On Monday, Edinboro’s Sox Harrison Stadium echoed with the sound of drums and the sight of waving flags as groups from across the nation competed in the 40th annual Lake Erie Fanfare drum corps competition.
The event drew six groups, including participants from as far as California, each performing a diverse repertoire of songs. The drum corps were judged on their individual performances as well as their ability to blend sounds into a captivating visual experience for the audience.
Each group had a strict 17-minute window to set up, perform, and dismantle their equipment, with penalties for exceeding this time limit.
With many drum corps disbanding in recent years, the event remains a crucial platform for performers. Ray Luniewski, co-chairman of Lake Erie Fanfare, emphasized the significance of the competition for the participants.
“This event gives them another opportunity to showcase their show before a live audience, receive feedback from judges, and continually refine their performance,” Luniewski explained.
He noted that the drum corps had shown considerable improvement leading up to Monday’s competition.
