Drum Corps show Tuesday at Gowans
The Sky Ryders Performing Arts Foundation is hosting a Drum and Bugle Corps performance Tuesday, July 16 at Gowans Stadium.
Dale Antoine, the vice president of the board of directors, said Hutchinson used to be home to a world-class corp from the 1950s through the 80s.
“The goal of the organization is to bring a Drum and Bugle Corps back to Hutchinson,” Antoine said. “They were a major fixture for many years. They have not been in Hutchinson since the 1989 season. A group of alumni, we got together and said we’d like to put this book back together.”
Antoine said the show will consist of five performances from corps around the country as well as the Sky Ryders who will perform a “standstill” rather than a traditional performance.
“These other corps have been practicing for months and months,” Antoine said. “We are at the beginning of this process. The other drum corps, they march probably about 145 - 150 kids.”
While based in Hutchinson, the Sky Ryders have musicians from around the region, including Sedgwick County, Kansas City, Missouri, Oklahoma and more.
One of the primary goals of the organization is to enhance music education in the area.
“We’re having a show and it’s our first major step into bringing a drum corps back to Hutchinson,” Antoine said.
The national anthem will begin at 8:20 p.m. and the performances will begin at 8:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at dci.org or purchase tickets electronically at the box office. The performance will take place at Gowans Stadium, located at 600 East 11th Ave.
“We’ll have people there to help those who aren’t familiar with how to do [purchase tickets electronically,] and we are hoping for a good crowd.”