Phantom Regiment at MV

Mt. Vernon housed Phantom Regiment, a professional drum corps that is a part of Drum Corps International, from August 7-11. The band members stayed and slept in the auxiliary gym, and the drivers of the buses stayed in the choir and band practice rooms.

The members practiced in the parking lot, and used the football field once the football players were finished with practice.

They had open rehearsal on Wednesday the 8th, and many students went to watch.

“The community night was a lot of fun to go to,” said Kaylee Demaree, 12. “The Drum Corps has three times more people than we do, so that means more power and more talent. I felt like I was being blasted in the face with sound. I love having our band kids see a professional band perform because it shows everyone, especially the newbies, what the end goal is.”

Many of the band members were excited about seeing Phantom Regiment perform, as it was an example of what the Mt. Vernon band department could become with enough practice.

“Phantom staying here was probably one of my favorite band experiences,” said Will Farrell, 11. “I loved having so many incredibly talented, driven people here.

“In their time at Mt. Vernon, I learned a lot from them, both through what they told and taught me, but also through the way they rehearsed and performed, as well as how they held themselves both on and off the field. Phantom Regiment had a drive to get better that clearly rubbed off on our band.

He continued, “Even two weeks after DCI Finals, we still look up to them as models of how to act, and do our best with every rep to achieve that same level of intensity and uniformity.”

Gallery • 17 Photos

Kurtis Spann

Phantom Regiment at MV