MISSION STATEMENT

Our mission is to provide quality performing arts ensembles that support the development of a youth’s learning experience of life skills through music and the pageantry arts.

HISTORY AND THE LEGENDS ORGANIZATION

Formed in 2001, The Legends program began as an indoor winter program for Portage Central High School brass and percussion students. Summer 2006 marked the first “Summer Experience” season with the addition of a color guard to the ensemble and a performance tour of the Midwest. In 2007, Legends sponsored a new ensemble; a touring drum & bugle corps on a 22-day Midwest performance tour. The tour included performances on the Drum Corps International (DCI) and Mid-America Competing Band Director Association (MACBDA) circuits. In 2008, the Legends Drum & Bugle Corps was granted DCI Open Class (OC) membership as a competitive corps. Legends finished as an Open Class semi-finalist at the DCI World Championships in its first year in competition (2008). In 2009 Legends finished 10th place as a finalist corps of DCI OC and received three awards of achievement: DCI OC Most Improved Corps, DCI OC Jim Jones Leadership Award (Most Outstanding Drum Major, Kelly Koch from Parchment MI), and DCI OC Corps Director of the Year (Ibe Sodawalla from Portage MI). In 2010 and 2011, Legends continued to be an Open Class Finalist finishing 8th and 9th place respectively. In 2012, Legends was named the Most Improved DCI OC corps and finished in 7th place as an Open Class Finalist.

OVERVIEW

The Legends Performing Arts Association (LPAA) was formed in September 2006 by Ibe Sodawalla. Legends is committed to provide performing opportunities to the youth in the West Michigan area. These ensembles focus on life skill development and support the foundational purposes of music/arts education in schools. Our mission is to provide quality performing arts ensembles that support the development of a youth’s learning experience of life skills through music and the pageantry arts. The LPAA is a not-for-profit corporation which supports 4 programs that serves 220+ young people from age 13-21 including the Legends Drum & Bugle Corps, Legends Percussion, Legends All-Star Band, and Legends Indoor Ensemble. The LPAA also sponsors 2 Drum Corps International (DCI) events in Michigan during the summer and various educational clinics throughout the year. The LPAA is responsible for the oversight, planning, finances, and vision of Legends. This group consists of volunteer Board members and elects an Executive Director/CEO to manage the organization. Contributions to Legends are tax-deductible and we are a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization. Our flagship program, the Legends Drum & Bugle Corps, is a DCI Open Class Finalist which performs at DCI Summer Tour Games events, community performances, and educational clinics. This ensemble is comprised of select members across the country. Their tour culminates at the DCI World Championships in Indianapolis, Indiana the second week of August. The Legends Drum & Bugle Corps is the only one of its kind in Michigan.