BD International Travel
"Travel lightly. You are not traveling for people
to see you. Travel slowly. Jet planes are for getting places not seeing places.
Travel humbly. Visit people and places with reverence and respect for their traditions
and ways of life. Travel with curiosity. It is not how far you go, but how deeply
you go that mines the gold of experience. Travel with the spirit of a world citizen.
Be an ambassador of good will." Author Unknown
Travel is about much more than just monuments and ruins. It is an opportunity
to reach out and discover what's best about the world. Travel enriches our lives,
spreads prosperity, dissolves political barriers, promotes international peace,
and brings excitement and change to our lives. Travel is an intregal part of
the Blue Devils experience. The Blue Devils organization has a strong commitment
to the continuing education of its members through both national and international
travel. This commitment affords Blue Devils members an opportunity to experience
a variety of diverse cultures, traditions, customs, and contemporary lifestyles
of the world community, through performances and personal interaction.
The Blue Devils have a successful history in this endeavor. In 1983 the Corps
attended the 21st Century Celebration in Osaka, Japan. The Corps participated
in a 2 mile-long parade through the streets of Osaka viewed by over 600,000 people
locally and upwards of 4 million viewers via national television. 1988 saw the
percussion section featured as the centerpiece of a week-long schedule of performances
at Japan Greenland, the Japanese equivalent of Disneyland.
"Devil's Advocate," the Senior Twirling team of the Blue Devils, has
an extensive background in international participation. They have had numerous
World Competition twirling performances, including; Tokyo, Japan in 1982, Milan,
Italy in 1983 (gold medal team winners), Calgary, Canada in 1984 (gold medal
team winners), Turin, Italy in 1986 and Lyon, France in 1998.
The 1988 Winter Color Guard traveled to Den Haag, Holland to conduct clinics
and perform at the Dutch Finals Color Guard Championships under the auspices
of Drum Corps Holland.
Through the Blue Devils' association with Drum Corps International and the Summer
Music Games, the Corps has performed extensively throughout Canada, with appearances
in Toronto, Hamilton and Montreal.
1992 was the continuation of this commitment. The Corps accepted an invitation
from the City of Nice, France to participate in Winter Carnaval. Carnaval is
a month-long festival of parades, concerts, fireworks, and celebrations which
feature performing groups from all over Europe, Africa and the Orient. The Blue
Devils participated in several parades (including a night parade along the Riviera)
and concerts in Nice, Eze, Monaco and Monte Carlo. Upon completion of performance
responsibilities in the South of France, the Corps traveled to Paris for free
time and sightseeing, then on to Holland for free time in Amsterdam and a clinic
and performance in Hilversum. This leg of the tour was sponsored by our friends
from Drum Corps Holland.
The Blue Devil 'A' Corps returned to Japan in the fall of 1996 for a ten-day
tour that included field show and indoor theatre performances as well as clinics.
The Blue Devils 'B' Drum and Bugle Corps participate in the
1998 World Marching Festival in Kanagawa JAPAN. BDB was transform into a division
III corps and modify the summer production for the Festival in Japan. The
corps competed with other drum corps and marching bands from Japan, Republic
of Korea, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Australia and won first prize at the festival.
BDB is the only ensemble from the United States in this Festival.
The Blue Devils 'A' Corps retuned to Europe in the summer of 2000. They
departed for Amsterdam, Holland on June 28, 2000, for a 21 day European tour.
The 128 members and 22, visited The Netherlands, France, Belgium and Germany.
Appearances included marching music festivals, concerts, and parades. The Blue
Devils conducted seminars and clinics pertaining to the world of marching music,
in Germany and The Netherlands. Performances included Expo 2000 in Hannover,
Germany, The German Open Marching Festival in Hameln, July 4th concert in Berlin,
Bastille Day celebration in Paris and Opening Ceremonies for the Nijmeegse Vierdaags
in the Netherlands. Along with other numerous performances, the members had an
opportunity to sightsee in some of the World’s most beautiful cities, including
Amsterdam, Berlin, Brugge and Paris. To read the Europe Diaries go to Europe
Diaries.
The Blue Devils "Diablo Wind Symphony" completed a fourteen day Australian tour in the summer of 2000 with performances in major Australian schools including the Newcastle and Queensland Conservatories of Music. These performances solidified the group’s reputation as a quality representative of American wind performing groups.
In 2002, a 38-member ensemble was the guest of the city of Okayama, Japan, providing a series of performances and clinics for Japanese elementary, intermediate, and high school students as part of the “Marching in Okayama” music festival.
In the summer of 2003 The Diablio Wind Symphony embarked on a 18 day Scandinavian tour with concerts in Goteborg, Kristianstad and Stockhom, Sweden as well as the world famous Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, Denmark
In October 2003, a 58-member select ensemble retuned to Japan as guests of the city of Okayama. Apart from the many requested educational clinics and performances for elementary, intermediate, high school and college students, The Blue Devils were the featured act at the “standing room only” finale of the “Marching in Okayama” music festival.
The Blue Devils 'A' corps took their most adventurous international trip to date when the traveled to Europe for a 3 week tour in 2005. They arrived in Amsterdam and transferred to their housing site in La Gorgue, France. Their first performance was at a Drum Corps Europe contest at the KV Kortrijk Football Stadium, Guldensporen Stadium, in the town of Kortrijk, Belgium. The Blue Devils competed with Holland, German and England's top drum corps and placed first. The corps had Days off in Brugge, Brussels, Paris, Milan and Venice. The Blue Devils were the star guest performers at the Italian Marching Band Championships in the beautiful city of Lecco, Italy. The culmination of the tour was the opportunity to compete at a truly unique event. Every 4 years Kerkrade, Holland is the site for the World Music Contest. Three hundred groups from 30 countries competed at this prestigious 4-week long celebration of the musical marching activity. The Blue Devils took first place honors and are very proud to be champions of the 2005 World Music Contest.
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 hosted by The Seoul Metropolitan Government and organized by The Sejong Cultural Center. The Blue Devils will continue to search for future opportunities for international travel. Read About the Trip and See Photos
A select ensemble of The Blue Devils consisting of 24 brass players, 12 percussionists and 1 Drum Major returned to the Marching In Okayama Festival in Japan for the thrid time in October 2007 to participate in the 20th Annual Marching in Okayama Festival. The Blue Devils are honored to have the opportunity to continue this wonderful friendship with the city of Okayama and the Marching In Okayama Festival! See Photos of Trip
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