Northern Lights Drum & Bugle Corps
will perform in Climax Memorial Day
will perform in Climax Memorial Day
By Bruce Rolfe
Two Climax-Scotts High School graduates who later married, have turned an idea of having the opportunity to perform in drum and bugle corps events closer to where they live, into reality by helping form a growing drum and bugle corps band.
Staff Sergeant Jordan Roberts, a 2006 graduate of Climax-Scotts High School, and his ex-wife Misty (McDaniel) Olmstead, a 2007 graduate of C-S, will return to C-S Memorial Day when the Northern Lights Drum & Bugle Corps will have two performances.
The group of approximately 70 musicians will march in the Climax Memorial Day parade that begins at 10 a.m. Later in the day, the group will have a noon performance at the C-S High School football field.
Roberts said in the summer of 2022, Olmstead and her husband Doug, were driving Roberts and Olmstead’s children Alex and Evelyn to Cincinnati to march with a drum corps group called Cincinnati Tradition, since it was the closest opportunity to perform. Cincinnati Tradition is now one of Northern Lights Drum & Bugle Corps’ competitors.
“This was very expensive and way too far of a drive and we were all annoyed about the situation,” said Roberts.
The C-S graduate recalls as parents, they discussed ideas how they could continue their love of performing in drum and bugle corps competition closer to home and as a joke said, “let’s just start one here”.
After a few more conversations, Roberts said between Olmstead’s experience in human resources, her husband’s drum corps marching experience, and Roberts’ music writing experience along with nearly 40 horns in his garage, they decided to launch their idea and Northern Lights Drum & Bugle Corps was formed.
The two C-S graduates learned their ambition of forming a drum and bugle corps band was shared by many others as well.
Roberts said in the group’s first season they had 42 people show up and march, “which was absolutely mind blowing for us.”
He said the next year the number grew to 95.
“As the group has grown, we’ve brought in world-class staff,” said Roberts.
The C-S graduate said the group was recently accepted to move up to DCI’s (Drum Corps International) All-Age Class where they will be competing for a world championship at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis in August.
Roberts and Olmstead share big roles with the group away from performing.
Roberts said he’s also responsible for writing the show and drill (marching choreography) and Olmstead is the executive director of the Corps responsible for the overall direction of the program.
Roberts said his son Alex talked him into marching this year, so despite being 37 and having a bad shoulder and back, Climax residents who recall him swinging a tuba in high school, will get the opportunity to see him performing again Memorial Day.
Roberts said Olmstead will not be playing Memorial Day but will be present working in her administrative/representative function to interface with the public.
Roberts said because of the way the 501c3 non-profit group is set up with many volunteers and sponsors, they are currently the cheapest option for people who want to march drum corp. He said for some big touring groups, dues can range from $5,000-$8,000, however the Northern Lights Drum & Bugle Corps dues are approximately $550.
He adds, the mission of the Corps is to provide affordable and accessible music education experiences through the all-age marching arts activity for the geographic area of the American Midwest. The mission is achieved through the implementation of various programs, including but not limited to educational workshops, community outreach initiatives, and collaborative partnerships with local educational institutions.
Roberts said performing drum and bugle corps requires being physically active and is “kind of like marching band meets track and field.”
Roberts said he’s looking forward to marching down Main Street Memorial Day playing the tuba like he did in high school, as well as playing later in the day in the Drum & Bugle Corps performance at the football field.
“It’s always fun to come home. I’ve had a very exciting musical career so far and it all started here in Climax,” said Roberts, who is still in the National Guard and performs with the 126th Army Band.
Roberts currently teaches 5th-8th grade band at Ada Christian School on the east side of Grand Rapids. He also teaches marching/visuals at Ferris State University with the Marching Band along with writing their music and drill. It is Ferris State University’s first time having a marching band in over 30 years.
He also arranged and wrote a march, “The Climax Crescent,” as a tribute to his hometown newspaper and its owners who were about to retire at the time, Bruce and Crystal Rolfe. Roberts and the 126th Army Band performed the march in the Climax Village Park in 2022.
Both Roberts and Olmstead’s love of performing in drum & bugle corps is shared by many members of the Northern Lights Drum & Bugle Corps.
“Being part of Northern Lights has driven my personal growth, and I’m excited to perform with a corps that’s financially accessible and encourages me to take my health seriously” said trumpet player Gabe Newport, of Buchanan.
“Northern Lights gave me back my love of music, and a sense of community I thought I lost,” adds trumpet player Kevean O’Connor, of Monroe County.
“Northern Lights connects me with fellow musicians and educators from around the state, allowing us to share pedagogy techniques and teaching opportunities with each other - an opportunity that’s uniquely beneficial due to us being an all ages corps,” said Marisa Romano, who resides in Macomb and is drum major and board member of the band.
The group rehearses at Newaygo High School and currently has six performances scheduled, which are listed below.
Northern Lights Drum & Bugle Corps Event Schedule:
• Memorial Day Parade @ Climax, MI – Monday, May 26
• Cavalcade of Brass @ Lisle, IL – Saturday, July 12
• DCI Toledo @ TBD Toledo, OH – Thursday, July 31
• DCI Michigan @ Lubbers Stadium on the Campus of Grand Valley State University, Allendale, Michigan – Saturday, August 2
• DCI All-Age Class Championships – Friday, August 8
• DCI All-Age Finals – Saturday, August 9
Two Climax-Scotts High School graduates who later married, have turned an idea of having the opportunity to perform in drum and bugle corps events closer to where they live, into reality by helping form a growing drum and bugle corps band.
