Corps Snapshot
Difficulty is an estimate: Arsenal welcomes experienced and new performers, offers section packets, video auditions and three 2027 in-person camps; callbacks or continued development may be part of selection. 2027 tuition is $2,750 and includes meals, housing, travel, uniforms, equipment, production and instruction. Audition registration starts at $100 for one camp or video; a second camp raises the total to $150. Rank is an early-stage indicator: Arsenal entered DCI Open Class affiliate status in 2026, scored 62.100 at DCI New Mexico, and did not appear in Open Class Finals, so there is no Finals placement to compare. See official auditions, 2027 tuition, camp fees, and DCI results.
Arsenal at a glance
The organization’s history places Arsenal’s founding in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 2016. The corps later established its base in El Paso, Texas. It explains its name through the idea of preparing tools and people for what comes next: the educational aim extends beyond one competitive summer. It competes in the Open Class affiliate category.
OPEN CLASS · EL PASO, TEXAS
Founded in Albuquerque in 2016, Arsenal later established a base in El Paso, Arsenal offers a Southwest-centered pathway into drum corps. Its development from SoundSport to DCI Open Class affiliation reflects a deliberate effort to build an accessible educational program and sustainable touring operation.
Founded 2016 · First production 2017 · DCI Open Class affiliate ·
Arsenal Videos
Arsenal has its eyes on Open Class 👀
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ArsenalEl Paso, Texas
History: Albuquerque beginnings and a Southwest identity
The organization’s history places Arsenal’s founding in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 2016. The corps later established its base in El Paso, Texas. It explains its name through the idea of preparing tools and people for what comes next: the educational aim extends beyond one competitive summer.
Arsenal’s early seasons used DCI’s SoundSport pathway. Its first production, Volver, appeared in 2017, followed by Skyward in 2018 and The Fourth Ring in 2019. A small corps could give young performers rehearsal, ensemble and travel experience while developing the organizational capacity for a larger program.
The interruption and return: 2020–2022
Director Hector Aguirre described a late recruitment effort in which returning veterans helped fill the ensemble. A weather-threatened Cheyenne appearance ultimately became a moving field performance when conditions allowed. The corps also performed in Fort Collins, and a recorded performance supported its SoundSport Virtual participation. It finished that virtual season with a gold rating.
This episode explains why the corps’ development cannot be read as an uninterrupted promotion schedule. Recruitment, school calendars, travel and the capacity to field a sustainable ensemble all affected the pace. The return was an educational and operational achievement as well as a competitive result.
From SoundSport candidate to Open Class affiliate
Arsenal’s 2025 production, Equilibrium, marked its first summer as an evaluating Open Class candidate. DCI’s July 2025 report describes an expanded Southwest tour, a season-ending appearance at San Antonio’s Alamodome and gold SoundSport ratings at its events. Drum major Alexandra Vanderwolf emphasized the growth of members, including people who began without brass experience.
On May 1, 2026, DCI announced Arsenal’s approval as an Open Class affiliate, alongside Eclipse. Director Caleb Tullius described deliberate organizational preparation, with education, safety and sustainability at the center of the process.
Affiliate status is a specific step in DCI’s evaluation pathway, not a synonym for a World Class promotion or an automatic championship appearance. DCI’s account describes a multi-year process that combines performance requirements with organizational review. The distinction matters when comparing older SoundSport ratings with later Open Class scores.
Productions and documented season markers
| Year | Production | Corps archive marker |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Volver | SoundSport gold / best in show; 33 members |
| 2018 | Skyward | SoundSport gold / best in show; 49 members |
| 2019 | The Fourth Ring | SoundSport silver; 45 members |
| 2020 | Season canceled | Pandemic interruption |
| 2022 | Paseo del Norte | SoundSport Virtual gold; 31 members |
| 2023 | The Ties That Bind | SoundSport gold; 33 members |
| 2024 | Magnum Opus | Gold rating; 53 members |
| 2025 | Equilibrium | Gold rating; 50 members |
| 2026 | DRAWN… as a moth to a flame | 71 members; first Open Class score 62.100; season high 65.100 |
Current information
Participation requirements, costs, schedules, staffing, volunteer opportunities, and contact routes change over time. Use each organization’s official website for current details; this archive focuses on the corps’ lasting history, identity, traditions, and documented milestones.
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