This past season marked the 31st anniversary of the Madison Scouts and Yamaha marching together. Beginning in 2006, the corps started to perform with Yamaha brass instruments adding Yamaha PA system and electronic percussion along the way. Yamaha and the Madison Scouts have enjoyed a relationship since 1984, the longest instrument sponsorship between any company and a DCI drum corps.This musical partnership between Yamaha and The Madison Scouts does more than just allow the corps to play durable, great-sounding instruments that help put on better performances. Recognizing the key role that both of our organizations play in helping to shape the music educators of the future, two years ago we got together to institute the Yamaha Music Educator’s scholarships, awarded to one percussion and one brass recipient who demonstrate leadership ability and good citizenship along with a commitment to music education.Our percussion scholarship winner this year is Nicholas Gigante, a senior studying music education, percussion and viola at the University of South Florida in Tampa. His goal is to be a band or orchestra director and he also plans to attend graduate school and earn a doctorate in conducting.

“Ever since I played recorder in fourth grade, music has been a lot of fun for me,” he said. He played in his middle school orchestra and progressed to be in charge of the pit musicians for his high school’s theater program, an experience that “opened my eyes to the musical world and made me want to teach music. Seeing the faces of my ensemble after a good performance and watching how close everyone became throughout the season inspired my career choice.”Playing in the Scouts also taught him that he can achieve greatness despite the grueling schedule and commitment to high standards. “A friend convinced me to audition and I guess I am better than I thought I was,” he said. “I never thought I could be up to that level, but the intensity of the program helped me up my game.”Nicholas plans to help out future students with this scholarship. “Music education is expensive, so in addition to the things percussionists always need, this will help me stock up on method books for when I teach,” he said.Our brass winner this year, Michael D. Collins, who played the mellophone with the corps the last two years, is a senior at Middle Tennessee State University, where he studies music education. He plans to be a high school band director.“Music teaches a strong work ethic and how to strive for perfection, which is difficult, but that is something I learned in drum corps,” he said. “Being successful comes down to attitude and I want to teach people that music is very expressive, so if you can’t speak to others and you hold things in that you need to get out, I want to teach how to express feelings.”Michael first heard music at his parents’ church, where his father – a professional saxophone player – served as minister and his mother played flute. He joined the wind ensemble at the church and chose the French horn in fifth grade. Receiving encouragement in middle and high school, he became exposed to drum corps and saw the Madison Scouts on the DCI live feed.But funding considerations – and the intimidation factor – kept him from auditioning until his parents heard about his ambition and encouraged him. Participating in the Scouts enabled him to experience the close camaraderie inherent in drum corps.“It is hard, but it is fun,” he said. “I absolutely loved the experience of taking the music to a higher level and going through tough stuff with your brothers. Good times or bad, we never walk alone – which is our motto and it’s true.”He never played Yamaha until he got to the Scouts. When he picked up his horn, “I thought ‘whoa, this is definitely a different horn than the other ones I have played. It was more open and easier to play with better response. It was lighter, too, which is helpful. It was definitely working for me.”This scholarship recognizes the values that the Scouts and Yamaha place on music education, Nicholas and Michael exemplify the positive values of passing the benefits of music making to the next generation. Congratulations to the recipients of this year’s Yamaha Music Educator’s scholarship.If you have a musical need from our friends at Yamaha, please do not be shy about contacting them directly. They may be reached at percussion@yamaha.com