a play by play commentary by Blue Devil Alumnus Christina Mavroudis

11:25pm
BDTV signing off.

11:19pm
The Blue Devils have just won their 11th World title. What a great job all year long! CONGRATULATIONS! Your hard work and perseverance has paid off!

ASK MAV...
RobertB writes: "Tell Dave G., staff, and corps congratulations on a great season. You've shown all what striving to be your best means. You've taken created and designed a challenging show as well as the members embracing what was created for them. Quite frankly, the corps performed the hell out of it.

Have fun and cherish the moment."

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Achilles writes: "Seriously the amount to content that BDTV and DCI.org are throwing at us fans on the Internet is astounding...and fanstastic...but makes me wanna be there that much more!!!!

X-11!!!!!!!"

11:14pm
The Blue Stars won Division III Finals earlier today. Esperanza won Division II Finals. Congratulations to both for and outstanding season.

11:11pm
The corps are all lined up on the field (after moving over because the field space was a bit tight). Micky Mouse is on the field.

ASK MAV...
Achilles writes: " Seriously the amount to content that BDTV and DCI.org are throwing at us fans on the Internet is astounding...and fanstastic...but makes me wanna be there that much more!!!!"

10:41pm
Someone told me 20,000 people in the stands (that's not at all official, so please don't sue me). After a year of people saying "I'm not going to Orlando," I was surprised to see the stadium packed from end zone to end zone and the decks completely full.

10:36pm
THE CROWD IS UP! The Blue Devils have just finished one amazing performance. They peaked exactly when they should have this season. Intervals: perfect, guard: no drops, horns: flawless, soloists: on the money. Between the explosive energy of the percussion and guard, the show practically flew into the audience. I'm in the pressbox and it felt like it was in my face! Blue Devils personify "in your face."

10:30pm
"Take Five," the trumpet soloist hits the high notes perfectly and the crowd seems to agree that the corps is simply incredible.

10:25pm
The Blue Devils are in the opener. Board Member Jeff DeMello says "This is the strongest they've been all year. Every year we say 'This is the best corps we've had' and every year it's true. Including this year. We are all very proud of them."

10:18pm
Cavies really did an amazing job tonight. The crowd ate it up.

BD UPDATE: The Blue Devils have entered the field.

10:11pm
The other corps are starting to gather near the side one end zone in preparation for tonights full retreat.

10:07pm
Cavies are on the field getting ready to go with the crowd cheering. Their program this year is again an original composition designed to max out colorguard, horns, drums, and general effect. Many "wow" moments throughout.

10:04pm
Shirts, CDs, and the new Wayne Downey brass technique DVD are all available at the Blue Devils Online Store.

10:02pm
A huge curve covering the length of the field, plus a bit more, the Cadets were on fire tonight!

9:58pm
The Cadets is finishing the push in Malaguena. What an amazing arrangement and performance of a drum corps classic!

9:50pm
The Cadets have squeezed an extra minute and a half out of the show: by using the warm-up for drill and music while playing "My Favorite Things," the theme of the show.

BD UPDATE: Blue Devils horns and drums are just leaving the warm-up area to meet the colorguard at the stadium.

9:45pm
The show concludes with a giant drill move and a cymbal "V". They have produced another wonderful 13 minutes.

9:44pm
Vanguard is on the field now. Some members have green feathers instead of the usual red. These people are the age-outs. This is a corps that is deeply rooted in tradition and their show is in their style of bringing modern music to the field. (Did I mention that the crowd loves it?)

9:37pm
Dr. Dave Kampschroer; Director of Blue Stars and DCI Hall of Fame member is sitting next to me. Dave, what do you think of the Blue Devils broadcasting DCI live on the web?

"It’s about time. The Blue Devils helping drum corps get past 'the abacus' is wonderful. Broadcasting on the web to the masses is a major impact to a lot people, giving them instant access to the drum corps experience which they may not ever get … DCI Finals."

Should the web broadcast be free?

"The production costs should be funded. The issue is 'Where does the funding come from?' It can’t come from increase in ticket prices, as passing an expense as this to our consumers isn’t possible. There must be some youth oriented sponsor that might fund this so the Blue Devils or DCI don’t have to shoulder the burden."

We’ve had a lot of questions from our web views about the subject of "When will DCI be in California?" Any comments?

"I used to say to the Council of Elders (Royer and Seawright): 'It’s a gorgeous location, but the scale of economics dictates that now that Denver is the farthest that most corps can travel. Do you believe that there is enough fan support to support DCI in CA?' We are getting close. We don’t want to have another 'Micky factor': a very costly site for families to attend DCI. The best place we’ve had (economically) in my mind has been Arrowhead stadium: a great location, equal distance from both coasts, great housing, fantastic stadium, and a 'lot of room' to do things."

9:27pm
In the back stands, there is a member in an old style Phantom uniform carrying a phlag. A nod to tradition.

Leg out at the end of the show... the stands fans are screaming! The crowd tonight is electric, not just with Phantom, but with every corps that has been on the field. The fans all week have been amazing. A lot of it has to do with the way the shows relate to the crowd. This has been very good with every corps.

Come by and drop me a line...ASK MAV...

9:22pm
The colorguard has orange rifles - very effective against he white uniforms with black accents. Brings in great emphasis. The long, silver poles from 1996 are back in this year's production.

9:14pm
Phantom is back -- in white! The horns this year sound full and just wonderful. Love the Van Halen leg bend at the contra 'bahh'! Best low note of the night!

9:11pm
"Fight Club" section. Another incredible crowd hit!

