Lincoln Graduate Accepted to Prestigious Drum and Bugle Corps

Zion Bunney is making his Drumming Dreams come true, but he needs a little help from his friends … the Ellwood City Community.

The 2022 Lincoln High School graduate was accepted to the world class drum and bugle corps “Jersey Surf,” a group that competes in a circuit called Drum Corps International (DCI). Now, the quad line section leader at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Zion cannot wait to pick up his sticks and hit the road with his fellow drummers.

“This has been a dream of mine ever since I was 9 years old,” Bunney said. “I am proud to say that I had a successful audition and was accepted via contract by the corps as a performer for the 2024 season. We will perform at competitions around the country on a tour that will span for two months. We will travel to states such as Texas, Alabama, Louisiana, Maryland, Indiana, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and a few others.”

In fact, local supporters can see Zion play in Pittsburgh at DCI Pittsburgh on Aug 5 at Baldwin High School Stadium. Tickets can be purchased HERE.

According to Zion, you won’t want to miss the show.

“The performers in these drum corps are considered some of the best and most prestigious musicians in the entire world,” he said. “Students from different states and even countries will come to audition for these groups. So being accepted into a group like this is a very high honor”

Participation in “Jersey Surf” comes with a hefty $6,000 price tag, but Zion is hoping that he can get some added support through fundraising efforts. Anyone wishing to support him can visit his page on the “Jersey Surf” website HERE and make a donation that will directly fund his tuition and tour fees.

Zion has been playing drums since he was 6 years old and he wants to be sure that other young musicians can find the same opportunities that he did along the way.

I was inspired by a lot of other drum corps, and I am looking forward to inspiring the next generation,” he said. “A lot of people don’t know about this activity. I believe its popularity should continue to grow rather than dissolve.”

Wondering what a drum corp is? It’s a musical marching unit consisting of brass instruments, percussion instruments, electronic instruments, and color guard. If you’ve ever been to a Steelers game, you have certainly heard Pittsburgh Steeline play. It is a professional entertainment drumline that performs live at all Steelers home games, as well as many other Steelers team functions. They really rock the stadium and bring the fans to life. Zion plays on a similar type drum line.

He wants to thank Mr. Caldwell, Lincoln high school band director, in addition to family, friends, and community for supporting him on this journey.

Zion is the son of Donald Bunney and Carla Smith (who owns Legends Barbershop). He has an older brother Noah and two younger siblings a sister, Emma, and brother, Elijah. He’s a true hometown soul.

“After finishing college at IUP as a criminology major, I want to come back to Ellwood to be a police officer,” he said. “I miss my home. I know a lot of the community.”

But before then, Zion plans to live his dream traveling the country with “Jersey Surf.”