University News

World Champion Drum and Bugle Corps Phantom Regiment to Return to WIU for Summer Training Camp

April 25, 2019

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MACOMB, IL -- The two-time world champion Phantom Regiment Drum & Bugle Corps (and honorary Leathernecks) will return to Western Illinois University for their summer training camp.

The 150-member corps comprised of men and women ages 17-21 from around the country, along with a 50-member staff, will roll back into Macomb Sunday, May 19, and will live, work and train at WIU's Macomb campus through June 7. The members will live in the WIU residence halls and practice on Hanson Field, Vince Grady Field and the Marching Leathernecks practice field west of Olson Hall.

All rehearsals are open free to the public, and will be located on Hanson Field and other parts of campus. More information and up-to-date schedules will be available on the WIU Bands Facebook page. A free community performance will be held at 8 p.m., Friday, June 7 at Hanson Field (practice begins at 7 p.m. - the public is welcome).

WIU Marching Leathernecks Director Matt Thomas and Corps Executive Director Rick Valenzuela met in 2017 while judging a marching band competition, and thus began the initial discussions about the Regiment calling WIU and Macomb its summer home.

"We are so excited to welcome the Phantom Regiment back to campus and to our community," Thomas said.

The corps has been based out of Rockford, IL since its formation in 1956, but began scouting for a new training camp location in 2017. Valenzuela discovered WIU offered the robust array of facilities and services required to prepare his group to be nationally competitive.

"We were literally blown away by the hospitality of not only the University, but the city and community overall," Valenzuela said. "We look forward to making many more positive memories at our spring training in Macomb again this summer."

More information on the Phantom Regiment, including the program's history, news and tour schedule can be found on the group's website, regiment.org.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing