Magic of Orlando

Magic of Orlando, formed in 1989, is a junior marching and maneuvering corps based in Clermont, Florida. The group was designated official musical ambassadors of the City of Orlando, their natal home, in 1990.

The corps' premier performance was a big one, when they marched in Walt Disney World's Easter Parade in front of thousands of spectators. Magic’s first DCI appearance, featuring music from 'Fantasia' and sporting silver and black uniforms, was in 1990, when they finished 16th. The corps broke into Finals for the first time in 1994 featuring 'Cirque de Magique,' and reached an eighth place finished in 1996, with 'Twelve Seconds to the Moon.'

The Cirque du Soleil theme stood Magic in good stead when they played it in an episode of the German television program 'Dreamboat' (think 'Loveboat') being filmed at nearby Cypress Gardens in Florida.

Financial problems kept the full corps from fielding in 2000 and 2001, but a smaller show group, Micro Magic, traveled and entertained as far as Japan.

Under director Rod Owens, Magic returned to Division II competition in 2002, with music from 'The Wind and the Lion.' The corps won the Division II Championships with a record high score of 99.05, then completed their comeback year with an 11th place finish in Division I Finals. Not only that, the corps won 29 straight contests, more than any corps in history. This streak contrasts nicely with Magic's 1992 streak, in which they finished last in 14 straight contests. Competing exclusively in Division I in 2003, the 120-member Magic finished the year in their home city in 11th place with a program called 'Silver Voices.'

Debt forced a reorganization of the corps' business structure after the 2003 season, necessitating a move to Clermont, Florida, and new leadership. Famed Caballeros drum major Jim Russo and John Campese became executive directors in late 2003, and the corps' new bingo facility opened a couple of months thereafter. A rousing show of 'The Pirates of the Caribbean,' featuring water effects, failed to lift Magic's competitive fortunes, as the corps fell out of the top twelve into 17th place in DCI Semifinals in 2004.

Magic’s mission statement reads, “The Magic of Orlando is a non-profit 501(c)(3) educational arts program dedicated to providing the youth of today with the means to develop life skills, character building, and foster teamwork, while cultivating the talents of tomorrow’s leaders. This is accomplished through professional instruction, education, esprit-de-corps, and the pursuit of excellence from some of the world’s finest youth.”

[A History of Drum & Bugle Corps, 2002; rec.arts.marching.drumcorps 9/3/01, Fred Mehrer; 6/22/02, Jim Abbott; www.magicalumni.homestead.com; DCW, 1/03, p.3; DCW, 6/8/90, p.27-28;DCW, 10/03, p.3; DCW, 10/03, p.9; DCW, 3/04, p.1]

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