Austin Stars Drum and Bugle Corps
Encyclopedia
The Austin Stars Drum and Bugle Corps is an all-age drum corps
based in Austin
, Texas
and is a member of the Austin Stars Performing Arts Association
.
(ASPAA), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
, was founded in the fall of 2005 by Brent Unger and Evan Morgan, both alumni
of Star of Indiana Drum and Bugle Corps
, with the initial intention of creating an all-age drum and bugle corps in Central Texas. Efforts to form any kind of ensemble in 2006 were postponed when Mr. Morgan, a captain in the U.S. Air Force
, was sent to serve in Afghanistan
and Mr. Unger toured with the Blue Stars
that summer filling in the baritone
/euphonium
tech position.
In the fall of 2006, planning continued for the 2007 season and their first ensemble was a 6-man brass
ensemble. Their debut was at the Texas Drum Corps Preview on June 16, 2007. The brass ensemble performed two more times during that summer at Brass Hysteria in Bedford
and Brass On The Bayou in Houston
. Evan Morgan returned home safely in late July from his tour of duty
in Afghanistan.
In 2008, the corps grew to 20 members and produced its first ever field show entitled "Stars In The Spotlight: On Stage, Screen and Field". The corps performed in exhibition at the Texas Drum Corps Preview in Austin, Brass Hysteria in Denton
, Brass On The Bayou in Houston
and will made its first out-of-state trip to Douglasville, Georgia
to perform at DCA Rocks The South.
As preparation for the 2009 season was underway, Brent Unger stepped down from the director role and Michael J. Vazquez, the director of independent performing group ATX WINTERGUARD was brought in as acting director.
South region.
Drum and bugle corps (modern)
A drum and bugle corps, also known as a drum corps, is a musical marching unit consisting of brass instruments, percussion instruments, and color guard. Typically operating as independent non-profit organizations, drum corps perform in competitions, parades, festivals, and other civic functions...
based in Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
and is a member of the Austin Stars Performing Arts Association
Austin Stars Performing Arts Association
- History :The Austin Stars Performing Arts Association , a 501 non-profit organization, was founded in the fall of 2005 by Brent Unger and Evan Morgan, both alumni of Star of Indiana, and Cathy Benford, former staff and board member of Revolution Drum and Bugle Corps, with the initial intention of...
.
History
The Austin Stars Performing Arts AssociationAustin Stars Performing Arts Association
- History :The Austin Stars Performing Arts Association , a 501 non-profit organization, was founded in the fall of 2005 by Brent Unger and Evan Morgan, both alumni of Star of Indiana, and Cathy Benford, former staff and board member of Revolution Drum and Bugle Corps, with the initial intention of...
(ASPAA), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
, was founded in the fall of 2005 by Brent Unger and Evan Morgan, both alumni
Alumnus
An alumnus , according to the American Heritage Dictionary, is "a graduate of a school, college, or university." An alumnus can also be a former member, employee, contributor or inmate as well as a former student. In addition, an alumna is "a female graduate or former student of a school, college,...
of Star of Indiana Drum and Bugle Corps
Star of Indiana Drum and Bugle Corps
The Star of Indiana Drum and Bugle Corps was a Division I drum and bugle corps based out of Bloomington, Indiana and was a member of Drum Corps International. Organized by Cook Group and founded by William Cook, it was a competitive corps from 1985 to 1993...
, with the initial intention of creating an all-age drum and bugle corps in Central Texas. Efforts to form any kind of ensemble in 2006 were postponed when Mr. Morgan, a captain in the U.S. Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
, was sent to serve in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
and Mr. Unger toured with the Blue Stars
Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps
The Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps is a World Class drum and bugle corps based in La Crosse, Wisconsin and founded in 1964...
that summer filling in the baritone
Baritone
Baritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or...
/euphonium
Euphonium
The euphonium is a conical-bore, tenor-voiced brass instrument. It derives its name from the Greek word euphonos, meaning "well-sounding" or "sweet-voiced"...
tech position.
