Holy cow...

Cadets announce resignations of Aungst and Larrivee

This is huge... Tom Aungst has made the Cadets battery what it is. I'm not sure who will take over, perhaps Colin McNutt?

This could very well mean a complete revamping of the percussion section, a la Cavaliers when they switched from Bret Kuhn to Jim Casella.

I really loved their drumline....it could be a good change or a bad change. I think there's a better chance of a good change, but it wouldn't be much. They were pretty darn awesome already...

But the big question: Who will take over?

As opposed to....an average change?

Seriously, the Aungst thing really surprises me. If someone had asked me what major percussion staff changes would be made this year this is one that never would have crossed my mind. This will be interesting to see how it unfolds in the next couple of months.

I had a feeling that this was coming last year when they brought Colin in to over see the line on tour when Tom was not on the road.

Tom made the line what it is today, but it is not a total shock to me. He has been with the organization for over 25 years. He also has a wife and two sons that he would like to spend time with as he states in the press release. Life goes on

I didn't see this as a surprise either. After they brought in McNutt and Moyer who were let go from Madison (which I still don't understand) I saw Aungst passing the torch over to McNutt.

It would still be staying in the Thom Hannum pedigree too.

I kind of saw the writing on the wall too, Once Collin came in it seemed like they were smoothing out the transition from Aungst to McNutt.

While some people see it as a huge major change, which it is, its nothing bad. I have no doubt McNutt will keep the program at the high level we are used to seeing Cadets at.

I think a big hit is Neil leaving. He pit arrangements just were amazing. those are some big shoes to fill for Hoppy.


Good luck to both.

Does this mean Cadets will stop playing rolls?

j/k

Sad to see them go, but they've earned it.

Aungst hadn't done that much teaching from what i'd heard about the cadets line this year and he wanted McNutt to do all the teaching and he would just write the music. Maybe when jofus gets back on here he can tell us something

Colin and Moyer weren't let go from Madison. They left on their own with most of the staff after Sal Salas was let go. I'm fairly certain they are first in line to fill Neil and Tom's shoes.

You can count me on the not that surprised list. Last year the Cadets snapped up McNutt and Moyer pretty quickly, I expected them to take over soon.

The article says that Aungst is not leaving the activity. So, in a couple of years we might see him back with different corps (which will be really wierd). I am not sure about Larrivee, but I can think of one place that I would like to see give him a call. (I will keep that one to myself, but I bet someone can guess)

Good luck to Cadets...looking forward to seeing the results

Well, Of course, this is still something that kind of suprises everyone. Even if you've seen this coming, it's still a sort of suprise. Aungst has a 13 year old and... A 5? year old I think. I would be willing to say it will only be a few years, Right now he wants to spend time with the family, But hes been with the cadets since the 80's, he's going to miss it. Once the kids grow up, I would Imagine he would be back, and he's always been with the Cadets, I would'nt be suprised if he came back as a tech or something.

That may be over-reaching, But I just can't see Aungst staying away for long from DCI, or The Cadets.

Most profound statement of the century. The change will either turn out good OR BAD!!!!

... maybe by "not leaving the activity" it may mean that he may be wearing a green shirt. He wouldn't be the first caption head to transfer over there.

I think this quote could answer what Neil may be up to... "(I)look forward to seeing you all down the road as a former team member, fan and part of a sponsorship team at Vic Firth."

First off... LOL at the idea of him coming back as a Tech.
Second, I think Aungst SHOULD go somewhere other than the Cadets. He doesn't NEED the Cadets or any other corps gig right now. His job is primarily with Dartmouth High School and he's done a stellar job there, in addition to being a clinician throughout the country. He's taking some time off, and good for him. I hope he can spend some time with his family. If he comes back to corps in a year or more, I hope its with someone else.

Change isn't necessarily a bad thing.

DCI was pretty constant in the late 90s to early 2000s as far as corps staffs and success. I'd love to see him complete the mix up that has happened in the past 3-4 years. Why do I say complete? Casella went from SCV to Cavies, McIntosh going to Bloo, Scott Johnson is doing less with BD... and there are more to mention. Aungst leaving Cadets is pretty much the last changing of the guard for this new era of DCI. I would love to see Aungst go to a corps like Boston Crusaders or Glassmen and see him build a program to be a championship contender like he was a part of at the Cadets year in and year out.

Thats how I view it, atleast.

