Dear *Potential Sponsor*,

Have you ever heard of “Marching Band?” This is pretty much

what I’ve been doing throughout my high school career, but ​Better​.
Drum Corps: Marching Music’s Major League. Drum Corps is a
summer activity disguised as a fairly competitive “sport.” A team of
around 150 members consisting of Trumpet to Tuba, Snare Drum to
Xylophone. If dancing is your thing then there is the Colorguard! We
spend from mid May to mid August practicing our show and
performing it across the country. We go on tour across the United
States, and as a 17 year old boy who loves to travel and play music,
this is the opportunity of a lifetime! Personally, I have spent my high
school life in the Marching Arts. Starting my freshman year when a
close friend / mentor of mine thought I should march where he marched - The Cadets2, a defunct
drum corps who folded this past year(folding meaning not financially being able to sustain the
group so they shut down or “close up shop” until we can get our stuff back together.) Being only
14 years of age when I started and getting thrown
into the pool with 20, 21 year olds who actually
play the instrument we need to march was nerve
wracking. I primarily study the Tenor Saxophone
and intend on pursuing jazz studies and music
education in college, yet drum corps only allows
for brass instruments - so I took it upon myself to
learn the baritone, a trombone with trumpet valves to put it simply. Over the past 3 years I have
spent marching at the Cadets2, I have learned so much and grown so much as a musician, a brass
player, as well as a future educator to help me with my goals of becoming a music teacher. Now
in my senior year of high school, I auditioned for ​The Cadets​ and to my surprise, received a spot
and a contract to march this upcoming summer, 2019. The Cadets are the “Big Brother” or
¨Father” to the Cadets2. Being established in 1934 by the Holy Name Church in Garfield NJ,
receiving uniforms donated by the West Point Cadets at the time, they've had quite the
reputation-stacking up around 10 world championship titles since DCIś creation in 1972. Sitting
comfortably within the top 7 drum corps of the world, they get attention. Many people from
music majors in college, to high schoolers, to people flying in from other countries as far as
Japan came to audition for this corps-I had competition, but somehow as a 17 year old managed
to walk away with one of 8 euphonium spots for this upcoming season.

Enough about the history though, let's take a look at this upcoming summer. The season
consists of 2 parts: Spring Training, and Tour. Spring Training is in when we learn the show in a
nutshell. Starting on May 14th, we (The Cadets) move into a college campus (most likely
Moravian College this year) and rehearse for 15 hours a day for about 30 days or close to 5
weeks straight. I am lucky enough to have been granted permission to take leave from my last
couple months in high school to
go participate in this ensemble,
that doesn't happen to everyone.
Let us take a look at what a
typical day in spring training
looks like:

It is quite intense, and at times a bit daunting to have such a schedule every day for a
month or so. So we wake up around 7:30 and eat, we have our day meeting following breakfast,
which is where we discuss the plan for the day, what we would be focusing on for the bulk of the
days’ rehearsal. The morning rehearsal block is usually delegated to visual staff and the visual
aspect of the show. The drill, the marching, the dancing, the technique and fundamentals. We
then break for lunch for a bit to wind down and prepare for the hardest block under the scorching
heat of afternoon time. The second block is usually for sectionals-where the sections such as
brass and percussion split up and work on what they musically need to clean, get done, or learn.
This usually includes tougher musical segments and marching while playing to get said segments
under our feet and ready for the show. We then break for dinner. Immediately following dinner
break, we warm up for Ensemble. Ensemble is when everyone, all parts, assemble in an attempt
to piece together what we reinforced during sectionals. Afterwards we eat and shower, getting
ready to sleep for the next day of the same thing, sometimes staying up to study for our mini tests
for drill and music, and writing/updating our ¨dot-books.¨

That whole spring training process is brutal, but it is very

worth it for when we go on tour. Starting in mid June, we have
shortened rehearsal days because of what needs to get done
before the show that night. The show days are the best part and
are why people like me join drum
corps in the first place. We get to
perform at venues like the Alamodome, Mercedes-Benz stadium in
Atlanta, Lucas Oil stadium, Metlife and many others alongside your
corps which is really your summer family at this point, and all the other
corps competing. Doing the same thing that you´re doing, performing
at the same caliber as you are. Tour is where the magic happens. When
we fit all the choreography in the show, the props, the cool effects. The
best part, getting cleaner, getting ​better​. Having the people on either
side of you be just as crazy about ¨summer band¨ as you are. Wanting
to become just as perfect, with 150 kids thinking with that mentality,
there is surely no obstacle we cannot overcome. This organization and
ensemble bring out the best in us members, just to be a part of
something larger than just ourselves. If you want to view what we’re up to, there are plenty of
videos on youtube I can direct you to, or by just searching “The Cadets” on youtube. If you want
to come see a live show I can recommend a few that will be in the area over the summer:
● June 20th - DCI Tour Premiere, Detroit MI (Will be streamed in movie theatres in the
area)
● June 28th - Drum Corps: An American Tradition - Allentown PA(Our first “Homeshow”)
 ● July 2nd - Drum Corps: An American Tradition - East Rutherford NJ(Metlife)

Now all of this, comes with a cost. For the past three years at the Cadets2, the tuition
hasn't been that steep. My parents would assist me with those payments, only being around
$1,200. But now for the big leagues, the price nearly quadruples. Around $4,500 is needed for a
summer in DCI, that price tag is no joke. On top of that my parents can't help me on this one for
being too focused on trying to keep our lives afloat in a not so cheap suburban Scotch Plains.
Since the start of this endeavor, I have acquired two jobs in an attempt to come up with the
funds-I've gotten nearly halfway there. I just need a little extra help. The Cadets need to rent
buses to go across the country, need to reserve facilities to sleep and rehearse at throughout the
country for the summer. We need to feed 154 members, 30 staff, and 20 volunteers 4 meals a
day, every day. The cost of uniforms, instruments, props, sound equipment, maintenance. It is
one hefty bill to pay which is why I need ​your​ ​help. There are many ways in which you could
donate: by cash straight to me, to mine or my mother´s venmo account, (I have Cashapp as well.)
To my GoFundMe, by Credit/Debit card to JP Castro, The Cadets Corps Manager,
(484)387-1138. Or by check(addressed to Youth Education in the Arts and in the memo section
of the check “Allan Romero 2019, Membership Fees.) These are a few of the methods and it
would help out tremendously on my journey as a musician and future music educator. It also is a
tax deductible donation, helping us both win in the end. Please consider making a donation, it
would help greatly.

Thank you for your time, I appreciate any help I can get.

Thank you,
-Allan Rafael Romero