In 1996, sponsorship of the corps was passed to Youth Education in the Arts (YEA), an umbrella organization sponsoring several youth and musical activities. Hopkins had worked for The Cadets since 1979 and became director in 1982, coaching the team to 10 world titles. I want the victims to know that what you did was horrible beyond description, the judge said. He's due back in court in February. Hopkins, 61, has not been charged and denies criminal wrongdoing. I want the victims to know that what you did was horrible beyond description, the judge said, READ MORE: Report: Drum corps leader threw things at work, called women little girls. Mostly cloudy and drier, but a few scattered rain showers linger early, and perhaps a few snow showers at any point in the Poconos. reached a settlement in January 2019. One possible side effect of the frigid temps? 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This time, people considered dramatic steps to change the face of the Cadets and for all time, to shift the trajectory of the most honored drum and bugle corps in history. and USBands affects the lives of tens of thousands of students each year and I feel humbled to have played a small part in that. Most of the time, the individual is NOT an assistant but someone who would like to assist. By The Morning Call PUBLISHED: November 14, 2018 at 1:05 a.m. | UPDATED: November 14, 2018 at 1:32 a.m. The Cadets of Bergen County won DCI Championships in 1990, '93, '98, and 2000. The corps felt that not only were they having their creative potential as artistic performing groups stifled, but they were being financially starved. George Hopkins, the former CEO of the Allentown-based Youth Education in the Arts, faces three felony counts of sexual assault for allegedly assaulting two former employees. Two former Youth Education in the Arts employees accused George Hopkins of sexual assault. A Chicago law firm has exonerated suspended Youth Education in the Arts employee Sean King. In 1971, the Cadets marched a show they called, "No More War"; at VFW Nationals in Dallas. If his probation officer recommends it, Hopkins will have to undergo sex offender therapy. To honor their 75th anniversary, the corps was called the Holy Name Cadets for the 2009 season. Sean King was named as interim CEO for YEA! That might be because people are running their faucets to keep pipes from freezing. But no one is irreplaceable. Tips to help protect your smartphone from thieves, Outlast Forces Lone Wolf Contestants to Embrace Team Dynamics for Netflix Competition, Diego Luna: Andor Ending With Season 2 Is Really Important for My Mental Health. Man missing since 2021 was murdered, co-worker arrested: DA, Brian Laundrie was 'emotional bully,' Petito family lawsuit says, Pa. woman missing since 1992 found alive in Puerto Rico. But even after he was let go, Connell said he was still allowed around corps members who knew what had happened and had reported him to the administration because he was the organizations connection to the housing site where they were staying. Wij, Yahoo, maken deel uit van de Yahoo-merkenfamilie. [6] The only junior drum and bugle corps older than The Cadets is the Racine Scouts, which was founded in 1927. The woman told police that when she stood up to leave the bar, she felt like she was moving in Jello.. It is clear that this is not something you are okay with. She said Hopkins words on social media after the allegations became public in 2018 were a constant source of anxiety. The group said it was taking steps to address the issues raised by past members, and has subsequently hired a new interim director. Two more women say they were raped by George Hopkins, bringing to 11 the number who have accused the former drum and bugle corps director of sexual misconduct. On Friday, October 6, 2017, 10:08 PM, XXXX XXXX XXXX@XXXX.com wrote: This letter is to inform you of my resignation as Director of USBands, effective immediately. The Inquirer is telling me I need to go to another source, and there isnt one, he argued. The Cadets won additional DCI championships in 2005 and 2011, the corps' ninth and tenth in forty seasons.[3]. It wasnt rape, and it wasnt sexual assault, Bergstrom said. Connell said she never had any problems with Jackson herself, but was hurt indirectly watching her close friends being neglected or silenced. Nickelodeons Kids Choice Awards: What Is Slime, and Why Do We Love It? Hopkins attended Wednesdays proceeding but did not address the court. ; Last edited on 15 February 2023, at 17:00, United States Scholastic Band Association, "corpsreps.com The Drum Corps Repertoire Database", "Determination: Believing in the Midwest Combine", "Bang the Drum Slowly: A Championship Drum and Bugle Corps Leaves the State", "The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps: A history of alleged sexual abuse", "Statement from the Board of Directors of Youth Education in the Arts", "YEA! Hopkins surrendered to authorities, was arraigned, and was released on $50,000 bail with a preliminary hearing scheduled for December 4. Thats if they make it onto the corps which is decided over several monthly training camps, between which corps hopefuls have to complete video assignments and track their diet and exercise. [8] On April 11, the Board of Directors tendered its resignation and a new Board and officers immediately took over operations of the organization. The 36-year-old woman addressed Anthony and spoke about years of fear, shame and depression as a result of the crime, which she did not immediately report. established a hotline for calls to report concerns or complaints.