DCI Finals. Saturday August 10th. Day 85

What a day. So many things happened. But in the end. We won.

That's me on the right.

I couldn't bring myself to write about this day. It is almost a month later when I am writing about it. I forgot a lot of specific things about it. But I do remember being in the warmup lot and having Matt say "Do you hear that?"

----silence----

"That's the sound of being the last ones to perform on finals night. Cherish this moment for the rest of your lives." 

And then we performed for the last time of the season. 

And then we won. 

...And then we performed again. 

First perfect brass score on finals night in DCI history. 

Best visual proficiency. 

Best general effect. 

I did my part:) I play brass while marching and I contribute to the overall general effect. 

Best brass line in history!

..until next year. #Crown2014




Thank you staff.
Thank you volunteers.
Thank you parents.
Thank you educators.
Thank you fans.
Impossible you say?
Without you, none of this would be possible.

DCI Semifinals. Friday August 9th. Day 84

That moment when the crowd stands and cheers for the last minute and a half of our show.

That moment when the audience cheers for our staff as they walk off the field. 

That moment when we get to go on last at finals.

DCI Quarterfinals. Thursday August 8th. Day 83

Quarterfinals.

We are staying in cabins and they are very nice. I managed to snag a bed!! The camp site reminds me of high school band camp. It's really cool.

Crazy rehearsal at Avon high school. As soon as we finished it started pouring. 

Lucas oil stadium. 

Tonight's show was broadcasted live in movie theaters across the country. 

The crowd at the stadium gave us 6 standing ovations during the show. It was spectacular. 

Dance block this morning. Epic. 

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151774408382641

Wednesday August 7th. Day 82

Last full rehearsal day. Dayton university. Home of WGI finals!

Photos from rehearsal

Tuesday August 6th. Day 81

Massillon, Ohio!

 

Someone drew a crown in chalk!

Today was our last scaffolding day! We built it in the morning and thought we were done for the summer. Then the football team came and claimed the field. We had to tear it down and move it to the adjacent field. We knew we were done at that point. But noooo! It was in the way of the pit. So right before ensemble, we picked it up and shimmied it 10 feet back. We got applause after doing that. 

Last grass rehearsal day. Yet today we still had brass rehearsal on an asphalt field. "Karl you and asphalt really don't get along do you?" My friend said that to me today after I fell.. Again. I fell doing a backwards 6 to 5 and landed on my back and my horn. I scraped up my back again. It just finished healing from the last time I scraped it up on an asphalt field. As for my horn. It might be a goner. None of the valves move, all of the slides are jammed and won't move, and I broke off the pinky ring. It's pretty crazy to think that the pinky ring was broken off by my hand ramming into it. I was holding my horn before and after the fall with that hand. And after the fall the ring wasn't there. 

I've fallen twice this season. Both times on asphalt fields. Rehearsal during finals week is on an asphalt field at Avon. Lets hope I keep this record at just two falls:)

Last grass ensemble rehearsal of the 2013 Carolina Crown season. (The grass was VErY thick. I'm happy.)

Amazing show tonight. I have no words to express it. 

Monday August 5th. Day 80

Buffalo! We got here at 6am and it was 48 degrees outside. 

Horn stack this morning. 

Allie found some pictures of me. 

Tonight was the final TOC show. At the end they averaged up all of the TOC scores and Crown won! Very exciting!  But the most important part is that we put on a great show for the fans. 

Sunday August 4th. Day 79

Last day in Allentown. 

Had lots of family and friends at the show tonight. Love you mom. Also love everyone else. 

I have lots of pictures but I don't feel like putting them up. Maybe I'll upload them after tour. 

Saturday August 3rd. Day 78

Great home show in Allentown. Had dinner with my family before the show at the Ham Fam Diner. Amazing show. Great to see so many familiar faces of friends and family. Sorry about the skimpy posts. I've been spending my time with my family and not on my phone writing a blog. 

Friday August 2nd. Day 77

Awesome rehearsal day at University of Pennsylvania's Franklin Field. 

I love that feeling after a rehearsal day when I know that throughout every minute of the day, I gave 100% and I know that I could not have worked harder. Only 1 more rehearsal day left. 

Philadelphia!

Oh hey. I'm in this photo!

Second from the left. Next to the tuba

In case you want to see me, schedules for Saturday and Sunday in Allentown. 

Thursday August 1st. Day 76

Rehearsal day today in Allentown. 

It rained a lot this morning. 

My dad and girlfriend came to see me during our laundry block this afternoon. I gave dad my laundry and then we went out to Thai food. It was really good. I loved having real food for once. 

Rain day trumpets. I'm not in this picture. Nor do I know where they found the shopping cart. 

Wednesday July 31. Day 75

Finally home!!!!!!

We will be staying in Raub Middle School until Sunday night. 

My girlfriend Allie and her sister and mom surprised me after practice today!!! Then they drove to the show in West Chester! It was amazing. I love all of them so much. 

Once again. Crown threw it down tonight. Spectacular show. 

Tuesday July 30. Day 74

Hahahahaha

Virginia. 

Rocking that glove tan line

AMAZING SHOW TONIGHT. 

DOG SHOW!!!!

There is a dog show hosted here every year. One of those beauty dog show things. A dog came in our warmup circle. It was HILARIOUS. 

Monday July 29. Day 73

3rd to last full rehearsal day. 

11 hours of rehearsal with two food breaks. 

Not much time to post stuff. 

I made a boob cam of our run through.  Email me if you want the link. I might give it to you. 

Sunday July 28. Day 72.

Loving the east coast. 

Horn stack this morning!

Saw this truck at their school. Thought it was funny.

5 hour rehearsal block today was long. 

The show was amazing tonight. The best show we have had. The crowd went wild for us. We got a standing ovation at the Crown set at the end. 

Saturday July 27. Day 71

Memorial stadium in Charlotte. 

We rehearsed here today!

For the entire morning it poured rain. We had a long subsectional block in a parking garage. One section per floor! It was cool! Lots of fans were watching us!

Tonight is a TOC show and we go on last. It is also Crown's home show! 

There is a banquet for (I'm assuming) Crown Alumni. 

Amazing home show. I love everyone in Charlotte.