Kilties Drum and Bugle Corps
Encyclopedia
The Kilties Drum and Bugle Corps are an all-age drum and bugle corps
competing in the Drum Corps Associates
circuit. It is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Racine, Wisconsin
.
that the corps wore was the Royal Stewart tartan
. The corps made their début on July 4, 1936 at the Independence Day
Parade. It was on August 5, 1936 that the corps hit the field for exhibition at the local music festival
.
The Corps then entered back into the field competition in 1994 with their début in Menasha, WI on June 11, 1994. The Kilties competed exclusively in the Drum Corps Midwest circuit and obtain full DCM membership in Toledo, OH in their first year of competition.
Over seventy years later the Kilties celebrated their anniversary by performing at Syracuse
, New York
almost at exactly the same time as the corps' first performance. A lot of things have changed since the beginning. Women are now part of the rich history of the corps. The corps is no longer a junior corps but now an all age corps. If the corps had remained a junior corps with DCI
the age limits would have been up to the age of 21. As a DCA corps
the Kilties now have members from 12 to 82.
Over the years the All Age Kilties have sported various tartans and battle jackets since they re-emerged in 1993.
The current uniform consists of a Modern Buchanan tartan and a black battle jacket with a white sash across the chest with yellow piping (However for the 2009 season the Kilties removed the sashes). Accessories for the uniform are: Black Tam, White Gauntlets, Black Knee High Socks with Red flashers, White Spats and black shoes. A Sporran is also worn by the horn players.
The guard has moved from Kilts to more modern typical colorguard uniforms.
Drum and bugle corps (modern)
A drum and bugle corps, also known as a drum corps, is a musical marching unit consisting of brass instruments, percussion instruments, and color guard. Typically operating as independent non-profit organizations, drum corps perform in competitions, parades, festivals, and other civic functions...
competing in the Drum Corps Associates
Drum Corps Associates
Drum Corps Associates is the governing body for modern senior or all-age drum and bugle corps in North America. It is the counterpart of Drum Corps International which governs junior drum corps...
circuit. It is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Racine, Wisconsin
Racine, Wisconsin
Racine is a city in and the county seat of Racine County, Wisconsin, United States. According to 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the city had a population of 82,196...
.
Junior Kilties
The Kilties were started in 1936 as an all boy drum and bugle corps. The original name of the corps was the Kiwanis Kilties in honour of the sponsor. A local seamstress made the original uniforms for the corps. The first plaidFull plaid
A full plaid is a long piece of tartan fabric, traditionally worn as part of a full highland dress uniform. It usually matches the tartan of the kilt. A full plaid is pleated the whole way, with half of its length sewn shut...
that the corps wore was the Royal Stewart tartan
Royal Stewart Tartan
The Royal Stewart Tartan is the best known tartan of the royal House of Stewart, and is also the personal tartan of Queen Elizabeth II. It is appropriate for all subjects of Elizabeth II to wear the Royal Stewart tartan , in much the same way that clansmen may wear the tartan of their clan chief...
. The corps made their début on July 4, 1936 at the Independence Day
Independence Day (United States)
Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain...
Parade. It was on August 5, 1936 that the corps hit the field for exhibition at the local music festival
Music festival
A music festival is a festival oriented towards music that is sometimes presented with a theme such as musical genre, nationality or locality of musicians, or holiday. They are commonly held outdoors, and are often inclusive of other attractions such as food and merchandise vending machines,...
.
The Senior/All-Age Kilties
In 1993 the Kilties reformed as an all male senior/alumni participating in local events and competitions.The Corps then entered back into the field competition in 1994 with their début in Menasha, WI on June 11, 1994. The Kilties competed exclusively in the Drum Corps Midwest circuit and obtain full DCM membership in Toledo, OH in their first year of competition.
Over seventy years later the Kilties celebrated their anniversary by performing at Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
almost at exactly the same time as the corps' first performance. A lot of things have changed since the beginning. Women are now part of the rich history of the corps. The corps is no longer a junior corps but now an all age corps. If the corps had remained a junior corps with DCI
Drum Corps International
Drum Corps International , formed in 1972, is the non-profit governing body operating the North American drum and bugle corps circuit for junior corps, whose members are between the ages of 14 and 21. It is the counterpart of Drum Corps Associates which governs senior or all-age drum corps...
the age limits would have been up to the age of 21. As a DCA corps
Drum Corps Associates
Drum Corps Associates is the governing body for modern senior or all-age drum and bugle corps in North America. It is the counterpart of Drum Corps International which governs junior drum corps...
the Kilties now have members from 12 to 82.
Uniform
The current uniform consists of a Modern Buchanan tartan and a black battle jacket with a white sash across the chest with yellow piping (However for the 2009 season the Kilties removed the sashes). Accessories for the uniform are: Black Tam, White Gauntlets, Black Knee High Socks with Red flashers, White Spats and black shoes. A Sporran is also worn by the horn players.
The guard has moved from Kilts to more modern typical colorguard uniforms.