Cavaliers Respond to COVID-19 Virus; April Camp Suspended
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(ROSEMONT, Ill.) — Drum Corps International (DCI) has released the following statement regarding the ongoing health crisis:
In response to the most recent developments with the coronavirus (COVID-19), DCI convened a special meeting of its Voting Membership on Tuesday, March 17 via teleconference to discuss the current impact on the DCI community. Representatives from member organizations shared mitigation strategies and discussed planning options for the 2020 summer tour.
To date, all DCI corps have canceled their in-person weekend rehearsal camps for the balance of March and are in the process of canceling for the month of April as well, adhering to current guidance (President's Guidelines 0316) regarding non-essential travel and avoiding social gatherings in groups of more than 10 people from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the National Institute of Health (NIH), and the White House. Corps will continue to respond accordingly as the situation unfolds over the next few weeks.
Working closely with the Board of Directors, the Indianapolis-based DCI professional staff has shifted its focus from standard pre-season preparation to business continuity and contingency planning. With hope for a safe and vastly improved environment in the coming weeks, current efforts include developing a revised and compressed schedule for the 2020 summer tour.
The entire DCI community is unified in its commitment to protect performers, staff, and volunteers, along with housing site hosts and all who are associated with the tour’s nationwide operational structure. This commitment remains the top priority.
DCI will continue to release information as more details become available.
To comply with our government’s recommendations, and in solidarity with all other DCI member corps, The Cavaliers will suspend public activities for the coming eight weeks. This suspension includes, but is not limited to, our scheduled April full-corps camp. Arrangements are being made for a variety of virtual/online experiences to take the place of April camp. These plans will be communicated to members shortly.
It is likely that the restrictions under which we must now operate (see President’s Guidelines 0316) will impact our May move-ins and the start of the drum corps season. DCI officials are currently exploring options for a condensed summer tour schedule. The creation of a revised schedule is very challenging in light of an extremely fluid situation, and involves a number of factors on a national scale. The process will move forward only if it is obviously and unquestionably safe to stage a tour this summer. The entire Cavaliers organization is actively planning for any and all scenarios.
The rapidity with which events are unfolding with regard to the COVID-19 virus, leaves us, unfortunately, with more questions than answers. While this uncertainty is frustrating, we ask for your patience as we deal with the ever-changing situation. Please know that our members’ safety, as well as that of the entire Cavalier family, is our utmost concern. The Cavaliers, along with DCI and our fellow corps, are working diligently to find solutions to the problems now facing our activity.
Thank you to all for your patience and your understanding during this difficult time. If there are any questions or concerns, you can directly email our Executive Director, Monte Mast, at director@cavaliers.org.
ABOUT THE CAVALIERS
The Cavaliers were founded in 1948 from Boy Scout Troop 111 by the late Don Warren. One of the most successful drum and bugle corps in history, The Cavaliers have won 20 national championships, including seven Drum Corps International world championships, since 1992.
The Cavaliers provide a variety of life-changing educational and performance programs for young people that go beyond music and performing arts to build personal accountability, excellence, teamwork and camaraderie. Programs include GearWORKS, Cavaliers Indoor Percussion, Chromium Winds, Crystal Lake Thunder and Midwest Connection.
A 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, The Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps is sponsored by The Village of Rosemont, Ill.