TIME OF MY LIFE

I can't believe it.... It juyst doesn't stop! Ran into another bunch of people I used to march with last night at the show in Buffalo. All former or current Empire Statesmen! GREAT !

Had just had a great couple of days, and as cream on the cake I was treated on a performance by the Empire Statesmen. David Bruni is sill their drum major. (His dad, the late Vince Bruni - "Mr B" started the corps).
I was surprised to see "Juice" (Mark Sichewski) and Mark Sinden in the corps. Back in the dsy they drove from Canada every weekend.
Jimmy Steele, who used to be brass captionhead for Spirit in DCI, is back on mellophone and is CH for the horns.
Geoff Adeney still has to learn some of the drill, and will be in soon.
What a great evening!!!
The corps has a "Wizard of Oz" show this summer. Excellent musical book! Traditionally Statesmen add a lot of props and little tricks to their show.
A girl dressed as Dorothy worked her way through the programme, and a witch with a green face topped it off. I wasn't surprised to see the "I am melting" scene! Well done!!

I was the first ever foreigner (not counting the Canadians) to march Empire Statesmen. A few years later they hed two other guys from the Netherlands with them. Back home they're with Bicycleband Crescendo. This year one of their younger brothers (also of Crescendo) is playing in Statesmen's trumpet section: Leonard Tolsma. He was surprised alright when I started speaking Dutch to him in the stadium tunnel!

I missed Pioneer and Cascades (sorry Martjan!), but got to see Troopers and Boston Crusaders. And our own team of course, who scored 97.05 tonight!!!

Some other musical entertainment was provided by the Prime Time Brass, an ensemble of all corps alumni, that topped the DCA Ensemble Championships a few times.
Four more familiar faces from my 1992 Statesmen season in that group too! Fun to see all of them after so many years: Tom Allen, Bill Ray and Chris Castellon.
AND they play some crazy stuff! High screaming trumpet slos too!

Enjoy,HK