The
season 2007-2008 ends at the
end of this month of June. All
the members keep in mind the
title of Champion at IPE 2008
in the “International Class”
as well as the visit of Tony
and Kevin in our artistic and
musical group.
Many changes
are made on the website and
more specifically many pictures
are added on the juniors and
on our Americans.
Moreover,
we are still recruiting for
the season 2008/2009 and you
are all welcome to live the
experience of Unik Star and
Xpression. Rehearsals will start
again on August 7th. The Junior
section will start again on
August 27th.
Please
note that the staff members
are unavailable during the month
of july. For any emergency please
send a mail to “Contact” on
the top left corner.
We
wish you nice holidays and an
excellent visit on our website
!!!
June
2008 - News (09/06/08)
HUGE
CLINIC (15 june 2008) AN EXCEPTIONAL DAY is scheduled on June 15th in
Hellemmes from 10am to 4pm. Tony and Kevin offer you a HUGE Percussion Drumline
CLINIC (for snares, tenors and bassdrums).
If you are interested to
spend a day with Americans and improve your skills it is really the good time
for it !!!
Register right away by
sending a mail tocontact@unikstar.com.10
euros will have to be paid at the entrance on that day.
Take advantage of this incredible opportunity !!!
The CLINIC will take place Salle Monchy, 49 rue des
Ecoles, 59260 Hellemmes. It is not the usual rehearsal place !!!
Tony and Kevin Our
2 american friends
arrived end of may
and are bringing
much to the musicians
of Unik Star. Technique,
exercises and reading
have been included
in the program these
last days and many
extra rehearsals
have been organized
to take the most
of their stay. Unik
Star is growing
in a different way…
The visit of Tony
Nunez and Kevin
Shah (thanks to
Christophe Houard)
will stay in the
history of our group
; some medias will
be included in our
website soon to
keep in mind this
month of work !
We remind you that
our doors are open
and we are available
at contact@unikstar.com
for any additional
information.
"Dany Boon
Party" On
May 30th 2008, the
color guards and
musicians of Unik
Star gathered to
play in the streets
of Lille for the
« Dany Boon Party
» for the 20 millions
tickets sold for
the movie « Bienvenue
chez les Ch’tis
». A great success
for our group who
gathered several
hundreds people
at the « Boulevard
de la Liberté ».
It was an incredible
evening and a unique
moment for all the
members especially
when the bus drove
by with all the
actors of the movie.
For this occasion,
the new Drum Major
performed for the
first time ; Sandy
Sueur and Isabelle
Eggermont ponctuated
the event with an
excellent performance
noticed by the audience
and the fans of
Drum Corps and Percussion.
Didier Bevernage
didn’t miss any
of this on video
; we would like
to offer you this
new media. Wonderful
souvenir...
Nouveau
Partenaire We would
like to thank Jean-Christophe
Battesti that we
welcome in our list
of partners who
trust us. This professional
designer and graphic
artist will help
us from time to
time in visuals.
Thanks to him, we
will have our new
DVD jacket for 2008,
which is being prepared.
The entire team
would like to thank
him for his precious
help and welcome
him in the Unik
Star universe.
European
Indoor Arts Alliance
chooses logo The
European Indoor
Arts Alliance (EIAA)
has recently revealed
their logo. The
logo is a design
of Jérôme CAPOEN
from France.
The EIAA website
will be released
soon and will provide
information on the
2009 events. EIAA
is a working group
made up of Indoor
Arts organizations'
representatives
from the United
Kingdom, France,
Germany and The
Netherlands, and
is committed to
the growth of Indoor
Percussion and Winter
Guard in Europe.
The organization
was founded in 2007.
The initial focus
of the organization
is to investigate
the needs of the
various regions
and foster controlled
growth. Our main
goal is to support
the various countries
and regions in their
specific needs,
while increasing
cooperation between
the national organizations,
and growing the
activity on the
European level.
Tony
Nunez & Kevin Shah (26/05/08)
The
team Unik Star has
the pleasure to
welcome two experts
in the Indoor Percussion
world during the
month of June. The
musicians will meet
the instructors
for the first time
in Mons en Baroeul
during the performance
for a city celebration
on May 27th 2008.