[11]. I get they try to model it like the military, and in the military, youre only as strong as your weakest link, Calhoun said. I dont know a single person who marched drum corps and didnt have complaints.. separated from YEA and became the nonprofit Cadets Arts & Entertainment Inc. Hopkins called the allegations an orchestrated smear, Report: Drum corps leader threw things at work, called women little girls, California residents do not sell my data request. Twelve women have told the Inquirer they were sexually harassed or abused by Hopkins over the nearly four decades he served as director of Allentown's famed Cadets, years during which he achieved rock-star-like status in the activity. 1 / Adagio for Strings / Medea's Dance of Vengeance, The Promise of Living (from The Tender Land) / Lincoln Portrait / Music for the Theater, Mvts. Hopkins also served as CEO of the Cadets parent organization, Youth Education in the Arts. The lyrics are taught to new members each summer and sung to the tune of "O Tannenbaum". ", She said she didn't file a rape report or inform the board of directors because Hopkins seemed "untouchable.". with the Cadets as DCI World Championsthe first eastern corps ever to hold Give us your full drum corps/marching music background. The group keeps up a grueling practice and travel schedule, performing throughout the United States. ACLU says it could take legal action over Saucon Valley School District rescinding approval for After School Satan Club, Big rig crashes from I-81 bridge onto street below in Schuylkill, 'He was a very humble guy': Reading High soccer coach remembers player killed in Route 33 crash, Eat, Sip, Shop: Refresh your ride at new Lehigh County store, selling high-quality car detailing products, Former Allentown Cadets director issues statement claiming innocence, Charges filed against former Allentown Cadets director, Investigation into YEA sexual misconduct allegations complete, Report clears former YEA interim CEO of wrongdoing, YEA! I was just going to say, check his will! These sort of militaristic rituals, paired with constant reminders about how grateful members should be for their spot on the corps, foster a culture of negligence that came to light last month when several former members went public with allegations, leading to the resignation of former corps director Kristy Jackson. In written remarks later directed at Hopkins, she said she had joined the Cadets bright-eyed, eager, and innocently believing that through hard work and integrity most things were possible., Instead, she said, working for the Cadets meant being subjected to verbal and sexual abuse. The defense maintains that the video is very different than what Beyer later told investigators and that the entire video is necessary to mount a proper defense. has taken furt, Two former Youth Education in the Arts employees accused George Hopkins of sexual assault. Drum Corps International, the sanctioning body for competition youth drum corps events, said in a statement that it was "deeply concerned" by the allegations against Hopkins. (A similar group of Midwestern corps, the Midwest Combine, was formed by the Blue Stars, Cavaliers, Madison Scouts, Santa Clara Vanguard, and the Troopers.) George Hopkins 260 Followers Life long member, teacher, and administrator of Drum Corps (from 1968-2019). I get up because Ive done the work to make myself whole and understand the evil that was done to me was not because of me, but because of you.. "I just kept saying no, don't do this, I don't want to do this," said Marie, who said she went by her middle name at work. After the allegations surfaced, Hopkins resigned in April and was then fired by a new board of directors. [20] A new Board of Directors was established, led by former CEO and Cadets Director Denise Bonfiglio. The Troopers initially denied wrongdoing, but later issued a statement apologizing for its defensive posture after facing a social media backlash. The judge opined that this situation is very different than, say, a defendants statement to police, a full copy of which would be made available to the defense by the prosecution. The corps was known not only for its talent but for its traveling to compete. participation in 2018 Summer Tour", "Cadets to forgo west coast portion of 2018 tour", "Ex-director of Allentown drum corps enters plea in sexual assault case", "Former Allentown Cadets band leader pleads no contest to indecent assault; judge calls him 'disgusting', "Drum corps seeks $1.5 million from former director after sexual misconduct scandal", "George Hopkins, YEA settle civil suit regarding compensation", "The Cadets Announce Independent Not-For-Profit Youth Organization", https://cadets.org/cadets-announce-move-erie-pa, https://www.erienewsnow.com/story/48381432/erie-sports-center-to-become-permanent-home-for-the-cadets-drum-corps, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Cadets_Drum_and_Bugle_Corps&oldid=1139537566, The Sinfonians by Clifton Williams / Give it One by, Advance of the Sponges by HIGGINS / Left Bank Express by Pete Jackson / Pieces of Dreams by Michel Legrand, Alan Bergman & Marilyn Bergman / Echano by Chuck Mangione / Strawberry Soup by, Rocky Point Holiday by Ron Nelson / In Nomine Patris, Almighty Father, Sanctus, Agnus Dei, God Said, De Profundis, Part 2 & A Simple Song, Maria, Rumble, Prologue, America, I Have a Love, & Tonight, Jeremiah Symphony, Overture to Candide & Make Our Garden