Cavaliers Host 2020 Cav-A-Thon, BACK ON TRACK!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(ROSEMONT, Ill.) — The Cavaliers Arts, Performance & Education to host 2020 Cav-A-Thon, Back On Track! To say 2020 has been an interesting year would be an understatement, but we here at The Cavaliers are looking forward to 2021 and getting back on track with our end of the year Cav-A-Thon on Saturday, December 5th.
“I don’t need to tell anyone about what happened to the 2020 season or the challenges we face to return to the field in 2021. We are working daily with our fellow corps to make the 2021 season a reality. We have reformatted our traditional end-of-the-year campaign into an event for all members of the Cavalier Nation to enjoy and be a part of a special evening. Stay tuned for more details to be released but the 2020 Cavalier Percussion section will be featured prominently throughout the event. We hope you will join us and support the continued success of our organization.” — Monte Mast, Executive Director
This year’s event will feature a 4-hour telecast on our Facebook and YouTube channels LIVE at 7pm CT broadcasting performances throughout the years of Cavalier history, an auction, and the presentation of this year’s recipients of the Adolph DeGrauwe Legacy Award and newly named Honorary Cavaliers. PLUS special guest interviews done by DCI’s very own Dan Potter.
Alongside the Cav-A-Thon, we’re hosting a virtual VIP party in The Rainbow Room! Distinguished guests, family, friends, fans, and supporters of The Cavaliers can enjoy great company together virtually via Virtual Curtain!
“Virtual Curtain was established this past Spring by People Get Together. Using their platform for this event was an idea brought to us by our Co-Auction Chair, Rebecca Casiple, and as soon as I learned of and walked through this platform, I knew we had to do this!” said Ezekiel Jackson, Digital Properties Specialists.
The Rainbow Room will be the host platform for our Green Light cocktail hour prior to the Cav-A-Thon as well as the meet-up destination of our Afterparty. The Rainbow Room will have featured band performances from “The Savants of Soul'' with Cavaliers alum Jacob Armstrong (2015 - 2019) playing trombone and “ZORILA” with Cavaliers alum Anthony Hish (2015 -2017) on drum set. Plus, in The Rainbow Room there will be guest appearances by our very own celebrity bartender, Julia Melucci, mixing up some tasty libations! Guests will be shown how to make a few Cavalier favorites and many more right at home!
“Filled with many surprises for Cavalier Nation, this virtual party is something I’m sure both young and old alike will enjoy and guarantee to have a great time!” added Jackson.
TICKETS
Tickets for the Green Light cocktail hour are on sale now starting at $100. We have 2 options for the exclusive opening, the “Fight Club Level” and the “Diamond Cutter Level.”
Upgrade to the Diamond Cutter Level includes:
A limited edition 2020 Diamond Cutter Donor Plaque signed by Monte Mast and the Board of Directors
Four (4) guests into the cocktail hour
Four (4) event t-shirts, and
A personal letter from Monte Mast
The Fight Club Level includes:
Two (2) guests into the cocktail hour
Two (2) event t-shirts, and
A personal letter from Monte Mast
General Admission tickets are $25 and entrances will start at 7:30p. All guests are free to stick around all the way through the Afterparty.
THE VIRTUAL PARTY IS ONLY ACCESSIBLE ON A DESKTOP OR LAPTOP, NOT ON ANY MOBILE DEVICES.
Are you someone who wants to sponsor our event or know of any companies that should definitely jump on this opportunity?
We’re collecting items to auction off during the event Live & Online! If you have any items of interest please either email auction@cavaliers.org or download form below for more information.
ABOUT JULIA MELUCCI
Julia Melucci hails from Largo, Florida via Atlanta, Georgia. She is currently one of the lead bartenders at the luxurious Opal Sands Resort on Clearwater Beach and has been behind the bar for over 25 years. Julia is an outgoing, attentive and charismatic individual who is knowledgeable and passionate about food, spirits, wines and cocktails. She's been featured in multiple Forbes.com articles, was a Wild Turkey Behind the Barrel winner in 2019, and was most recently invited to create recipes for Stella Rosa wines promotional materials. Her life aside from all things cocktail revolves around her three children. Her oldest son, Avery Melucci is a former marching member in the quadline (2014-17). Volunteering for The Cavaliers food truck for each of those years left her with memories she cherishes to this day and she is beyond excited at the opportunity to continue helping the organization.
ABOUT THE SAVANTS OF SOUL
The Savants of Soul are a 9-piece retro-soul group from performing original soul music inspired by the sounds of the 1960s, contemporary retro-soul groups and the group's diverse collection of influences ranging from punk to hip-hop to Chicago blues to 1950s cool jazz.
Since the group's inception in Gainesville, FL, in 2011, they've made a name for themselves in the music scene by being an unparalleled live show experience, moving audiences of all ages with danceable, good-time music and an approach to performance as influenced by theater troupes as it is by musical performance.
The band has made its presence felt around the southeast, notably playing Red Gorilla at SXSW in 2017, Suwannee Hulaween in 2016 and Changeville in its hometown in 2018 and 2016. Most recently, the band was featured in the Okeechobee Music Festival in 2017, Gasparilla Music Festival in 2019, and Gasparilla Arts Festival in 2020. Along the way, The Savants of Soul show has been featured alongside Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires, Benjamin Booker, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, The Original Wailers and Thomas Wynn & The Believers, and Durand Jones & The Indications.
Among The Savants of Soul's talented members, its trombonist, Jacob Armstrong, is a Former Marching Member of The Cavaliers Drum & Bugle Corps. He marched from 2015-2019 as a baritone player and served as drum major.
ABOUT ZORILA
ZORILA is an indie-rock band based in Chicago, IL. The band is comprised of members Stewart and Henry Arp (Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar; Backup Vocals, Bass Guitar) Nate Finn (Lead Guitar) and Anthony Hish (Drums and Percussion). Originally from Champaign, IL, ZORILA chose to make the move upstate as they began to perform at more Chicago venues. Last year, the band released their debut album “Sidney” with Electric Train Records, and had planned to tour their album during the spring and summer of 2020. Despite COVID-19, the band is continuing to work on writing new music and looking forward to future releases and one day returning to the stage.
ABOUT VIRTUAL CURTAIN
Virtual Curtain, a subsidiary of People Get Together, guides you to the organization of user-friendly, custom created events by focusing on three priorities: interaction among guests, multiple experience platforms, and customization. Founded in 2020, the Virtual Curtain team believes that the future of events is virtual. Event hosts can easily coordinate several aspects of Arts and Entertainment based events and provide the very best experience for their guests.
ABOUT THE CAVALIERS
The Cavaliers were founded in 1948 from Boy Scout Troop 111 by the late Don Warren. One of the most successful drum and bugle corps in history, The Cavaliers have won 20 national championships, including seven Drum Corps International world championships, since 1992.
The Cavaliers provide a variety of life-changing educational and performance programs for young people that go beyond music and performing arts to build personal accountability, excellence, teamwork and camaraderie. Programs include GearWORKS, Cavaliers Indoor Percussion, Chromium Winds, Crystal Lake Thunder and Midwest Connection.
A 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, The Cavaliers Arts, Performance & Education Inc. is sponsored by the Village of Rosemont, Ill.