They will
have clinics and
rehearsals to improve
their knowledge
in technique of
percussion and in
marching manoeuvring.
A program has been
organized to optimize
this exchange. Moreover,
they will write
several pieces :
cadences and parade
pieces that you
will discover in
time. Let’s introduce
these 2 instructors:
Tony
Nunez
has had the honour
of working with
the Santa Clara
Vanguard Drum and
Bugle Corps in 2006
and 2007 as the
Percussion Manager
and Tenor Technician.
He has also been
the front ensemble
arranger for the
WGI Independent
World Class finalist,
Pulse Percussion
Ensemble from 2005-07.
Recent accomplishments
include South Hills
HS 2007 and 2008
SCPA Scholastic
A Class Gold Medalist,
and 2008 WGI Scholastic
A Class Gold Medalist.
South Hills HS earned
the highest score
ever awarded to
a WGI Scholastic
A Class ensemble
at the 2008 WGI
World Championships
held in Dayton,
OH. Tony also served
as a design consultant
for the 2008 Scholastic
World Class Bronze
Medalist Claremont
HS, and was the
co-arranger/designer
for the 2008 Scholastic
World Class finalist
Arcadia HS. He is
currently a member
of the WGI Advisory
Board, and is on
the Vic Firth Education
Team. Tony was a
member of the SCV
tenor line in 2002
and with the Patriots
Drum and Bugle Corps
in 2001. He also
marched in the indoor
percussion ensembles
of the Black Knights
from 2000-2002 and
Riverside Community
College in 2003.
Tony currently teaches
and arranges for
South Hills HS,
Arcadia HS, Upland
HS, and Yamato Drum
and Bugle Corps.
Kevin
Shah is a percussionist
and educator in
Southern California,
USA. Specializing
in orchestral percussion,
marimba, and marching
percussion, Kevin
actively performs
and teaches with
many ensembles in
Los Angeles and
Orange County. Kevin
earned his Masters
of Music degree
from the Juilliard
School of Music.
Kevin has much experience
in the realm of
indoor and outdoor
marching percussion.
In 2002, he marched
with the Santa Clara
Vanguard Drum and
Bugle Corps as a
member of the bassline,
along with several
years with Pacific
Crest Drum and Bugle
Corps on bass drum
as well. Kevin also
performed with the
Black Knights Indoor
Drumline in 2002
as a member of the
front ensemble,
and played snare
in 2003 when they
won a silver medal
at Winter Guard
International Championships.
Kevin also taught
the front ensemble
at Black Knights
in 2004 and 2007.
In his marching
career, Kevin has
studied with Ralph
Hardimon, Tom Float,
Jim Casella, Jim
Ancona, Murray Gusseck,
Stephen Ridley,
Mike Jackson, Pete
Sapadin, Dave Henkel,
and Vince Gardner.
The
team Unik Star invites
you to see by yourselves
the work that the
musicians will do
during this month
of June ; that’s
why the doors will
be open to all.
We rehearse every
Tuesday and Thursday
at the Centre Gustave
Engrand, 208 rue
Faidherbe in Hellemmes.
3 clinics will be
scheduled on May
31st, June 7th and
June 13the in Hellemmes
also including a
clinic for cymbals.
Don’t hesitate to
come visit us, you
are all welcome
!
Unik
Star - Street - Flers en Escrebieux
(F)
ARCADIA
High School (USA)
Unik
Star & Xpression recruit for
2009 !!! (12/05/08)
The
musicians and color guards have
been working hard to prepare
a new and richer street program
for the 2008 summer season.
With as main objective to develop
our repertoire, our group will
travail for 2008 in many French
regions and more specifically
near Rouen and the north. Several
performances have already been
done with much success such
as Yssingeaux in “Haute Loire”,
Gauchy in “Aisne”, Flers en
Escrebieux and Somain in the
North. Moreover, we have met
in Somain our friends from St
Quentin “La Vaillante” with
whom some musicians have shared
some notes! It’s always with
great pleasure to meet some
French groups who are really
passionate and friendly with
whom we can share such moments.
