n celebration of 60 years of great drum corps in Rockford, we are bringing you into the lives of the members of Phantom Regiment, highlighting alumni from every decade. This month, we are featuring two of our more “Phantom Phamous” phamily members who have gone on to arrange for the drum corps….
Don’t forget to leave your mark on the 2016 season by donating to our #60for60 campaign today!
Will Pitts
When did you march in Phantom Regiment? Which section were you a member of? 2005, 2007, and 2008 as Conductor. (Editor’s note: I would remiss if I did not take this opportunity to ask, “What happened in 06, Will?!” We’ll just leave that there 🙂 )
Give us a quick run down of your life outside of drum corps: I am a Composer, Teacher, and PR Brass Arranger. I received a B.A. Music Composition from Emory University and an M.M. Music Education from University of Michigan. I currently live in Atlanta with my wife Emily and Bailey (cat), Louise (dog), and Samson (cat).
Emily and Will Pitts
Do you see any life skills you learned in drum corps applied in your daily life now? How has your drum corps experience benefitted you? Holy cow…I’m not sure I could say enough about the life skills I learned in drum corps.
First of all, you learn a lot about yourself: how you deal with conflict…how you deal with adversity…how you deal with other people… I could go on and on.
Secondly, you learn a lot about how to work with other people: how to handle different opinions, how to handle different personalities, etc.
Former conductors, Brandon Stansbury, David Warren, Will Pitts, and Dean Patterson at DCI Finals in 2014.
All of these have been huge in my life as an educator and composer/arranger. I am constantly working with different types of people, and I firmly believe my time in Phantom Regiment contributed to my ability to negotiate, to understand commitment to myself and to others, and my ability to persevere.
Aside from that, I think the marching arts in general provide incredible lessons for time management, attention to detail, individual contribution to a team effort, and countless other skills that are crucial to being a good human being!
Finals Retreat, 2008
Do you have a favorite Phantom Regiment memory? Please share! Being a part of the 2008 Phantom Regiment was a special memory itself. I will never forget the feeling of performing that show with my friends. Being World Champions was an incredible experience, but it paled in comparison to all of the incredible memories we made as friends that summer.
How have you stayed involved with Phantom Regiment over the years? I was on the tour staff from 2009-2011, and now am back as the Brass Arranger.
Why do you think it is important to donate to Phantom Regiment? All of my greatest memories in the Phantom Regiment were a result of being afforded
Koji Mori, Will Pitts, and Kyle Nijoka in 2008
numerous incredible experiences as a member of the drum corps. Now that I am on the other side, I am constantly reminded that our donations are necessary to help provide those same incredible experiences to the current and future members of the Phantom Regiment. It’s not about donating to create a haven for the alumni. It’s about creating incredible experiences for the young people that want to be a part of this wonderful legacy.
We have had an amazing 60 years of tradition and excellence…it’s now our time to ensure that the next 60 years are just as fruitful and successful.
SUTA
What is your favorite Phantom Regiment show? Why? This is a two-part answer… my favorite show as a performer was 2008, but my favorite show as a fan is 1993. It was a life changing thing for me to see as a young drum corps fan, and it still influences me as a musician and drum corps fan.
We look forward to sharing more stories with you this year! Who do you want to know more about? Let us know here!
