Marching teams don’t miss a beat
Nine drum and bugle corps prepare to lock horns in Orchard Park tonight
Storms over Orchard Park Saturday were muffled by the thunderous music booming out of Ralph Wilson Stadium.
The roar of trumpets echoed off the stadium’s scoreboard and seats, and the in-sync beat of bass drums seemed to signal an ensuing battle on the field. Snare drum players shuffled their feet in unison and feverishly banged their instruments at a flawless pitch.
And this was just practice. The music will reach a crescendo at the 12th annual Drums Along the Waterfront starting at 6:30 today in the stadium. Nine drum and bugle corps, six of which are ranked among the top 12 in the world, will compete and perform.
“People want to feel like they are seeing the best in the world,” said Jack Gaylord Jr., the event’s producer. “When they come [tonight], they’re seeing the best.”
Each team spent Saturday rehearsing at different sites around Western New York for their 12- minute sets tonight. Most of the groups had spent all night on a bus traveling from a performance in Allentown, Pa. One of those drum corps, the world-renowned Bluecoats, was able to practice in the stadium itself.
The Bluecoats arrived at the stadium at about dawn, then were allowed about three hours sleep in the field house before an entire day of rehearsing, marching and instrument tuning.
Most members of the group are between the ages of 18 and 21; only 150 made the cut from a group of 400 who tried out in November.
Joe Falcon, a 20-year-old drum conductor in the group, was internalizing the beat he heard on the field from the percussion and the brass.
Falcon, who plays the trumpet, said his passion is conducting. Despite the grueling pace of tour dates, he said everyone is there because of their love for music. The group spends the entire summer together either at a five-week camp or touring around the country.
“It’s an electric feeling,” he said. “We’re all together for the same purpose.”
One of the tuba players for another group is from Western New York. Sean Pease of Depew joined the Glassmen because of his passion for music. The 19- year-old traveled to Toledo, Ohio, once a month since last fall to practice, then spent the entire summer at camp and touring, learning new music for about 12 hours a day.
He’s grown close to everyone else in the corps.
“They’re basically my brothers and sisters,” he said.
His group spent the day practicing at his alma mater, Lancaster High School, and slept in his old gym Saturday morning. Pease was thrilled about returning home during the tour; last night was the first time he got to see his mother in two and a half months.
He can’t wait to play on the field of the Buffalo Bills in front of his family and friends.
“It’s gonna be huge, absolutely huge,” he said. “This is probably one of the biggest shows of my season.”