For this occasion, the webmasters
have put on line 2 slideshows
and 2 videos of the beginning
of this season which is very
promising. The rhythm will speed
up for Unik Star and many performances
are scheduled in the agenda.
Don’t hesitate to visit us in
order ot share our mutual passion...
Unik
Star & Xpression : Growth in the organizatin... (28/04/08)
Our
President with the microphone...
Video
Xpression - Color Guards
Video Unik Star Percussion Ensemble
- Musicians
The
Word of the President
"Summer
is approaching... The end of
the season is coming quickly
but before there are still some
carnivals and street parades
that will close the season.
The
street parades are also part
of the occupations of the musicians,
as much as the competitions.
I am particularly proud of your
results this year. It is with
great pleasure to work with
people who work so hard for
music. You are a group well-known
for its good reputation in France
but also abroad. Our task is
to maintain this reputation.
On my side, I will do my best
for that by bringing my help
in order to realize your new
project, but is is also your
responsibility to be fully dedicated,
staff and musicians, in order
to continue to show that Unik
Star is a strong, powerful and
unified group.
During
the last general assembly you
were willing to reelect me as
president, a position that I
have had for 26 years now and
I thank you. But I cannot do
all the work alone without a
true team behind me : the board
members and the staff."
Our
President gave these few
words to the members ofr the
organization after the general
assembly which took place in
Hellemmes on April 17th. Moreover
an article was published in
the local newspapers "La
Voix du Nord" which you
can find in the "Press
Releases" page in the MEDIAS.
A
few changes were also made,
which you can find in the "Staff"
page under THE GROUP, including
several new nominations in the
board, a new additionnal Drum
Major and some technical leaders
to strengthen the team, help
continue the improvements and
attain the new objectives of
our group. We wish you a
nice visit
!!!
Unik
Star & Xpression recruit for
2009 !!! (17/04/08)
Video
Xpression - Color Guards
Video Unik Star Percussion Ensemble
- Musicians
We recruit for Unik Star & Xpression !!!
You are looking for a serious group of percussion or color guard in the Lille
area ?
Please note that our team is actively searching for new members to
prepare the new season 2008/2009. We offer to train you and to evaluate
your competencies and technical level to enter our sections. Beginners are
welcome in many sections and you will have a warm welcome from the members and
the staff.
Send us an email to contact@unikstar.com or come meet us
during one of our rehearsals on Tuesday or Thursday from 6:30pm to 8pm at
“Centre Gustave Engrand” rue Faidherbe in Hellemmes (59260).
Come live the
Indoor Percussion and Winter guard adventure with us !!! Dare doing it !!!
New
media on line
In the audio page, you will find an extract of the finale of our show "Dark
Illusion" during the IPE championships in Wevelgem (B).
Have fun listening
to it !
IPE
& CGN competitions (2nd part) (09/04/08)
IPE
International Marching Percussion
Class : Prelims 1)
85.4 Unik Star (Fra) 2)
83.0 Southern Aurora (UK) 3)
72.4 Legion Star (UK)
IPE
International Marching Percussion
Class : Finals 1)
84.9 Unik Star (Fra) 2)
82.3 Southern Aurora (UK)
CGN Marching
Percussion Open Class : Finals 1)
87.5 (0,0) Vintage (UK) 2)
85.1 (0,1) Percussion Unlimited
(NL) 3)
82.1 (0,0) Unik Star (Fra)
CGN
Color Guard A-Class : Prelims 83.6
(0,0) Starriders (D) 81.3
(0,0) The Pride (NL) 76.9
(0,0) Alliance (UK) 76.7
(0,0) CMH Menaldum (NL) 75.1
(0,0) Blue Lions (Fra) 74.5
(0,0) 2Xtreme (NL) 71.9 (0,0)
Passie (NL) 70.3 (0,0) Sensation
(NL) 68.6 (0,0) Jong Jubal
(NL) 68.4 (0,0) Intension
(NL) 66.6 (0,0) Enjoy (NL) 66.0
(0,0) Jong Leven (NL) 65.1
(0,0) Xpression (Fra) 62.0
(0,0) Dynamix (NL) 61.0 (0,0)
Jong Beatrix (NL)
New
videos, pictures and articles
are posted in the MEDIAS' page.
