Piedra Del Sol Drumline

Piedra Del Sol Drumline (previously known as Liberty Bell Drumline) is a Division 1 drumline based out of Barcelona, Catalonia. It operates under Llibertat Marching Arts, and organization the runs groups in all FMA circuits. Piedra Del Sol is currently a member of the League of Gentlemanly Color Guard (LGDL). Due to it being one of the few corps based in Europe, they take recruits from across the EU and northern Africa.

## General History

First founded in season 41, Piedra Del Sol is one of the older groups currently operating in FMA. During their inaugural season, they achieved moderate success placing 41st out of the 170 division III drumlines, with a score of 55.570. Their program *Purge* was recieved well by the audience and members and staff were happy with their first placement. The following season, season 42, Piedra Del Sol was able to get funding for another season in the FMA circuits. Their program, *Sunrise* depicted the different stages and feelings that a sunrise evokes. This season saw a large improvement in the group, with them scoring a 58.855 at finals, which placed them at 26th out of the 124 division III drumlines at the time. Following season 42, funding for Piedra Del Sol, and Liberty Bell Marching Arts (as Llibertat was known at the time) became scarce. At the time, all of Llibertat's groups were based in Moscow Russia, and was under different leadership. Between seasons 43 and 113, Piedra Del Sol would perform locally, while occasionally being able to receive enough money to perform a season in the FMA circuit. During these seasons, Piedra Del Sol would make their first division III finals in season 72 and achieve a record high score of 61.140.

Following the breakout of war in Russia during season 102 of FMA, leadership of Llibertat Marching Arts fled and would end up in the city of Barcelona. While there, the leadership would attempt to reform their performance ensembles, with assistance from new staff from Spain, as well as funding from the city of Barcelona.

After performing locally between seasons 103 and 113, Llibertat would make their triumphant return to FMA after a 42 season absence. During their time in Barcelona, the staff and member pool had greatly increased in skill. The city of Barcelona greatly increased their spending on the arts for high school aged children, leading to greater and greater performers each year. The organization was also able to pay a very talented design team to design their programs each season. Piedra Del Sol would burst out in Division III Drumline, achieving a starting score of 63.130, with their program *Hyrulian Legends.* This would break their previous score record by around 2 points. With a whole season of FMA ahead of them, Piedra Del Sol members were very motivated to push forward. They would achieve a new record score of 80.440, marking the first time that Piedra Del Sol would pass the 80-point barrier. This score would also award Piedra Del Sol their first medal, winning gold in the FMA finals for and undefeated season 114. Following this success, Piedra Del Sol staff and members were eager to see just how much they would grow in the following seasons.

In season 115, Piedra Del Sol would be promoted to Division II in FMA. Their program in season 115 was entitled *To Enter the Underworld* and would be inspired from the steam punk depiction of the underworld seen in the broadway musical *Hadestown.* Piedra Del Sol would achieve great success this season, achieving a score 86.940 with another undefeated season. *To Enter the Underworld* would also win the Fan Favorite vote for season 115 Division II drumline. Piedra Del Sol would have a very similar season in season 116, with their program *CyberNetic Funk*. They would end the season with a score of 87.690, marking yet another undefeated season.

In season 116, Piedra Del Sol would adopt their current name, changing from Liberty Bell Drumlin. Following 1 undefeated season in division III and 2 undefeated seasons in division II, Piedra Del Sol was invited to Division I in FMA, a goal since the groups founding. Their program *Where Shadows Play* was recieved well by the audience, and would win 4th place in the fan favorite award. They would end the season with a score of 89.250, placing them 10th in division I. This would also mark their first Division I finals appearance in FMA.