Staff Sergeant Jordan Roberts, a 2006 graduate of Climax-Scotts High School, and his ex-wife Misty (McDaniel) Olmstead, a 2007 graduate of C-S, will return to C-S Memorial Day when the Northern Lights Drum & Bugle Corps will have two performances.
The group of approximately 70 musicians will march in the Climax Memorial Day parade that begins at 10 a.m. Later in the day, the group will have a noon performance at the C-S High School football field.
Roberts said in the summer of 2022, Olmstead and her husband Doug, were driving Roberts and Olmstead’s children Alex and Evelyn to Cincinnati to march with a drum corps group called Cincinnati Tradition, since it was the closest opportunity to perform. Cincinnati Tradition is now one of Northern Lights Drum & Bugle Corps’ competitors.
“This was very expensive and way too far of a drive and we were all annoyed about the situation,” said Roberts.
The C-S graduate recalls as parents, they discussed ideas how they could continue their love of performing in drum and bugle corps competition closer to home and as a joke said, “let’s just start one here”.
After a few more conversations, Roberts said between Olmstead’s experience in human resources, her husband’s drum corps marching experience, and Roberts’ music writing experience along with nearly 40 horns in his garage, they decided to launch their idea and Northern Lights Drum & Bugle Corps was formed.
The two C-S graduates learned their ambition of forming a drum and bugle corps band was shared by many others as well.
Roberts said in the group’s first season they had 42 people show up and march, “which was absolutely mind blowing for us.”
He said the next year the number grew to 95.
“As the group has grown, we’ve brought in world-class staff,” said Roberts.
The C-S graduate said the group was recently accepted to move up to DCI’s (Drum Corps International) All-Age Class where they will be competing for a world championship at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis in August.
Roberts and Olmstead share big roles with the group away from performing.
Roberts said he’s also responsible for writing the show and drill (marching choreography) and Olmstead is the executive director of the Corps responsible for the overall direction of the program.
Roberts said his son Alex talked him into marching this year, so despite being 37 and having a bad shoulder and back, Climax residents who recall him swinging a tuba in high school, will get the opportunity to see him performing again Memorial Day.
Roberts said Olmstead will not be playing Memorial Day but will be present working in her administrative/representative function to interface with the public.
Roberts said because of the way the 501c3 non-profit group is set up with many volunteers and sponsors, they are currently the cheapest option for people who want to march drum corp. He said for some big touring groups, dues can range from $5,000-$8,000, however the Northern Lights Drum & Bugle Corps dues are approximately $550.
He adds, the mission of the Corps is to provide affordable and accessible music education experiences through the all-age marching arts activity for the geographic area of the American Midwest. The mission is achieved through the implementation of various programs, including but not limited to educational workshops, community outreach initiatives, and collaborative partnerships with local educational institutions.
Roberts said performing drum and bugle corps requires being physically active and is “kind of like marching band meets track and field.”
Roberts said he’s looking forward to marching down Main Street Memorial Day playing the tuba like he did in high school, as well as playing later in the day in the Drum & Bugle Corps performance at the football field.
“It’s always fun to come home. I’ve had a very exciting musical career so far and it all started here in Climax,” said Roberts, who is still in the National Guard and performs with the 126th Army Band.
Roberts currently teaches 5th-8th grade band at Ada Christian School on the east side of Grand Rapids. He also teaches marching/visuals at Ferris State University with the Marching Band along with writing their music and drill. It is Ferris State University’s first time having a marching band in over 30 years.
He also arranged and wrote a march, “The Climax Crescent,” as a tribute to his hometown newspaper and its owners who were about to retire at the time, Bruce and Crystal Rolfe. Roberts and the 126th Army Band performed the march in the Climax Village Park in 2022.
Both Roberts and Olmstead’s love of performing in drum & bugle corps is shared by many members of the Northern Lights Drum & Bugle Corps.
“Being part of Northern Lights has driven my personal growth, and I’m excited to perform with a corps that’s financially accessible and encourages me to take my health seriously” said trumpet player Gabe Newport, of Buchanan.
“Northern Lights gave me back my love of music, and a sense of community I thought I lost,” adds trumpet player Kevean O’Connor, of Monroe County.
“Northern Lights connects me with fellow musicians and educators from around the state, allowing us to share pedagogy techniques and teaching opportunities with each other - an opportunity that’s uniquely beneficial due to us being an all ages corps,” said Marisa Romano, who resides in Macomb and is drum major and board member of the band.
The group rehearses at Newaygo High School and currently has six performances scheduled, which are listed below.
Northern Lights Drum & Bugle Corps Event Schedule:
• Memorial Day Parade @ Climax, MI – Monday, May 26
• Cavalcade of Brass @ Lisle, IL – Saturday, July 12
• DCI Toledo @ TBD Toledo, OH – Thursday, July 31
• DCI Michigan @ Lubbers Stadium on the Campus of Grand Valley State University, Allendale, Michigan – Saturday, August 2
• DCI All-Age Class Championships – Friday, August 8
• DCI All-Age Finals – Saturday, August 9
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