Watchmen is extremely excited to introduce our newest partnership with Ultimate Drill Book. Just as the season is ramping up for the corps 2019 field show. This year our members will have full access to the UDBapp and dot books, bringing to the performers the latest in technology and state of the art tools for success in accurate and efficient drill learning. Our visual instructors, designer and members could not be more excited! Thank you UDB.
Watchmen Announce 2019 Production – Gods of the Nile
Entering in their sixth year of existence, the Watchmen Drum and Bugle Corps is stronger than ever. Starting as a brass ensemble in 2013, Watchmen has grown into a full size open class corps and will be touring this year in California, Arizona, Utah, and Colorado. This year’s production is entitled “Gods of the Nile”, take a journey with them down the Nile . The original composition by the talented Paul Rendon, Brandon Johnson and Marcel Barragán will provide the background for a musical and visual journey as the corps explores the mythological tapestry of ancient Egypt and it’s most famous natural resource, the majestic Nile River. Known as the “bringer of life”, much of Egyptian mythology and religion focuses in and around the Nile. From birth to death, from peace to war, and love to anger, the Gods of the Nile provided ancient Egyptians with guidance and direction through life. Music and visual design will bring to life these gods and the time of Ancient Egypt.
Watchmen Drum and Bugle Corps under the direction of David Becker, is pleased to announce the selection of Jacobo Herrera (Lead DM), Jade Norton, Xiomara Oregon & Ariel McAnulty as the Watchmen Drum Majors for the 2019 season. Jacobo, Jade, Xiomara & Ariel were selected from a candidate pool that went through an intense audition process that showcased their conducting and leadership abilities. Our new drum majors will help guide the corps to its best season ever.
Jacobo Herrera is an accomplished Trumpet player and conductor. He is principle chair for the wind ensemble and is lead trumpet for the jazz band at Redlands East Valley High School. He is the first student orchestral conductor at REVHS, and has conducted with the beginning instrumental band as well as plays and conducts for the Redlands Youth Symphony. His dream schools would be Stanford University, UCLA, or USC. This is Jacobo’s second year with Watchmen as a Drum Major and as head drum Major he plans to bring the corps to a whole new height this season.
Ariel McAnulty is a music education major & a member of the RCC Marching Tigers at Riverside City College. where she played tenor saxophone, and is currently studying bass clarinet. She been marching throughout middle school to college, and has performed in both the Rose Parade and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Jade Norton is currently a junior attending San Luis Obispo High School, and is the drum major for the marching band. She plays the bass clarinet while also doubling on clarinet. Jade has performed with several groups in her area including the Cuesta College Wind Ensemble. She is incredibly passionate about conducting and all things leadership based. She’s applying to Dartmouth, UCLA, Boston College, or Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and is excited to be drum major with Watchmen during their 2019 season.
Xiomara Oregon is an accomplished senior clarinetist from Paloma Valley High Schools Wildcat Brigade and Wind Ensemble. Having traveled and played classically in San Francisco and Santa Cruz, Xiomara’s introduction to music started in the 6th grade and follows her to this day in her participation in drum corps.
Watchmen Drum Major Jacobo Herrera attended Drum Corps International “Drum Major Summit” during the 2019 DCI Annual Meeting in Indianapolis on January 11th – 13th. This was the 10th year of the seminar and Watchmen was one of 35 corps were represented from DCI’s membership.
Led by a cadre of former legendary DCI drum majors, Jacobo thoroughly enjoyed himself meeting new people, networking and bonding with the other drum majors from the World and Open Class Corps. He acquired a lot of information at this year’s seminar including a fascinating “behind the scenes” look at some of the technical aspects of audio recording of finals. DCI staff was very welcoming and helped Jacobo acquire new information to help Watchmen grow.
”It was great being able to just be myself and not the ‘leader’, Jacobo remarked. He got to learn how to manage members who are having a hard time or rough day and how to better aid people having emotional or mental challenges during the season. Jacobo added: “I also learned more about the components of how to be an effective leader and how to be a ‘big brother’”. He stated that he learned about maintaining respect and at the same time being compassionate.
Jacobo said it wasn’t just work–there was plenty of fun. The drum majors all visited the Discovery Percussion Center, toured the DCI offices, got to see the legendary “Founder’s Trophy” as well as a host of pictures of corps through the years. With snowfall during the trip, there was ample opportunity for the drum majors to let their hair down and play in the snow as well as socialize at local eateries, a favorite being the well-known local Steak and Shake.
Drum Corps
