FWD March: Living in a World of Music and Motion

In the Southern Baptist community where he grew up, he was a “difficult” child—restless, outspoken, and unconventional, with a flair for the dramatic. But for George Scott Chandler, the journey toward self-discovery and acceptance would lead him to an unexpected place: the fast-paced, high-stakes world of competitive marching and pageantry, where he found a whirlwind of color and movement, song and dance, and expression and creativity. Here, the hyperactivity and artistic temperament that made him the target of bullying over the years would finally allow him to thrive.

Now, as an award-winning choreographer and coordinator for the Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps, Chandler’s passion for the marching arts has allowed him to create, coach, and choreograph performances all over the world—from the Odyssey stage show in Nagoya, Japan, to the set of the hit television show Glee.

Filled with inspiring anecdotes and fascinating insights, FWD March is a true coming-of-age story for anyone who has ever felt alienated, bullied, or misunderstood, as well as fans of competitive marching everywhere.

George Scott Chandler is the program coordinator and choreographer for the Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps, an award-winning group based in Concord, California. A member of the Drum Corps International Hall of Fame and the Winter Guard International Hall of Fame, Chandler has spent his career choreographing, coaching, and designing award-winning marching arts performances all over the world.