Horizon Drum and Bugle Corps has learned that it was one of many corps that did not receive an open class designation from Drum Corps International.
Drum Corps International is a leader in producing and sanctioning competitive events for marching music ensembles for student musicians and performers. Horizon has applied twice for the designation.
Horizon Executive Director Jasper Miranda and board President Michael Miranda issued a letter letting people know the results of the open class application earlier this week. Open class is mainly made up of drum corps that revolve around regional circuits and they get their membership from those regions.
Michael Miranda said Horizon wants to try again for the open class designation next season. He said the group would reach out to the DCI advisory board to get more information about areas Horizon needs to focus on to give it a better shot next year.
Jasper Miranda also has a mentor he’s going to be meeting with, Michael said. He added that some corps are fortunate enough to make open class on the first or second try, but more have to try three or four times.
“We’re going to make sure that we get all the help and information we can from the advisory board to give us a better chance” to reach open-class status next year, Michael said.
The letter said there were some “productive key takeaways from the conference call that show that we are on the right track. One of the things they liked was our tracking and management on inventory and budget. The review board also liked the interaction we have on social media and the support we garner from our membership.”
The letter said the result was not a poor reflection on Horizon or its membership.
“These things take time, they are a process and it is all a learning curve. We are still a young organization with a very bright future and we can only go up from here,” the letter said.
