Let’s Walk Through Your Summer…
The drum corps season happens quickly, and you don’t want to miss a thing! Let this article be your go-to place for everything you need to know about the 2023 DCI season as a Madison Scouts alum or fan. Use the links to learn more about each topic.
Sam Records
The Madison Scouts kicked off their season on Monday, June 26th, with a dress rehearsal of their show, The Sound Garden. They also showed off their uniforms and field props for the season at the show, and they’re cool!
The first show for the corps is Drums on Parade on Saturday, July 1st. Make sure you have tickets now! The Madison Scouts Alumni Association has numerous projects centered around Drums on Parade, so be sure to check us out and support us!
Before the show, we have the annual Drums on Parade Tailgate for friends and family to gather and celebrate the start of the season. The tailgate begins at 3:30 and will have live music, food, drinks, and many activities.
At the Tailgate, join us for the first inaugural Mad Dash Microthon! Since we’re alumni, we don’t need to be active anymore, so we’re putting on a “marathon” that’s only 0.1K, or 38.3 feet. The finish line is right at the bar, and your medal is a bottle opener! Sign up now!
At Drums on Parade, we celebrate the 2023 class of inductees to the Madison Scouts Hall of Fame. Over at the Tailgate, we’ll hold a ceremony and gather to sing You’ll Never Walk Alone in the new members’ honor. We’ll also have time for the Hall of Fame at the show right before the Madison Scouts’ encore! Also at the show, a small MSARP ensemble of nine Madison Scouts Alumni, under the direction of Craig Mason, will be performing the Star Spangled Banner to open the show. The ensemble will also perform the same music to open the Whitewater Show.
We need your help! We currently need volunteers to help with the Tailgate and the 50/50 raffle at the show. If you can help, please let us know via our Volunteer Form.
After Drums on Parade, the Madison Scouts will host two other shows in Wisconsin, the Whitewater Classic and Drums on the Chippewa. They’ll also tour around the Midwest to 23 shows culminating in the DCI World Championships in Indianapolis.
No matter what show you go to, check out the Scouts’ souvie booth and online store! Not only will they have some great merchandise available, but the MSAA also has items available there! Get an Alumni Association sticker and patch, or order your Vintage Shirt to support the MSAA! If you are not listed on our website's historical roster page as a former marching member, you can register at the souvenir booth at any show this season to be added. Look for the poster with the QR code, or pick up a flyer to fill out. You can hand it to the volunteer at the booth or fill it out later at home and mail it back to us.
When all the corps converge in Indianapolis for the DCI World Championships, the MSAA will meet up to celebrate the end of another incredible season at Tavern on South on Friday, August 11th, for lunch. Check back soon for more info!
And that’s the season! Before you know it, it’ll be all over. I’m excited to see what this summer holds for the Madison Scouts and all the other corps in the activity. I can’t wait to see you at a show, tailgate, or maybe even a microthon.
YNWA
Wear Our History, Share Our History
In 2023 the MSAA will continue our yearly tradition of returning a vintage Madison Scouts shirt for sale. Each purchase of a classic shirt buys one shirt for you and one shirt that will be gifted to a current member of the Madison Scouts! The corps members love having a connection to the alumni association, and we love finally being able to replace the version of the shirt in our wardrobe with one that fits and doesn't have holes in it!
This year we let you vote to choose the design to bring back, and we're happy to say that the winning design was the "Screamin' Skeleton" from the 1997 show, "The Pirates of Lake Mendota." The design was wonderfully recreated by alum Aaron Asnicar, and is now available for sale!
Order by July 17th to have it in time for Finals Week.
All proceeds from MSAA fundraisers go to the C.H. Beebe Scholarship Fund. This scholarship program provides tuition grants for Madison Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps members on a needs-based application process.