Syracuse Brigadiers Drum and Bugle Corps
Encyclopedia
The Brigadiers are an all-age drum and bugle corps
operated by the Brigadiers Music Association, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The Brigadiers are charter members of Drum Corps Associates
. They are based in Syracuse, New York
.
sponsored by the Polish Legion of American Veterans (P.L.A.V.) Post #14 in Syracuse, NY. It performed as a parade corps until World War II
. After World War II, the group was reorganized as an all-age drum and bugle corps and began field competition in 1947.
The Brigadiers competed in the American Legion
National Championships from 1947 until 1964, making finals in every year. The corps captured American Legion National Championships in 1957 and 1958. In 1965, the Brigadiers became charter members of DCA
, and they competed until 1973, when they ceased operations.
. The Brigadiers went on to win championships in 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002. The 2002 show earned the corps what was at the time the highest recorded score in DCA history, 98.6. In 2009 the corps became inactive due to lack of funding and declining membership.
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...
operated by the Brigadiers Music Association, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The Brigadiers are charter members of 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...
. They are based in Syracuse, New York
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...
.
Early years
The corps was founded as a junior drum and bugle corpsDrum and bugle corps (classic)
Classic drum and bugle corps are North American musical ensembles that descended from military bugle and drum units returning from World War I and succeeding wars. Traditionally, drum and bugle corps served as signaling units as early as before the American Civil War, with these signaling units...
sponsored by the Polish Legion of American Veterans (P.L.A.V.) Post #14 in Syracuse, NY. It performed as a parade corps until World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. After World War II, the group was reorganized as an all-age drum and bugle corps and began field competition in 1947.
The Brigadiers competed in the American Legion
American Legion
The American Legion is a mutual-aid organization of veterans of the United States armed forces chartered by the United States Congress. It was founded to benefit those veterans who served during a wartime period as defined by Congress...
National Championships from 1947 until 1964, making finals in every year. The corps captured American Legion National Championships in 1957 and 1958. In 1965, the Brigadiers became charter members of DCA
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...
, and they competed until 1973, when they ceased operations.
Modern Years
In October 1990, several alumni of the Syracuse Brigadiers met to discuss resurrecting the corps. After placing advertisements on television and radio, a parade corps was formed for 1991 and a field corps was formed in 1992. In their first year back in competition, the corps placed 11th at finals. In 1993, the corps placed ninth and regained full membership within DCADrum 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 Brigadiers went on to win championships in 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002. The 2002 show earned the corps what was at the time the highest recorded score in DCA history, 98.6. In 2009 the corps became inactive due to lack of funding and declining membership.