from dci.org, today..........


Introducing the DCI Hall of Fame Class of 2013

Czapinski, Lendman, Mar and Rondinaro will be inducted this August
By Chris Weber
Wednesday, April 17, 2013 - 10:45 AM







Since 1985, the Drum Corps International Hall of Fame has honored individuals who have left their mark on the marching music activity. From instructors to designers to innovators, administrators and others, today's Hall is made up of more than 100 men and women influential in the history of drum and bugle corps.
Each winter, members of the drum corps community participate in a nomination process, informing DCI's Hall of Fame Committee of those whom they feel should be recognized as part of drum corps' legacy. In April, current Hall of Fame members and corps directors participate in an election process to decide who will join the ranks of this prestigious society.

Four individuals have been selected for induction as the DCI Hall of Fame Class of 2013. They will be recognized during the week of the 2013 DCI World Championships in Indianapolis.


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Marie Grana Czapinski
DCI Visual Adjudicator





Marie Czapinski

Starting her drum corps career as a member of the Norwood Park Imperials from Chicago, Marie Grana Czapinski has made her mark in the marching arts activities as a top-notch visual adjudicator, from color guards to marching bands to drum corps.
At the young age of 18, Czapinski made the transition from corps member to instructor with the Imperials. Soon after under the tutelage of DCI Hall of Fame member Earl Joyce, she learned the ropes of judging as part of the Central States Judges Association.

In the early 1970s under the mentoring of DCI Hall of Fame member Donald Angelica, Czapinski worked with a variety of corps including the Finleyville Royal Crusaders, Seneca Optimists, Madison Scouts and Spirit of Atlanta, in the process gaining valuable insights as both an instructor and a judge.

“While they were teaching corps together, Donald gave Marie the opportunity of a lifetime for a young judge,” husband and 1999 DCI Hall of Fame inductee Gary Czapinski said. “He assigned her to the DCI World Championship judging panel in 1976 and she has never looked back. She was natural as a judge and was immediately accepted by the DCI community in the dual role of instructor and judge.”

Since that first opportunity in 1976, Czapinski has been a regular fixture on adjudication panels for the DCI World Championships and other major regional contests.

As a judge, Czapinski is noted for her ability to communicate clearly and concisely, the instructor at heart always eager to give the competing corps constructive feedback to improve future performances.

“Marie is widely respected for her knowledge, enthusiasm and honesty in her interactions with every drum corps, regardless of their level of accomplishment,” fellow DCI judge Nola Jones said. “The last place drum corps enjoys the same attention and boundless energy that she gives the first place corps.”

“Marie’s judging tapes will always be memorable and are always in demand by the corps members to listen to after a performance, as she talks to them, cheers for them and encourages them to dig down and give their best consistently,” Santa Clara Vanguard CEO Jeff Fiedler said. “Her insight, questions, and commentary are respectful and beneficial to the corps, yet ask you to dig deeper as a designer, instructor or performer to maximize the performance,”

In more than 40 years as part of the judging community, Czapinski has served on various committees and subcommittees to revise and improve DCI’s judging systems, as well as educate new and current adjudicators. With a penchant for continually educating herself with the latest skills and proficiencies in an ever-changing activity, Czapinski is one of only a small handful of judges who are qualified to judge every one of Drum Corps International’s visual captions.

“Marie has been integral in mentoring countless new judges and was continually on the lookout for emerging talent to join our ranks,” DCI Judge Administrator John Phillips said.

As she once was by the likes of Hall of Fame greats like Gary Czapinski, Rick Maass, Earl Joyce, Donald Angelica and others, Czapinski has in turn advised and inspired a whole new generation of instructors and judges.

Czapinski is a member of both the Bands of America and Winter Guard International Halls of Fame, two organizations that she played a role in founding.


Read more: http://www.dci.org/news/view.cfm?news_id=8077ec22-d4ba-4273-9dc9-e1c880e14888#ixzz2QkSY38c9

Bill, you meant to say 'ANOTHER' Imperial to be a DCI Hall of Famer!

Marie is well qualified to join those ranks!

Yes, I am aware that Marie is not the first from the corps that used to often practice on the grass and dirt at Onahan School, which I loved to watch, Dave.

How many were elected to the DCI Hall of Fame before DCI was formed?

What did you do in the Corps? French Horn

What years were you a Corps member? 1957 thru 1963I

I'm curious to know when Marie worked with Spirit of Atlanta. The article says the 70's, but the corps wasn't even formed until 1977. I marched there in 1980, and don't remember anyone ever mentioning her having worked with the corps in the two years previous. I knew most of the former guard instructors, and they never mentioned Marie, even knowing I was from Chicago and the Imperials. And Paul Milano managed the corps, and he marched with me in the Cavaliers. I would have thought with all of that, I would have heard about her working there.

What did you do in the Corps? Snare; Drum Major; Drum Instructor/Arranger

What years were you a Corps member? 1970-73; 78-79