Cavaliers Indoor "Unhinged" at Dayton Regional
The Cavaliers Indoor Percussion went on the road this past weekend to Dayton, OH for the premiere of their 2017 program "Unhinged." In Prelims at the WGI Dayton Regional, CIP came in 4th in the Independent Marching World Class with a score of 77.70 and finished 4th in Finals with a score of 78.20.
In preparation for the BIG weekend and debut, we interviewed a few members from CIP to get an INSIDE look at what's to come for the Dayton Regional and the rest of the season.
Hear From The Cast
Nathan Huxtable, 5th year member, Front Ensemble/Center Marimba
Noah Carter, 3rd year member, Front Ensemble/Xylophone
Sam Shepard, 6th year member, Battery/Snareline
An overview of the season thus far (Auditions to Dayton)
We're definitely in a good place for the Regional and the achievement level of the show for right now. CIP is building from last year's hype with a much more fleshed out product. We have a higher talent pool from previous years and it's great to see many of the vets return and a solid group of new faces join our ranks.
- Nathan Huxtable (NH)
The season is definitely more intense than before. We're an improving group and every year has just been getting better and better. The talent is amazing, we're all very similar, get along, hang out, and keep pushing each other to get and be even better. From the front ensemble perspective, we started off slow getting the basics and details setting ourselves up for success and then worked a lot on the show tunes.
- Noah Carter (NC)
The 2017 season started off with many twists and turns. We welcomed back many old faces and just as many new ones to the ensemble. We've been lucky to have a great staff to build a great foundation during the pre-season. We're all very excited to get into the performance side of the season and debut our 2017 production.
- Sam Shepard (SS)
What's the show and what's your role/character in it?
Our show this year gives off a vibe of "Devil in the White City" but in a hotel. There's something sinister amok, it's insane and maniacal. There will be some dark turns. The character or the role I see myself in, is someone who is sophisticated and suave but silently sinister.
- NH
The show has an old-time feel to it with everything being very fancy but you have a weird feeling that something is just...a bit...off. We're a man of very high stature that has this love interest. We, the man/character or characters, is cocky, full of himself, very high-strung, and his love does something to or towards the man, of which I imagine him getting angry, but then...well we'll have to see what happens come finals. All I'll say for now is that there'll be a great Cavalier Indoor twist.
- NC
The Cavaliers Indoor 2017 show "Unhinged" shows that not everything is as it seems. We take a suave, confident, somewhat aloof character and introduce passion and yearning. This passion drives our character to an extreme we've never experienced before. What it is that we find this passion for, and the extreme we'll be driven to will be revealed as we continue the season.
- SS
How are you feeling about the Dayton Regional?
Everything is going to be what the fans expect and then some. The battery and pit books have reached a new level for this group and we're very excited to kick off the show season.
- NH
I feel great about the regional! Everything is locking up and grooving. We're at a point where it's not new anymore, so we can get the show up to speed, slow it down and really clean the details, and really dig into it.
- NC
I think I can speak for the rest of the group when I say that I'm very eager to put this show out there for the public. We have a lot to add to the show, but part of the concept of the show is not being 100% sure of the way that things are going to go. I can tell you right now, the people we perform for will never be sure of what they're going to see us do until the last minute of the last performance we get to put on for them. This first regional in Dayton will be an opportunity for people to be able to get a taste for what we're going to do with this show.
- SS
Let's Talk About The Regional
How was the weekend?
It was good. Really good runs for the group overall, really representative of where we're at. Really exciting that some of the judges really like what we have so far considering we didn't play half the music, had no costumes, and had basically no props.
- NH
We all had a pretty good opening weekend! I believe it was a great way to open and set up the rest of our season. Yes, there were minor flaws, but I can guarantee that all of those spots will be worked out throughout the week when we don't see each other and then rehearsed at a higher level on the upcoming weekends.
- NC
I thought the weekend was very indicative of where we are as an ensemble right now. We had two performances that I thought showcased our average performance. I'd always rather have two consistent shows, than two unusually good ones. For us, building consistency is the name of the game.
- SS
Anything unexpected?
No, it was what I was expecting. We're always driving towards Thursday in Dayton. We'll take things step-by-step if it means we're 100 percent set up for success for that prelims run. Scores are not a worry at all for this point in the season. What matters is the judges feedback and selling them our concept, which our staff did a wonderful job of this weekend.
- NH
It was basically what we expected. Having such consistent musicians and performers gives us that ability to trust each other and know what we're capable of. Since we've done such a good job at consistently working, I don't think there was a "wake-up call" to anyone. Working this hard payed off this weekend and it will only continue to do so as well.
- NC
This is pretty much exactly how I hoped the weekend would turn out. As long as we are consistent, we can always fix what we need to and maintain what's already being performed at a high level. Having that second show to be able to get back out there and make tweaks between the first show and second show is really a huge help. Being able to hear judges comments and suggestions and make adjustments to that effect.
- SS
What's next?
What's next is finishing the show. Set, costumes, props, and final notes are coming in the next few weeks. We might even have new choreography for the pit feature. So that's all awesome.
- NH
Next is keeping up our consistent level of work ethic so we can continue to improve. Obviously, we are all passionate about what we do, but after performing in that first show, even for the vets, there's a boost of energy that reminds us why we do what we do in this activity, so next is using that boost of energy to keep driving.
- NC
Moving forward, obviously at the beginning of the competitive season we have a lot more staging and refining to do. More choreography, props, and music are being added weekly, and most likely will be until we hit that last performance. We pride ourselves at world building and taking people away from the arena and into whatever world we create. Much like the real world, the smallest details are just as important as the big picture. We're always looking to add that little something that catches someone's eye, or that huge GE moment that is a perfect snapshot of our 2017 world.
- SS
Next stop for Cavaliers Indoor Percussion:
WGI INDY REGIONAL
About Cavaliers Indoor Percussion
Cavaliers Indoor Percussion (CIP) is the Independent World Class marching percussion ensemble representing The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps. Participating in the Winter Guard International (WGI) circuit, CIP offers serious male percussionists age 14-22 a world-class performance outlet in the Chicagoland area, building on the style, creativity, and excellence of The Cavaliers' award-winning percussion program.
About The Cavaliers
Founded in 1948 from Boy Scout Troop 111, The Cavaliers are one of the most successful drum and bugle corps in history, winning 20 national championships, including seven Drum Corps International world championships since 1992.
The Cavaliers provide a variety of educational and performance programs for young people, including GearWORKS, Cavaliers Indoor Percussion, and Chromium Winds. The organization delivers life-changing experiences that go beyond music and performing arts to build personal accountability, excellence, teamwork, and camaraderie.
The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization sponsored by The Village of Rosemont, Illinois.