Fusion Core is moving from New Jersey to Florida.
Aug 14, 2024 16:13:42 GMT -6
statechamp1239 likes this
Post by N.E. Brigand on Aug 14, 2024 16:13:42 GMT -6
Fusion Core, an all-age corps founded in 2006, first competed in 2007, placing fourth of nine corps in DCA's Class A, which then was the lower of two divisions, and fifteenth of twenty-two corps in all, with a respectable score of 81.875 at the championship prelims. (Only the top three Class A corps advanced to finals that year. In many later years, that would be expanded to four corps.) They won Class A in 2010 with a score of 84.463. In 2012, they moved to Open Class (then the upper DCA division) and earned scores of 90 or better in six of the next seven years, placing fourth in 2014 with "Dreamscapes" (still their highest scoring show: 94.4) and in 2018 with "When I grow up...", but my favorite show of theirs is "UP" from 2016, which placed fifth. In 2021, they participated in DCA's virtual competitions, placing fourth of eight corps in Open Class championships. Returning to live competition in 2022, with three divisions -- World, Open, and A -- they placed first in the latter. They moved up to Open, the middle division, for 2023 and 2024, the latter as part of DCI's inaugural all age championships (with the 2022-2023 division structure maintained). They placed fourth of four corps in Open Class this year, and ninth of thirteen corps in all, scoring 82.125 with "Breathe."
During all this time, the corps has been based in various towns in northern New Jersey and lately has more broadly identified its base of operations as Morris County. That is, until yesterday, when Fusion Core announced it is moving to Florida for 2025, although with this addendum: "We will also be establishing a new performing ensemble in New Jersey so we can stay connected to our roots and community while exploring opportunities and resources in Florida that will ensure long-term stability and sustainability, all while nurturing our connection to New Jersey."
This might be a good thing for drum corps in general. Arguably New Jersey (pop. 9.3 million) has a surplus of corps, with two junior corps: Jersey Surf and Raiders, and three all-age corps: Hawthorne Caballeros, Bushwackers, and Fusion Core. (In 2018, there were two more short-lived groups, one in each category -- Encorps and Highland Regiment, respectively -- for a total of seven New Jersey corps.) Most of Fusion Core's current membership presumably will not be moving to Florida, so this could increase the talent pool available to the other all-age corps (or the junior corps for Fusion's younger members). However, there were only about 60 in Fusion Core this year, so it's not a lot of people to redistribute. Another potential upside is that there was no competing corps this year from Florida (pop. 22.6 million), after Heat Wave -- which had been competing regionally since 2015 (with appearances in DCI championships in 2018 and 2019) -- announced in June that the corps would be inactive this year. (Will they return in 2025?) Among the reasons Heat Wave listed for that decision were that "camp housing in Florida continues to be a major issue, with public schools not allowing overnight stays." Because all-age rehearse and perform only on weekends, their housing needs before championships are minimal or nonexistent. That said, based on this year's DCI schedule, they'd still have some long drives just to get to the nearest local competitions.
And Florida corps in general don't seem to last very long, relatively speaking -- certainly not in recent decades. DCX lists more than 200 corps that have hailed from Florida over the past century, although in most cases with no more information than a name and a city. After a quick scan through that list, I think the list below includes all the competition field corps that were active during the past 50 years. (Please let me know if you think I missed a group.) I am not counting groups that have only participated in DCI SoundSport or DCA Mini Corps events. For "best finish," I'm only showing DCI and DCA championship results and not the placements in then then-declining VFW National, American Legion, U.S. Open, or World Open events. (Of interest to aiden and other curious about low scores: DCX has one of the corps below with a "highest score" of 21.3 in the 1976 VFW Nationals Prelims.)
Junior Corps
Suncoast Sound, founded 1979, last scored 1995, best finish was 5th in DCI Division I Finals in 1986 with 94.8 (seven Finals appearances overall).
Magic of Orlando, founded 1989, last scored 2006, best finish was 8th in DCI Div. I Finals in 1996 with 85.5 (six Finals appearances overall).
Florida Wave, founded 1939, last scored 1991, best finish was 13th in DCI Div. I Semifinals in 1987
Teal Sound, founded 1999, last scored 2012, best finish was 20th in DCI World Class Quarterfinals in 2010 and (expanded) Semifinals in 2011
Tampa Bay Thunder (I), founded 2000, last scored 2001, best finish was 11th in DCI Div. II Prelims in 2001
Florida Guardsmen, founded 1990, last scored 1992, best finish was 13th in DCI Div. II Prelims in 1992
Heat Wave (II), founded 2014, last scored 2023, best finish was 14th in DCI Open Class Prelims in 2019
Devil Dogs, founded 1973 (?), last scored 1977
Floridians, founded 1969, last scored 1976
Royal Lancers, founded 1965, last scored 1979
Silhouettes, founded 1967(?), last scored 1974
Silver Knights, founded 1971, last scored 1974
There was (is?) also something called the North Port Alliance Drum and Bugle Corps, which seems to have been a high school band that eschewed woodwinds (and trombones?) and was active in the early-mid 2000s, competing in high school band competitions. Anyone know more about them?
