Parents of the Santa Clara Vanguard

WE ARE HERE TO HELP!

If you’re new to drum corps or the Santa Clara Vanguard, don’t worry! We understand you may have questions and we are here to support you. Whether it’s about the audition process, schedule, or what to expect at rehearsals, reach out and let us know how we can assist you on your journey. Part of making the experience great is ensuring that you have access to all of the information you may need as you support your child during this amazing season.

Your student may be a contracted performer or may be just entering the audition process and trying for a spot this next season. Either way, we’re here to answer your questions and provide any support you may need.

ABOUT AUDITIONS & REHEARSALS

The audition season begins each Fall with our audition camps. Auditions will take place in California, Texas, and additionally some one-day “satellite” auditions across the country. We also offer limited virtual auditions for Brass and Color Guard only. Virtual auditions are limited and must be pre-approved by the Caption Manager because it isn’t the best opportunity for staff to evaluate skill levels. Auditioning in person is the best way to perform an audition.

After the first round of auditions, recommended students are offered either a “callback” or a contract. For musicians & drum majors, callbacks and other invited students attend the January Callback Camp in Dallas TX. For color guard, callbacks and other invited students attend the April Rehearsal camp in Dallas TX for their second evaluation. 

Once the January Callback camp is complete, we will begin our Spring rehearsal schedule, dates are TBD. The Spring rehearsal camps are required for all contracted participants (and a select few participants still on “callback status”).

ABOUT PRE-TOUR MOVE INS & TOUR 

Each season SCV takes approximately 165 young adults from around the world between the ages of 16 & 22 on an 85 day cross-country tour. We begin the summer off with our intensive Pre-Tour program, this is where the performers will move in full time with SCV to develop their technique and learn the year’s production with our educators and designers. After a 5 week Pre-Tour they embark on tour, performing for audiences of thousands of people at events around the country. 

Once we hit the road at the end of June we travel almost nightly until DCI World Championships in August. The drum corps consists of musicians, color guard members, and drum majors.   There are around 165 members that travel with the corps, not everyone is guaranteed a performance role on the field. We have performing members and understudies that are part of the organization as well. This understudy position is imperative to the drum corps, we could not operate without having those members helping with filling spots and always learning. 

FINALS WEEK & BANQUET

Finals week is full of those last rehearsals for SCV and our end of year ceremonies. Ceremonies historically take place on-site at our rehearsal facility on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of that week, but all is subject to change. More information will be sent out prior to finals week. 

We end our summer at the DCI World Championships with a banquet open to our SCV Family on Sunday after Finals. Tickets will be available for purchase scvanguard.org/events Spring 2024. Your member will get into the banquet free, but you and your family can purchase tickets online.