Sheffield hosting drum corps event

The hills will be alive with the sound of music when Drum Corps International comes to Sheffield this summer.

“Music on the Mountain” will feature six Open Class DCI drum corps performing at Sheffield Area Middle High School on July 24.

Art Lane, chairman for the show that is being sponsored by the Sheffield Music Boosters, said the idea came from a visit to a similar show the boosters attended in Johnsonburg.

“We thought about how nice it would be to bring this back to the Sheffield area,” Lane said.

Sarah Korchak, band and choir director at Sheffield Area Middle and High School, said, “The Sheffield community and area schools have a proud history of marching band and drum corps. The fire department used to host a drum and bugle corps competition as part of its summer festival and parade.”

The bill thus far for the show has run upwards of $8,000, a fee Lane said the community and local businesses and organizations have helped to raise.

“It was $7,500 for the contract with DCI,” Lane said, “and we have to pay for judges and find them a hotel.”

While the judges get hotel accommodations, logistics for the six corps guaranteed to attend have “been kind of a nightmare,” said Lane. Because of the amount of time spent on the bus, DCI requires corps to practice and sleep in the same area. Bus drivers, Lane said, aren’t permitted to drive anywhere else after that amount of time driving.

“They arrive at 1 or 2 a.m., get up at 7 a.m. and then practice all day before they come to the show,” said Lane.

Warren County School District Executive Director Amy Stewart said the district procedure for overnights in district buildings allows the corps to stay at area schools through a set of criteria.

“We have developed new procedures that will allow for this unique situation,” said Stewart. “It’s important procedurally to treat everyone the same. We have to be consistent that we don’t judge. What is it that makes this unique that we allow some things and not the others?”

Stewart said those answers include that the corps are sponsored by the boosters, it is being used as a fundraiser that will result in a financial benefit, the students will benefit educationally and the members of the drum corps have their own insurance and are mostly adults.

The corps will stay and practice at Sheffield, Youngsville, Beaty-Warren Middle School and the YCMA, with two corps staying in Kane.

Due to space constraints, Lane said equipment would be held at HighCrush before being brought to the school to perform to conserve parking. A free shuttle will run from the St. Paul Center for additional parking.

Lane said the boosters don’t want this to be a one-and-done event.

“We want to bring this back to Sheffield every year. It’s a lot of work, but it’ll be well worth it by the time we’re done,” said Lane.

“We believe hosting ‘Music on the Mountain’ is a wonderful opportunity to rekindle interest in our music program while providing financial benefits for the boosters as well as the whole community,” said Korchak. “This is the perfect chance to unite the memories of the past with hope for the future.”

Lane said 1,000 tickets will be sold to be sure the 1,300-seat stands aren’t overfilled. Those tickets are $13 in advance for adults and $8 for children 12 and under. Tickets at the gate will be $15 and $10.

Advance tickets are on sale now by calling Tim Korchak at 730-5477 or 968-3785. Tickets can also be purchased in Sheffield at Sheffield Pharmacy, Allegheny Winery and Peterson Hardware; in Clarendon at Johnson’s Tire, Main Street Diner and Howe’s True Value; in Warren at Crone’s Pharmacy and Gaughn’s Pharmacy; and in Youngsville at Richard’s Restaurant.

Those interested in advertising or more information can call Lane at 814-720-7555.

Performing in the show will be 7th Regiment, Coastal Surge, Legends, Les Stentors, Raiders and Spartans.

Lane said a seventh corps could possibly be added from a pool of three to five new corps currently under evaluation by DCI.