9:10pm
Boston has 15 snares on the field and the hit at Malaguena is stellar. The crowd is so loud I can barely hear the horns! (And the horns are quite loud!)

9:06pm
Charlie Groh, Drillmeister for Impulse Drum & Bugle Corps payed me a visit. What do you think about the style of corps today?

" I'm a visual guy, love marching, and Madison handles it well, taking the risks and pulling it off with good methods, good intervals, and without the need for a whole lot a props in the colorguard."

What trips your trigger about corps?

"It's the process, the process of working / battling / cajoling / motivating the members to perform. When it's all over, we've all won. The rules are almost insignificant when compared to the process."

9:01pm
Boston is in their opening set. The audience has had a short break, bought some souvies and are now ready to be back for the rest of the powerful evening.

8:39pm
The weather has turned from scary to acceptable to really quite nice. The field may be slippery, but from up here, it looks fine and it doesn't seem to be affecting the marching members at all.

BD UPDATE: The drumline has started main warm-up. The brass has started marching warm-up at the First Academy. Guard is at the stadium.

8:29pm
Bluecoats. "Capture and escape." Clean marching! There is, as with all the corps tonight, an extra layer of energy and drive. This will be the last time they ever perform this show and they are definitely making the most of it!

8:19pm
Madison Scouts have the crowd on their feet. What a powerful performance!

Grammy winning recording producer Frank Dorritie is sitting behind me. Frank, what do you think of Madison's return to finals?

" It's great to see them back. There are a lot of corps I'd like to see return to finals. I'd like to see Glassmen, 27th Lancers, Bridgemen all return. There are a lot of great corps out there."

What is the solution to getting those corps back?

"A lot of it is financial. When a corps makes a CD and sells it for $20 through their website or their other promotions, $17 of that goes straight to the corps. If they sell 2000 units, that's two instructors salaries. It takes a lot of money to get Madison on the field. People think that sharing this music is ok, because they are fans. Real drum corps fans don't steal from the corps they love. The music is intellectual property. You can't share something you don't own."

With that...The Blue Devils Online Store.

8:07pm
Madison Scouts off the starting line. The new uniforms look great and the crowd is going nuts before the first impact point!

8:05pm
Tom Peashey, Director of Marketing for DCA came in to say hello. He is wearing a Magic of Orlando polo shirt! "I am now affiliated with the Magic of Orlando, assisting in business matters." His goal with magic is to get them "financial solvent and keep them on the wonderful road they are on. The corps was absolutely wonderful tonight. Without any solid financial foundation it's been hard work. It's been a miraculous year. We went out with barely enough to get through...then when the food trailer broke down we relied on other corps help."

"DCA Finals is going to be a gas! Five corps with a chance to win, that we know of...we don't know what to expect from San Francisco. We had all the rain we needed in Orlando, we won't need it in Scranton."

7:51pm
Come by the BD Forums, and ask me anything you have on your mind. (Hopfully related to the show or drum corps in general.) Now's your chance to speak out!

7:49pm
I haven't heard a crowd reaction like this to Crossmen before. The horns are blowing kisses to the crowd!

The possibility of rain gave us all a scare. I asked Marshall B, a fan in the top row, if he was worried about the weather. "I was hoping they wouldn't cancel. Too many good corps working too hard to rob them of their last show."

7:41pm
Last night I was told to watch for someone with extra energy in the Crossmen's pit. The whole group is into the show and the music. Very performance orientated. Excellent!

7:29pm
The rain has stopped. The crowd on Finals night is so into the show, it doesn't matter to them anyway if they get a bit wet! Drum corps fans are wonderful! Crossmen is on the field. Bones is in the back stands, ready to put on their last performance of 2003.

7:16pm
Magic of Orlando on the starting line. There is a lot of energy with this Holsinger music. Magic has had another strong year with a great musical book and exciting visuals.

BD UPDATE: Ten minutes until the corps heads out to the rehearsal site...just finishing last minute packing.

7:10pm
A tribute to drum corps legends, complete with flags for Zingali, Royer, Bridgemen, 27th Lancers and of course Jim Ott. "Seems Like Only Yesterday."

7:00pm
Spirit finished their warm-up (Georgia on My Mind) and the crowd is already on their feet. Play ball.

6:55pm
Spirit is entering the field. The evening is about to begin!

6:44pm
Our friend from S.O.M.E. Rick Caccam just popped in. He told me the Jim Ott Memorial Scholarship ($3000 cash scholarship) this year has been given to Lauren White of the Vanguard Cadets on the field during the Division II/III finals this morning. This scholarship is awarded to someone attending a college, majoring in music and has a desire to give back to the drum corps community, which is a vision of S.O.M.E. The phone call at 7:30am (west coast time!) was greeted with excitement. She was honored and overwhelmed. Congratulations, Lauren!

6:39pm
O Canada and Star Spangeled Banner are over and the evening's line-up is being read. At the mention of the Blue Devils, the crowd screams.

BD UPDATE: The corps is done eating and is starting to get in uniform. The mood is really excited and ready to go show what they can tonight. Also, happy the weather is clearing up.

6:30pm
Opening ceremonies and a guy lining the hash marks on the field. Dan Potter is acknowledging the DCI Hall of Fame members to the thunderous applause of the crowd.

6:02pm
Welcome Back! The Marine Corps is on the field. They are as precise as ever. A great exhibition performance.

While the show is getting ramped up, stop by the Blue Devils Online Store and see what we have to offer. (Sorry, the ponchos won't do you much good at your computer.)