Thank you 9Volt for retyping the article. :-D I think that Tom leaving is going to be a great thing for the Cadets. We haven't seen another style or writing from them in a long time. If McNutt takes over, which is looking like it will happen, it could be a sort of older scouts/new cadets writing style. I would really enjoy seeing this as I'm sure most of you would too. I will join in on the laughter of Aungst coming back as a tech in years to come. Considering he has been one of the largest parts in the Cadet's percussion for well...longer than I have been alive. Nevermind, I'm not wasting anymore time talking about something so ridiculous. In conclusion, we have to realize that this stuff does happen. It has happened tons of times and with corps just as big. Changes only allow for something new to arise. I think we all can agree with that. Have a nice day!!!

Scammy I was with you up until the old scouts/new cadets writing style reference. I have no clue what that even means considering McNutt doesn't write like old scouts (Jeff Moore as the example in my head). 90's/early 00's scouts was some seriously fun stuff to play.

I really like the writing style there. Most years anyway. I don't think a new style of arranging or Tom leaving is a great thing. What they've been doing seems to have worked well for them over the last couple of decades. It's always inevitable that people will leave their positions but I hate to see someone go who has been such an integral part of the activity for so many years.

I can't imagine Tom would "tech" anywhere. That would defeat the purpose of taking some time off to spend with the family. I'm sure he'll latch on with somebody to do some consulting or play some peripheral role down the road.

Remember that we all said the same thing when Bret Kuhn left Cavies and Jim Casella took over. Cavies had how many Sanfords under Kuhn? And yet, Casella came and reworked the percussion program, and they've developed an entirely different and successful style that still fits the breed of drum corps they perform.

Sorry, I should have said Scouts before the big move and new Cadets. So like 2006 Scouts and 2007/2008 Cadets. I'm young so my "old" scouts is a bit different than yours. Haha. My bad.

Two.


Different? Yes. Successful? Up for debate. The 2008 version of the Cavalier Drumline was the first year I would consider remotely "successful" under Casella.

Agreed

Well, I would bring up the idea of a Tech, Simply because my mind can not wrap itself around the fact of Aungst going somewhere other then the Cadets. And they are bringing in McNutt, I don't think after that change they would change back to Aungst, As much as I can not see Aungst being a tech again either. But I would also LOVE Aungst going to Glassmen, As much as I can not realistically look at this possibility, It would be a great place to march.

If we're going to be talking about the next steps for Aungst and Larrivee, I would say Boston Crusaders would not be a drum corps out of the question right now.

With all the work they've done together in the Northeast region of the U.S. for high school drumlines such as King Philip Regional and Dartmouth, it's a logistically logical fit.

It is no disrespect at all to Rich Viano (of whom I enjoy playing marching percussion pieces such as JuJu Dance and First Move), but Boston Crusaders would certainly have a higher corps profile on the DCI circuit than ever before with Aungst and Larrivee.

Either way, I wish them well on their future endeavors and I hope both sides of this equation are better for this change.

2 words- "Lee Beddis":
When Thurston left the X-men (for 'family issues' as well) that was the nail in the coffin for the program that he worked to create.
When Lee took over the program the entire vibe changed in the percussion program. Say what you will about the Crossmen organization, but the percussion program pretty much drove the entire identity of the corps. Now, Lee is a hell of an educator, judge and clinician but he is no Mark Thurston. His approach to both teaching and writing was to the right of everything Thurston did...and Mark had a hell of a head of hair
***BTW, yes, I am intimating that the X-men have jumped the shark...I miss them soooooo frigging much*********
anyway....
So, with that being said, considering McNutt:
The performers respond well to him BUT Aungst and Larrivee have a amazing professional relationship w/ the kids in the corps. It's called Drum Corps not "Drum Buddies".
And like Thurston w/ the X-men, these gentlemen have a large influence on the show design of the Cadets. So, with these two taking their toys and going home it will leave a devastating whole in the organization.
Now, I am under the opinion that Neil has pretty much changed front ensemble orchestration for the entire activity (along with Jeff Lee of B.Dev's fame) So, musically, I think that would be the biggest cross to bear for any of their new writers.
Now moving on to Hopkins:
Aungst was the Yin to George's Yang-light and dark..they both complemented (and battled) each other. They kept each other in check quite well and quite a bit. I don't think that McNutt is up to the challenge to say "No" to Hoppy.
So...that's my take on the situation.
It's been a weird Drum Corps summer for me:
2 of the greatest instructors I've ever had the pleasure of learning under leave the Corps I love.
And one of my greatest influences in pageantry passed away (George Cherry from Surf) *link*
http://www.jerseysurf.org/articles/133/1...erry/Page1.html
AND I loved about 10 shows this season...(even when Crown taunted the Cadets musically)
---Just some thoughts
-Dickie
Ps. Everyone have great camps this week!

why can't I still type My name---it's been so long since I posted I forgot about that!!!
xoxo,
D i c k i e

Just had to chime in here . . . how did they taunt them musically?

