By: Conley Publishing Group
CEDARBURG— For the first time in 21 years, the Rotary Music Festival drum and bugle corps competition has been canceled, according to the Cedarburg-Grafton Rotary Club which hosts the event.
Six drum and bugle corps were scheduled to take the field at Cedarburg High School on July 3 in a competition that has become an annual Independence Day tradition. But Drum Corps International (DCI), the organization that produces a national summer tour of drum and bugle corps including the one in Cedarburg, determined that the coronavirus crisis was too big of a threat to the health and safety of drum corps members.
In a press release, DCI said they reached the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 tour after “thorough evaluation of numerous factors affecting participant health and safety, travel requirements, logistics, venue availability, and other associated issues.”
Layton Olsen, chairman of the Rotary Music Festival, noted that the event is the biggest fundraiser for the Cedarburg-Grafton Rotary Club.
“We are obviously disappointed that we won’t be able to hold the event this year, but will focus on bringing back an even better show in 2021,” he said. “We want to thank all of our sponsors and fans who continue to support the Rotary Music Festival.”
Over the years, the festival has raised $840,000 to support student scholarships and community service.