DR. DAVID HOLSINGER JOINS CADETS 1992 AND 1993 REUNIONS
The second week of Cadets Virtual Reunions ends Friday, August 7, with alumni from the 1990s getting together and sharing lots of stories and memories. This week of reunions has featured several guests, including acclaimed composer, conductor, and educator, David Holsinger. The Cadets performed Dr. Holsinger’s music in both 1992 and 1993. In 1992, The Cadets surged into 2nd place at DCI Finals playing To Tame the Perilous Skies, and in 1993, earned the world title performing In the Spring, at the Time When Kings Go Off to War, Ballet Sacra, and On a Hymnsong of Philip Bliss.
Cadets alumnus and 1992 Drum Major, David Roulier, invited Dr. Holsinger to join Tuesday night’s reunions, and he graciously accepted the invitation, spending his evening sharing memories of working with The Cadets in 1992 and 1993. Cadets’ longtime arranger, Jay Bocook, and visual designer, Marc Sylvester, also joined the virtual session.
Dr. Holsinger first talked about how he fell in love with drum corps in the 1970s during the rise of DCI. After being asked in 1992, if The Cadets could arrange and perform To Tame the Perilous Skies, he worked with Jay Bocook and The Cadets throughout the 1993 season to help get the music just right. 1993 was Jay Bocook’s first year arranging for The Cadets, and he stated that Dr. Holsinger was one of his heroes as a composer and has made an incredible impact on the legacy and success of The Cadets. Jay shared the great story that when Dr. Holsinger sent the ending music for the 1993 show, he called it the “Kick Their A” ending. Jay adapted that music to The Cadets, and the fantastic mellophone runs and breakneck tempos definitely lived up to Dr. Holsinger’s title.
Additional guests throughout the week have included Cadets alumnus and current Boston Crusaders visual designer, Leon May, alumnus, and current Boston Crusaders visual coordinator, Keith Potter, and alumnus and longtime Cadets visual designer, Jeff Sacktig. On Wednesday night, Cadets Director and CEO, Denise Bonfiglio, who helped teach The Cadets guard from 1987 through 1997, joined the 1995 reunion. A little-known fact shared that night by Cadets Guard Consultant and longtime coordinator, April Martinez, is that the military-style rifle work you see at the end of the 1995 show was written by Denise in the very traditional, 27th Lancers style. Denise is the daughter of 27th Lancer’s founder, George Bonfiglio, and marched in and then taught the corps up until they folded in 1986.
Also, 1995 was the first year longtime Cadets visual designer Jeff Sacktig began writing the drill. He had worked with Marc Sylvester since marching in The Cadets from 1986-1989. Jeff shared the story that the corps experimented with a very moving ending to the 1995 show in which all the male performers left the field, symbolizing the men going off to war, leaving the ladies to play and perform the ending on their own.
Videos, photos, and lots of great stories will continue to be shared as The Cadets host these reunions through the next two weeks. Cadets alumni from the 80s through the present can register at cadets.org/cadets-virtual-reunions. Also, see the schedule below to make sure you make your calendar for your reunion date and time.
