“Building a Village: Blue Devils B Corps Director Reflects on a Summer of Accountability, Representation, and Unwavering Support”
The summer with the Blue Devils B was more than just a season of performance and competition—it was a transformative journey marked by growth, unity, and purpose. As I stepped into my second year as Corps Director, I brought with me not just the experience of one season past, but a renewed commitment to cultivating an environment where excellence and accountability could flourish. These two ideals weren’t just buzzwords for us—they became the bedrock of everything we aimed to accomplish. We knew that if we were going to create something truly extraordinary, it had to begin with our people, our structure, and our collective intention.
One of the most impactful decisions I made this year was placing a strong focus on representation within our staff and administrative leadership. This wasn’t just a logistical or staffing decision—it was a cultural one. Our corps is rich in diversity, with members coming from a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and communities. It was essential to me that our leadership reflected that same diversity. I wanted every member and their family to feel not just included but seen, valued, and heard. When our families looked at our team, I wanted them to recognize people who could understand them on a deeper level—people who could relate to their values, their heritage, and their stories.
Representation matters because it breeds connection and trust. And in the world of drum corps—where so much is asked of performers and so much is required of their families—trust is everything. From the very beginning of the season, we started receiving messages from parents and guardians expressing how much it meant to them that they saw people who looked like their children in positions of leadership. Those messages only confirmed what I’ve always believed: that intentional representation is a key part of building a strong, healthy, and inclusive community.
But representation alone isn’t enough. Alongside it, we needed to foster a culture of accountability—one where every person, from top to bottom, understood their role in our shared success. This summer, we established clear expectations across the board. That didn’t just mean holding our performers to high standards (though we absolutely did); it meant holding ourselves as staff and leaders to those same standards. We modeled consistency, punctuality, preparation, and respect. We asked a lot of our members, but we asked even more of ourselves. And what followed was a remarkable shift in mindset.
There’s something powerful that happens when everyone in an organization buys into the same vision. The energy changes. The focus sharpens. People begin to push not just for themselves, but for the team. That’s exactly what we witnessed. Our members leaned into the challenge. They grew more resilient, more self-aware, more disciplined. They took ownership of their rehearsals, their performances, and even their relationships with one another. It was a collective evolution, and it was breathtaking to watch unfold.
Of course, none of this would have been possible without the extraordinary support system that surrounded us. Our administration worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make sure our logistics ran smoothly, our resources were secured, and our mission stayed on course. Their work was often invisible, but it was absolutely vital. From organizing travel to managing finances, from coordinating meal plans to ensuring compliance with health and safety protocols, they handled it all with professionalism and passion. It’s easy to overlook just how much effort goes into making a season run, but the truth is, without our admin team, we wouldn’t have made it out of spring training.
Equally invaluable was the role our families played. The level of dedication we saw from parents and guardians this year was nothing short of heroic. Whether they were volunteering at camps, cheering us on at shows, or simply sending words of encouragement from afar, their presence was felt in everything we did. In many ways, this summer belonged to them just as much as it did to our performers. They trusted us with their children, and we did everything in our power to honor that trust.
There’s a saying that it takes a village to raise a child. I believe it takes a village to inspire the world. That idea guided us all summer long. We weren’t just building a drum corps—we were building a community. We were creating a space where young people could discover their strength, refine their talents, and connect with something larger than themselves. That’s the heart of what we do. That’s what makes this work so meaningful.
One of the moments that stands out most to me came midway through the tour. We were in a new city, preparing for a major performance, and you could feel the tension in the air. Everyone wanted to do well. Everyone wanted to make a statement. As I walked through the warm-up arc, I noticed something incredible: our section leaders weren’t just giving commands or reviewing drill—they were mentoring, encouraging, lifting their peers. There was an ease in how they led, not from authority but from trust and earned respect. That’s when I knew we had turned a corner. That’s when I knew the culture we had worked so hard to build was truly taking root.
We also made a concerted effort this summer to prioritize mental and emotional wellness. This activity can be incredibly demanding, and it’s easy to lose sight of balance in the pursuit of excellence. But we refused to accept the idea that one had to come at the expense of the other. We provided resources for stress management, created space for open dialogue, and emphasized the importance of rest and recovery. We celebrated vulnerability just as much as strength. The result was a corps that not only performed at a high level but did so with joy, gratitude, and presence.
Musically and visually, the progress we made was stunning. Every week, our show evolved in complexity and execution. Our members rose to every challenge we placed in front of them, delivering performances filled with emotion, precision, and power. The audience response was electric, but even more rewarding was the sense of pride our members carried after each show. They knew what it had taken to get there. They knew the hours, the sweat, the sacrifices. That pride wasn’t about trophies—it was about transformation.
As I look back on the season, I’m struck by how many lessons we’ll carry with us into the future. We learned how to lead with compassion. We learned how to listen more closely—to our members, to our families, and to each other. We learned that excellence is not just about achievement but about integrity. And we learned that when people feel seen, supported, and empowered, there is no limit to what they can accomplish.
Going into next year, we’ll continue to build on this foundation. We’ll keep pushing ourselves to innovate, to adapt, and to grow. We’ll continue to center representation and accountability in everything we do. And above all, we’ll continue to believe in the power of community. Because if this summer taught us anything, it’s that our greatest strength lies not in individual brilliance but in collective purpose.
I’m overwhelmed with gratitude—for our staff, for our admin, for our families, and most of all, for our incredible performers. They gave their all, day after day, and they did so with heart, courage, and humility. Watching them evolve into leaders, artists, and teammates was the most rewarding part of this journey. They inspired me every single day.
This summer wasn’t perfect—no season ever is. There were challenges, setbacks, moments of doubt. But through it all, we never lost sight of who we were or what we were building. We stayed committed to our values, and that made all the difference.
As we close the chapter on this unforgettable summer, I’m filled with hope for what lies ahead. The work continues, the mission continues. But now, we carry with us the spirit of a village—a village that came together not just to perform, but to uplift, to challenge, to support, and to inspire. And for that, I couldn’t be more proud.
