The countdown to the start of the 2025 Drum Corps International season is underway! With that June 27th start date looming ever closer, here's everything you need to know to get you prepped ahead of the start of the 2025 DCI season. We've got a lot to cover, so let's jump right into it:

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1. 2024 World Class Medalists & Caption Award Winners

In case you needed a refresher on who claimed the bronze, silver, and gold medals at the conclusion of the 2024 DCI season, here's a recap from the World Class:

The 2024 DCI World Championship Caption Award winners were as follows: 

• John Brazale Best Visual Performance Award: Bluecoats
• Fred Sanford Best Percussion Performance Award: Santa Clara Vanguard
• Donald Angelica Best General Effect Award: Bluecoats
• Jim Ott Best Brass Performance Award: Bluecoats
• George Zingali Best Color Guard Award: Boston Crusaders

2. 2024 Open Class Medalists & Caption Award Winners

Spartans had another stellar year, winning back-to-back gold medals with their 2023 production 'Surreal,' and 2024's 'Youtopia.' Here's a breakdown of the Open Class Championship Finals scores and Caption Award Winners:

The 2024 DCI Open Class Championship Caption Award winners were as follows:

• Best Brass Performance: Spartans
• Best Visual Performance: Spartans
• Best Color Guard: Spartans
• Best General Effect: Spartans
• Best Percussion Performance: Blue Devils B
• Most Improved Corps: The Battalion

But there's more in store for the Spartans in the coming years. At this year's DCI January Annual Meetings, the Spartans announced its intention to transition into DCI World Class from DCI Open Class. Here's what DCI had to say about the massive announcement:

DCI’s voting membership approved the petition, marking a significant step forward for the defending Open Class champions. The Spartans outlined their intention to become a full-time World Class corps in 2026 and will utilize the 2025 DCI Tour as a stepping stone to that goal. 

As part of this transition year in 2025, the corps will follow a “hybrid” classification structure and remain as an Open Class corps, but will compete in eight events, including the DCI Eastern Classic, where they will be judged alongside their World Class peers. An official vote at DCI’s postseason membership meeting in the fall will ultimately determine their World Class status for 2026 and beyond.

In a first-of-its-kind agreement, DCI and Spartans came together to hammer out a tour schedule composed of both Open Class and World Class judged shows to help ease the transition into a fully World Class ensemble. The 2025 season will be the Spartans' first opportunity to get a taste of what it's like at the World Class level, so fans will want to keep an eye on the New Hampshire-based ensemble.

3. Welcome to Lucas Oil Stadium, All-Age Corps!

2024 was the first year that DCI fans got a taste of a combined Finals week, featuring World Class, Open Class, and All-Age ensembles competing in Lucas Oil Stadium. Though the All-Age performance model will be expanding in 2025, allowing for two performance opportunities at Lucas Oil rather than only a Finals performance, here's how the 2024 season shook out for the All-Age competitors:

For fans new to the realm, the All-Age class is broken down into three subclasses based on the size of the ensemble: World Class, Open Class, and A Class. Here's a breakdown of all of the Caption Awards for each All-Age class:

The 2024 All-Age World Class Caption Awards are as follows:

• Hy Dreitzer Memorial Trophy for High Brass: Reading Buccaneers
• High Percussion: Reading Buccaneers
• Jim Costello Memorial Trophy for High Visual: Reading Buccaneers
• Frank Gerris Memorial Trophy for High Total Effect: Reading Buccaneers
• Harvey Olderman Memorial Trophy for Best Color Guard: Reading Buccaneers

The 2024 All-Age Open Class Caption Awards are as follows:

• High Brass: White Sabers
• High Percussion: Cincinnati Tradition
• Bob Holton Memorial Trophy for High Visual: Cincinnati Tradition
• High Total Effect: White Sabers
• High Color Guard: Cincinnati Tradition

The 2024 All-Age A Class Caption Awards are as follows:

• High Brass: Govenaires
• Sean Holton Memorial Trophy for High Percussion: Govenaires
• High Visual: Govenaires
• High Total Effect: Govenaires
• High Color Guard: Govenaires

Additional 2024 All-Age Awards: 

• Best Honor Guard: Hawthorne Caballeros
• Butch Anderson & Walt Winkleman Memorial Trophy for Best Drum Major: Hawthorne Caballeros (Kimberly Roman)
• Lou Storck Memorial Trophy for Best Showmanship: Connecticut Hurricanes (Marco Spinetti)

4. DCI Rule Changes for 2025

In case you missed it, at the 2025 DCI January Annual Meetings, rule change proposals for the 2025 DCI season were voted on by members of the DCI World Class and the 2024 Open Class finalists. 

