In recognition of the Cadets' 75th Anniversary next year, George Hopkins, Director of the Cadets and the CEO of Youth Education in the Arts, announces that for the 2009 season, the Cadets Drum Corps will perform as the 'Holy Name Cadets'.

On 'Yorkshire Day', Thursday 1st August, everyone on tour became honorary Yorkshire Folk as BYBA surfed into Newquay. The 'stage' for today's performances was a sloping lawned area overlooking the iconic bay at Newquay, therefore other than the NSG Guard providing some movement, there was no marching in today's performances.

After some free time and rehearsals, BYBA's South Coast Tour was "on the road" and rolled into Teignmouth to perform at the Den, a grassy area on the sea front, adjacent to the River Teign estuary.

Beatrix Drum & Bugle Corps from Hilversum - The Netherlands has won the Drum Corps International Open Class contest in Hamilton - Canada. The corps scores 79.100 points.

After months of planning by BYBA President, Bob Girvan, at 2:30pm on Monday 28th July, Carly March struck up the band, and Warwick Girls led the parade into the arena at Dawlish Warren with Poynton Commodores and members from the Northern Star Group close behind.

After an impressive win over their nearest rivals and current DCUK champion Kidsgrove Scouts, the reigning European champions Senators, from Eastleigh, Hampshire, look on course for a record eighth DCUK title.

What's the worst thing about taking a year out? It's taking a year out! What's the best thing about taking a year out? If anything, the best thing about taking a year out is looking forward to the next season and getting back on the competition circuit. Doncaster Scouts will be back next year gracing the circuit with our unique brand of marching show and music. Anyhow that's enough about Doncaster.

Indoor Percussion Europe has produced a DVD of the first European IPE Championships, last March in Wevelgem - Belgium. IPE starts shipping the DVDs now.

BYBA is working with MPAUK and the British Federation of Youth Marching Band Organizations on a 'whole activity' showcase event for June 28th 2009 in Colchester, Essex, UK, based around performances by top DCI Corps Blue Devils, and including UK and Dutch bands and Corps of all styles.

The Performance Portfolio of the British Youth Band Association is pleased to announce a further promotion at Academy Brass, Barnsley - South Yorkshire, on Saturday 19th July, 2008. No further promotions will be made in 2008.

The Blue Devils have topped the big Drum Corps International contest in San Antonio. The corps scored 92.375 - beating the Cavaliers with 1.4 points.

In yet another Fan Network first, the live webcast from the DCI Southwestern Championship in San Antonio on Saturday, July 19th, will offer fans the chance to choose how they watch a full day of exciting drum corps performances over the internet.

Millennium Drum & Bugle Corps has taken the fifth Italian IMSB Championship title last Saturday in the Brianteo Stadium. Amaseno Harmony Show Band became second and the Giuseppe Verdi Marching Showband ended up in third place.

A great weekend ahead with Academy Brass (BYBA) on the Saturday in Barnsley followed by the DCUK Warrington competition the next day. Both competitions are set to be a fantastic end of the first half of the British seasons.

The popular movie section on the DCE website, DCE Cinema, has been upgraded to a new version. The capacity of the new Cinema 'movie archive' has been extended from 10 to 200 clips.

Yesterday Carolina Crown topped the DCI Orlando competition, beating The Cadets for the first time in the corps' history. Crown posted a score of 85.625, a .625 jump from the previous night.

DCE, DCUK and DCN are pleased to announce that the 2009 contest season will see the introduction of a one year trial allowing the amplification of acoustic percussive membrane and acoustic percussive keyboard instruments.

Charismatic London Mayor Boris Johnson has supported the UK activity by helping to launch National Marching Youth Music Month. Arranged by the British Federation of Youth Marching Band Organisations to raise the profile of the activity, Mr Johnson was joined by members of three bands for the recent City Hall photo call.

The DCE Cinema page will be renewed this weekend. The new version will have a playlist that will make it easier to search and select the latest drum corps movies.

July 5th and 6th saw a busy weekend of local promotion for the corps as the Black Knights brought their brand of entertainment to The Northfleet Carnival and Gravesham Councils Big Day Out Plus event.

Vintage are proud to announce the development and formation of their future organisation Vintage Performing Arts. Within this new organisation Adrian Jones (Vintage Percussion Director) will again take the reigns to guide the current British and European Indoor Percussion Champions into their 5th consecutive competitive season.

Yesterday was the first day of the DCI season with full judging panels. The Blue Devils are still on top of the list, with the Cavaliers only 0.15 points behind them.

After several years it was finally time for the Beatrix Drum & Bugle Corps color guard to change their uniforms. Last Saturday was the first performance in the new outfits for audience.

Poynton Commodores are pleased to announce that we have received an Awards For All grant towards new brass instruments. With this money a big decision had to be made; should the corps wait until October to change to new Bb instruments or give the brass line the ultimate challenge of changing to the new key instruments now?

