Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps
Encyclopedia
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...
that competes in Drum Corps International
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...
. They are a founding member of Drum Corps International, and their operations are centered in Casper, Wyoming
Casper, Wyoming
Casper is the county seat of Natrona County, Wyoming, United States.. Casper is the second-largest city in Wyoming , according to the 2010 census, with a population of 55,316...
. They are the only active drum and bugle corps in Wyoming
Wyoming
Wyoming is a state in the mountain region of the Western United States. The western two thirds of the state is covered mostly with the mountain ranges and rangelands in the foothills of the Eastern Rocky Mountains, while the eastern third of the state is high elevation prairie known as the High...
. The Troopers are often called "America's Corps", due to their US cavalry-inspired uniforms and their musical selections that frequently have a Western or American theme. The Troopers are currently under the direction of Executive Director Fred Morris.
History
The Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps was founded in 1957 by James E. Jones in Casper, WyomingCasper, Wyoming
Casper is the county seat of Natrona County, Wyoming, United States.. Casper is the second-largest city in Wyoming , according to the 2010 census, with a population of 55,316...
to provide an activity for the youth of Casper. The corps spent its first year as a parade corps, and the following year (1958) began to enter drum corps competitions for the first time.
James E. Jones was a World War II veteran, airman, percussionist and a building contractor from Casper, Wyoming. As a youth, Jones won the American Legion percussion championship on snare drum. Jones had the idea to call the new corps "The Troopers" from the 11th Ohio Cavalry, which was a United States Army unit stationed in Fort Caspar, Wyoming territory, a fort set up to protect supply trains during the Indian Wars of the late 19th Century. Lieutenant Caspar Collins (whose father was the man that Fort Collins, CO is named for) was the commanding officer of the fort (which now bears his name). In 1865, Collins led a small band of soldiers to defend a wagon train when a band of thousands of Lakota Indians came around. All of the soldiers were wounded, but most survived. Caspar, attempting to pull a wounded soldier onto his horse, lost control of his horse, and it ran straight toward the force of Lakota. He fought on until he was killed. When the town of Casper was set up, the name was somehow misspelled, but the city is officially named for him.
From the beginning, The Troopers allowed girls to be members of the percussion and brass sections, which was rare for junior drum corps of the era. Also, realizing that the corps would not be able to participate in the major drum corps competitions at the time due to their remote base in Wyoming, Jones began renting charter passenger buses to take the Troopers across the country to enter dozens of competitions on trips lasting several weeks at a time. The corps was among the very first drum and bugle corps to tour in this manner. Most corps of the time competed locally on the weekends. The Troopers quickly established itself as a touring drum and bugle corps accompanied by a roving "sheep wagon", a small mobile home designed to sell souvenirs at drum corps contests.
The Troopers have won 11 national and international titles. Its most successful competitive year was 1970, when the Troopers won the American Legion, CYO and VFW national championships. Jim Jones and other Troopers staff members played a key role in the founding of Drum Corps International (DCI), which held its first championship event in 1972. Other innovations pioneered by the Troopers during that era involved circular drill (including the famous "sunburst" circle maneuver), military precision marching, a highly trained all-female color guard, and a rousing musical program often consisting of music identified with patriotism and the American West.
From 1972 through 1986, the Troopers were 9 times finalists in Drum Corps International, placing as high as second in 1973. In 1985, founder Jim Jones was inducted into the DCI hall of fame. In other milestones, the Troopers performed at the dedication of Arrowhead Stadium (1972), the Calgary Stampede, the Tournament of Roses Parade (1985), and were the focus of a television special "The Troopers Are Coming" (1971), which as narrated by film actor Walter Brennan. The Troopers have performed for presidents Johnson, Reagan, Bush I, Clinton and Bush II. Scores of Trooper alumni have made a mark on the drum and bugle corps activity as staff members, volunteers, and administrators, including percussion instructor Fred Sanford and visual designer Pete Emmons.
In 1987, Jim Jones retired as director and was succeed by John Masterson (1988-1991), Gabe Luchetta (1992-1994), Mark Humberson (1995-1996) and Mat Krum (1997-2005), all of whom were alumni of the corps.
The Troopers continued to compete and tour each summer until October of 2005, when the Drum Corps Internatial board of directors voted to suspend the Troopers' membership in the organization, citing noncompliance with DCI's financial reporting rules. The corps reorganized, and in November 2005, Troopers Board of Directors named Mike Ottoes to be the corps' executive director. Ottoes is an alumnus of the Troopers, former assistant corps director, graduate of the University of Wyoming, and a businessman. In early 2006, Ottoes announced that the Troopers intended to comply with Drum Corps International's membership requirements and established a goal to return to DCI competition in the summer of 2007.
On April 7, 2006, Drum Corps International's executive committee approved the Troopers to rejoin DCI's World Class division in competition for the 2007 season. In June of 2006, the Troopers board chose Fred Morris to be new corps director. Morris came to the Troopers with an extensive background as a staff member and fund-raiser for several drum and bugle corps in the Midwest, including the Canton (Ohio) Bluecoats. Morris also had a background as an independent businessman. In his role as corps director, Morris has continued to handle all day-to-day operations for the Troopers, while Ottoes has guided the organization's strategy as executive director.
The Troopers returned to competition in 2007 with a program titled "Awakening". The corps competed in 32 separate competitions and received a 20th-place finish in the World Class division at the 2007 DCI World Championships in Pasadena, California. In early August, the corps received a score of 80.6 at the Clovis, CA show, which was the first time the corps had "broken 80" since 1995.
The 2008 show, "The Iron Horse Express", was a tribute to the cultural heritage of Wyoming and to the one piece of technology that made the taming of the Wild West possible, the locomotive.
