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Sunday, July 28, 2002

By Ken Mrazik, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

Many of the nation's top drum and bugle corps have competed at the annual Three Rivers Summer Music Games in the past decade. But the smorgasbord of corps that will be in the area this week should be enough to capture the attention of even the most casual observer.

Tomorrow, units from Taiwan and the Netherlands will join five junior corps from Drum Corps International (DCI) at the Summer Music Games at Baldwin High School's Cibik Stadium at 7 p.m.

Then on Saturday, six senior corps will be in competition at the American International Open at Butler High School Stadium at 7 p.m. Headlining the event will be the Syracuse Brigadiers, the Drum Corps Associates' (DCA) world champion for the past three seasons.

Junior and senior corps are distinguished by the age of the members: 22 and under for juniors; any age for seniors.

Taipei Yuehfu from Taipei, Taiwan, was the international class champion at the DCI World Championships at Buffalo, N.Y., last year. Jubal, from Dordrecht, the Netherlands, is making its first U.S. appearance. Jubal, however, will perform only in exhibition since Dutch corps do not have an age limit.

	Previews Three Rivers Summer Music Games With: Blue Devils of Concord, Calif.; Boston Crusaders of Boston, Mass.; Seattle Cascades of Seattle, Wash.; Kiwanis Kavaliers of Kitchener, Ontario; Magic of Orlando of Orlando, Fla.; Taipei Yuehfu of Taipei, Taiwan; Jubal of Dordrecht, Holland. Where: Baldwin High School's Cibik Stadium. When: 7 p.m. tomorrow. Tickets: $15 to $18; 412-207-7730. Related websites: Three Rivers Summer Music Games Drum Corps International American International Open With: Brigadiers of Syracuse, N.Y.; Empire Statesmen of Rochester, N.Y.; Rochester Crusaders of Cheektowaga, N.Y.; Kingston Grenadiers of Carleton Place, Ontario; Heat Wave of Orlando, Fla.; Vagabonds Night Storm of Butler. Where: Butler High School Stadium. When: 7 p.m. Saturday. Tickets: $8 to $12; 724-282-7695 or 724-679-2624. Related websites: General Butler Vagabonds Drum Corps Associates

"The interesting thing about Taipei Yuehfu is that there really is nothing too unusual," said Dan Acheson, executive director of DCI. "Visually, they are a little more unique with the use of different props. But to be from a completely different culture and be so similar to corps here is hard to believe. I think it's worthwhile to see both of those corps because you never know if you'll get the chance to see them again."

Also scheduled to appear at the Three Rivers Summer Music Games are the Blue Devils of Concord, Calif.; the Boston Crusaders of Boston, Mass.; the Seattle Cascades of Seattle, Wash.; the Kiwanis Kavaliers of Kitchener, Ontario; and Magic of Orlando of Orlando, Fla.

The Blue Devils placed second, the Boston Crusaders ninth and the Seattle Cascades 17th at the DCI finals last year. Magic of Orlando returned to competition this season after a two-year absence.

The Blue Devils, always a crowd favorite, have a program titled "Jazz -- Music Made in America." Among their selections are "The House of the Rising Sun" and "Channel One Suite."

A description in this year's DCI yearbook best illustrates the Blue Devils: "Loaded with driving percussion and stunning solos, the music blasts into the stands with a furious swing that leaves no bones unshaken."

The Seattle Cascades, although a relatively unknown corps, could achieve a spot in the top 12 at the DCI finals Aug. 10 at Madison, Wis. They are ranked 10th and have beaten several highly respected corps, including the popular Madison Scouts.

"This is not the usual show for us," said Bill Drescher, chairman of the Three Rivers Summer Music Games, "but in this day and age, it's kind of neat to have the international corps here."

The American International Open at Butler, once one of the largest junior competitions in the country, is hoping to become a showcase for senior corps. In the 1970s and early '80s, the event was a three-day affair with up to 54 corps in competition.

"Senior corps have become very, very entertaining," said Andy Yaracs, president of the American International Open and the General Butler Vagabonds. "I happened to be in Syracuse last September and saw the [DCA World Championships] and was quite impressed. I said, 'If I could get these corps to come to Butler, I think they would be a very good draw.'"

The Brigadiers not only bring a big brass sound but a complete package of precise percussion, drill and showmanship that has made them world champions four of the past five years.

Their program, "Picasso Sketchbook," includes Chick Corea's "Spanish Fantasy" and "Day Danse" and Arturo Sandoval's "Guaguanco." Unlike senior corps from years ago, the Brigadiers' movements rival that of many junior corps.

Other corps at the Butler event are the Empire Statesmen of Rochester, N.Y.; the Rochester Crusaders of Cheektowaga, N.Y.; the Kingston Grenadiers of Carleton Place, Ontario; Heat Wave of Orlando, Fla.; and Vagabonds Night Storm of Butler.

The Empire Statesmen finished fourth and the Rochester Crusaders seventh at the DCA championships last year.