CGN et IPE CHAMPIONSHIPS
(2nd part)
After
Eindhoven, the color guards
and musicians hit the road for
Hellemmes in order to come home.
We arrive at 2:30am (so 3:30am
new time) and a new meeting
time is set for 7:00am for the
musicians that will compete
in Wevelgem in Belgium at the
IPE competition (Indoor Percussion
Europe). Some latecomers due
to the tiring previous day,
but the members have good spirits
despite some tangible stress.
The musicians wanted to defend
the points obtained the previous
day at CGN in another competition
judges by Americans and Belgians!
A new challenge for the group!
The
bus arrives around 8:30am and
the staff registers the group
for the competition. The members
then go to the main hall and
wait for the first performing
groups. It is then that we meet
our friends from Edelweiss who
presented a wonderful program
in “Concert Class”. Around 11:00am,
the instruments are unloaded
and the musicians get ready
(make-up, uniforms and last
adjustments for the instruments).
Just one problem: it is 2:00pm
and the members involved with
the Croix concert ensemble and
who had to perform in the morning
haven’t arrived yet. Unik Star
is waiting. Fortunately the
musicians arrive and no time
left to finish up the make-up
as the doors open. A warm audience
can be heard and we can hear
the support from our friends
and family...
The show
starts, the visuals seem to
be better than at CGN. A little
faster tempo, applauses at the
climaxes of the show. All the
musicians leave the floor satisfied
and the technical director accompanied
by some leaders go inside the
hall to see the results. We
see them coming back with radiant
faces and it is with a score
of 85.4 points that the group
obtains 1st place!!! The emotion
fills the hearts of the members;
we are qualified for the finals
of the « International Class
» with Southern Aurora (UK).
We have 2 hours to kill
but also to work in order to
prove to the audience and to
the judges that our show is
the best show in its category
for this season. Everyone is
excited about the idea of getting
the title of Champion at Indoor
Percussion Europe!!! During
these 2 hours, and under the
direction of Pierre Lignée and
of the instructors of Unik Star,
we work several passages to
perfect our ensemble. This rehearsal
ends up with a war cry just
before the concentration time
prior to entering the floor
again. « Dark Illusion » is
performed for the 2nd time and
all the musicians expect to
give the best of themselves
in energy, visuals and technique.
We
enter the floor. The show is
better executed despite accrued
fatigue since the previous Friday.
The audience is still very generous
and Unik Star leaves the floor
with full applause. We only
have to wait for the results
to know the outcome of this
competition. Beyond the points,
a great satisfaction and a feeling
of success for having done this
program in 4 months!!! A real
challenge for our group. Our
goal was to be noticed for our
1st year as « Unik Star Percussion
Ensemble » and the staff agrees
in saying, even before having
the results, that it is a success!!!
The pressure comes down
and the members go to the bus
to put away the instruments
quickly and then go see the
performance of the 2 star groups
of the day: Matrix and Father
Ryan coming from the United
States. The 2 percussion groups
showed an exceptional performance
with innovative shows amazingly
executed. What a delight to
see such groups of exceptions
quality!!!
Of course,
the members are still waiting
for the results. After the performance
of Father Ryan, the leaders
of each group from each class
go to the floor to get the results
and prizes. Isabelle Eggermont
and Eric Sueur go get the points
for Unik. Even if the members
were scattered in the hall,
the stress is tangible. It is
with a score of 84.9 points
that the members confirm their
1st place and Unik Star obtains
the title of Champion at Indoor
Percussion Europe in the “International
Marching Class”. Congratulations
to all for this performance
and work done which has been
fruitful. A special thought
to our friends from Edelweiss
who obtain 1st place in “Concert
Class”.
The
summer season is now launched
at Unik Star with the street
parades!!! See you soon for
coming adventures !!
