Saturday, January 20, 2018

HAL Rotterdam

Rotterdam
I'm looking forward to my awesome 21-day cruise in the Caribbean.

Rotterdam is a medium ship, carrying 1404 passengers and 600 crew, and sails from Rotterdam, Netherlands and Tampa, Florida.
  • Crew to Passenger Ratio: 2.34
  • Built: Dec 1997
  • Refurbished: 8 yrs ago
  • Number of Decks: 10
  • Total Cabins: 702
  • Cabin Categories: 67
Itinerary
Day 1 Tampa, Florida 
Day 2 Key West, Florida  
Day 3 At Sea
Day 7 At Sea
Day 10 At Sea
Day 11 At Sea
Day 16 At Sea
Day 19 At Sea
Day 21 At Sea

Friday, January 19, 2018

Corps news and Announcements


Corps news and announcements: 19-01-2018 12:02
by: Drum Corps International

In This Edition …

• Jersey Surf reveals 2018 show title
• Heat Wave sets sights on inaugural trip to the DCI World Championships
• Latest looks inside audition camps

• Plus much more!

7th Regiment
7th Regiment added an audition camp for brass and percussion, January 19-21 in West Haven, Connecticut. Color guard auditions will be held on the 21st.
7thRegiment.org

Blue Devils B
Blue Devils B’s educational audition clinic will take place January 19-21 in Concord, California.
BlueDevils.org

Blue Knights
Meal prep volunteers are still needed across the three days of Blue Knights’ rehearsal camp January 19-21 in Englewood, Colorado. Those interested may sign up to help for one, two, or all three days.
AscendPerformingArts.org

Bluecoats
The Bluecoats have an immediate opening for one lead trumpet player.
Facebook.com

The Cadets
Cadets’ percussion caption head Tom Aungst is looking for one more snare drummer to fill the line this year.
Facebook.com

Carolina Crown
Check out this gallery of more than 150 photos from Carolina Crown’s January audition camp weekend.
Facebook.com

Gold
Gold’s first brass experience camp of 2018 will be held January 27-28 at Valhalla High School in El Cajon, California.
Facebook.com

Guardians
Guardians has open spots for prospective corps members in all sections.
Facebook.com

Heat Wave
Heat Wave will be heading to Michigan City, Indiana and Indianapolis this summer to attend the Open Class DCI World Championships for the very first time. “We are excited to enter the next phase of our growth plan,” executive director Jon Otero said.
Facebook.com

Impulse
Impulse will host camps for prospective color guard members January 21, February 25, and March 11 in California, followed by auditions April 28 and 29.
Facebook.com

Jersey Surf
Jersey Surf revealed the title of its 2018 production, “[mondo mondrian],” which will be based on the cubist primary colors of 20th Century abstractionist Piet Mondrian.
Facebook.com

Legends
Legends has immediate openings for trumpets, mellophones, and color guard performers.
Facebook.com

Louisiana Stars
From the looks of these photos from Louisiana Stars’ January audition camp, the corps is on the way to enjoying a banner season.
Facebook.com

Madison Scouts
Meet the four drum majors who will lead the Madison Scouts during the corps’ 2018 summer season.
MadisonScouts.org

Mandarins
Mandarins’ corps director JW Koester and program director Ike Jackson discuss the highlights of the corps’ January callback audition camp in this recently-posted video.
Vimeo.com

Music City
More than 150 brass musicians and percussionists braved the abnormally cold Tennessee weather January 12-14 to attend Music City’s latest audition and rehearsal camp. Check out this video of the corps’ horn line.
Facebook.com

Oregon Crusaders
Oregon Crusaders announced that some new names have been added to the corps’ color guard team, including choreographer Tim Coady and five other staff members.
OregonCrusaders.org

Pacific Crest
Because of the great weather in southern California, Pacific Crest rehearsed outside under the lights during the corps’ January rehearsal camp.
Facebook.com

Phantom Regiment
Due to Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Phantom Regiment had the opportunity to host a four-day callback audition camp this past weekend. Don’t miss this gigantic gallery of photos recapping the action.
Facebook.com

Pioneer
What does a corps strongly associated with the Emerald Isle eat for a treat at its January audition and rehearsal camp?
Facebook.com

Raiders
Two New Jersey natives, Katie Beasley and Grace Robertson, have been named Raiders’ 2018 drum majors.
Facebook.com

River City Rhythm
Three of the newest River City Rhythm staff appointments include Ben Harloff as brass supervisor, Jeffrey Crowell as percussion ensemble specialist, and Brian Veith as brass co-caption head.
Facebook.com

Santa Clara Vanguard
Santa Clara Vanguard announced the date of its annual organization-wide birthday celebration. Join the corps for brunch on Saturday, March 17 in Santa Clara, California, to see special sneak-peek performances by Vanguard and the Vanguard Cadets.
SCVanguard.org

Seattle Cascades
Next month’s rehearsal camp for Seattle Cascades has been changed to the weekend of February 23-25 to avoid a conflict with a music educators’ event. This camp is only for brass and percussion, with color guard starting up in April.
SeattleCascades.org

Shadow
Shadow announced the 16 members of the corps’ 2018 percussion staff.
Facebook.com

Southwind
Southwind wrapped up its January rehearsal camp weekend with a show-and-tell performance giving each section of the corps the opportunity to step into the spotlight.
Facebook.com

Spartans
Drum major Emily Dawson spills the beans about the corps’ upcoming season in this debut episode of “Inside Spartans.”
Facebook.com

Spirit of Atlanta
Get an inside look at Spirit of Atlanta in this video captured during the corps’ January callback audition camp.
Facebook.com

Watchmen
Watchmen announced the members of its 2018 administrative staff, led by executive director David Becker.
WatchmenArtsAssociation.org

Thursday, January 4, 2018

New Year

WOW! Two and a half years since my last update. Guess Facebook and other social media has kept me out of touch from blogging. Besides, been busy working and enjoying some awesome vacations.

Not much really happened the end of 2015, 2016 was pretty much a blur, just lots of flying. However, 2017 I was able to do some great trips with family and friends, both in Alaska and the Caribbean.
HAL Eurodam
In August, I went on a weeks cruise on Holland America's Eurodam in Alaska. Saw tons of beautiful country that I have never witnessed before. Wildlife galore, and crystal blue waters. Bears, Bald Eagles, Mountain Goats, Whales, Sea Turtles, Otters, just to name a few of the animals we were able to see, along with a couple of Glaciers.
Stops in Juneau, Glacier Bary, Sitka, Ketchikan, Alaska, and Victoria, British Columbia. All great places if you've never been.

In November, did another Eurodam cruise, this time in the Caribbean visiting, Grand Turks, St. Thomas, Half Moon Cay Bahamas. It was sad to see all the devastation from hurricanes that hit the Islands. Hope things get somewhat better in time for my next cruise in February.

HAL Rotterdam
Even though I'll still be visiting the Caribbean, it'll be different islands. Starting in Tampa, then to Key West, Mahogany Bay Roatan Honduras, Santo Tomas De Castilla, Guatemala, Costa Maya, Mexico, San Juan, Puerto Rico, Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, St. John's, Antigua, Castries, St. Lucia, Soufriere Bay, Willemstad, Curacao, Oranjestad, Aruba, George Town, Grand Cayman, and finally back to Tampa Florida. I so can't wait.

Temperatures have been bitterly cold the past month, and I'll be leaving right when people are coming up to Minneapolis, MN for the Super Bowl.

Can't think of anything else to update with. Hope all are good.

Until next time,
Sluggo