Doug Johnston, a recent graduate of Roncalli, will receive one of the Buck Creek Players’ Blaine Jarrett Memorial Scholarships as part of the playhouse’s production of “The Music Man” – the annual play-a-part fundraising show – on Saturday.

Johnston, who can play the piano, guitar, bass and drums, plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in theater arts at Malloy College.

His performing arts background includes stage work at Roncalli, Footlite Musicals and Buck Creek Players. 
An Encore Award winner, he has participated in multiple show choirs and ComedySportz. He is the son of Brian and Dianne Johnston of Indianapolis.

Founded in 1948 as the drum and bugle corps for Boy Scout Troop 111 in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood, The Cavaliers will perform from 7-10 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5, at Beech Grove High School.

Soon after getting organized, the ensemble quickly established a reputation for itself as one of the city’s premiere drum corps. Members chose the color scheme of green, black and white, a name and a logo, all which have been part of their history since.

In 1971 the group was instrumental in pulling together the concept that eventually became known as Drum Corps International. But the 1970s saw the corps endure a tough decade as the members struggled to keep pace with a rapidly evolving art form. 

On the verge of disbanding in the early 1980s, the corps was reinvigorated by new sponsorship, which prompted the group to not just compete but to excel.

The Cavaliers won their first Drum Corps International championship in 1992, a feat they repeated in ’95, 2000, ’01, ’02, ’04 and ’06 by utilizing a combination of strong visual presentation, powerful musical arrangements and aggressive color guard. 

The ensemble continues to provide a world-class experience for its members.