(GALLERY) Casper’s Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps marches into 2022 season

Update: The Troopers will perform a free show for the community on Wednesday, June 29, at NCHS’ Dick Cheney Alumni Field starting at 7 p.m.

CASPER, Wyo. — The unmistakable sounds of brass and drums bounced off the buildings in central Casper on Wednesday, like many days before.

At the Natrona County High School’s football and practice fields, some 160 young musicians with the Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps are spending hours rehearsing for the upcoming 2022 season. On Wednesday, the horns methodically worked out choreography on the sprawling practice field turf, while yards away the drumline achieved near ear-shattering volumes at musical climaxes.

This year’s group arrived at Casper College on June 4 before moving over to NCHS on June 12, according to Corps Director Mike Gough. The band will essentially live at the school until they hit the road early next month.

“Our program this year, thematically, is based on oil,” Gough said. “We’ve got a bit oil tower prop set piece that they’re going to climb all over.”

This is the 64th season for the corps, which originated in Casper. However, the band was spending more time elsewhere before returning home during COVID.

“Last year was the first time we were able to come back for such a sustained period, and this year we’re here even longer,” he said. “It’s neat to be back.”

Gough says they are tentatively scheduling a Casper premiere of this year’s program at NCHS on July 2, but maintenance on the stadium lighting might change those plans.

A full schedule of their performances and tour can be found here.