West Texas Drums Competition Rumbling Back to WT’s Buffalo Stadium

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, cchandler@wtamu.edu

CANYON, Texas — Six top drum corps will thunder into West Texas A&M University’s Bain-Schaeffer Buffalo Stadium on July 15 with the return of West Texas Drums.

Drum Corps International’s West Texas Drums will kick off at 7:30 p.m. July 15 in the stadium on WT’s campus in Canyon. Tickets are $35 to $55 for reserved seating and $25 for general admission.

The evening will feature the Blue Knights from Denver; Pacific Crest from Diamond Bar, California; The Academy from Tempe, Arizona; the Seattle Cascades from Seattle; Genesis from Austin; and Santa Clara Vanguard from Santa Clara, California.

Corps are traveling the country throughout the summer to perform in various competitions such as West Texas Drums. The season will culminate at the 2023 Drum Corps International World Championship Finals on Aug. 12 in Indianapolis.

This is the fourth year WT has hosted West Texas Drums, and audiences continue to grow, said Dr. B.J. Brooks, director of the School of Music in WT’s Sybil B. Harrington College of Fine Arts and Humanities.

“We are excited to welcome a corps that is new to our show but that is known by everybody—Santa Clara Vanguard,” Brooks said. “Audiences here for the last three years have been thrilled with a competition that showcases the incredible talent and dedication of these young performers. These groups create a spectacular fusion of rhythm, energy and creativity.

“Whether you are a devoted follower of drum corps or simply curious about marching music, attending West Texas Drums promises an unforgettable experience,” Brooks said.

DCI, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2022, features the world’s most elite and exclusive marching ensembles of student musicians and performers.

Fostering an appreciation of the arts is a key component of the University’s long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

That plan is fueled by the historic One West comprehensive fundraising campaign, which reached its initial $125 million goal 18 months after publicly launching in September 2021. The campaign’s new goal is to reach $175 million by 2025; currently, it has raised nearly $160 million.

About West Texas A&M University

WT is located in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT, a Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, boasts an enrollment of about 10,000 and offers 59 undergraduate degree programs and more than 40 graduate degrees, including two doctoral degrees. The University is also home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest’s finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 14 men’s and women’s athletics programs.

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