Who are the Cavaliers ?
The Rosemont Cavaliers are one of the last regimented drum corps left in the game. At least, in my opinion. They aren't going for any avant garde themes, they aren't going for the "artsy" crowd.
They're going for people who want drum corps. They're unapologetically traditional, masculine and solid in their sound and reputation. That's one of the reasons I respect them so much; they stick to their guns, even when people want them to go co-ed.
I believe, wholeheartedly, that their corps is one of the last with class. The Cavaliers know who they are, know their legacy and don't want to change it.
Aren't other corps placing higher?
Technically? Yes. Other corps are doing far better in the eyes of judges (congrats boston!), but the Cavaliers don't go for scores.
Think about the most polarizing Cavaliers shows- Machine. Mad World. Propaganda. Wrong Side of the Tracks. All of these come from a place of knowing something is wrong with the way the world is.
Machine and the over-structurization of drum corps. Mad World and the dehumanization of soldiers. Propaganda and I don't need to explain Propaganda. Wrong Side of the Tracks and the helplessness and hopelessness of labor workers.
None of these shows are just "shows". They all have a deeper meaning, more than just drum corps, more than just a visual.
Scores don't matter if you have something real to say and to tell your audience. You aren't just supposed to come out captivated by the brass, but come out realizing something new about the space around you.
Beneath the Armor, the 2024 production, stands to prove their masculinity is fluid and confident. Every year, people assume the Cavaliers are macho-men who only stay traditional out of fragile masuclinity.
They aren't. They're held to a high expectation, but not by themselves- by the rest of the world. This was their show to show the humanity of the marchers. This show was caught in a bit of controversy for the props,
accused of using AI-generated art. I personally believe the images were just heavily photoshopped, but they were hidden in future performances nonetheless.
hes goin for speed
c c c cannonball
Are they always so serious?
Nope! The Cavaliers, while serious, have a great sense of humor. The members had a long running allyship with the Cadets, both as founding members of DCI. There's tons of images together- the Cadets leaving gifts for Cavs at housing sites,
Cavs posing in front of Cadets, even the time in 2008 when one Cavalier committed "seppuku" into the Cadets formation at retreat. Since the Cadets went defunct, obviously they've stopped openly interacting, but many Cavaliers mourned the loss of such a friendly corps. They even gifted them a huge cake for the 75th anniversary performance! They were best friends!!