Out of the six proposed rule changes that were on the docket for discussion this weekend (check out the full list here), here are the 2 rule changes that ended up being approved by the voting party and will take effect for the 2025 DCI season:

• Solo Instrument Addition PASSED with amended language 
  • The accepted rule change proposal was amended and accepted as follows: In a performance, a single, featured instrument not otherwise permitted by rule 4.8 may be used. Notwithstanding instruments otherwise allowed, this featured instrument may be used throughout the entire performance. This featured instrument may be mic'd and amplified in any manner, including the use of effects, without restriction. All existing rules regarding equipment, amplification, and electronic usage shall apply to all other instruments and equipment not designated as the sole featured instrument.
  • Vote count: 16 yay, 2 nay
• Update Percussion Instrumentation PASSED
  • The proposal would update the wording of a current rule to clarify allowed percussion instruments.
  • Vote count: 18 yay, 0 nay

What does this mean for the 2025 DCI season and beyond? We'll just have to wait and see!

5. Where the 2024 Top-12 Will Premiere Their Shows

It will take exactly one full week for all of 2024's top-12 corps to make their first public appearance on the competition field in the 2025 season. A majority of the corps can be found performing at a few early-season shows: the DCI Tour Preview on June 27th, Drums Along the Rockies on June 28th, and the Rotary Music Festival on July 2nd. Here's where the top-12 will make their debuts:

• Bluecoats: Bluecoats Opening Night Community Celebration, June 28 (streaming on FloMarching)
• Santa Clara Vanguard: Santa Clara Vanguard Showcase, June 27 (streaming on FloMarching)
• Carolina Crown: DCI Tour Preview, June 27 (streaming on FloMarching)
• The Cavaliers: DCI Tour Preview, June 27 (streaming on FloMarching)
• Phantom Regiment: DCI Tour Preview, June 27 (streaming on FloMarching)
• Blue Devils: Drums Along the Rockies, June 28 (streaming on FloMarching)
• Boston Crusaders: Drums Along the Rockies, June 28 (streaming on FloMarching)
• Colts: Drums Along the Rockies, June 28 (streaming on FloMarching)
• Troopers: Drums Along the Rockies, June 28 (streaming on FloMarching)
• Blue Stars: Rotary Music Festival, July 2
• Madison Scouts: Rotary Music Festival, July 2
• Mandarins: Northwest Youth Music Games Seattle, July 2

6. DCI 2025 Streaming Schedule

Speaking of show premieres, here's a list of all of the DCI 2025 events you can stream live on FloMarching this summer:

• June 27 | Santa Clara Vanguard Showcase
• June 27 | DCI Tour Preview
• June 28 | Bluecoats Opening Night Community Celebration
• June 28 | Drums Along the Rockies
• July 3 | Northwest Youth Music Games Portland
• July 5 | The Whitewater Classic
• July 6 | DCI West
• July 8 | The Kiwanis Thunder of Drums
• July 9 | Gold Showcase
• July 11 | Western Corps Connection
• July 12 | DCI Little Rock
• July 12 | Drum Corps Grand Prix
• July 13 | So Cal Classic: Open Class Pacific Championship Finals
• July 15 | DCI Broken Arrow
• July 17 | DCI Denton
• July 17 | DCI Waco
• July 18 | DCI Houston
• July 19 | DCI Southwestern Championship pres. by Fred J Miller
• July 21 | DCI McKinney
• July 23 | DCI Northern Ohio
• July 25 | DCI Nashville presented by Demoulin Bros. & Co.
• July 26 | DCI Southeastern Championship
• July 26 | Midwest Classic
• July 28 | Summer Music Games in Cincinnati
• July 29 | Soaring Sounds
• July 30 | Summer Music Games of Southwest Virginia
• August 1-2 | DCI Eastern Classic
• August 2 | DCI Williamsport
• August 4-5 | DCI Open Class Championship
• August 4 | Innovations in Brass
• August 7-9 | DCI World Championships
• August 8-9 | DCI All-Age World Championships
• August 9 | SoundSport International Music & Food Festival pres. by Jazz Wealth

7. Two Community Performances Streaming Live, Exclusively on FloMarching

Get excited, drum corps fans! In an effort to continue expanding our marching offerings during the summer season, FloMarching is proud to announce that we are adding another exclusive streaming opportunity for fans to enjoy this summer season: The Santa Clara Vanguard Showcase. 

In this exclusive live stream, fans can watch SCV debut its 2025 show, along with debut performances from Santa Clara Vanguard and other West Coast favorites, helping officially kick off the start of the 2025 Drum Corps International season. The Santa Clara Vanguard Showcase will stream exclusively on FloMarching on June 27th at the Kibbie Dome at the University of Idaho.

The SCV Showcase joins the Bluecoats Opening Night Community Celebration as an opportunity for fans to watch select World Class, Open Class, All-Age corps, and SoundSport ensembles debut their 2025 programs exclusively on FloMarching before they officially hit the road on their 2025 summer tour. 

