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Three Fairfield High School alumni will perform Wednesday, July 2, in the Summer Music Games at Fairfield's stadium.

R.J. Cappa ('05), Andrew Sersion ('07) and Kyle Schuckmann ('06) all play with The Cavaliers, a drum corps from Rosemont, Ill.

Steve Schuckmann said his son has been performing in drum corps since 2004 and is studying music education at the University of Dayton. Kyle and his classmates chose The Cavaliers because of their notoriety and winning record.

"Music has been a passion for him since he started with the Fairfield music program since the fifth-grade," Steve Schuckmann said. "The Cavaliers are probably one of the top corps in (Drum Corps International) right now."

The Drum Corps International Summer Tour consists of 120 performances across the country. As a host, Fairfield is responsible for housing all the drum corps members. With about 150 per group, the corps will be sleeping and showering at the Fairfield Freshman School, Fairfield High School, Fairfield Middle School, Middletown High School and Winton Woods High School.

Band members rise early each morning, practice all day and then perform in the evenings. Members ages 14 to 21 audition and then pay more than $1,000 to take part in the tour.

"These kids are the best of the best who finally achieve a position on the corps," said Bruce Brown, contest director. "It is so demanding on the body, that these kids are actually conditioned like world-class athletes."

Besides having a positive financial impact on the community, Brown said the July 2 event will kick off the weekend of entertainment for those headed to Red White and Kaboom the following day.

"This started out to be a simple fundraiser for the Fairfield High School Marching Band," he said. Now, it is an annual event that draws thousands of people. About $21,000 of the ticket sales will go to the DCI, with the rest going to the Fairfield marching band.

"It would be great to raise about $20,000," said band director Jill Wilhelm. The band is getting new uniforms and it also needs the funds for general expenses.

The Fairfield High School marching band will perform the "Star Spangled Banner," but then students will watch the show.

"They definitely have the passion for it, and it will also be an experience they will never forget," Wilhelm said.

"(The show is) action packed. There's so much visually to see and to hear at the same time. It's fun for everybody."