Three corps have confirmed their places so far for the 2008 tour:
Poynton Commodores, Warwik Girls and Northern Star. The event will start with all corps arriving in to Devon on Sunday 27th July.

Beatrix Drum & Bugle Corps from Hilversum topped the second Drum Corps Netherlands contest, yesterday in Apeldoorn. The corps scored 67.05 points - the highest score in this year's DCN competition so far.

Barry Janicula and John Allnutt will join the staff of Beatrix Drum & Bugle Corps from Hilversum - Holland during the upcoming USA tour. Both staff members have been active in DCI top corps for years.

Trinity School Showband aim to be the first band from Great Britain to qualify for the WAMSB World Championships in 2009 to be held in Kerkrade. Trinity will travel to Monza in Italy 7th â?? 14th July 2008 to participate in the Monza International Championships along side bands such as Millennium and Jubal. By scoring an 85 in Monza Trinity would qualify for Kerkrade 2009.

In less than two months, Drum Corps Europe has sold almost 1,000 tickets for the 2008 edition of the DCE European Championships, which will take place on 27th September. Section B of the stand is nearly sold out.

Using contemporary drumlines as a source for inspiration, a group of drummers have brought a fresh breeze to the Norwegian marching scene. They call themselves Complete, and their mission is to create something new and innovative in a country where traditions is strong, and until today, untouchable.

The first scores of the 2008 DCI World Class are in. On the first competition date of the season, The Cavaliers received the highest score: 73.400, followed by Phantom Regiment (72.400).

Trinity School Showband celebrates their 10th Year in 2008. To celebrate a decade of TSSB they will be re-branding with a new logo, website, image and uniform.

We're all feeling pain at the pump every time we fill up. But, one traveling musical group based in La Crosse is being forced to stay home, because of high gas prices.

The Performance Portfolio and Finals Working Party of the British Youth Band Association are pleased to announce that the climax of our 2008 summer season will be on Sunday 5th October, 2008, at Butts Park Arena, Coventry.

The Performance Portfolio of the British Youth Band Association is pleased to announce three promotions following a great start to the 2008 season at Severn Vale Marching Band Championships, Upton, Worcestershire, on Saturday 7th June, 2008.

Southern Aurora and Legion Star spent the half term week at a training camp in Zele Belgium, This was the first time either corps had done a seven day trip, and continued their move to being more European based. Drumband Zele hosted Southern Aurora and Legion Star's stay.

The Staffordshire Knights have a new uniform. The corps has moved to a custom design by Michael J. Cesario, supplied by Fred J. Miller Inc. As the corps continues to mature and develop, it was felt important to reflect this in a new uniform style, but Michael has acknowledged SK's history by incorporating some symbols from the past into the design.

The 2008 Drum Corps United Kingdom season kicked off on Sunday 8th June with all member corps in attendance at the Saffron Lane Sports Centre - Leicester for the Kidsgrove Scouts sponsored Midlands Drum Corps Contest. This stadium is on the same complex as the old Midlands Drum Corps favourite venue of the Leicester Cycledrome - which was looking a little sorry for itself off in the distance whilst awaiting redevelopment.

Yesterday, 10 corps and bands were out in public in the first competition of the BYBA season. Overall winners of the day goes to 37th Kingswood Scouts who took first place in division 1 with a score of 58.06.

The Federation of Youth Marching Band Organisations, of which BYBA is an active member, has announced that it is moving to a new office address. This move is the first action of a two year development programme funded by the John Ellerman Foundation.

Drum Corps Europe (DCE) will introduce a new advice system that allows corps to make suggestions for changes in the DCE Competition Manual. Following the pilot that took place at beginning of 2008, DCE have now held a meeting with their Certified Partners (Drum Corps Netherlands [DCN] & Drum Corps United Kingdom [DCUK]) to decide how best to deal with any future changes and enhancements to their Rules & Regulations and procedures.

Due to the small number of corps that had registered for the Weston Super Mare contest on Saturday 5th July it has been decided that it is not really viable to run a contest on this date. However, Drum Corps United Kingdom are pleased to announce that on Sunday 6th July, in association with the British Youth Band Association and Midsomer Norton Marching Brass there will now be a DCUK section forming part of the day at the Somer Sounds Youth Band Contest being held at Paulton Rovers Football Club.

It is with regret that the management of Northern Star Group have reached the decision not to field a summer corps for the 2008 season. This was in no way an easy decision, the members loyal to Northern Star appreciate the current situation and have been thanked for their patience and ongoing support to other performance ensembles within the Group.

A number of weeks ago the organising committee of Ouse Valley Sounds was advised by the venue, Bedford International Athletics Stadium, of a clash of dates between the BYBA contest and an athletics event. The committee were offered a number of alternatives around the original date, however due to other BYBA contests the only suitable alternative open was Saturday 13th September.

As individuals and businesses throughout the country stare in disbelief at their checkbook balances in the wake of mounting fuel and transportation expenses and an uncertain economic outlook, Drum Corps International is taking steps to ensure sustainability for itself and its member corps throughout the approaching summer season and beyond.