The Blue Devils Organization

A non-profit 501(c)3 youth organization

Mission, Description, Awards, Titles

Mission

Music and the performing arts connect youth with their culture through a common language crossing generational, social, and racial barriers. The activities that a young person pursues influences the type of person he or she becomes. The experience that comes with participation in a performing arts organization builds discipline, character, pride, and self-confidence at a crucial age and forms the springboard to even greater achievements in adulthood

The Blue Devils Parents' Association performing arts programs permanently enrich the lives of young people through a commitment to youth development and performance excellence while providing enjoyment for our local community and audiences worldwide.

Description

The Blue Devils offer young men and women between the ages of 7 and 21 quality educational and performance experiences in the areas of musical and dance performance. Founded in 1957, The Blue Devils’ objective is to develop personal character through challenging physical, emotional, mental, and social activities while promoting the values of dedication, hard work, and commitment to a team effort. Over 450 young people currently participate in The Blue Devils programs, and over 8,000 young people, in 2,00 families, have been served by The Blue Devils organization since 1957.

Entirely community-funded, the direction of The Blue Devils is guided by a dedicated and unified effort of volunteer parents and a professional teaching staff, who work in close harmony with the young members to create and maintain a proud, responsible, youth organization. All instruments, instruction, and costumes are provided to participants who pay a modest annual participation fee. The Blue Devils organization currently offers seven youth programs:

The Blue Devils “A” Drum and Bugle Corps
The internationally competitive Blue Devils “A” Corps is comprised of 135 members between the ages of 17 and 21. The most decorated corps in the history of Drum Corps International (DCI), The Blue Devils “A” have finished in the top five for the last 27 consecutive years, and have won the DCI World Championship title an unprecedented 12 times. An estimated half-million people view the “A” Corps each year via the PBS broadcast of the DCI World Championships.

The Diablo Wind Symphony
Established in 1996, the Diablo Wind Symphony serves 60 to 80 local students, ages 14 to 21, and offers consistent instrumentation conducive to performing major wind and percussion compositions. Designed as a cooperative interaction with school music programs, the DWS offers a positive learning environment, master classes with professional clinicians, and an annual concert season with internationally renowned soloists.

The Blue Devils “B” Drum and Bugle Corps
Viewed as an augmentation to the participants’ school music and performing arts experiences, The Blue Devils “B” involves 70-80 Bay Area teenagers between the ages of 13 and 18.

The Blue Devils “C” Drum and Bugle Corps
Comprised of 60 members from Contra Costa, Alameda, and Solano counties, The Blue Devils “C” is a beginning-level music, dance, and marching activity for ages 7 to 13.

Twirling Program
Designed to build confidence and self-esteem through an introduction to dance and baton twirling, The Blue Devils twirling classes involve 50 to 60 students ages 7 to 21.

Winter Guard
Winter Guard is a competitive program for that combines music, dance, and props into a theatrical production performed in a gymnasium. The Blue Devils offer programs in both the "Open" (ages 14-21) and "A" (ages 8-13) classes of competition, involving over 50 young performers.

The Blue Devils are committed to offering the educational and cultural experience of international travel to their performing members. International tours have included: Japan (1982, 1983, 1988, 1996, 1998), Italy (1983, 1986), The Netherlands (1988, 1992), and France (1992). In 2000, the 'A' Corps enjoyed a thrilling 3-week tour of Germany, Holland, Belgium, and France, and the Diablo Wind Symphony completed an extremely successful 14-day Australian tour including performances at the Newcastle and Queensland Conservatories of Music. In the fall of 2002, 2003 and 2007, select ensembles traveled to Japan as guests of the city of Okayama. In the summer of 2003, The Diablio Wind Symphony embarked on a 18 day Scandinavian tour. The Blue Devils 'A' corps took their most adventurous international trip to date when the traveled to Europe for a 3 week tour in the summer of 2005 culminating at the World Music Contest where they took first place. In October 2005, 14 members of The Blue Devils percussion section traveled to Seoul, South Korea to participate in a 5 day, 3 performances at the Seoul Drum Festival. International Trips Expanded Detail.

The Blue Devils have also provided unique opportunities to their fans and members by offering performances, clinics, and recording sessions with great artists in the music and dance world. The 2001 Diablo Wind Symphony appeared in concert with famed trumpeter Allen Vizzutti, and the “A” Corps has been featured in performance with the late Stan Kenton and Buddy Rich, as well as Maynard Ferguson, Bobby Shew, and Chuck Mangione. Clinics and recordings produced by The Blue Devils have featured Ralph Humphrey, Dave Weckl, Steve Houghton, Peter Erskine, Bob Montgomery, David Garibaldi, Russ McKinnon, Alex Acuna, Different Drums, Walfredo Reyes, Sr., Jim Manley, and many others. Guest clinicians from the dance world have included Flamenco artist Rosa Montoya and Nat Orr of the Alvin Ailey Company.

The Blue Devils experience helps instill a sense of pride and the important values of dedication, discipline, commitment, and achievement through teamwork that is then carried back into the community. The young people soon discover that dedication and hard work enable them to achieve success. Success, in turn, promotes confidence in their own abilities. Graduates of The Blue Devils programs are music and performing arts educators, professional performers, Silicon Valley executives, and leaders in their chosen fields and in their communities. Awards The Blue Devils organization has an outstanding record in promoting youth involvement and participation, having attained numerous International Championships in various performing arts activities. The Blue Devils recognition includes:

12 International Drum and Bugle Corps Championships
1 World Music Contest
4 Winter Guard International Championship
12 National Team Twirling Championships
6 National Corps Twirling Championship
2 World Team Twirling Championships

The level of commitment from the performers to achieve these accomplishments, serves to demonstrate the excellent character building capacity of the organization. The young people soon discover that dedication and hard work enable them to achieve success. Success in turn promotes confidence in their own abilities. The Blue Devils experience helps instill a sense of pride and the important values of dedication, discipline, commitment and achievement through team work that is then carried back into the community.

Local, National, and International Titles