The 2013 finish was meteoric in DCI terms from the Troopers' 18th-place finish in 2012. Morris believes that the judge panels just could not fathom a jump that large in one season.

"This is a top-10 show," Morris said of the 2014 Lincoln show.

Among dozens of returnees are drum major Justin Anderson, Color Guard commander Alyson Downs of Cheyenne, who is in her seventh year as a Trooper, and talented snare drummer John Ling.

"This group has become a destination corps instead of a stepping stone," Morris said. "Kids from literally throughout the country want to march Troopers before they age-out, whether they started with us or not."

By January, the call-back camp in Cheyenne will include only the cream of the crop of hundreds of musicians who have auditioned at weekend camps throughout the country this month, along with returning veterans.

The music for "A People's House" includes a brief, haunting solo from "The People's House"; "The Ramparts," which was written for the Air Force Academy Band; Copland's "Lincoln Portrait," which includes narration from James Earl Jones; "American Symphonic Overture," a medley of Civil War tunes with a main thread of "Shenandoah"; and "America the Beautiful."

Because of construction at both Natrona County and Kelly Walsh high schools, the only Wyoming performance for the Troopers will be July 11, at South High School in Cheyenne, when they will be joined by the Madison Scouts; Boston Crusaders; Pacific Crest from Diamond Bar, Calif.; Cascades from Seattle, and The Academy from Phoenix.

Community News editor Sally Ann Shurmur can be reached at 307-266-0520; sallyann.shurmur@trib.com; read her blog at trib.com/dishin; or follow her on Twitter @WYOSAS

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