The Santa Clara Vanguard Showcase joins over 30 other DCI events streaming live on FloMarching this summer. 

Santa Clara Vanguard Showcase Schedule

The Santa Clara Vanguard Showcase will take place on Friday, June 27th. The event will feature Santa Clara Vanguard in a brand-new DCI 2025 premiere show, hosted and streamed exclusively by FloMarching. Currently, the event schedule is TBA but will be added here once Vanguard officially announces the order of events!

For more information about the Santa Clara Vanguard Showcase, click here.

Bluecoats Opening Night Community Celebration Performance Schedule

The Bluecoats Opening Night Community Celebration will take place on Saturday, June 28th. The event will begin with local favorites from the Buckeye State and culminate in the premiere of the never-before-seen 2025 Bluecoats show. The event wraps up with a combined encore, including participants in The Blue Way Summer Arts Camp and an encore performance from the 2025 Bluecoats. View the full event schedule below.

• 5:15pm - Gates open
• 6:00pm - Welcome & introductions
• 6:15pm - Columbus Saints
• 6:25pm - Columbus Saints Minis
• 6:32pm - Rogues Hollow Regiment
• 6:47pm - Cincinnati Tradition
• 7:02pm - EN-CORPS
• 7:17pm - Bluecoats Alumni Ensemble Legacy Arc
• 7:32pm - Rhythm IN BLUE
• 7:54pm - World Debut of The Bluecoats
• 8:10pm - Summer Arts Camp performance with The Bluecoats
• 8:20pm - The Bluecoats encore
• 8:45pm - Event concludes

For more information about the Bluecoats Opening Night Community Celebration, click here.

8. Standout Show & Venue Changes

Throughout the 2025 DCI season, there are a handful of exciting changes to the summer tour schedule, including venue changes and show format. Here are the standout updates to be aware of:

• What was formerly the 'DCI Tour Premiere' has been updated to the 'DCI Tour Preview.' This show will still be held in Muncie, IN as it usually is, however, this show will be a true preview, as it will be unscored.
• Drums Along the Rockies is now earlier in the season than ever, with a June 28th date rather than the mid-July date that fans are used to seeing. Catch performances from the Boston Crusaders, Blue Devils, Troopers, and more!
• 'The Masters of the Summer Music Games' is getting a new location... and event name! According to DCI, "Due to a turf replacement project that is scheduled to conflict with the July event, the Masters of the Summer Music Games will relocate from its longstanding home at Middle Tennessee State University to Nissan Stadium, home of the NFL’s Tennessee Titans in 2025." Mark your calendars - the show will be held on July 25th.
• We've added DCI Williamsport to our 2025 streaming schedule, with the goal of expanding our offering to include more shows featuring Open Class and All-Age corps. DCI Williamsport will take place on August 2nd and will feature performances from Bushwackers, Hurricanes, Rogues Hollow Regiment, and White Sabers, in addition to some of your favorite World Class corps. 
• Finals week at Lucas Oil Stadium will be bigger than ever, with DCI All-Age corps now having the opportunity to perform two times on the world's biggest stage. All-Age Prelims will be on the morning of August 8th, with Finals happening the following morning on August 9th.

9. Number of Performances Per Corps

We've got a lot of shows this season, and as such, fans have many chances to see their favorite corps perform throughout the 2025 DCI season! Here's an overview of how many times the World Class, Open Class, and All-Age corps will take the field, and where they'll be debuting their 2025 productions:

World Class

Open Class

All-Age Class

10. Alumni Corps Performances

Drum corps fans can expect a handful of special Alumni Corps performances throughout the 2025 DCI season. Check out the list below:

• Bluecoats Alumni Ensemble Legacy Arc - June 28th at the Bluecoats Opening Night Community Celebration (streaming LIVE on FloMarching)
• Hawthorne Caballeros Alumni - June 28 at Barnum Festival: Champions on Parade
• Skyliners Alumni - June 28 at Barnum Festival: Champions on Parade
• Hawthorne Caballeros Alumni - July 12 at Drum Corps Grand Prix (streaming LIVE on FloMarching)
• Buccaneers Alumni - July 19 at The Buccaneer Classic
• Hawthorne Caballeros Alumni - July 26 at Bushwackers Invitational
• Crusaders Senior - SoundSport Festival - Williamsport on August 1
• Hawthorne Caballeros Alumni - DCI Williamsport on August 2 (streaming LIVE on FloMarching)
• Buccaneers Alumni - Big Sounds in Motion on August 3

In addition to those performances, fans can also watch a special Alumni Corps performance from the Spirit of Atlanta at DCI World Championship Semifinals on Friday, August 8th. In previous years, fans have gotten to enjoy "throwback" performances from the Bluecoats Alumni Ensemble Legacy Arc (2022), the Troopers Legacy Corps (2023), and the Crossmen Alumni Corps (2024).