Well...the later additions of famous Cadets motifs. Candide; although I hear they had that at a camp but weren't gonna start the show w/ it... and "Somewhere" from the Cadets 1990 show. I think it was a shout to the "complaining minority" of people who have been showing a lot of support for Crown out of one side of their mouths, and saying some very nasty things about Cadets out of the other side...but these are thought for another topic....

Nope, those weren't taunts. First of all, Candide Overture was done by SCV 11 years before the Cadets did it. Somewhere has been done by the Cadets, Cavaliers, Blue Knights, and Kiwanis Kavaliers in the past forty years. Not necessarily anything to do specifically with the Cadets. The only references that were outright to The Cadets were the dissolving company front and Simple Gifts quote both in the mellophones at the end of the show, and those were tributes like the other things going on at the same time. I think you're reading too much into it. No one at Crown is out to taunt the Cadets. Hell, Klesch (Crown's arranger) was the Cadets' brass arranger in '90 if I remember correctly :-p

And now back to your regularly scheduled topic.

Perhaps, but it seemed to have worked well enough to place as high in percussion that mark did, and also seems to be working at crown.(they did get 4th to the cadets 5th)


They wont have that relationship any more. And im pretty sure it was Mcnutt/Moyer NOT Aungst/larivee in front of those kids the last two years. Those guys have had the same relationships with other kids and drum corps that Aungst and Larivee had with the cadets.
They did take over the Glassmen program in 2000(co-op w/ beddis), and in 2002 they placed higher than ever before some regard it as the best in the last 10 years... took over the madison program and took the drumline from 12th to 5th between 2004-2006... Had one year with magic and placed 9th(?) Thier work at the crossmen in the late 90s was stellar.


I dont think its that big of a Deal/change. Assuming everyone is correct in assuming who's taking over Moyer has never failed to put out a top quality book. Sure its different, But its equally effective and difficult.




If you say that then Id say youve never seen the man in action.
The man dealt with cesario for nearly 6 straight years. If you can deal with him, You can deal with hoppy. They are nearly the same person.

I would lay money that the cadets put out a better show design than they have since 2000,score/place better in percussion, and play a hard book cleaner than they have in the past 4 years.. even with three returning snares.... Ill call it now... cadets win DCI 2009, percussion included. The kids in the line love what and how they played, and respect is returned to the cadets.

Nothing agains the former staff, but I think you highly underestimate the ability of these two guys.

I completely agree with that statement.

Speculation over!

http://www.yea.org/site/News2?JServSessi...ws_iv_ctrl=1401

McNutt: Percussion director/Lead Arranger
Moyer: Front Ensemble arranger

more staff announcements later

also, Aungst has been asked to consult....that decision has not been made yet.

I was talking to my high school drum caption head about it and he said Aungst has also resigned from Dartmouth High School and he thinks it will be just like what happened at King Phillip and prob. go into concert world and then cease to exist. He also said that Aungst's new job is at a high school in georgia

that would be an amazing idea for them-
-D

Kennesaw Mountain maybe?

I liked the Cavaliers change a lot. They still had the Cavalier edge, but just dif. Maybe it'll happen with the Cadets too

Did your caption head hear this from Tom himself? I doubt this is true and would wait to hear it from the horse's mouth rather then spreading rumors.

But rumors are fun....if we wanted "news" we wouldn't be reading a "fourm"...we'd be reading the "news".
-D

Because the news always has the goings-on of DCI in it . . . .

I do know that Tom was offered a job somewhere in the south, but he didn't sound like he was going to accept the offer. Tom loves Dartmouth, but I guess we'll have to wait and see.

the email i got from yea said he was still working at dartmouth because its in his home state but he left cadets because he was gone from his family too much and he wants to be there for his kids to grow up

BTW, King Phillip was alive, well, and successful at WGI this year... not dead.

Just throwing that out there...

NL

I wasn't sure about king phillip, but I'm pretty sure my caption head knows him and learned from him

EDIT: I feel retarded King Philip beat my high school at finals, were they in world before maybe that's what he meant?