The following was written and published in collaboration between Northern Lights and FloMarching.

Written by Ryan Lewis, Edited by Douglas Olmstead, Photography by Gavin Barker

When the relatively new Northern Lights Drum and Bugle Corps took the field to kick off the DCI Midwest Tour

Premier on June 26, it was like the lighting of a torch.

“I am so proud of our progress, so excited for our future successes, and just enjoying every day with the 2024

Northern Lights,” said Misty Olmstead, executive director of the young corps. “All the work we’ve put in over the

last two years led us there, and we were finally able to show the world how brightly we can shine.”

It’s fitting, because this year’s show theme is “Ignis”—Latin for fire. Corps members have flames blazing

throughout their uniforms, accessories, and music. Their recent performance marked a significant leap from 2023

when the group was half as numerous and did not yet have a color guard.

“They have all worked so diligently and their progress and pride were on full display at the Midwest Premier in

Rockford, Mich.,” Olmstead said.

Corps director (and Misty’s husband) Douglas Olmstead said, “Last year at this time, we did not yet have our show

on the field ready for the public eye and only performed for the national anthem. It goes to show the effort and

passion of our members to take things up a notch for our second season. I expect they’ll continue to keep that fire

burning going into championships in August, and beyond.”

The location of the first performance was an added bonus: while the corps is officially listed as from Muskegon, the

Olmsteads’ children attend school in Rockford.

“So the opportunity to perform for our home crowd was incredible,” said Misty Olmstead.

The Olmsteads, together with Doug’s brother Albert Olmstead and co-founder Jordan Roberts, started Northern

Lights for the 2023 season of SoundSport, Drum Corps International’s mixed-ensemble showcase. In 2023, with 42

members and only 7 in-person rehearsals, Northern Lights earned a Gold Rating at the SoundSport International

Music & Food Festival.

The group is competing in SoundSport again this year but is also a candidate for DCI’s All-Age class in 2025, with

full membership offered (pending evaluation) by 2026.

Doug Olmstead said, “That is where we had set our sights from the beginning. We founded the group to provide a

competitive outlet for all ages and levels of experience in the marching arts. We wanted to get rid of as many

barriers as possible to this activity. At the same time, we aspire to give our members a true drum corps

experience.”

They’ve worked hard to keep members’ dues as reasonable as possible through all-volunteer staffing, sponsors,

and creative fundraising. For this season, individual member dues were $350.

Roberts and the Olmsteads were inspired to create the group in 2022. They had been involved in an all-age corps

six hours from their home; Doug and the Olmsteads’ children Alex and Evelyn marched with Cincinnati Tradition.

They loved it, but the travel throughout that season took its toll. They wanted to keep marching and knew others

in west Michigan and throughout the Midwest were looking for a closer option as well.

They were right. For 2024, the corps’ ranks have swelled to 97 performers and now include a color guard. Northern

Lights involves almost 130 people when including staff. The corps rehearses in-person one Saturday each month in

the fall and winter and ramped up to twice-monthly rehearsals starting in May. Members learn music and

choreography as their own schedules permit, and the corps puts everything together during rehearsals. It is

described as a “community band” style drum corps.

They took the field in Rockford with a group of members who had a wide variety of ages and levels of experience.

“As a long-time drum corps fan, I’ve always been envious of people who were a part of it and now, thanks to

Northern Lights, I get to live it myself with a great group of people,” said Rich Ball, a 60-year-old member of the of

the trumpet section, who marches alongside his daughter Sarah Stickland, who is on the corps’ conductor team.

At age 18, Roxie Shepan said, “The feelings of camaraderie and being part of something bigger than yourself is just

amazing! I want to grow to be the best performer I can be, and I couldn’t think of a better place to start than

Northern Lights.” They play trombone and started in the corps last year at age 17. Their sister Madi Woods is on

the ‘Lights snare line.

Shawn Lee, the director of bands at Hazel Park High School and a section leader for the Northern Lights

mellophone section, said of their experience that, “Northern Lights has represented a unique opportunity to

continue performing in the activity I love. As a high school band director, I tend to be very busy. So, the fact that

the corps’ schedule fits easily around my own has been great. Being able to continue performing also helps me

keep my perspective fresh when I work with my own students during marching band season.”

“I love that I get to do drum corps—but still have time in the summer to get a job, enjoy some time with friends,

and just generally get to be a high schooler still while I prepare for college in a couple of years,” said Jordan

Roberts’ son Alex, now a three-year DCI vet at 15 years old and going into their junior year at Rockford High

School.

Those are just some of the more than nine families with multiple members in Northern Lights. (Issa Lewis, on staff

as Color Guard Coordinator, is my wife; my 14-year-old son Matthew plays in the auxiliary.)

“We have husbands and wives, fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, and siblings,” said Doug. “And it really feels like

members are reaching out and supporting each other beyond those ties. It’s a very familial atmosphere.”

That feeling of togetherness has helped Northern Lights as they continue the hard work of completing their 2024

show. Though founded in Muskegon, they currently rehearse in Newaygo, having partnered with Newaygo High

School Bands. That is where they will also offer a community show on Saturday, August 3 rd at 3pm—ahead of their

performance for the SoundSport Music and Food Festival competition in Indianapolis on August 10th. They will

also be on display when they march in the parade during the Strawberry Festival in Leonard, Mich., on July 20th.

At each performance, they hope to carry the fire of their repertoire to each audience. The show features Gustav

Holst’s “Dance of the Spirits of Fire” as well as “Mars” together with Stravinsky's “Firebird” and the chorale from

Mahler’s Second Symphony.

Misty Olmstead said she hopes their performances inspire others of all walks of life to give the activity a try. She

and the other corps founders truly believe in an all-inclusive activity.

“We want everyone to be able to experience drum corps,” she said. “We have members of all ages and levels of

ability. We want to be a springboard for young members’ drum corps careers, and a landing place for vets who still

want to march to come home to.”

Interested in catching a performance from Northern Lights this summer? Check out their 2024 tour schedule below!

Learn more about Northern Lights Drum and Bugle Corps at www.northernlightsmi.org. Audition information for

2025 will go live following DCI championships in August, and the corps will have recruiting booths at Michigan

Competing Band Association (MCBA) shows across the state this fall.

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