TheBakersfieldCalifornian.com

Efren Gutierrez graduated from Foothill High School in June, but couldn't go before leaving a last gift.

A world championship.

Gutierrez was one of 18 local high school and former high school students to perform with the Blue Devils B Drum and Bugle Corps, an elite marching corps and color guard that features some of the most talented high school musicians in the country. After a summer of national travel and grueling competitions, the Blue Devils B ended their season by winning the Drum Corps International Open Class World Championship on Aug. 14 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind.

It was the second consecutive world championship for the Blue Devils, who arrived in Indianapolis ready to defend their 2009 title. The second win was as thrilling as the first, Gutierrez said.

"There was 139 of us out there with the same goal," he said. "We rehearsed and competed all summer long, traveling across many states, so we were really happy."

So was Corps Director Rick Odello, who said the Blue Devil's Bakersfield members represent "a remarkably high percentage" in the band.

"Bakersfield has always been a hotbed for recruitment," Odello said. "There's always a lot of interest from the area because Bakersfield has lot of good music programs and the kids there are pretty passionate about the corps."

They'd better be. Starting each January, those students talented enough to win a spot in the corps must commit to twice-a-month weekend rehearsals at the band's home base in Concord. Once school's out, many of the students move in with host families in the bay area community as rehearsals ramp up and a rigorous schedule of competitive tours begins. This summer, the Blue Devils took their 11-minute show to competitions in Southern California, Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan and Illinois before the Indiana finals.

Students accepted into the Blue Devils are usually stand-out musicians in their home high school bands, Odello said. The Blue Devils work closely with band directors so "band teachers will want their kids to take part, hoping their student will come back even more proficient."

"The typical Blue Devils band member is passionate, intelligent and very committed to what is really a tremendous conditioning program," Odello said. "It's a rigorous schedule, sometimes hours in the hot sun. The interesting thing is, these kids love it."

The Blue Devils are currently accepting brass, percussion and color guard applications for the 2011 season. Learn more at www.bluedevils.org.