IPE
& CGN competitions (1st part) (03/04/08)
IPE
International Marching Percussion
Class : Prelims 1)
85.4 Unik Star (Fra) 2)
83.0 Southern Aurora (UK) 3)
72.4 Legion Star (UK)
IPE
International Marching Percussion
Class : Finals 1)
84.9 Unik Star (Fra) 2)
82.3 Southern Aurora (UK)
CGN and IPE CHAMPIONSHIPS
(1st part) Meeting
was set at 4am on saturday March
29th for all the members and
the followers. The majority
of the instruments were loaded
the night before in a 30 m3
truck under the direction of
Eric Sueur. The remaining instruments
were loaded in the morning on
a 2-floor bus HAZEBROUCK
(our partner) and then the driver
hits the road for Eindhoven
in the Netherlands for the CGN
Championships.
The 31
musicians and 9 color guards
receive a program for the day
and, upon arrival, Xpression
goes directly to the dressing
room as the doors open to get
ready. After a promotion in
A-Class, will the show rearranged
by Ilona Hamstra and Norman
King convince the audience and
the judges ? With 9 members,
Xpression presents for the last
time their program "Behind
The Magic door".
The
color guards enter the floor
around 10:30am and the famous
music of Harry Potter can be
heard. A nice energy, movements
executed much better than in
the last contests, a show rearranged
and more dynamic, the color
guards leave the floor with
a confident face, they have
succeeded in the execution of
their program. They go to the
score board and see 65.1 points
which ends the season. The magic
of Harry Potter has given 3
more points from the previous
season and a 13th place well
appreciated by the members and
the staff.
The day continues
with the musicians who get ready
(make-up, uniform, warm-up and
last tuning of instruments).
The stress is on all the faces
: the musicians have worked
all sundays since january to
achieve a high performance,
they are expecting success !!
It is 1pm and Unik Star
is ready behind the curtain.
The stress is there. The members
concentrate and encourage each
other. The curtain opens and
the front ensemble settles,
the mat is in place, the first
notes of the vibraphone resound.
The audiences reacts much at
the climaxes of the program,
the quality of the drill (choregraphy)
is much higher than at the previsou
contests WGI and CGN, the chromaticisms
for the front ensemble are much
cleaner and the energy is fantastic
!!!
All the musicians
leave the floor and run to the
score board hoping to have convinced
the judges !!! Musicians, staff,
color guards look at the points.
We can even see members from
other groups very curious to
see our score. The 1st number
is written, an 8 !!! Unik Star
gets carried away, some cry,
other smile, the emotion is
overloading. The group is still
waiting for the score of the
last 2 groups to know if we
would make it to finals.
The
dream comes true, Unik Star
is qualified for finals with
a score of 81.1 points and a
3rd place.
After this
great surprise, Unik Star executes
for a 2nd time "Dark Illusion"
in the evening for the finals
with as competitors Vintage
(UK) and Percussion Unlimited
(NL).
The group meets
at 7pm to work the program and
some details to improve the
show. Second performance at
9pm to defend the placement
and points !!! Unik Star obtains
an extra point !!! Excellent
performance, and it is with
a score of 82.1 points and a
3rd place competing agains the
english and dutch group that
Unik Star closes this 2008 CGN
circuit !!! Happiness and satisfaction
for this season !!!
Coming
soon : 2nd part of the week-end
CGN
and IPE CHAMPIONSHIPS
(with the presentation and the
program of this exceptional
sunday)
More
adventures for Unik Star & Xpression... (18/03/08)
UNIK STAR
IN FORCE IN BELGIQUE ! It
is with a torrential rain that
the musicians and color guards
of Unik Star performed at their
1st street parade of the season
2008 on March 9th in Wellin
(B). Belgium didn't spare our
members with such a weather.
t was the first time in street
uniform for several musicians.
A successful carnival thanks
to a large and warm audience
and the well-known carnival
people from Belgium, especially
due to their sense of party
and humour. The season for street
parades is launched !!!
The
same day, a delegation of Unik
Star, Isabelle Eggermont, Pierre
Lignée and David Delcourt, went
to the "Private Drum Teacher
Seminary" of Vic Firth
in Melsbroek (B). For this occation,
our team met again with Neil
Larrivee, the director of education
of the brand with whom the group
has been in contact for several
months, but also met Vic Firth
in person ! This wonderful experience
has allowed our members to learn
new development methods and
also hear some anecdotes from
the speaker, Dom Famularo, and
also talk more with our sponsor
for sticks and mallets !!! As
you can see we have lots of
work at Unik Star !!!