Grow (from Candide), I Dreamed A Dream, At the End of the Day, Look Down, On My Own, Attack on Rue Plumet, Bring Him Home, One Day More & At the Barricades, In the Spring, When Kings Go Off to War; Ballet Sacra & On a Hymnsong of Philip Bliss, Dance at the Gym, Mambo, Cha-cha, Cool, Prologue/Rumble, A Boy Like That, Tonight & Finale, The Reivers, Born on the 4th of July, Blowing Off Steam (from Far and Away), Swing, Swing, Swing (from 1941) & Land Race (from Far and Away), The Promise of Living (from Tender Land) by Aaron Copland / Tulsa: A Portrait in Oil by, Tapestry Of Nations, Prologue, Chaos and Meaning, The Sage of Time & The Promise, History Repeating by Alex Gifford / White Rabbit by, Rumble, Prologue, A Boy Like That-I Have A Love, Cool & Tonight, Symphony No. George Hopkins. Despite pressure on show sponsors, judges, and other drum corps, the corps were booked into a number of shows together. These PEOPLE are your most important asset. George Hopkins has been charged in Lehigh County with two counts of sexual assault. In a no contest plea, a defendant does not admit guilt, but concedes that prosecutors have sufficient evidence to secure a conviction. The Cadets began operating independently of YEA! Michael Berry, attorney for the Inquirer, countered that the defense could interview Beyer on its own or cross-examine her at trial. Rachael Ray Ending After 17 Seasons: Its Time for Me to Move On, Shania Twain 'uncontrollably fragile' after husband's affair, 48 Hours: Natalie Morales Reveals How Social Media Helped Solve Case, Uriah Heep believe they have 'some merit' to be considered for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame entry, Amanda Seyfried wants to a role in movie version of Mean Girls: The Musical, Aaron Taylor-Johnson joins Nosferatu remake. And thats the sad part, those people that truly went through something hard, something life-altering and traumatic, are scared to talk about it.. For the 1971 season, the corps stuck together, offering show promoters the five corps as a package. There was a problem saving your notification. Never thought for once you were a liar!! Since the assault in the apartment occurred in 2010, before a recent amendment to Megans Law, Hopkins is not subject to sexual offender registration. He resigned his position in April 2018, but the YEA board rejected his resignation and fired him, citing the sexual misconduct allegations lodged against him. The Cadets from Allentown, Pennsylvania perform during Drums Along the Rockies at Cheney Alumni Field Friday evening, July 12, 2019. The Cadets Drum Corps (formerly the Holy Name Cadets, Cadets of Garfield, Garfield Cadets, and Cadets of Bergen County) is a World Class competitive junior drum and bugle corps. Some people may be able to give 12 hours a day to the cause, and that is great for them and you, but my life is outside of YEA! Get local Breaking News alerts sent directly to your inbox. There was a problem saving your notification. Abusers like Hopkins benefit from a culture of exclusivity and competition thats common in drum corps. The judge did question how the defense would know if the witness impeached her own testimony on the stand, if it didnt know ahead of time what she may have said in an earlier interview. George Hopkins pleaded no contest in Lehigh. Please know, you lose many, many GREAT people because of the reasons I listed and more. also sponsored the recently inactive 2016 DCA Champion Cadets2 Drum Corps, 2014 WGI Independent Open Champion Cadets Winter Percussion, and Cadets Winter Guard; USBands (formerly United States Scholastic Band Association); the Urban Arts Center of the Lehigh Valley, which included the Xcape Dance Studio.[18]. They wanted to shed a light on his behavior and for him to have a criminal record, he said. Thank you again for the opportunity and best of luck. Brisk with west to northwest winds around 10-20mph gusting to 30mph.. Mostly cloudy with less wind and a few breaks in the clouds overnight. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Charles Mura, Michael Koeph, and the Rev. The investigation into Hopkins conduct found he had little oversight from the Cadets board, giving him the freedom to throw things when angry in rehearsals, refer to women as little girls, and send inappropriate sexual emails on the organizations server. [16] Hopkins and YEA! Read more JESSICA GRIFFIN / Staff Photographer On April 5, 2018, allegations were made in published reports that the longstanding corps director, George Hopkins, sexually harassed or abused multiple members of the corps and staff over a period of years. [19] On May 1, 2020, The Cadets announced the creation of a new 501(c)3 non-profit organization: Cadets Arts & Entertainment, Inc. In February 2023, CAE announced a long-term partnership with the Erie Sports Center, resulting in a decision to move The Cadets and all operations of CAE to Erie, Pa. Its credits include the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, President Barack Obama's first inaugural parade, a reality TV show and "Late Night with David Letterman.". Calhoun said, careful not to sound arrogant, that he was a solid corps member. Pioneer Drum and Bugle Corps members perform during the corps' 50th anniversary gathering in July 2011. Hopkins, 63, was accused of sexual assault and harassment by numerous women in a 2018 Philadelphia Inquirer article, and was criminally charged in connection with two alleged incidents later that year. The. Jackie Fritsche You beat me to it. Error! During his tenure, Hopkins took the Cadets to 10 world championships and was an icon in the drum corps community. On the social media site Medium.com former Allentown Cadets director George Hopkins writes: , Sexual assault charges have been filed against the former director of the famed Allentown Ca. The story of George's van trip to Mississippi and Louisiana CEO while denying the allegations. