Birdsboro residents who may have already heard the drum line – or the trumpet line – performing in June, will have several opportunities this summer to hear and watch the esteemed Cadets2 Drum Corps rehearse at the Daniel Boone High School.
The Cadets2 Drum Corps is a regionally performing drum and bugle corps that competes in the Drum Corps Associates circuit.
It is just one of the more than eight programs run by Youth Education in the Arts! (YEA!), based in Allentown.
Recruiting Manager and Assistant Corps Director John Molloy said YEA! is a non-profit organization that allows talented performers to participate in pageantry events nationwide.
He said Cadets2 is comprised of approximately 128 young men and women ages 14 to 25, with a majority that are ages 17 to 18.
The Daniel Boone School Board approved at their June 8 meeting for YEA to practice at the High School stadium in exchange for new instruments.
“We will give top-quality instruments – that will last – to Daniel Boone,” said Molloy, adding, “their vote was unanimous, which means that they care about their students playing on better instruments.”
“It means they also care about keeping the arts alive and well.”
“It is a huge savior to be able to rehearse at Daniel Boone,” said Molloy, adding that a different school district had canceled a similar arrangement with YEA! in May.
The Cadets2 will rehearse at the High School, 501 Chestnut Street, on July 17 – 19, 24 – 26, and August 14 – 16.
Molloy said all rehearsals are open to the public.
Just before traveling to Rochester, NY, for participation in the World Championships, Cadets2 will perform in Daniel Boone’s pre-game football show at 6:40 p.m. on Sept. 4.
He said Cadets2 was founded in 2012 and modeled after The Cadets’, one of the world’s oldest and most continually operating drum and bugle corps.
Cadets2, however, is a weekend program that allows student participation at a reduced membership cost.
The Cadets’ was founded in 1934 in Garfield, NJ, as the Holy Name Cadets, and has won 10 American Legion National Championships and 10 Drum Corps International World Championships.
YEA! also runs USBands and a Cadets Winter Guard and Winter Percussion.
Molloy said YEA! welcomes public attendance at its rehearsals for the exposure to local teens and young adults, which may lead to their future participation in Cadets2.
“Age is our only discriminant,” said Molloy, adding that Cadets2 is all-inclusive, but participation does require background checks for all volunteers and members.