Scott Dineen
My name is Scott (aka Scooter or Scootay), I'm 17 years old and I live in a place called Frimley, which is in Surrey. My interests are Football, I'm a supporter of the mighty Red Devils – Manchester United and of course Band!!
I first started my Drum Corp career in Cadence (Guildford) Cadets playing soprano in 1998, but I would have to say that my first 'real' experience of Drum Corp was in 2001 when I moved up to the senior corps still continuing on soprano. My last season marching with Cadence was 2004, sadly due to the corps folding in early 2005. Although I was upset by the corps folding as Cadence had been my roots and that's all I knew, I decided that I couldn't take a year out of Drum Corps purely for the love I have the activity so I couldn't think of any better corps to go to than The Senators.
I continued to march soprano in my first season with The Senators and I have to say 2005 had to be one of my most enjoyable and rewarding seasons to date, due to the great Drum Corps and the even better welcome I received by everyone when I joined.
The reason I chose to march Senators out of all the other corps was because I knew that they could provide me with the best possible Drum Corps and I knew that I would continue on an uphill progression in learning new things and improving myself to reach a goal of marching DCI in the future. I believe no other corps could provide all of this.
Marching with Senators has been a very good experience so far and I know 100% that I made the right choice. Not only was the Drum Corps great but also the strong family bond I felt throughout the year knowing that all my brothers and sisters would have my back, which is a rare feeling these days and one that you can't explain to anyone who wasn't/isn't part of it. The experience that you get being part of the Senators is one that I would recommend to anyone.
There are so many great experiences from the year I have been at Senators to name just one favourite, but there are a few that come to mind that I would put in a category as my 'best moments'.
Trip to Hilversum, Holland – This would be one of my best moments with the corps because it is not often that you get to travel the 10 or so hours it took us to get there, through three different countries with your corps and do EVERYTHING together as a unit, from eating and sleeping to partying together. That was one that you feel that special 'family bond'. Also I performed the show of my life during the evening performance we did to a great sized crowd.
Finals – The experience of finals and the lead up to it is another one of my 'best moments' because everyone together on the field was pushing and striving for the same goal as yourself and there isn't a better feeling than that once you reach the climax. Doing things like staying in a hotel fully paid for by the corps for two nights for finals is something special about Senators as it was a kind of a reward to us the members, for what we achieved throughout the season.
I look forward to doing bigger and better things with the corps and take things onto another level in terms of success.
My aspirations are to in few years audition for the Blue Devils in the States, get in and march the few years that I have till my age out, also hoping to win a championship over there.
Outside of Drum Corps I'm training to be a Chef, when I have my qualifications I aspire to go to the top and be a Head Chef or possibly go on to own a restaurant who knows?!
Coming to Senators for me...
This was the best decision I have ever made, purely for the experience I have had in such a short space of time. This has meant a great deal to me because of the brilliant friendships I have made, some of which I would regard as 'friends for life'.
As an outsider before joining the corps...
When I was marching with another corps I imagined the people that marched Senators would be arrogant, stuck up or even robot like, because of how successful the corps was/is and how they looked in uniform. But from day one my thoughts were changed completely and I couldn't have marched with such a great bunch of people. I found it unbelievable how I was brought in as one of the family near enough straight away. Anyone who would have any doubts about the Senators as a corps or individuals I would advise to come down for one weekend and you would change your mind within seconds of meeting everyone.
