When seven of the world’s greatest drum corps come marching into Ralph Wilson Stadium to compete for the overall crown during the Drums Along the Waterfront Tour of Champions on Monday, Aug. 5, one team may be able to claim a distinct hometown advantage. Marching with The Bluecoats of Canton, Ohio, will be West Seneca resident Patrick Fay.
Fay, a 2010 graduate of West Seneca West Senior High School, is a Music Education major at SUNY Fredonia. When he competes with The Bluecoats in his native Western New York, he’ll be playing the euphonium, a brass instrument. Fay has previously marched with The Glassmen Drum & Bugle Corps of Ohio and The Empire Statesmen of Rochester.
“It is my final year in Drum Corps International and I will be spending it with the Bluecoats from Canton, Ohio,” said Fay.
“As a West Seneca West graduate, I spent many years at Drums Along the Waterfront. It means a lot to have such an event here!"
“We are extremely pleased that The Bluecoats, along with the other top six corps in the world, will be venturing here to perform for all of Western New York,” said event organizer Jack Gaylord Jr. “It just doesn’t get any better than that. And, we’re hoping there will be a lot of Pat Fay fans at the show to support him and this exciting activity.”
Joining The Bluecoats for the Orchard Park event, which kicks off at 7:30 p.m., will be The Blue Devils of Concord, Calif.; Phantom Regiment of Rockford, Ill.; Santa Clara Vanguard of Santa Clara, Calif.; Carolina Crown of Ft. Mill, S.C.; The Cadets of Allentown, Pa; and The Cavaliers of Rosemont, Ill. Together, these teams hold a combined 40 World Championship titles!
