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Teenage musicians from around the world are in Indianapolis this weekend competing in a number of events as part of the Drum Corps International World Championships.
Ensembles include brass musicians, percussionists, color guard members and dancers. Groups from around the globe square off in different categories hoping to reach the final rounds on Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium.
John DeNovi, senior director of business development for Drum Corps International, says this year’s competitors have upped the ante in many areas, including staging.
“It almost looks like small homes that they are building on Lucas Oil Stadium," DeNovi says. "It's really remarkable the way they are able to bring these on a national tour and get them off a truck and get them onto a stadium and a field and then off with great ease.”
DCI, headquartered in Indianapolis, has been around for 45 years. DeNovi says the level of talent and showmanship just gets better every year.
“For many years drum and bugle corps were very traditional military style costumes, or a uniform. They are now starting to experiment with a whole bunch of different looks now that fabric technology and different types of printingand manufacturing processes have come about,” DeNovi says.
DCI also hosts an International Music and Food festival on the Pan Am Plaza on Saturday. This year attendees will get to peek inside one of the world’s favorite cars — The Oscar Mayer Weinermobile.
“People have a chance to poke around and look inside and get their picture taken with it," DeNovi says. "It’s a piece of Americana while we deliver some great music and some drinks and food for the entire family.”
Competitions start Thursday.Ticket and schedule information is available online at dci.org
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