In 2009, the Troopers' reached another milestone in its comeback by finishing 12th at the DCI World Class Finals at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, with a 2009 program entitled "Western Side Story." It was the first time the Troopers had finished in DCI's elite top 12 since 1986. Drum corps fans, observers and alumni have remarked that the Troopers organization is now as strong as ever, crediting the leadership of Mike Ottoes (executive director), Fred Morris (corps director), Milward Simpson (president, board of directors), and the teaching staff led by Ralph Hardimon and Dean Westman.
In 2010, the Troopers received new uniforms that vary differently from anything they have ever worn before, but still reflect the traditional 11th Ohio Cavalry
11th Ohio Cavalry
The 11th Ohio Cavalry was a volunteer cavalry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The regiment was stationed in the Dakota and Idaho territories to protect travelers and settlers from Native American raids.- Service :...
uniforms of past years. The hope of the staff is that these uniforms will provide a cleaner, more modern look while still sticking to the Troopers identity.
Today, the Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps continues in its mission to provide a positive experience for young people, drawing members from every region of the United States, Europe and even Asia. In the fall of 2009, more than 500 applicants sought positions in the 137-member corps.
Corps Operations
The corps offices are located in Casper, Wyoming, in the Troopers Center. The corps runs their Bingo operation in the same facility, as well as their fleet of charter buses, semi trailers, and auxiliary vehicles.The organization oversees the drum corps itself (its primary program offering), and all the operations that go with such a program, including but not limited to the nine week long summer tour, monthly winter training camps, souvenir sales, and so on. Also under the organization is the Trooper Cadets, a summer band program.
HO TROOP!
Awards and achievements
VFW National Champions - 1966, 1970VFW National Silver Medalist - 1963, 1967, 1971
VFW National Bronze Medalist - 1969
VFW National Finals - 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971
VFW National Prelims - 1962
American Legion National Championships - 1961, 1962,
World Open Champions - 1965, 1969, 1970
World Open Silver Medalist - 1966
World Open Finals - 1965, 1966, 1969, 1970, 1971
World Open Prelims - 1964
CYO National Champions - 1968, 1969, 1970
North American Invitational Champions - 1968, 1969, 1970
North American Open Silver Medalist - 1970
National Jubilee Champions - 1968
DCI Silver Medalist - 1973
DCI Finalist - 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1979, 1981, 1985, 1986, 2009
DCI Semi-finalist - 1976, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1994, 1995, 2008, 2010, 2011
DCI Quarter-finalist - 1977, 1978, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007
Performances
The Troopers tour North America every summer for nine weeks while participating in DCI's Summer Music Games. The members travel between 10,000 and 15,000 miles during this time and visit 20-30 states. The summer tours include performing in around 30 shows, parades, and local community events. In the past the corps has competed in Drum Corps America, American Legion, VFW, and Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) circuits as well.The Troopers have performed for several US Presidents, most recently in the Inaugural Parade in 2001 for George W. Bush, as well as for Vice President Dick Cheney (a Wyoming native), Presidents Johnson, Nixon, Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and Clinton, members of the US Congress, the World's Fair, and for the NATO Defense College. They were the first competitive drum corps to perform in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade.
2008
The title of the Troopers 2008 production was "The Ironhorse Express". The musical selections included -Ghostriders in the Sky by Stan Jones
Canyon of Heroes by Sean O'Loughlin
The Ghost Train Tryptich by Eric Whitacre
Sasparilla by John Mackey
Song of the Gandy Dances by Richard Saucedo
The Great Revival by William Gordon
The corps 50th Anniversary was commemorated with the creation of a corps history book, titled "Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps: Celebrating 50 Years of Honor, Loyalty, and Dedication". It may be purchased through the corps' "On-Line Sheepwagon". The Troopers also formed an alumni corps for the 50th Anniversary which performed with the A corps in Cheyenne, Wyoming on July 11, 2008.
The corps finished their 50th Anniversary season strong, placing 16th in the World Class Semifinals with a score of 81.100. This is the first time since 1995 that the corps has finished in Semifinals.
2009
The Troopers 2009 program was titled "Western Side Story". Musical selections included:The Cave
Maria from West Side Story
Somewhere from West Side Story
Adelina de Maya
America from West Side Story
Spaghetti Western
One Hand, One Heart from West Side Story
Pentium
West Side Story (Reprise)
2009 Drum Corps International World Class Finalist, 12th Place
2010
The Troopers 2010 production was titled "Wanted". Musical selections included:Wanted Dead or Alive (By Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi is an American rock band from Sayreville, New Jersey. Formed in 1983, Bon Jovi consists of lead singer and namesake Jon Bon Jovi , guitarist Richie Sambora, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, as well as current bassist Hugh McDonald...
)
Trittico
Proven Lands (from There Will Be Blood)
Suite from Our Town
Borinage
Journey to the Center of the Earth
Night Flight (from Swing Shift)
2010 Drum Corps International World Class Semi-Finalist, 15th place with score of 83.350
2011
The Troopers 2011 production is titled "The Road Home". Musical selections included:The Old Church, 2001 (from Prairie Songs, No. 6) Written for choir by Stephen Paulus (born 1949)
China Gates, 1977. Written for solo piano by John Adams (born 1947)
Memory, 2002 (from Nepomuk’s Dances, 3rd mvt.) Written for string quartet by Marcelo Zarvos (born 1969)
Muted and Sensuous, 1948 (from Four Piano Blues, 3rd mvt.) Written for solo piano by Aaron Copland (born 1900)
Mama, 1996. Written for violin, cello & dbl bass by Edgar Meyer (born 1960)