NEW
CLINIC INCORPS On March
17th 2008, the musicians had
a clinic with the drill designer
of "Dark Illusion",
Robin, accompanied by Albert
(both Visual staff for Jubal).
The drumline worked on the drill
and marching techniques. We
would like to thank both of
them for their help !!! Very
fun people too !!!
Coming
soon
: The video and the
pictures of the Musik Messe
in Frankfurt where David Lemand
and Ludovic Sueur performed
several demos. Patience...
Unik
Star in Wellin (B)
Unik
Star in Wellin (B)
Unik
Star, Vic Firth, Neil Larrivee
and Dom Famularo
The
drumline with Robin and Albert
from Jubal
David
and Ludovic at the Musik Messe in Frankfurt
(D)
The
last news for Xpression and Unik Star (03/03/08)
In
preparation for the show
"Dark Illusion" !!!
David
Lemant - His personal video
Giuseppe
Verdi Marching Showband
Unik
Star & Xpression in Goes
(NL) The
CGN circuit continues and all
the members (color guards/musicians)
went to Goes (NL) to defend
their programs. For the color guards,
some modifications have been
included in "Behind The
magic door" and it is with
a nice purple layering at the
end of the program that the
audience have enjoyed the color
guards on the Harry Potter themes.
They received a score of 59.7
in the A-Class and a 5th place
next to the most experienced
groups of the circuit. Despite
the absence of Mélanie due to
medical reasons and the illness
of Sandy, the color guards stayed
in the course towards the objective
they had set. We wish them the
very best for the CGN finals
on March 29th in Eindhoven ! For
Unik Star, a score of 72.2
and a 4th place was attained
by the musicians. Disappointed
by the performance, no doubt
that they are all mobilized
to be more prepared for the
CGN finals of March 29th and
IPE on March 30th, especially
since the program only needs
perfectionning. Unik Star will
welcome for this occasion on
March 16th the drill designer
of the show Robin
from InCorps and Albert (Jubal
Visual Staff) to improve
the drill and marching techniques. David
Lemant in Germany David
Lemant from the snare line is
invited to represent Vancore
for the International Musik
Messe in Frankfurt (D) on
March 15th. The entire team
is proud of him for this and
also a delegation of the group
will accompany him to encourage
him during his demonstrations. Clinic
Vic Firth Vic
Firth Inc. have been organizing
the
"Private Drum Teacher
Seminaries" for twenty
years with a sound success in
the United States, Germany and
in Canada. Now and for the fist
time in Belgium and in the Netherlands
! Take this opportunity
especially since it is free
! Register at the drum
teacher seminary organized by
our sponsor and meet Vic Firth
in person ! Here are the dates
for this event : Sunday March
9th - Melsbroek (B) Sunday
March
16th - Schiedam (NL) Contact
for registration : stef@abmusic.be Vancore
“Aluforce” After
France, also in Italy !!! The
Aluforce has been launched last
week in Varese in Italy. The
unique "Giuseppe Verdi Marching Showband"
has received a 4 bassdrum line.
The drumline director Mr Isaia
Valeri who was searching for
a long time for a lighter alternative
for the drumline ensemble is
very enthousiastic by the sound
and weight of this new bassdrum
line with the following sizes
: 18, 20, 22, and 24
inches. The members of the group
wanted a gold tone and Vancore
has been able to satisfy them
with an aluminium brushed brass.
A perfect finish which give
a new look and a new sound to
the group. Regarding the sound
and quality of the bassdrums,
Mr Valeri wrote in his mail
: "The bassdrums are awesome !!!". Our sponsor is happy to welcome "Giuseppe
Verdi Marching Showband"
with their new Aluforce instruments
in Italy !!! More information
on Vancore Aluforce on the website www.vancore.nl
VICE-CHAMPION
WGI at Drachten (NL) with 73.5 pts (19/02/08)
2nd
Place for Unik Star at
WGI European Regional
Unik Star &
Dark Illusion : The new show
is launched...
