Bridgemen-Jersey Surf Partnership News

The Boards of Directors of the legendary Bridgemen Drum and Bugle Corps organization of Bayonne, New Jersey and the Jersey Surf Drum and Bugle Corps of Camden County, New Jersey are pleased to announce the establishment of an unprecedented, exciting and innovative formal strategic alliance between the two groups, designed to help maximize the fulfillment of their respective missions while creating explosive new opportunities for ongoing creative collaboration.

The first phase of the partnership already underway will identify and develop and refine opportunities for sharing professional, business and performing arts resources and a number of joint fund-raising and financial development efforts designed to bolster the sustainability of both entities. The pact will also serve to create expanded participation and performance opportunities for the two performing corps and several jointly-sponsored projects currently in development.

"The relaunch of the Bridgemen Alumni Drum and Bugle Corps in 2004 helped expose a new generation of fans to some of the unique performance elements and level of excellence for which the Bridgemen were well known to drum corps fans around the world during their years as a competitive unit," said Bob Jacobs, Executive Director and CEO of the Jersey Surf, currently in its 22nd year of operations. "Simply stated, if there were no Bridgemen, there likely would have never been a Jersey Surf, as their performance style in the 1970s and 80s deeply inspired and motivated those of us who started the Surf program in 1989. We are honored and extremely excited that we will have this opportunity to share the storied legacy of one of drum corps' most revered brands, developing new opportunities along with the Bridgemen, while also fostering increased organizational stability and a number of new creative projects for the benefit of current and future members of the Jersey Surf."

"By joining forces, the Bridgemen and the Jersey Surf can work to expand our respective operations in innovative new ways," said George Lavelle, Director of the Bridgemen Alumni Drum and Bugle Corps. "The two organizations share many common values and have much to offer one-another. After several months of planning meetings and presentations, we're pleased to be able to make this official announcement against the backdrop of the Tournament of Stars and Bayonne Veterans Stadium as we come together to create a new chapter in the colorful history of competitive drum corps in New Jersey. We already share in this tremendous legacy, and now we'll help to shape its future with an incredible amount of passionate new energy which is already starting to expand rapidly. Without a doubt, this is going to be a great new era for the Bridgemen, the Jersey Surf and for drum corps fans everywhere."

John Nadrowski, president of the Bridgemen Organization, echoed Lavelle's sentiments. "Through our patnership, each of the generations of our Bridgemen family hopes to have the opportunity to celebrate all that we've achieved with a new group of friends, while assisting the Jersey Surf with its mission of bringing an outstanding experience to everyone involved in its organization. We look forward to sharing our history and our passion with the members, staff, volunteers and alumni of the Jersey Surf and we expect to learn a great deal from them as well.

About the Bridgemen:
The Bridgemen Organization Incorporated is a not for profit 501(3)c corporation and a registered charity in the state of New Jersey. The Bridgemen Organization, under the direction of its Board of Directors, operates the Bridgemen Alumni Association, The Bridgemen Alumni Drum and Bugle Corps, and is responsible for all legal and financial concerns of the Bridgemen Organization.

About the Jersey Surf:
The Jersey Surf is a non-profit corporation, dedicated to providing quality educational opportunities for young people in the performing arts. These opportunities will occur in an environment which promotes the social and artistic development of the organization's participants through creative programs, designed with the highest possible quality of leadership and instruction. The corps is recognized nationally for excellence in youth programming and is the only drum corps in history to have received the coveted "Spirit of Disney" award for performance and creative excellence in three consecutive seasons.

For additional information:
John Nadrowski/Bridgemen: bridgemenpresident@bridgemen.com
Bob Jacobs/Jersey Surf: bobj@jerseysurf.org

The Jersey Surf Drum and Bugle Corps of Camden County, New Jersey is pleased to announce the reunion of legendary DCI Hall of Fame members Dennis DeLucia and Larry Kerchner in a junior corps competitive setting for the first time since 1985 as the two luminaries come together to lead the 2012 Jersey Surf in its production, "Bridgemania". DeLucia will serve as the Design Team Chairman for the Surf's 2012 effort, while Kerchner will compose the brass score as a member of the design team.

"We know that it is somewhat unusual to announce our intentions for next season while we’re right in the middle of what is shaping up to be our best program since moving into the elite World Class in Drum Corps International (DCI) competition," said Bob Jacobs, Executive Director and CEO of the Camden County, NJ-based Jersey Surf. "We can think of no better time and no better place, however, than here tonight at Bayonne's historic Veterans Memorial Stadium to share the exciting news that we will have these two drum corps legends working with us to create a program in the coming year that will undoubtedly delight our performers and all of those for whom they perform, as we pay tribute to the spirit and legacy of The Bridgemen. With the blessing of the Bridgemen organization and the full support of their alumni drum and bugle corps, we are thrilled to have the opportunity to create something very special in the year ahead."

"The 2012 season will be the Drum Corps International's 40th Anniversary year," Jacobs added. "The Bridgemen were the first finalist corps to appear in the 1972 DCI World Championships, having finished in 12th place after prelims competition. It's a great excuse and a tremendous opportunity for us to honor DCI's first finalist corps on the field next year, while also providing us with a unique chance to enlighten our members about the evolution of competitive drum corps through what many consider to be its "golden era."

"The opportunity to work with Larry Kerchner in the competitive junior corps environment created by the team at the Jersey Surf is both exciting and very appealing," said Dennis DeLucia. "Bob has assembled a great team and their vision for a show which draws upon the spirit of The Bridgemen is something that I'd love to be a part of. I'm looking forward to being engaged with the creative process with a group of passionate, talented and committed people."

Planning for the 2012 campaign is already underway in earnest, while Jacobs remains focused on a strong finish to the 2011 season when the Jersey Surf marks its third season in the elite World Class ranks of Drum Corps International.

"We talk a lot about 'enjoying the journey' and 'sharing the love' of performance at the Jersey Surf, and we just completed our first tour for 2011, which took us throughout the northeastern US over 23 days," Jacobs said. "The first tour this year was our best yet, both in terms of our efficiency of operation and the growth of our performance and our performers. We're chomping at the bit to get back on the road next week, and we have every reason to believe that the corps will finish this season in its best form since moving into World Class competition."

"I'm really looking forward to being a part of this project," said Larry Kerchner. "Bob's enthusiasm has certainly gotten us fired up about the potential for a creative collaboration with members of the Jersey Surf team, and Dennis and I will likely have a few tricks up our sleeves that will undoubtedly make for a fun time for all of us – staff, performers and audiences alike. I have no doubt that this is going to be a great ride!"

"There is little doubt that working with pros like Dennis and Larry, our design staff will be able to unleash their creativity to an even greater degree than they have to date," Jacobs added. "We are assembling quite a team that is dedicated to one goal: giving our performers the opportunity to 'Share the Love' with a new audience while perhaps reminding long-time drum corps fans of some of the things which have made the Bridgemen one of drum corps most celebrated brands."

Additional program information will be announced shortly. First rehearsals for the 2012 Jersey Surf will take place November 18-20 and December 16-18 at the Camden County Technical School in Sicklerville, NJ. For additional membership information, please visit http://www.jerseysurf.org/pages/membership.