!! N.Y. Skyliners Open House a Great Success!

Sunday, November 30, 2003.    The N.Y. Skyliners Drum & Bugle Corps held
their annual Open House at Pocono Mountain East High School, in Swiftwater,
PA on Sunday, November 30th.  The weather was sunny, a great sign for what
turned out to be a great Open House for the N.Y. Skyliners.



Sign In/Registration started at 10:00 a.m., followed by a “State of the
Union/ Introduction” by Corps Director, T. R. “Judge” Shiffer.    Lunch was
provided by the corps, and included home made salads and baked goods.
During lunch, previous years’ videos were played, and new members had a
chance to meet current and former members of the corps, and talk the Staff &
Administration.  After lunch, the corps broke into sectionals, and the first
rehearsal for the 2004 season was officially underway.



Percussion Caption Head Mark Allen - together with the percussion staff -
led the battery and pit through the technique program.  The enthusiasm level
of the attendees was extremely high.  Knowing Mark’s hard work ethic, and
the experience and talent level of the percussion staff – Brian Harris and
Tom Siegfried, with Robert "Jomba" O'Connor acting as Consultant - the N.Y.
Skyliners expect great things from the Percussion section this season.



Ray Troxell, Show Coordinator and Brass Caption Head, started the horn line
off with the exercise/ technique program as well.    After warm-ups, the
horn line worked through the first 1-1/2 minutes of the show – the Prologue
from “New York Rhapsody”.   Based on Gershwin’s "Second Prelude, this
segment will remind you of some of his later/larger pieces, such as
“Rhapsody in Blue” and “Concerto in F.”    The fantastic John Arietano
arrangement opens up Light and Bluesy with a solo/duet starting the main
theme.  Then the entire Corps answers with the “Skyliner sound” that has
brought fans & audiences to their feet for decades.  The years of experience
that the entire Brass staff brings to the corps - which includes Tim Eick,
Robert Fizette, Scott Root, and Doreen Sandor – is well over 100 years . . .
.   You will NOT be disappointed!



The N.Y. Skyliners Color Guard, 2003 DCA I & E Champions worked with John
Veninger, Visual Co-Caption Heads, on technique.    With the returning
members, alumni and new color guard members, the N.Y. Skyliners know that
the Visual package will be strong, exciting & innovative for 2004!    Drill
Design will be by Peter Rehill.


We’re off to a great start!   Everyone left excited and optimistic about the
potential and success of the 2004 season.   To those who were not able to
attend due to family/holiday commitments, please mark the N.Y. Skyliners’
next rehearsal on your schedule - Sunday, January 4th Pocono Mountain East
High School, in Swiftwater, PA from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 P.M.  The corps will
be fielding 44 Brass, 7 Snares, 4 Quints, 5 Bass, 4 Cymbals, a pit of 12 and
a guard of 24 for the 2004 season; we will be competing in the Open Class
Division for the 2004 season.    BE A PART OF IT, and come on down.



Thanks to everyone who helped make the N.Y. Skyliners' Open House so
successful, and thanks to everyone who came down to spend the day with us.
Have a great holiday season, and we will see you on January 4th.



 You may contact the Skyliners at our web site www.newyorkskyliners.com, or
by phoning Tom Shiffer, at 570-476-6776 or 570-420-3494; Doreen Sandor at
845-355-8551, or Sean Holton @ [EMAIL PROTECTED]