Echos of brass and percussion instruments will travel likethunder through campus Monday during the Red Stick Thunder DrumCorps International competition.
The seventh annual competition, sponsored by the Baton RougeSymphony Orchestra, includes 10 drum corps from around thecountry.
“The easiest way to explain drum corps is to say that it is amarching band without woodwinds,” said J.L. Nave, president and CEOof BRSO. “So it’s the brass, percussion and colorguard, and they dohalf-time-style shows.”
Nave said the corps are made up of professional musicians.
“So think of Tiger Band on steroids,” he said.
Nave said the performers are between the ages of 18 and 22, andhave been practicing every day since May.
“The level of skill they bring to the field is prettyremarkable,” he said. “[They] do some pretty incredible thingsmusically and visually.”
Nave said the program is fortunate to have some of the bestcorps in the country.
“Half of the corps that are coming are in the top 12nationally,” he said. “So we have an excellent lineup.”
The construction on Tiger Stadium will affect this year’s eventin a few ways, Nave said.
Parking will be different than previous years as well as wherethe spectators sit.
Nave said the corps will park their buses and equipment trailersin the parking lot across from South Stadium Road, and spectatorsare encouraged to park in the baseball and track stadium parkinglots.
Verge Ausberry, associate athletic director for the LSU AthleticDepartment, said because the event begins at 6 p.m., there shouldnot be a parking problem.
Nave said the spectators will still sit on the west side of thestadium, but they will have to enter through gate six thisyear.
“We’ve worked with LSU [Traffic and Transportation] and workedwith the Athletic Department and we’ve done walk-throughs [of] thestadium,” Nave said. “It’s a really good plan. It’s different thanwhat people are accustomed to, but not difficult. We made it aseasy as we [could].”
Nave said this is the only drum corps competition in the state,and it generally brings in spectators from as far as Mississippi,Texas and Florida.
“With so many people coming in from out of the area — and theevent doesn’t end until around 10:30 at night — a lot of peoplespend the night here in Baton Rouge,” Nave said. “So we know wehave a good economic impact on the city for the night.”
Ausberry said the competition is a large fundraiser for BRSO. Hesaid people from around the country who are following thesecompetitions will possibly visit the University for the firsttime.
Nave said he thinks the popularity of football in Baton Rougehelps the event.
“People are already familiar with essentially what drum corpsis,” he said. “They know the Tiger Band, they know the SouthernUniversity marching band, they’re already familiar with thesethings. So we don’t have to explain the tradition of marching band.We have a great tradition of marching bands in Baton Rouge and insouthern Louisiana. You can see the very best in the country righthere.”
Red Stick Thunder will take place Monday at 6 p.m. Tickets canbe purchased through the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra at383-0500.