All Age Corps
Tampa Bay Thunder (II), founded 2010, last scored 2013, best finish was 10th in DCA Open Class Finals in 2011 with 78.95 (their only Finals appearance).
Heat Wave (I), founded 1992, last scored 2005, best finish was 1st in DCA Class A Finals in both 1998 and 2003
Sun Devils, founded 2008, last scored 2014, best finish was 3rd in DCA Class A Finals in 2013
So if Fusion Core can last just ten years in Florida, that would be a pretty creditable achievement!
During all this time, the corps has been based in various towns in northern New Jersey and lately has more broadly identified its base of operations as Morris County. That is, until yesterday, when Fusion Core announced it is moving to Florida for 2025, although with this addendum: "We will also be establishing a new performing ensemble in New Jersey so we can stay connected to our roots and community while exploring opportunities and resources in Florida that will ensure long-term stability and sustainability, all while nurturing our connection to New Jersey."
This might be a good thing for drum corps in general. Arguably New Jersey (pop. 9.3 million) has a surplus of corps, with two junior corps: Jersey Surf and Raiders, and three all-age corps: Hawthorne Caballeros, Bushwackers, and Fusion Core. (In 2018, there were two more short-lived groups, one in each category -- Encorps and Highland Regiment, respectively -- for a total of seven New Jersey corps.) Most of Fusion Core's current membership presumably will not be moving to Florida, so this could increase the talent pool available to the other all-age corps (or the junior corps for Fusion's younger members). However, there were only about 60 in Fusion Core this year, so it's not a lot of people to redistribute. Another potential upside is that there was no competing corps this year from Florida (pop. 22.6 million), after Heat Wave -- which had been competing regionally since 2015 (with appearances in DCI championships in 2018 and 2019) -- announced in June that the corps would be inactive this year. (Will they return in 2025?) Among the reasons Heat Wave listed for that decision were that "camp housing in Florida continues to be a major issue, with public schools not allowing overnight stays." Because all-age rehearse and perform only on weekends, their housing needs before championships are minimal or nonexistent. That said, based on this year's DCI schedule, they'd still have some long drives just to get to the nearest local competitions.
And Florida corps in general don't seem to last very long, relatively speaking -- certainly not in recent decades. DCX lists more than 200 corps that have hailed from Florida over the past century, although in most cases with no more information than a name and a city. After a quick scan through that list, I think the list below includes all the competition field corps that were active during the past 50 years. (Please let me know if you think I missed a group.) I am not counting groups that have only participated in DCI SoundSport or DCA Mini Corps events. For "best finish," I'm only showing DCI and DCA championship results and not the placements in then then-declining VFW National, American Legion, U.S. Open, or World Open events. (Of interest to aiden and other curious about low scores: DCX has one of the corps below with a "highest score" of 21.3 in the 1976 VFW Nationals Prelims.)
Junior Corps
Suncoast Sound, founded 1979, last scored 1995, best finish was 5th in DCI Division I Finals in 1986 with 94.8 (seven Finals appearances overall).
Magic of Orlando, founded 1989, last scored 2006, best finish was 8th in DCI Div. I Finals in 1996 with 85.5 (six Finals appearances overall).
Florida Wave, founded 1939, last scored 1991, best finish was 13th in DCI Div. I Semifinals in 1987
Teal Sound, founded 1999, last scored 2012, best finish was 20th in DCI World Class Quarterfinals in 2010 and (expanded) Semifinals in 2011
Tampa Bay Thunder (I), founded 2000, last scored 2001, best finish was 11th in DCI Div. II Prelims in 2001
Florida Guardsmen, founded 1990, last scored 1992, best finish was 13th in DCI Div. II Prelims in 1992
Heat Wave (II), founded 2014, last scored 2023, best finish was 14th in DCI Open Class Prelims in 2019
Devil Dogs, founded 1973 (?), last scored 1977
Floridians, founded 1969, last scored 1976
Royal Lancers, founded 1965, last scored 1979
Silhouettes, founded 1967(?), last scored 1974
Silver Knights, founded 1971, last scored 1974
There was (is?) also something called the North Port Alliance Drum and Bugle Corps, which seems to have been a high school band that eschewed woodwinds (and trombones?) and was active in the early-mid 2000s, competing in high school band competitions. Anyone know more about them?
All Age Corps
Tampa Bay Thunder (II), founded 2010, last scored 2013, best finish was 10th in DCA Open Class Finals in 2011 with 78.95 (their only Finals appearance).
Heat Wave (I), founded 1992, last scored 2005, best finish was 1st in DCA Class A Finals in both 1998 and 2003
Sun Devils, founded 2008, last scored 2014, best finish was 3rd in DCA Class A Finals in 2013
So if Fusion Core can last just ten years in Florida, that would be a pretty creditable achievement!
