DCE Close Up (22): Thierry

In the DCE Close Up series you will meet the DCE personnel, those people behind the scenes who offer their personal time to run drum corps events. In this episode we'll meet Thierry Plume.

Name: Thierry Plume
DCE position: French translator
Age: 46
Residence: Auvelais, Belgium
Job: Hospital administrative employee


Drum corps history: "I started in 1975 in a marching band called Borsalino as both a snare-drummer and secretary of the group. Later, I played different percussion instruments and even slide trombone. My first contact with drum corps was the show organised by the young Drum Corps Holland at Hilversum in 1980, featuring the Boston Crusaders. That's where my heart beat strangely for the first time and I fell in love with drum corps. After that, I did my best to progressively change my own 'show band' into drum corps. The experiences sharing ideas with the Blue Barons Drum & Bugle Corps from Glasgow in 1983 and 1984 were of great help to us, we then purchased marching style instruments (G bugles!) and colorguard equipment. Finally, in 1985 we had set up Borsalino Drum & Bugle Corps with the active support from the young Hans Kloppert from Jubal who taught us marching and maneuvering techniques, along with the guard and brass line."

"In 1986, with the drum major of our corps, we went to the States for one month to accompany the DCI World Champion Garfield Cadets on tour. We not only had great moments there but also learned a lot about how to run a drum corps and its techniques."

"In 1988, with the help of Francois Deschacht and Johan Delacauw, former members of WIK Oostende, we partnered with showband Sojobo from Antwerp to start Drum Corps Belgium. Borsalino was the first winner of the DCB championship and runner-up in 1989. Unfortunately, Borsalino Corps, after more than 450 performances, sadly came to a final end in 1995 due to permanent membership problems that had been ongoing for several years. Because of that experience, I distanced myself from the music activity for a while."

"In 2004, I was asked to help some French friends to assist marching bands in France in setting up DCF (Drum Corps France). At that time, I realized that the drum corps virus in my blood had come back to life! Since then, I have been the coordinator and executive director of DCF."

Working for DCE since: 2004

Why? "Because I love the "European view" of the drum corps activities of DCE. For the activity to grow as fast and as good as it can, it's very important to make the activity open to as many corps as possible as well as organising the big events at the European level. My dream is to see a DCE organisation close to the DCI level, where American and Asian corps will come to take part in the championships. On the other hand, I am far from the Netherlands where the DCE team is working but I am able to assist with translation thanks to the internet!"

Is it fun off the field? "Well, since I was actively involved in the "field" activity for 20 years, now I prefer to appreciate the shows from a spectator seat. But on the other hand, I have been gladly trying to help DCE, DCF and French corps as much as I can in many different ways, from teaching marching and maneuvering, show design and even basic percussion instruction!"

Greatest drum corps memories? "One of the most unforgetable and emotional memories was the first DCI show that I saw in Montreal in 1986, which had always been a dream to me. I still clearly remember the constant tears I had at both the beginning and the end of the performances... The DCI Finals I attended in 1986, 1992 and 1994 were also very impressive."

"Apart from all this, I have good memories of the Boston Crusaders' European visit in 1980, Borsalino's DCB championships in 1988 and 1989 (in which I was the drum-major), the Madison Scouts' Europe visit and show in 1988 and obviously DCE Kortrijk in 2005!"

Do you want to be a DCE staff member yourself? Please contact us, and we'd be happy to welcome you in the DCE team!