Isabelle
EGGERMONT in NIGHTMARE mode
!!!
Extract
of "Behind The Magic Door"
by Xpression
Clarck
Gardner (american consultant)
WGI
EUROPEAN REGIONAL '08 It
is with much emotion and pleasure
that the team Unik Star/Xpression
went for the first time at the
competition WGI European Regional
in Drachten (NL).
UNIK
STAR was successful for its
first performance with a 2nd place
and a score never attained in
the middle of the season of
73.5 points
! (Let's note a 1st place
in Visual way ahead
of its competitors). Lots of
pleasure for the members who
gave their maximum and also
much applause from the audience
at the climax of the program.
The instructors (Erwin Van Gemert, Clarck on
the bottom page video, Pierre
Lignée,...) have allowed our
group to shine. We would like
to thank them, the makeup people
and hairdressers, and also thank
the audience and all those who
work behind the scene !!! The
season '08 is launched...
Xpression has
performed for the 2nd time the program "Behind the magic
door". It is with a score
of 51,2 that the color
guards have been placed 19th
at the competition. A program
that didn't fascinate the american
judges of WGI. The color guards
are now ready to change up for
the end of the circuit
!
EIAA
(European
Indoor Arts Alliance) The
European
Indoor Arts Alliance was officially formed in the fall of 2007 by Winter Guard United Kingdom, Drum Corps Germany, Unik Star/Xpression, Blue Lions and Color Guard Nederland. The
new organization will be a joint
venture between the organizations
to promote Indoor Percussion
and Color Guard in Europe and
to facilitate contests in these
countries. In 2009 the first
EIAA events will be held.
All together EIAA will host 16 contests, although most will be under the WGUK
and CGN name. The new organization
has an objective to host one
Color Guard Regional in Germany
and an Indoor Percussion and
Color Guard Regional in France
in 2009. Although all organizations
involved will remain autonomous,
there will be much more cooperation
then ever before in Europe.
The new organization will
not only host shows and facilitate
those, many joint educational
programs will be started. The
organization will work towards
unification of the rules &
regulations (criteria sheets
are already being translated
to French by Isabelle) and
recognition of each others contest
results. After the Winter Guard
and Indoor Percussion season,
more details and a website will
be released. CGN, WGUK, DCG
and the French groups are very
proud of their new accomplishment.
The new name was offically announced
at the WGI European Regional,
held in Drachten, The Netherlands. Long
live EIAA !!! The
staff of Unik Star would like
to thank Isabelle EGGERMONT
who is fully invested in the
project dear to our group..
Next
step The color guards
and musicians are getting prepared
for the next CGN competition
which will take place in Goes
(NL)...
The best european groups will
be competing ! To be followed...
Xpression
wins 1st place in AA-Class (11/02/08)
Xpression
at the CGN contest in Waalwijk
(NL) Scores
CGN Contest - Waalwijk (NL)
- 09 February 2008 AA-Class 1.
58.7 Xpression (F) 2.
56.1 Vision (D) 3.
52.4 Avalance (NL) 4.
46.7 West Coast Guard
(NL)
Xpression
and its team arrived in Waalwijk
(NL) around 4:30pm for the opening
of the doors. For its first
participation at the CGN circuit
in AA-Class, Xpression presented
its new show "Behind the
Magic Door" designed by
Ilona Hamstra (NL) assisted
by Norman King (USA). Stress
and anxiety could be seen on
all the faces but Xpression
has shown much tenacity and
has imposed its original program
HUGE
CLINIC (15 june 2008)
Our
2 american friends
arrived end of may
and are bringing
much to the musicians
of Unik Star. Technique,
exercises and reading
have been included
in the program these
last days and many
extra rehearsals
have been organized
to take the most
of their stay. Unik
Star is growing
in a different way…
The visit of Tony
Nunez and Kevin
Shah (thanks to
Christophe Houard)
will stay in the
history of our group
; some medias will
be included in our
website soon to
keep in mind this
month of work !
We remind you that
our doors are open
and we are available
at contact@unikstar.com
for any additional
information. 