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. Its a very difficult question, Anthony said. Hopkins was forced out as director of the . Instead, Beyer is very much in the public eye, and the defense is asking to see the entire video interview, not a reporters notes, he said. As one of the only returning baritones, he was offered the section head spot by Jackson but turned it down I thought I didnt deserve it.. The whistleblowers say they went public after receiving a feeble response from the Troopers legal team. [2][3], The Garfield Cadets relocated outside Garfield to Hackensack and became the Cadets of Bergen County in 1989. George Hopkins, the former director of the Allentown Cadets and CEO of Youth Education in the Arts who separated from the organization after being accused of sexually harassing nine women, is suing YEA for more than $580,000 in severance pay. After the hearing, Hopkins lawyer, Thomas Bergstrom, called the probationary sentence a fair result and said there were many inconsistencies in the accusers stories. The only ones that thought it was the kiss ass GH puppets/groupies/cult members. The women who accused Hopkins of harassment ranged in age from 16 to 37 at the time of the alleged incidents, which dated to 1980. You have permission to edit this article. She said that one evening in 2008, Hopkins asked her to come to his Allentown apartment to do some work. George Hopkins, who led The Cadets to renown and a slew of national and world championships, stepped down from the Allentown-based group after Philly.com reported Thursday that nine women had accused him of sexual harassment or abuse. In July, he sued the organization for more than $580,000 in severance pay. Bergstrom reiterated his position that he cant effectively prepare a defense without access to the full interview. won with field programs that were, and still are, viewed as ground-breaking. The Govenaires, an all-age/senior corps founded in 1927, retain the title of oldest continuously active corps. All Rights Reserved. In a fast-paced competitive environment like the Troopers, Calhoun said his mental illness problems soon led to physical injuries. On April 5, 2018, allegations were made in published reports that the longstanding corps director, George Hopkins, sexually harassed or abused multiple members of the corps and staff over a period of years. and USBands, but I can no longer be treated as dispensable. Consent matters.. Calhoun marched in 2016 and 2017 before leaving the corps in July of his second year in the midst of mental and physical illness, compounded by the rigors of tour. Allentown Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps separated from YEA and became the nonprofit Cadets Arts and Entertainment Inc. in May, stating they lost $1.5 million in sponsorships, donations and ticket sales after the allegations against Hopkins were made public. DCI.org: For the uninitiated, give us a brief history of YEA!'s relationship with the Crossmen. This is art. [10] On September 22, 2020, Hopkins pleaded no contest to indecent assault and was sentenced to two years probation[14] and fined $5,000. In her last season, she remembers a staffer being forced to resign after he was found to be sleeping with a member. For more than 30 years, George Hopkins has been a major proponent of changes in instrumentation, education and contest guidelines, such as initiating the use of band instruments, electronics, removal of sidelines and other alternatives. Casper nonprofits can now apply for 1-cent funding through the city's official application process. In a no-contest plea, a defendant does not admit guilt, but concedes that prosecutors have sufficient evidence to secure a conviction. He now is awaiting trial in Lehigh County on charges of sexually assaulting two of the women. as of March 31, 2020. Even snow plows and emergency vehicles were. Steven Chirichella still not the same MarieI feel your thoughts and sure Aunt Nell would be our side. Names and emails redacted to protect the innocent. I believe you, Calhoun said, I am worthless. In her 2018 account to The Inquirer, that woman, Jessica Beyer, said she had marched with the Cadets and was hired to work for the group the following year at age 22. Many of the women who spoke to Philly.com said they felt empowered to come forward by the #MeToo movement against sexual misconduct that has toppled powerful men in news and entertainment. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. This is the performing arts, you dont need to be like this.. {{start_at_rate}} {{format_dollars}} {{start_price}} {{format_cents}} {{term}}, {{promotional_format_dollars}}{{promotional_price}}{{promotional_format_cents}} {{term}}, Nebraska cheerleader competes by herself at state competition, but crowd doesn't let her feel alone, Crews contend with tons of snow as they work to reopen I-80, Powell sisters die in crash with semi-truck, Long shifts, odd calls, brutal weather: inside the Wyoming Highway Patrol staffing shortage, Ex-Casper doctor imprisoned for sexually assaulting patients released years early, Lovell steps up after local sportswriter dies from car crash injuries.