The Jersey Surf World Class Drum Corps, a Camden County, NJ-based not-for-profit corporation dedicated to creating opportunities for students in the performing arts, is pleased to announce its return to competitive Drum Corps International (DCI) Summer Tour for 2022, after a one-year absence from participation caused by significant operational challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Surf will celebrate its 30th Anniversary during the 2022 tour, as it also joins in the celebration of DCI’s 50th season of promoting and producing events for the world’s most elite marching music ensembles.

“We are very much looking forward to getting back on the DCI tour next summer, and are excited to continue in our mission of providing a world class experience for the remarkable student performers in our ranks,” said Rich Klimowicz, Director of Operations. “Although we’ve conducted several marching arts skills development workshops over the past year for corps members and other area high school and college students, we can’t wait to get the entire team back together again as we gear up for our return to the performance field and the excitement of the DCI summer tour.”

Two-Tour Format Planned for 2022
The Surf will split next summer’s tour into two segments separated by a number of “free days” where corps members, staff and volunteers will have the opportunity to return home. “Our restart plans focus not only on our performers and instructors, but on our administrative and support teams as well,” says Stephanie Dutcher, Assistant Corps Director and Tour Manager. “We feel that our most responsible path back after a year of inactivity is to split the tour into two halves with a break in the middle. We are confident that this will help us to provide the best possible experience to every marching member, educator, tour volunteer and member of our administrative team. 

Dr. Julie Hill, Chair of the Jersey Surf Board of Directors, added, “We are anticipating a lot of new faces getting involved at every level of our organization for the coming season, and we feel strongly that choosing to take a slightly more conservative approach to the required time commitment on the road will provide us with a much more manageable environment, as a new generation of performers and volunteers get acclimated to the rigors of the tour experience. As excited as we are to rejoin our colleagues on tour, we want to deliver an experience which focuses on quality, safety, personal care and the achievement of our organizational goals and objectives.”

Preliminary plans for the Jersey Surf’s 2022 tour include a substantial “Spring Training” session beginning in early June. The corps will depart its training camp for an early July tour swing before returning to its home base for July 4th activities as well as a number of additional competitive and non-competitive performances through July 10th. The corps will then be “dismissed” for four days of rest, personal practice and other individual activities before reuniting the weekend of July 15 for rehearsals and a very special performance in the Philadelphia/Southern NJ area. Announcements regarding this performance are forthcoming. The group will then adjourn for four additional days before gathering to depart on the second half of the tour which will begin on Friday, July 22 and which will continue through the DCI World Championships, with the fleet returning home on Sunday, August 14.

“Although we will miss a few competitive opportunities during the time that we’re off the tour, we will be staying quite busy with rehearsals, additional special performances and other exciting activities designed to showcase the exceptional young adults taking part in our program – as we rebuild our brand in our own backyard,” says Bob Jacobs, CEO of Jersey Surf, Inc. “We’re currently working with DCI and other entities to produce two “home shows” (competitive drum corps events) in the greater Philadelphia/Southern NJ metropolitan area during the summer of 2022. 

“We will also be announcing several partnerships and new programs in the weeks and months ahead which are being designed to broaden our reach in our region, with the ultimate goal of engaging a greater number of people in the pursuit of their personal best as a participant in our expanded programs. We will continue to live up to the promise of our “Share the Love” philosophy by rethinking and relaunching some of what we do in order to make our programs even more accessible to a greater number of potential participants.”

Jacobs cited the Surf’s previous experience with the “first tour / second tour” format as a motivating factor for returning to a similar plan for 2022.

“Prior to our first full DCI Summer Tour in 2012, we increased our total number of days on the road over several years using a similar schedule,” Jacobs added. “We know from this experience that approaching the summer in two segments increases our ability to ensure the greatest quality of life for everyone; helps us to better manage our operational budget for the 2022 season, and gives everyone involved additional opportunities for summer coursework, employment, college visits, personal care, and other activities which would not have been possible under what has become our more typical operating procedure. We’re also excited about having the opportunity to leverage our presence at home for a few weeks in the middle of our season to showcase what we do for people who don’t get a chance to enjoy what we have to offer during a more traditional season.”

Get information on the 2022 Jersey Surf. Download a packet, schedule an in-person visit to one of our Experience events, or learn more about opportunities for administrative, support or internships.

Learn more about Jersey Surf Experience Events and how to audition for the 2022 DCI Summer Tour as a member of the Jersey Surf.

Mission Statement of Jersey Surf, Inc., a New Jersey Non-Profit Corporation
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 & instruction.