Rockford's Phantom Regiment's new conductor is thriving under pressure

The Phantom Regiment is in the midst of another successful season and leading the way is new drum major, or principal conductor, Keri McCourt.

McCourt, 20, of Columbia, South Carolina, is in her fourth year with Rockford's celebrated drum and bugle corps. She is embracing the challenge of directing the corps' 163 members who hail from 35 states and three countries outside of the U.S.

"I just love being in the Phantom Regiment and being with all my friends all the time and just playing music, McCourt said.

"The shows are a lot of fun to conduct. But more specifically, I like being a source that people can rely on. It's nice to know that people here trust me to confide in me and to run rehearsals. I like having that responsibility on me. I like having that pressure."

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McCourt is neither the first woman nor the first woman of color to serve as Phantom Regiment conductor, but she is a prime example of how the demographics of the corps is no longer primarily white males, according to Todd Snead, the Phantom Regiment's director of programs.

"Demographics are changing, like they are everywhere else," he said. "We're just proud that our organization is reflecting those changes."

McCourt's promotion to conductor has not gone unnoticed in Rockford's performing arts community.

Julie Thomas, executive director of the Rockford Symphony Orchestra, said, "Diversity of leadership in the arts is essential to inspire budding musicians, expand support and create a vibrant arts environment in our community."

Going behind the curtain

McCourt said the public typically sees only one facet of a conductor's job such as "keeping time" or tempo and queuing the ensemble at just the right moment, but McCourt said the "real work" happens behind the scenes.

"A typical day," she said, "is waking up the corps in the morning, setting up for rehearsal with the other conductors and that involves moving the podiums and ladders and speakers to any fields or stadiums that we will be using, handling logistics and just knowing what the schedule is and being able to answer everyone's questions, communicating with staff, things like that."

Speaking in DeKalb before a performance at Northern Illinois University, McCourt said her biggest daily challenge is keeping members focused during 12-hour rehearsals, especially when temperatures are soaring.

"The hardest part is just staying focused, staying positive," she said. "We've done a pretty good job at staying friendly with each other even when we're mad at everything because it's so hot out."

McCourt, a University of South Carolina senior majoring music education, said she tries to practice daily what she preaches: gratitude, empathy and resilience.

"I just like to pass that message on," she said, "because those three words have helped me get through my life and especially drum corps."

Snead said the Phantom Regiment is trending about five points ahead of where they were this time last year in Drum Corps International competition. Contributing to the corps' uptick in performance is McCourt.

"You have a lot of different sonic responsibilities coming at you from different places," he said. "It's a huge football field worth of sound that's coming at you and she can balance all that."

McCourt is a natural people person, he said — "the full package."

Those in the Rockford arts community say McCourt leading the way provides optimism for women being in charge in other sectors.

"The accomplishment of young women like Keri McCourt gives me hope for the leadership of women, not only in the creative sector but in healthcare, education, politics, and business," said Mary McNamara Bernsten, executive director of the Rockford Area Arts Council.

You can catch McCourt and the Phantom Regiment in action at the annual Show of Shows starting at 7 p.m. July 15 at Boylan Catholic High School.

Founded in 1956 as the Rockford Rangers, the Phantom Regiment is a two-time DCI World Champion (1996, 2008) and has been a DCI World Championship Finalist every year since 1974.

Chris Green: 815-987-1241; cgreen@rrstar.com; @chrisfgreen

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Rockford's Phantom Regiment thriving under new drum major Keri McCourt