PERCUSSION
Performance History:
Chicago Cavaliers – 1954-1956 – Percussion
Instructional History:
Cavaliers – 1963-1971 – Percussion Arranger, Primary Instructor, Program Development
Madison Scouts – 1965-1971 – Percussion Arranger, Instructor, Program Development
Troopers, Blue Stars, Commonweath Edison, Otherrs196 – 1960s – Percussion Arranger, Instructor, Consultant
Special Achievements:
Cavaliers – National Champions 1963, 1966, 1967, 1969
Numerous High Drums Awards
Founder of Marching Bands of America ((MBA – Now Music for All)
Founder or McCormick Percussion Enterprises
Development of Extensive Educational Resources for Corps and Bands
A visionary in the transitional decade leading to the birth of DCI and DCA, few played a role as significant as did Larry McCormick. An alumnus of The Cavaliers drum line, he returned to the corps after completing his undergraduate and graduate degrees in Music. Building on a strong rudimental foundation he introduced new instrumentation and enhanced musicality, and developed some of the most memorable percussion sections of the era.
With The Cavaliers, Madison Scouts and other corps he guided program development to include expanded theatrical concepts.
Larry was also at the forefront in the increasing focus on the educational aspects of participation in corps. Notably, he led the adoption of drum corps evaluation and adjudication methods for academic marching bands. This resulted in the establishment of MBA, and the first national championship forum for marching bands.
Larry’s contribution to the drum corps activity and to the broader scope of
music education merits Hall of Fame recognition in the Percussion Category and much more.
