Spirit of Atlanta set to return to DCI competition in 2023
July 27, 2022
ATLANTA - After a one-year hiatus, Spirit of Atlanta will return to the competitive stage in Drum Corps International in 2023, the organization announced today. DCI CEO Dan Acheson informed the organization of the board of directors’ support for Spirit’s return to World Class competition after spending the 2022 season away to focus on the corps reorganization efforts.
The organization will remain on probation through the end of the 2023 season and continue to provide DCI with quarterly updates on its status and continued restructuring efforts, which include the implementation of extensive new safety protocol for students, staff, and volunteers. The corps plans to introduce new policies and safety procedures this fall.
"It is an honor to be welcomed back to the Drum Corps International community. We are grateful for the support of the DCI Board of Directors and many others who have stepped forward to support our reorganization efforts", said Spirit of Atlanta Board President George Dickinson. "We’re excited to see Spirit of Atlanta back on the field in 2023 and look forward to working with DCI and the member organizations to improve our organization and the activity as a whole."
The organization's new safety procedures, policies, and risk management guidelines are being developed in consultation with professionals in each field, including the United States Center for SafeSport, a national organization tasked with creating safety standards, procedures, and training protocols for youth sports. The new operating guidelines will include policies for various dependencies including medical staff, equipment, and transportation. Comprehensive training will be required for all educators, staff, and volunteers to ensure the safety of everyone involved in the organization.
"The work behind the scenes over these past seven months has been extensive. From the beginning, our goal was not just to check the box, but to create an operating model that is best-in-class and the standard bearer for the activity. We hope that we can share what we’ve learned over the past year with other member organizations and be an inspiration for proactive change moving forward," said Corp Director, Chris Moore. "The hard work we're doing here will not just benefit Spirit of Atlanta, but all of DCI for years to come."
Spirit of Atlanta is committed to being transparent about the reorganization effort. It will share regular updates on the organization's website (www.spiritofatlanta.org) and the Spirit of Atlanta social media channels. To learn more about Spirit of Atlanta's reorganization efforts and get an in-depth look at the new safety policies and reorganization efforts, watch this episode of Marching Arts Round Table as Tim Hinton Interviews members of the SOA leadership team.
For more information on dates and times for 2023 auditions, stay tuned to www.spiritofatlanta.org/join for the latest and most up-to-date information.