On
May 30th 2008, the
color guards and
musicians of Unik
Star gathered to
play in the streets
of Lille for the
« Dany Boon Party
» for the 20 millions
tickets sold for
the movie « Bienvenue
chez les Ch’tis
». A great success
for our group who
gathered several
hundreds people
at the « Boulevard
de la Liberté ».
It was an incredible
evening and a unique
moment for all the
members especially
when the bus drove
by with all the
actors of the movie.
For this occasion,
the new Drum Major
performed for the
first time ; Sandy
Sueur and Isabelle
Eggermont ponctuated
the event with an
excellent performance
noticed by the audience
and the fans of
Drum Corps and Percussion.
Didier Bevernage
didn’t miss any
of this on video
; we would like
to offer you this
new media. Wonderful
souvenir... 
Nouveau
Partenaire
European
Indoor Arts Alliance
chooses logo
Tony
Nunez
has had the honour
of working with
the Santa Clara
Vanguard Drum and
Bugle Corps in 2006
and 2007 as the
Percussion Manager
and Tenor Technician.
He has also been
the front ensemble
arranger for the
WGI Independent
World Class finalist,
Pulse Percussion
Ensemble from 2005-07.
Recent accomplishments
include South Hills
HS 2007 and 2008
SCPA Scholastic
A Class Gold Medalist,
and 2008 WGI Scholastic
A Class Gold Medalist.
South Hills HS earned
the highest score
ever awarded to
a WGI Scholastic
A Class ensemble
at the 2008 WGI
World Championships
held in Dayton,
OH. Tony also served
as a design consultant
for the 2008 Scholastic
World Class Bronze
Medalist Claremont
HS, and was the
co-arranger/designer
for the 2008 Scholastic
World Class finalist
Arcadia HS. He is
currently a member
of the WGI Advisory
Board, and is on
the Vic Firth Education
Team. Tony was a
member of the SCV
tenor line in 2002
and with the Patriots
Drum and Bugle Corps
in 2001. He also
marched in the indoor
percussion ensembles
of the Black Knights
from 2000-2002 and
Riverside Community
College in 2003.
Tony currently teaches
and arranges for
South Hills HS,
Arcadia HS, Upland
HS, and Yamato Drum
and Bugle Corps.
Kevin
Shah is a percussionist
and educator in
Southern California,
USA. Specializing
in orchestral percussion,
marimba, and marching
percussion, Kevin
actively performs
and teaches with
many ensembles in
Los Angeles and
Orange County. Kevin
earned his Masters
of Music degree
from the Juilliard
School of Music.
Kevin has much experience
in the realm of
indoor and outdoor
marching percussion.
In 2002, he marched
with the Santa Clara
Vanguard Drum and
Bugle Corps as a
member of the bassline,
along with several
years with Pacific
Crest Drum and Bugle
Corps on bass drum
as well. Kevin also
performed with the
Black Knights Indoor
Drumline in 2002
as a member of the
front ensemble,
and played snare
in 2003 when they
won a silver medal
at Winter Guard
International Championships.
Kevin also taught
the front ensemble
at Black Knights
in 2004 and 2007.
In his marching
career, Kevin has
studied with Ralph
Hardimon, Tom Float,
Jim Casella, Jim
Ancona, Murray Gusseck,
Stephen Ridley,
Mike Jackson, Pete
Sapadin, Dave Henkel,
and Vince Gardner.
The
musicians and color guards have
been working hard to prepare
a new and richer street program
for the 2008 summer season.
With as main objective to develop
our repertoire, our group will
travail for 2008 in many French
regions and more specifically
near Rouen and the north. Several
performances have already been
done with much success such
as Yssingeaux in “Haute Loire”,
Gauchy in “Aisne”, Flers en
Escrebieux and Somain in the
North. Moreover, we have met
in Somain our friends from St
Quentin “La Vaillante” with
whom some musicians have shared
some notes! It’s always with
great pleasure to meet some
French groups who are really
passionate and friendly with
whom we can share such moments.
For this occasion, the webmasters
have put on line 2 slideshows
and 2 videos of the beginning
of this season which is very
promising. The rhythm will speed
up for Unik Star and many performances
are scheduled in the agenda.
Don’t hesitate to visit us in
order ot share our mutual passion...
