River City Rhythm began as a competitive drumline, founded in Big Lake, Minnesota, in 2009 to compete in the Minnesota Percussion Association (MPA) and Winter Guard International (WGI). The unit has won the MPA Independent A Class Championship in 2010–11 and the MPA Independent Open Class Championship in 2013–16 and 2018–19.[2] They have been WGI Independent A Class World Champion Finalists in 2010–11, WGI Independent Open Class World Champion Finalists in 2012–16, and named WGI Independent Open Class Fan Favorites in 2012–15.[3]
In 2014, the organization announced its intent to field a drum and bugle corps to compete in Drum Corps International (DCI) beginning in 2015.[4] While the management was laying the groundwork for starting a new corps, the drumline was one of seventeen that took part in the DrumLine Battle competition in Indianapolis during the 2014 DCI World Championships.[5] In January 2015, DCI announced that River City Rhythm was one of five corps being evaluated for possible inclusion in DCI Open Class competition for 2015.[6] In May 2015, following a period of evaluation of the unit's finances, staffing, and tour plans by DCI's staff, River City Rhythm was added to the list of competing Open Class corps.[1] The corps was added to DCI's summer schedule for four shows in Minnesota and Iowa in preparation for the corps' first appearance at the DCI Open Class World Championship Prelims in Michigan City, Indiana.[7]
Sponsorship
River City Rhythm is a 501 (c)(3) musical organization. The organization is the sponsor of the River City Rhythm Drum and Bugle Corps, the River City Rhythm Indoor Drumline, and the Lux Winterguard. Bojan Hoover is the Executive Director, Beau Hansen is the Director of Operations, and Adam Shew is the corps director.[8]
Light blue background indicates DCI Open Class Finalist
Year
Repertoire
World Championships
Score
Placement
2015
And the River Flows On The River Flows Through You by Yiruma / The River by Seth Adams / Shenandoah (Traditional) / The Water is Wide (Traditional) / Wait/Fantasy by Anthony Gonzales, Justin Meldal-Johnsen, Yann Gonzales, Morgan Kibby & Brad Laner (M83), adapted by Chanticleer
67.425
9th Place Open Class Finalist
62.450
31st Place World Class
2016
Shimmer Harmonielehre by John Adams / Firefly by Ryan George / Symphony for Winds and Percussion by Donald Grantham
Each Hour Wounds The Hours - Dead Things by Philip Glass / Somewhere in Time by John Barry / Each Hour Wounds by Chad Friesleben, Bojan Hoover & Paul Weber
