THE COMPANY - the past 7 months

Press Release by THE COMPANY

As we enter an exciting week leading to our first competitive show THE COMPANY Performance Ensemble would like to share further details of our Organisation, our 2010 Production and Drum Major, our Staff Team and the Partnerships we have forged over the last 7 months.

Organisation 
THE COMPANY Performance Ensemble was formed in November 2009 and in the time since we have had a steady growth in terms of membership and backroom support, the Corps currently stands at 56 marching members. We are based at the Priory Campus in Barnsley, South Yorkshire and the organisation is headed by the Ensemble Director Mark Nicholson, with the board consisting of Craig Sherratt, Lee Brogan, Ian Butt, Mark Pickles and John McNamara

2010 Show
Our very first production is entitled “Expect the Unexpected” and we have worked hard to create a show we believe will appeal to both the audience and judging community, we have unexpected twists both musically and visually throughout the programme, some are very subtle and others will just jump out and grab you, so watch very closely

The show is in 4 parts with the first movement “Build a Bridge” featuring both “Seven Days” by Sting and “Cry me a River” by Michael Buble. 

We then move on to “Candidnt” which is a totally different and unique arrangement of the classic “Candide” by Leonard Bernstein. The third piece “Gone too Soon” is a “Michael Jackson Medley” by Sam Tsui and is a tribute to the great mans passing last year which was completely unexpected in itself.

Our final production entitled “Thirty Something” starts with “1812 Overture” by Tchaikovsky” we then move onto “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik” by Mozart. Next up is the famous “William Tell” by Rossini and watch for a very unusual end to the show with “Let’s get it Started” by the Black Eyed Peas.

2010 Drum Major
We are pleased to announce that Robert Beckett will be Drum Major for THE COMPANY in our inaugural season. Robert has had a long Drum Corps career and has performed on tuba for both Northern Star from Leeds and Phantom Regiment from Rockford Illinois. He was also on the visual staff with Phantom Regiment in 2008 when they captured the DCI World Championship. 

Competitive Season
THE COMPANY will perform on the DCUK (Drum Corps United Kingdom) and BYBA (British Youth Band Association) National Circuits, as well as competing at the DCE (Drum Corps Europe) European Championships in Kerkrade, Holland in September.

Staff Team 
We are very proud to have a dedicated and talented group of individuals working with THE COMPANY this year. The Musical Design is by Andrew Markworth, the Visual programme by Craig Sherratt and the Auxiliary package is created by Ian Butt.

Heading our Visual team is Craig Sherratt and includes Wayne Hemming, Stephen Ansell and Christian Bradbury, the Brass line is in the hands of Andrew Cartwright and he is assisted by Mark Bolton. The Percussion Section is under the joint leadership of Mark Pickles and John McNamara and they are assisted by Justine Lloyd and Neil Hyde, finally the Colourguard section is run by Ian Butt and includes Rebekka Sherratt, Ian Holling and Mark Nicholson.

We have also been assisted and consulted by Andrew Ebert, Matt Hahn and Tim Fairbanks 

Partnerships
With any new organization you have major mountains to climb and we have been blown away by the help and support of the following companies and we would like to publicly thank them. 

Priory Campus, Peach Telecom, MKM Building Supplies, Jean Paul Ratajczak and Muremo, Dynasty Band and Orchestra USA, Evans Drum Heads, Innovative Percussion Sticks and Mallets, Sabian Cymbals, Treeworks Chimes, Pyware, Musicsales.com, Big Dog Drum Stuff and StickTape.com

Finally we wish all competing units the very best of luck in 2010 and look forward to seeing everyone on the field of competition.

For more information about THE COMPANY Performance Ensemble please visit us at www.theco.org.uk

14th June 2010