaped the way we experience marching music performances today.

Special guests include: DCI CEO Dan Acheson, DCI Hall of Fame member Michael Cesario, Marching Arts Education podcaster Tim Hinton, DCI judge administrator John Phillips, and former Blue Knights member and podcast co-producer Mallory Anderson.

2. Finding Drum Corps: Those who have come before

After months of preparation practice and planning, it’s time to take the show on the road! In Episode 4, Keith looks at what it takes to put a drum corps on the road and what that experience is like for performing corps members who travel thousands of miles across the country on their annual summer tour.

Special guests include: DCI senior director of global business development John DeNovi, Madison Scouts alum Austin Armstrong, Blue Devils director Pat Seidling, former Boston Crusaders drum major Thompson Vou, and former Blue Knights member and podcast co-producer Mallory Anderson.

4. Finding Drum Corps: The show on the road

In Episode 5, Keith Kelly explores the competitive aspects of Drum Corps International from both the perspective of judges and of fans.

Special guests include: DCI judge administrator John Phillips, Santa Clara Vanguard brass caption head Marc Nichols, Bluecoats alum John Weldy, Marching Arts Education podcaster Tim Hinton, DCI CEO Dan Acheson, and former Blue Knights member and podcast co-producer Mallory Anderson.

5. Finding Drum Corps: The contest

In Episode 6 of Finding Drum Corps, Keith explores the drum corps activity as it exists outside of the United States and how ensembles around the world are inspired by DCI and its corps. 

Special guests include: Chair of Marching & Performing Arts UK Alan Thompson, Inbhear Mór Performance Ensemble director Oisiin Molloy, Brazilian band director Leandro Pascui, Calgary Stampede manager of bands Ryan Hancock, Jubal director Hans Kloppert, Beeches Performance Ensemble director Andrew Dallison, DCI senior director of global business development John DeNovi, and former Blue Knights member and Finding Drum Corps co-producer Mallory Anderson.

6. Finding Drum Corps: The "I" in DCI

The drum corps season is a crescendo that ends in a truly magnificent display of talent and skill each August. It's DCI Finals Week, and Keith Kelly turns his gaze to Lucas Oil Stadium to explore the season-ending events of each DCI Summer Tour.

Special guests include: Santa Clara Vanguard brass caption head Nark Nichols, Bluecoats drum major Peyton Grunzke, Blue Devils brass arranger John Meehan, DCI CEO Dan Acheson, DCI Judge Administrator John Phillips, Old Bridge Elementary Drumline director Colin Bell, Crossmen drum major Lydia Marshall, and former Blue Knights member and Finding Drum Corps co-producer Mallory Anderson.

7. Finding Drum Corps: Finals

Hosted by award-winning radio personality Dan Potter, Drum Corps International’s official Field Pass podcast gives you an inside look at Marching Music’s Major League; from the parking lot, to the stadium tunnel to the 50-yard line! 

Drum Corps International

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