For the first time in more than 30 years, drum corps is alive and well in Hutchinson — and the Sky Ryders are proving that rebuilding an iconic name starts at the ground level.
The corps has been rehearsing up to 10 hours a day since arriving on June 30 for its two-week training camp, wrapping up with a dress rehearsal on July 7 before hitting the road the next morning. Their short but impactful summer tour will take them to three Drum Corps International (DCI) SoundSport shows in Ankeny and Dubuque, Iowa, and Illinois before returning home on July 12.
It’s the second year the Sky Ryders have fielded a SoundSport ensemble — a division designed for developing groups with flexible instrumentation and performance lengths. It’s a starting point with big dreams attached.
LINK: Sky Ryders to host free dress rehearsal performance at Gowans Stadium on Monday
“The goal is to grow this step by step,” said Dale Antoine of the Sky Ryders. “This year is about getting kids on the road, giving them the experience of being a drum corps member, and laying the groundwork for the future. We hope to move into DCI’s Open Class in the next two years — but that depends on funding, logistics, and where the tour goes.”
This summer’s group includes 76 marching members, up from 68 last year. They come from across Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas, ranging in age from 14 to 21. While world-class drum corps tend to average members aged 18 to 19 — and many now won’t accept minors at all — the Sky Ryders see value in cultivating young talent early.
“There are only two kids here who’ve marched drum corps before,” Craig said. “So this really is a building block. We’re mixing kids with all levels of experience — but they’re all learning what it means to be a team.”
SoundSport allows the corps to keep its wind players for now — something that will need to change if they advance to Open Class, where only brass and percussion are permitted with one specialty instrument allowed. But for now, it’s all about accessibility.
“We’re not chasing perfection right now,” Antoine said. “We’re focused on giving the kids a positive experience. Hopefully, they’ll stick with it, grow their skills, and maybe pick up a new instrument if they want to move up.”
Putting a corps on the road isn’t cheap. The group’s operating budget this year is expected to come in around $135,000, a far cry from the $1.5 million a world-class corps might spend — but still a big leap for a program revived just two years ago.
Much of the equipment is borrowed from supportive schools, and community partners like the Hutchinson Community Foundation, the local school district and area band directors have stepped up to help. Marching fees are kept as low as possible — about $750 for each member — compared to upwards of $6,000 for world-class corps. Even so, basic expenses add up quickly, from bus rentals to borrowed tubas.
While the Sky Ryders missed out on hosting a local DCI show this summer — due to changes in the tour model — the goal is to bring one back to Hutchinson next season.
“Drum corps hasn’t had a home here for three decades,” Antoine said. “It takes time to rebuild. We’re trying to grow it organically, keep it affordable, and get more local kids involved. We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished already.”
When the buses roll out on July 8, it won’t just be about the scores. For this corps, every mile on the road is another step toward reviving a legacy — one rookie marcher at a time.