Cadets 2012 — the Christmas Show

Cadets — Christmas in July — 2012

Ghop

Dec 15, 2025

I am in the process of creating a video series of discussions and presentations wrapped around the Cadets Drum Corps ( 1979-the end)

In the meantime, as the Holidays quickly approach, I will be using 2012 and the Christmas show, as a vehicle to open the door to the goings-on inside of the craziness of a REAL, non profit, as I used to call, Youth Education in the Arts, and all that goes into, and around, putting together and maintaining, a multi-million dollar non profit.

I will try to keep the reads to 10–15 minutes ( more if videos are attached)

Here we go:

Where did the Christmas Show come from??

On July 25th, 2011, the Cadets were rehearsing for a performance in Dallas, TX. The evening before, we had placed third at San Antonio, just a few tenths behind the Blue Devils and the Cavaliers.

Spirits were high despite the brutal heat, even at 8:00 am, and we were sitting in a circle at the center of the stadium for a quick review of the day.

For those at a distance from the Cadets of the 80s through 2017 or so, the Cadets ALWAYS began the day as one. If I were on tour (which was most of the time) as the director, I would stand at the center, and the members would be arranged in various positions around the center in a circular formation. If there was perhaps something I needed to speak to that was more than the schedule, I would sometimes adjust positions so that I could see all in my vision

One of the lessons from the morning meeting was the importance of punctuality.

The organization agreed that we would begin and end rehearsals on time. Departures — on time. Awake on time ; Meals — on time ( unless Greg Pych was the cook :-(

Why? Being on time was a practice of being our word.

ON TIME

STEP BACK — In my early days, we would sometimes rehearse for hours after an agreed time. And God forbid, you, as a member, commented on our tardiness. The rationale — and a good one, perhaps — we would do whatever we had to do to be the best we could be.

Made sense to me.

Staff loved it.

But, beginning in the late 80s, I began to ask the kids to to write evaluations of the activity of the corps. How were we at teaching? How was the food? How was the travel? What did they think could be better? What were they happy with?

There were numerous comments about the end of rehearsal. If we said rehearsal began at 8 am, and we expected everyone “in the circle” at 8 am, why would we run over by 20, 10, or even 2 minutes? I agreed. We needed to be accountable on “all sides of the clock”.

BACK TO THE CIRCLE

At the circle, we would discuss the plans for the day and what we expected to accomplish, and there would be a brief opportunity to review the prior morning or to discuss anything that may have occurred overnight. Usually … 15 minutes at most; if I knew there would be an extended discussion, I would include it in the schedule.

Otherwise, we proceeded to stretches, unloading the truck if not already done, and other preparatory actions.

CHRISTMAS IN JULY

As the kids were stretching, I noticed that the music of the day was “CHRISTMAS MUSIC”. “Odd”, I thought. I went over to the music programmer ( a kid in the corps) and asked what was up. I was informed that it was indeed “July 25th” and that we were celebrating. I guess that explained a few of the Santa hats :-) Frankly, I was totally unaware.

“Cute” I thought.

I was walking the track trying to get my plans for the day in place, and I was listening to the tunes, and I started to think. Hmmmm … “Maybe there is a show in there?”

I remembered that the Bridgemen performed a “Christmas in July” show, but I could not recall much.

Here is why … from a Bridgemen History Site:

1985 — Christmas in July

1985 was the year of the infamous “Christmas in July” show. The corps came in 23rd in Prelims scoring lower than they had since 1975: 59.5.

The corps limped through the winter, bleeding red ink. It wasn’t a question of membership; the kids were there. There was just no financial infrastructure to support them. Despite the best efforts of many, the Bayonne Bridgemen Drum & Bugle Corps closed its doors during the winter of 1986. An era appeared to have ended.

Other corps did a tune here and there … I loved “Greensleeves,” but it seemed that, as I walked the track, there could be a show in here.

And that … was that .. at least for the summer.

THE RIDE HOME post Championship

The corps won the Championship in 2011. The banquet was the next morning, we packed up the school, the kids were dropped at the airport, and the caravan headed home.

I drove on my own, getting a later start, taking a little more time, and trying not to worry about flat tires or anything of that sort for at least 24 hours. But on the way, I listened to Christmas Music.

My listening: Mannheim Steamroller and Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

But I have to tell you … it was torture.

However, when home, and after a few days, I talked to Jay Bocook, the brass arranger, and he put me on to David Foster’s “Carol of the Bells”

[embed]

As you can tell, we were highly influenced

But back to the Fall of 2011 ….

At the first camp, all arrived and we had a pretty solid turnout. We were at a new location in NJ … the staff were on board and there were a good many kids. Usually, we would present the show …

But we had no show.

At the last conference call, probably about 10 days before the November camp, I presented the ideas for a Christmas show but, I have to say, the reaction was chilly and I was in no position to “be a salesman”. I was not all that sure myself. So … we agreed that we would sit down at the November camp, hear other ideas and go from there.

ALAS … no one had ideas.

On the other hand, I had come across two GLEE albums that presented all kinds of ideas for different presentations. And believe it or not, most of my listening and presentation was on the way to the rehearsal that Saturday AM.

In my car —

Stereo Cranked …

All alone

So I had some more material to present ….

Lots more, and I started to search out more every day.

But here for your listening … was the music that I ran through that afternoon while selling a show that was scaring the crap out of me.

[embed]

[embed]

[embed]

and of course we had Carol of the Bells

and without thinking we knew there was something to be done with the classics, like “Joy to the World”

[embed]

So what happened?

I think Christmas won by default.

And there was one other idea that pretty much clinched our direction.

In 2011, Angels and Demons, half the corps wore maroon uniforms and half the corps wore white

If …. we went all white, Cadets 2 could start out the year in Maroon.

The money spent was minimal, and I was confident DEMOULIN would support the effort after the 2011 Championship. And thankfully, they did.

So ….

That is how the Cadets and Christmas joined forces forever — here we are 13 years later, and the posts with the holiday show, particularly the opener, “Carol of the Bells” just keep on coming

And here is the production … turn up the speakers and enjoy. Keep an eye out for more posts about this and other shows, in fact, all 38 years of the Cadets.

For now … enjoy and Merry Christmas