Zephyrus has been approved to compete as part of Drum Corps International’s Open Class division on the the 2025 DCI Summer Tour.
As director Aaron Morton described, excitement has spread across the entire Zephyrus community.
“We are over the moon about this opportunity,” he said. “It’s taken a lot of hard work to get here, and the pride we feel is at a fever pitch.”
“Whenever we talk to members about our path to Open Class, they perk up,” he added. “They are hungry to compete. They want to be in the history books. This is a dream come true for them, many of whom are marching drum corps for the first time.”
Founded in 2022 and based out of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Zephyrus has been participating in DCI’s SoundSport division for the past three seasons.
In 2024, Zephyrus appeared at a handful of DCI Tour events, including DCI Broken Arrow in their own backyard, and the corps’ first-ever performance at the DCI Southwestern Championship in San Antonio, Texas.
“A lot of institutional knowledge is needed to operate a corps successfully,” Morton said. “What Zephyrus has learned in the last few seasons in SoundSport has prepared us to give our 2025 members not just an Open Class drum corps experience, but a unique and transformative season in DCI.”
Zephyrus will be classified as an Open Class Affiliate on the 2025 tour, performing and competing as part of the Open Class, before being approved for membership in 2026.
As part of the Open Class evaluation process, prospective corps are required to submit an application outlining their proposed participation in the DCI Tour, including a detailed business plan which demonstrates that the group has the necessary financial and administrative backing and infrastructure to safely support its members.
During this multi-year period, DCI officials work — in Zephyrus’ case, DCI Open Class and SoundSport coordinator David Eddleman — with corps management to review corporate documents and other materials as the corps works to prepare its board of directors, administrative and instructional staff members, and student performers for the requirements of DCI participation, as well as summer travel and competition.
“The duration of the evaluation process is one of its biggest benefits,” Morton said. “Building up to this step takes time to course-correct. The regular check-ins that happen along the way are invaluable. Above all, David Eddleman is an incredible asset to the entire activity. His guidance, vision, and humanity bring dreams like this to life.”
That being said, according to Morton, Zephyrus’ Open Class status has felt like a long time coming.
“In 2024, I felt like we finally belonged in Open Class,” he said. “In 2025, I’m excited for us to prove that feeling right. Zephyrus is going to come out looking, sounding, traveling, and operating like any other Open Class corps. We want it to be like we’ve been here for years.”
VIEW ZEPHYRUS’ 2025 DCI TOUR SCHEDULE
Other evaluating ensembles
Several organizations remain in the “portal” for DCI Open and All-Age Class affiliation, with more potentially on the way.
The following corps are still in the process of being evaluated for “Affiliate” status for 2025, having started the process in 2024: Memphis Blues (Open), Minnesota Brass (All-Age), Northern Lights (All-Age), Steel City Ambassadors (All-Age). Like Zephyrus just completed, their “year-two” standing will be determined by an in-person evaluation in the coming weeks.
Three additional corps began their evaluation process in 2025: Boise Gems (Open), Arsenal (Open) and Eclipse (Open). In the first year of the process they will perform as part of DCI’s SoundSport Class with the distinction of “Open Class Candidate.” Their productions will be evaluated/judged under DCI SoundSport guidelines.
Also, at a recent webinar intended to highlight the “Pathway to DCI's Open and All-Age Classes,” six other ensembles expressed interest in starting the evaluation process in the future.
“We’re thrilled to see the kind of growth happening in DCI’s SoundSport, All-Age, and Open Class divisions,” Eddleman said. “Drum corps is growing from top to bottom, and we look forward to seeing how these organizations thrive and expand in the years to come.”