In the fall of 2006, planning continued for the 2007 season and their first ensemble was a 6-man brass
Brass
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties.In comparison, bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin...
ensemble. Their debut was at the Texas Drum Corps Preview on June 16, 2007. The brass ensemble performed two more times during that summer at Brass Hysteria in Bedford
Bedford, Texas
Bedford is a suburban city located in northeast Tarrant County, Texas, in the "Mid-Cities" area between Dallas and Fort Worth. It is a suburb of Fort Worth. The population was 46,979 at the 2010 census...
and Brass On The Bayou in Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
. Evan Morgan returned home safely in late July from his tour of duty
Tour of duty
In the Navy, a tour of duty is a period of time spent performing operational duties at sea, including combat, performing patrol or fleet duties, or assigned to service in a foreign country....
in Afghanistan.
In 2008, the corps grew to 20 members and produced its first ever field show entitled "Stars In The Spotlight: On Stage, Screen and Field". The corps performed in exhibition at the Texas Drum Corps Preview in Austin, Brass Hysteria in Denton
Denton, Texas
The city of Denton is the county seat of Denton County, Texas in the United States. Its population was 119,454 according to the 2010 U.S. Census, making it the eleventh largest city in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex...
, Brass On The Bayou in Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
and will made its first out-of-state trip to Douglasville, Georgia
Douglasville, Georgia
The city of Douglasville is the county seat of Douglas County, Georgia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 30,961...
to perform at DCA Rocks The South.
As preparation for the 2009 season was underway, Brent Unger stepped down from the director role and Michael J. Vazquez, the director of independent performing group ATX WINTERGUARD was brought in as acting director.
Future
In 2009, the Austin Stars Drum and Bugle Corps will field a competitive corps that will perform in Class A competition in the Drum Corps AssociatesDrum Corps Associates
Drum Corps Associates is the governing body for modern senior or all-age drum and bugle corps in North America. It is the counterpart of Drum Corps International which governs junior drum corps...
South region.
Trivia
The name "Austin Stars" was selected for three reasons:- Five-point starsFive-pointed starA five-pointed star is a very common ideogram throughout the world. If the colinear edges are joined together a pentagram is produced, which is the simplest of the unicursal star polygons, and a symbol of mystical and magical significance....
can be found all over Austin, especially downtownDowntownDowntown is a term primarily used in North America by English speakers to refer to a city's core or central business district ....
and at the Texas State Capitol BuildingTexas State CapitolThe Texas State Capitol is located in Austin, Texas, and is the fourth building to be the house of Texas government in Austin. It houses the chambers of the Texas Legislature and the office of the governor of Texas. It was designed originally during 1881 by architect Elijah E. Myers, and was...
. - Austin is home (or second home) to many "stars" in the entertainment world. The city is known as the Live Music Capital of the World and is famous for its 6th Street district, South by Southwest Music FestivalSouth by SouthwestSouth by Southwest is an Austin, Texas based company dedicated to planning conferences, trade shows, festivals and other events. Their current roster of annual events include: SXSW Music, SXSW Film, SXSW Interactive, SXSWedu, and SXSWeco and take place every spring in Austin, Texas, United States...
, the popular PBSPublic Broadcasting ServiceThe Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
television program Austin City LimitsAustin City LimitsAustin City Limits is an American public television music program recorded live in Austin, Texas by Public Broadcasting Service Public television member station KLRU, and broadcast on many PBS stations around the United States...
, and another major music festivalMusic festivalA music festival is a festival oriented towards music that is sometimes presented with a theme such as musical genre, nationality or locality of musicians, or holiday. They are commonly held outdoors, and are often inclusive of other attractions such as food and merchandise vending machines,...
by the same nameAustin City Limits Music FestivalThe Austin City Limits Music Festival is an annual three-day American music festival that takes place in Austin, Texas at the city's central public park, Zilker Park...
. - The city of Austin is located in the heart of Texas, where "the stars at night are big and bright," according to the traditional song "Deep in the Heart of TexasDeep in the Heart of Texas"Deep in the Heart of Texas" is an American popular song elaborating on the merits of the state of Texas.The 1941 song features lyrics by June Hershey and music by Don Swander. The song was recorded by Perry Como with Ted Weems and His Orchestra on December 9 of that year for Decca Records in Los...
."