A ‘major league’ marching band? Yes, Fort Mill is home to a world-class ensemble
Yes, there’s such a thing as a “major league” marching band.
These nonprofit organizations that are open to performers in and after high school tour the country each summer. And the Charlotte region has one of the best squads in the world.
Local high school band programs are a big reason why it’s here.
Carolina Crown is a drum and bugle corps that competes in Drum Corps International, billed as “Marching Music’s Major League.” The Fort Mill corps with Charlotte roots competes among 20 bands from across the country in the World Class division, the top classification offered.
Carolina Crown finished fifth in the DCI World Championships in early August. The group has been a top-five performer each season since 2007. Carolina Crown won a Division II championship in 1993 and won a world championship in 2013.
“Carolina Crown performs more than 21 shows over 11 weeks, covering more than 12,000 miles as we tour the country each summer,” said director Joe Roach.
Ties to local high school marching bands
Much of that success stems from local band programs.
The Charlotte Drum Corps Association formed in 1988 as band enthusiasts who would gather at a Charlotte hotel or restaurant. It hosted competitions at Memorial Stadium and Davidson College. The organization began marching in 1990 and in 1997, Carolina Crown moved to Fort Mill.
The reason, Roach said, was strong relationships with high school marching band programs in the Fort Mill area. Those ties continue.
“We have a strong presence in the Carolinas with several members from the Fort Mill, Rock Hill and greater Charlotte area,” he said. “We host our audition camps locally and host three performances in the summer (in the region).”
Carolina Crown has performers age 16 to 22, so it’s a little older than a high school band. It also features brass, percussion and color guard components, but no woodwinds.
“Our competitions are similar to local marching band competitions in that we have a panel of adjudicators that score us on a variety of criteria,” Roach said. “From night to night the adjudicators change so we get a full season’s worth of feedback to continue to enhance our program before competing at our world championships.”
Carolina Crown marches with 165 performers.
Just weeks after another top showing at the world championships, the group already has audition information posted for next summer. The year-round commitment to music is one common theme between Carolina Crown and area high school programs.
“Each fall the Rock Hill region produces some great performances that are rooted in education, teamwork and artistry,” Roach said. “It is this blend that makes marching band and drum corps a unique activity for novice and expert level performers.”
For more information, visit carolinacrown.org.
