West Texas Drum Competition Returns to WT’s Buffalo Stadium

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, [email protected]

CANYON, Texas — Six top drum corps will head to Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium at West Texas A&M University on July 15 with the return of the West Texas Drums.

Drum Corps International West Texas Drums Kickoff will be at 7:30 p.m. on July 15 at WT’s Canyon Campus Stadium. Tickets are $35 to $55 for reserved seating and $25 for general admission.

The evening will be marked by the Blue Knights from Denver; Pacific Ridge from Diamond Bar, California; The Academy from Tempe, Arizona; the Seattle Waterfalls from Seattle; Genesis from Austin; And Santa Clara Vanguard from Santa Clara, California.

The Corps travel the country throughout the summer to perform in various competitions such as West Texas Drums. The season will culminate at 2023 International Drum Corps World Championship Finals August 12 in Indianapolis.

This is the fourth year WT has hosted West Texas Drums, and the audience continues to grow, said Dr. BJ Brooks, director of the Music school in WT Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts and Letters.

“We are thrilled to welcome a new but familiar corps to our show: Santa Clara Vanguard,” said Brooks. “Audiences here for the past three years have been thrilled by a competition that showcases the incredible talent and dedication of these young performers. These groups create a spectacular fusion of rhythm, energy and creativity.”

“Whether you are an avid drum corps fan or simply curious about marching music, attending West Texas Drums promises an unforgettable experience,” Brooks said.

The DCI, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2022, presents the world’s most elite and exclusive marching ensembles of student musicians and performers.

Fostering appreciation of the arts is a key element of the University’s long-term plan, WT 125: From the enclave to the world.

This plan is informed by the historical context A West a global fundraising campaign, which reached its initial goal of $125 million 18 months after its public launch in September 2021. The campaign’s new goal is to reach $175 million by 2025; currently, it has raised nearly $160 million.

About West Texas A&M University

WT is located in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus. Founded in 1910, the university has been part of the Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT, a Hispanic-Serving Institution since 2016, has an enrollment of approximately 10,000 and offers 59 undergraduate degree programs and more than 40 graduate degrees, including two doctorates. The university is also home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and one of the finest art collections in the Southwest. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and field 14 men’s and women’s athletic programs.

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