San Jose Raiders
Encyclopedia
The San Jose Raiders are a group of winter guard
ensembles based in San Jose, California
and founded in the 1970s. The Raiders had won six Winter Guard International
(WGI) World Titles (1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2003).
By 1987 the Raiders made their first finals appearance with their show entitled "The Art of Noise" and by 1990 had tied with Blessed Sacrament
to win their first WGI title. In the subsequent seasons the San Jose Raiders became the first color guard to win five consecutive WGI World Class titles. Additionally in 1994 the San Jose Raiders Open Guard earned the bronze medal at the WGI World Championships.
In 1995 the organization decided to fold their current world program and promote their Open Guard to the World class. Although this "new" Raider World Guard performed a very memorable show, they missed making finals. In 1996 the Raiders returned to WGI and firmly retained their spot as a WGI finalist with a 6th place finish.
The following years cotinued the Raiders growth. The Raiders "A" class guard earned a silver medal in 1997 and followed it with a 4th place finish in the Open class in 1998. The World team remained strong, but was never able to return to the medal podium, twice missing the bronze medal by five hundredths of a point (2000, 2002).
After eight years the Raiders returned to the World Class Podium with their 2003 Gold medal production, "Portraits of Frida".
Winter guard
Winter guard is an indoor color guard activity, derived from marching band or drum & bugle corps. Unlike traditional color guard, winter guard is performed indoors, usually in a gymnasium or an indoor arena...
ensembles based in San Jose, California
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
and founded in the 1970s. The Raiders had won six Winter Guard International
Winter Guard International
Spawning from the organization Drum Corps International , Winter Guard International was founded in 1977. WGI is a visual performing arts organization that hosts regional and national competitions for color guard and indoor percussion ensembles. Contests are held in the U.S...
(WGI) World Titles (1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2003).
History
Originally founded as a Drum and Bugle Corps, the San Jose Raiders were first known as the Knight Raiders. In the mid 1980's, the organization switched its focus to Winter Guard and made its first WGI appearance in 1985.By 1987 the Raiders made their first finals appearance with their show entitled "The Art of Noise" and by 1990 had tied with Blessed Sacrament
Blessed Sacrament
The Blessed Sacrament, or the Body and Blood of Christ, is a devotional name used in the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Catholic Churches, Old Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran churches, to refer to the Host after it has been consecrated in the sacrament of the Eucharist...
to win their first WGI title. In the subsequent seasons the San Jose Raiders became the first color guard to win five consecutive WGI World Class titles. Additionally in 1994 the San Jose Raiders Open Guard earned the bronze medal at the WGI World Championships.
In 1995 the organization decided to fold their current world program and promote their Open Guard to the World class. Although this "new" Raider World Guard performed a very memorable show, they missed making finals. In 1996 the Raiders returned to WGI and firmly retained their spot as a WGI finalist with a 6th place finish.
The following years cotinued the Raiders growth. The Raiders "A" class guard earned a silver medal in 1997 and followed it with a 4th place finish in the Open class in 1998. The World team remained strong, but was never able to return to the medal podium, twice missing the bronze medal by five hundredths of a point (2000, 2002).
After eight years the Raiders returned to the World Class Podium with their 2003 Gold medal production, "Portraits of Frida".