Youth Education in the Arts, or YEA!, announced today that they would cease the operation of their Drum Corps Associates (DCA) participating corps Cadets² and reduce their in-office staff in by one-third in Allentown, PA.

The announcement comes after the conclusion of an independent investigation began earlier this year, spurred along by the news of misconduct involving former Executive Director and CEO George Hopkins.

"YEA! has recently completed an exhaustive financial audit and independent investigation of the operational elements of YEA! The results of this work have led the Board of Directors and senior management to make strategic changes and improvements to position YEA! for our next decade of growth and innovation," said current Executive Director of YEA! Vicki Ferrence Ray.

“It is no secret that the financial position of YEA! has been adversely impacted by the events surrounding the former leadership of the organization,” she continued.

All said and done, the organization reports a deficit of around $600,000 including legal fees, training costs, and loss of sponsorships or participating groups in YEA!'s high school marching band circuit, USBands.

Perhaps the biggest loss, to the drum corps community in particular, will be the discontinuation of Cadets² a recent DCA World Champion and home for well over 100 performers each year. 

Vicki Ferrence Ray finished, "For the benefit of the young people throughout YEA! programs, it is best to end the Cadets² program to strategically focus our resources. We are grateful for the leadership, staff, volunteers, parents, and most especially the members who have made the past seven years so remarkable for the unit.”