Welcome Parents!
If you are new to the drum corps activity, or to the Bluecoats organization, we’re sure you may have some questions! We work hard each summer to ensure that the Bluecoats Experience is a safe, enjoyable, and life-changing experience for your young performer. A part of making that experience great is ensuring that you have access to all of the information you may need as you support your performer during this amazing season.
Your student may be a contracted performer, beginning their experience for the entire summer, or may be just entering the audition process and trying their hand for a spot this summer. Regardless, we’re here to answer your questions and provide any support you may need.
This page is intended to highlight a few things that we find the parents and guardians of the drum corps performers are interested or curious about. We also know that parents feel most comfortable when they have a way to communicate with us and with other parents. Here are a few places where you can find information, chat with other parents, and contact us at the Bluecoats office:
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Parent Facebook Group
We have an official Facebook Group for parents and guardians! This is a great place to contact other parents, share photos you might capture from the season, and ask questions that “veteran” parents know the answers to!
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Frequently Asked Questions
Most preseason questions can be answered with information found in our Audition FAQs.
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Contact The Office
Can’t find the answer to a question? Need help with something? You can contact us at the office at any time!
About Auditions & The Pre-Season
In 2025, the Bluecoats will include 165 positions, including on-field and understudy performers. The corps determines membership based on dedication, talent, audition performance, physical readiness, and “teach-ability.” We are interested in the individual who is not only a talented performer, but also willing to learn and work hard to improve. This is the type of participant who has helped place the Bluecoats among the best corps in the history of the activity.
Round 1 initial auditions take place in November and December, both in person and online. We host audition camps in Canton (south of Cleveland), Texas, Atlanta, and Southern California (south of LA). Virtual auditions are typically highly competitive because they aren’t as great of an opportunity for our staff to gauge ability levels. Auditioning in person is always the best way to perform a great audition.
Following the first round of auditions, a few hundred students are offered either a callback, a conditional offer (color guard), or a contract. These students are invited to a mandatory, callback camp in December (for brass and percussion only). Color guard candidates may be offered conditional status after their initial audition, and will be updated as to final status and next steps during December.
Participation Agreements (contracts) are offered from November through May. Most contracts will be offered by the end of the December camp. At any time before a contract is signed, instructors may inform a prospective performer that they are not ready at that time to “make” the corps.
Pre-season camps are as follows:
December Musician Callback & Rehearsal Camp (Canton, OH area): This camp is mandatory for brass, battery, and front ensemble performers with a contract or callback status. This camp is the first-round of auditions for conductors.
January Musician Rehearsal Camp (Canton, OH area): This camp is mandatory for conductors, brass, battery, and front ensemble performers with a contract or callback status.
March Brass Rehearsal Camp (DFW, TX area): This camp is mandatory for brass performers with a contract status.
April Full Corps Rehearsal Camp (Canton, OH area): This camp is mandatory for all contracted musicians and conductors, as well as color guard performers with a callback or contract status. This camp is the callback camp for color guard.
Important Audition/Pre-Season Notes For Parents & Guardians
All pre-season dates are required (depending on section). Contact information for submitting absence requests are provided in The Blue Pages.
Costs for camps and overnight housing information are detailed in The Blue Pages. At camps longer than one day, airport ground transportation is offered.
Earning a contract does not guarantee a performance spot on the field. This means that any performer may be assigned to an “understudy position” at any time. Refunds are not offered to students who are understudies. The position carries the same level of responsibility and “membership” in the corps as any other participant.
About Spring Training
Spring Training is a 5-week training camp where we rehearse, design, and learn the show during 6-day weeks with once-per-week rest/free days. Spring Training takes place at the University of Mount Union in Alliance, OH.
During Spring Training, performers stay in the university’s residence halls and eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner in the university’s cafeteria. Snack/fourth meal is served from the Bluecoats food truck.
2025 Move-in Dates:
Early Percussion Move-In - May TBD
Leadership & Tubas - May 21, 2025
General Move-In - May 22, 2025
First full rehearsal day - May 23, 2025
About National Tour
The Bluecoats will perform more than 20 times at events, parades, and field competitions across the US. This exciting national tour culminates at the three-day Drum Corps International (DCI) World Championships at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. On days without performances, the corps rehearses intensely. About once a week, the corps takes time off to rest, do laundry, and have some fun.
Our full schedule (including housing sites, which are published during May) can be found at bluecoats.com/events.
Tour Tickets
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Buy Tickets Through Bluecoats
Buy your event tickets through Bluecoats! A portion of your purchase is donated to Bluecoats.
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Canton Area Events
Check out our great local events, including our Opening Night Community Celebration, Bluecoats Party in the Plaza, and Innovations in Brass - all a part of the Bluecoats Summer Music Series!
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Full Event Schedule
See our event page to see our full season schedule.
DCI World Championships
The national tour culminates at the three-day Drum Corps International (DCI) World Championships at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Join us for an exciting week!
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Buy DCI Tickets Through Bluecoats
Buy your World Championships tickets through Bluecoats! A portion of your purchase is donated to Bluecoats.
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Our DCI Hotel Block
We have rooms available at the JW Marriott and SpringHill Suites Downtown. You can book online here or on the phone by calling 317-262-8191 and providing the access code 2025DCIBluecoats. The deadline to book is June 19th.
Please note that drum corps performers do not need to book hotel rooms for Saturday night as DCI will be providing them.
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DCI World Championships Banquet
Come celebrate what will be an incredible Bluecoats season on Sunday, August 10, 2025 at the JW Marriott Indianapolis. All performers, staff, alumni, volunteers, family, and friends are welcome to attend as we celebrate 2025 and look forward to another great year in 2026!!
This event is free for 2025 performers and staff. Please do not register your performer.
Other Useful Information for Parents / Guardians
Annually we offer a modest portfolio of scholarships and financial assistance for participants of the Bluecoats Drum & Bugle Corps, The Blue Way Summer Arts Camp, and other educational programs. These programs are supported in part by generous donors. Learn more about the scholarships offered below.