THE JOURNAL & TOPICS NEWSPAPERS | WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2008
And The Beat Goes On
By DENISE FLEISCHER
Lifestyle Editor
Mt. Prospect native Chris Michelotti first heard of the Cavaliers Dum & Bugle Corps through Jeff Fiedler, who was their director at the time.
"He helped teach the visual program at Prospect and gave me my first bit of advice for auditioning for the corps...don't allow yourself to be intimidated," recalled the Prospect High School graduate, marching in his fifth and final season with the Cavaliers.
Sixty years ago, Don Warren, a junior assistant scoutmaster with Logan Square Boy Scout Troop 111, watched Boy Scouts conducting a jamboree. Warren decided that was something he would like to organize. Today, the Cavaliers have won seven drum corps championships and are known simply as the "Green Machine."
The Cavaliers' mission is to "provide members with life changing experiences educationally and socially, which help each individual member gain real world life skills, musical training and performance experiences. Through the development of the character traits of dedication, discipline and teamwork, each member of this close knit, male fraternity learns what is required to be successful on and off the performance field. Participation in the Cavaliers instills confidence, quality of character and a strong work ethic that cannot be taught in any college or university and is desirable in the real world workplace."
Michelotti was first introduced to music playing at Lincoln Junior High School. He played double bass in the orchestra before switching to trumpet in high school. At Prospect, he marched for two years playing the trumpet and also played in the concert band before changing to tuba. His last two years at Prospect, he marched playing the sousaphone and tuba in concert and symphonic bands, orchestra and jazz band.
No particular experience stands out in his mind during his high school years when he was in the marching band. But he did recall one thing.
"I remember not being good at playing the trumpet and being a freshman marching member," said Michelotti. "Then becoming a senior you see the new freshmen and you almost forget that you were that new. Kind of a strange paradox."
Drum Corps International, the organization that schedules shows for drum and bugle corps, such as the Cavaliers, sets and maintains rules governing band activities. One rule is that you cannot be over 21 years old and play in the band.
Michelotti was also a brass sergeant with the Cavaliers. He took on the responsibility of being the voice between members and staff, organizing his peers in the horn line and keeping everything running smoothly during rehearsal and show prep.
Michelotti also took on the role of recruiter for the Japanese-based band Aimachi this year. Aimachi is based out of Nagoya, Japan, where they have been national champions numerous times. He taught and marched with them in 2005.
"I helped four other guys to organize their trips to Japan to take part with the band," he said. "I was asked by the director of Aimachi, Kiyokazu Sekine. I really enjoyed my time there and expressed my intentions to return so that could be a catalyst for him asking me to be a liaison/recruiter."