San Francisco, CA, December 2, 1999: The DCI World Champion
Concord Blue Devils and the San Francisco Renegades Senior Drum and
Bugle corps announced today that they have formally entered into
a written "Alliance."
The Alliance, believed to be the first of its kind in drum corps
history, is an agreement between the two corps designed to facilitate
combining forces in several key areas of corps operations, including
fundraising efforts, marketing campaigns and corporate grant writing.
Under the terms of the Alliance, the Renegades have also aligned
their marching, brass, percussion and colorguard technique programs
with the Blue Devils for the purpose of increasing participation of
Blue Devil alumni in the Renegades. To align the instructional
programs as closely as possible, several key members of the Blue
Devils staff will also be serving as consultants to the Renegades, and
both corps hope to hold one or more joint rehearsals or performances
this season.
"The Renegades offer an extension of the Blue Devil philosophy
into the senior corps arena, and we are happy to welcome them into
the Blue Devil family" said David Gibbs, Executive Director of the
Blue Devils. "This will be a natural addition to our organization
that currently has eight programs. Young people can start in the Blue
Devil C Corps when they are seven years old, and then move up through
the B and the A corps. With this Alliance, it is now possible for
them to continue the Blue Devil experience after they have aged-out."
Gibbs also added that "the Renegades have undertaken a very
innovative approach to fundraising and our new development Director,
Juli Kramer, looks forward to working with them on several projects
in the future."
Renegades Director Brandon Wilson added that "we have always
admired the way that the Blue Devil organization has been run, and we
are very excited to have the opportunity to learn from the very best
in the activity."
Although the Renegades are not officially joining the Blue Devil
organization at this time, both corps have agreed to explore this
possibility for the future. For more information on membership in the
Renegades please visit their websites
http://www.renegades.org/
ABOUT THE BLUE DEVILS
The Blue Devils' mission is to offer young people a quality
educational and performance experience in the area of performing
arts. Founded in 1957, the organization provides a structured and
positive learning environment for young people of all ages. A
continuing objective of the Blue Devils is to develop personal
character through challenging physical, emotional, social and mental
activities while promoting the values of dedication, hard work and
commitment through a team effort.
About the Blue Devils
ABOUT THE RENEGADES
The Renegades were founded in 1996 by a small group of people that
got together simply for the love of playing their instruments. In
February of 1999, the corps put the "Renegade 2000" plan in to motion,
and added an infrastructure that not only included a world-class
instructional staff, but a "Promotions Team" that included marketing,
financial and legal consultants.
The mission of the Renegades organization is to bring an
unprecedented awareness and appreciation of the drum corps activity
to the public through a comprehensive marketing and financial plan.
The Renegades made their DCI debut in July 1999, at the Moonlight
Classic contest in Stockton, California, and are one of two charter
members of the DCI-Pacific senior division. Future plans include
performing in many venues previously unknown to drum and bugle corps,
and competing in the DCA Championships.