Connecticut Hurricanes Drum and Bugle Corps

Last updated
The Connecticut Hurricanes
Connecticut Hurricanes Logo.png
LocationSeymour, CT
DivisionDCI All-Age
Founded1932
Executive DirectorDavid Pyrch
Championship titles American Legion
  • 1967
DCA Open Class
  • 1967
  • 1969
  • 1981
  • 2022
  • 2023

The Connecticut Hurricanes Drum and Bugle Corps, also known by their nickname the Hurcs, is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization based in Seymour, Connecticut existing as an all-age competitive drum and bugle corps. The Hurricanes reigned as the oldest, continually active organization in Drum Corps Associates until its merger with Drum Corps International. [1] [2]

Contents

History

Pre-competitive years, 1932–1954

The Hurricanes were formed in 1932 in Derby, CT and were originally known as the John H. Collins Post Fife Drum & Bugle Corps. Members were predominantly veterans from World War I. They thrived as a parade corps for twenty three years accompanying the John H. Collins American Legion Post in local parades as well as to the American Legion's State and National Conventions throughout the U.S.A. In the post World War II years of the 1940s the ranks were swelled by returning vets, as well as many new members, and the interest began shifting towards competitive field competition, an activity rapidly gaining in popularity. The fifes were phased out beginning in 1949 as the corps transformed to drums and bugles only.

The Hurricanes horn line warming up at the Israeli Day Parade in New York City Hurcs Hornline.jpg
The Hurricanes horn line warming up at the Israeli Day Parade in New York City

Pre-DCA, 1955–1963

The Corps officially transformed into a competitive field corps in 1955 and became a member of the Yankee Circuit, and subsequently the Northeastern Circuit. Though the corps was unofficially known by the nickname Hurricanes since 1951, Hurricane Diane and Hurricane Connie, powerful back to back storms that devastated the Naugatuck Valley of Connecticut in 1955, served as the inspiration to permanently change the name of the corps to the Connecticut Hurricanes in February 1956. The fledgling corps endured the expected growing pains that accompanied the transition in those first few years, but a top notch instructional staff and gritty determination propelled the Corps towards new heights and they would eventually become one of the premier corps of the Northeastern Circuit, where they competed through 1963, garnering two championships.

Modern years, 1964–present

In 1964 on the heels of a successful rise to prominence in the Northeastern Circuit, the Hurricanes became a charter member of Drum Corps Associates (DCA). Since that inaugural year of DCA competition, they have captured five DCA Championship titles (1967, 1969, 1981, 2022, and 2023) and have failed to reach the finals in the DCA championship contest five times (1986, 1989, 2003, 2016, and 2017). The Hurricanes have finished in the coveted top five in DCA finals competition a respectable twenty-six times. Starting in 2024, due to DCA merging with DCI, the Hurricanes will now be competing in the new DCI All-Age Class.

Show summary (1972-2023)

YearThemeRepertoireScorePlacement
1972Fanfare for the New * Fiddler on the Roof * Malaguena * The Impossible Dream (from Man of La Mancha) * America the Beautiful * Rule Britannia * La Marseillaise * Fanfare for the Common Man * Hang 'Em High * Magnificent Seven * Sprach Zarathustra (from 2001: A Space Odyssey)88.2004th (tie)
1973Circus Medley; Entry of the Gladiators, Ballyhoo March, Barnum and Bailey's Favorites & Billboard March * Theme from Shaft * Rhapsody in Blue * Journey for Peace * America the Beautiful * Rule Britannia * La Marseillaise * Fanfare for the Common Man * The Impossible Dream (from Man of La Mancha) * What the World Needs Now * Hang 'Em High * Magnificent Seven * Billboard March (reprise)85.3003rd
1974Stormy Weather (from Stormy Weather) * Don't Rain on My Parade (from Funny Girl) * Rat Tat Tat * Margie * Circus Medley; Entry of the Gladiators, Ballyhoo March, Barnum and Bailey's Favorites & Billboard March * The Way We Were * Tropical Heatwave * They Call the Wind Maria (from Paint Your Wagon) * Magnificent Seven * Stormy Weather (from Stormy Weather)66.7006th
1975I Got Rhythm (from Girl Crazy) * Walk on the Wild Side * Hallelujah Chorus * Jesus Christ Superstar * Hang 'Em High * Magnificent Seven * Circus Medley; Entry of the Gladiators, Ballyhoo March, Barnum and Bailey's Favorites & Billboard March * My Way86.9804th
1976I Got Rhythm * Ease on Down the Road * Tropical Heat Wave * Hallelujah Chorus * Yankee Doodle * Stars and Stripes Forever *79.9506th
1977Light Cavalry Overture * Watch Closely Now (drum solo) * Mighty High * Stormy Weather * Oklahoma Crude * Velvet Green (drum solo) * Nadia's Theme * Magnificent Seven78.6508th
1978Cantina Band (from Star Wars) * Main Title (from Star Wars) * Throne Room (from Star Wars) * Antares, the Star * Princess Leia's Theme (from Star Wars) * Sanctus (from The Mass) * Agnus Dei (from The Mass) * Chorale Almighty Father (from The Mass) * Offertory (from The Mass) * Saturday Night Fever Medley * Salsation * My Way * Magnificent Seven82.8005th
1979Children of Sanchez * Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band * "Got to Get You into My Life" * Nowhere Man * Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band * My Way * Magnificent Seven78.6505th
1980Les Preludes Overture * Queen of Sheba March * Swing, Swing, Swing (from 1941) * Spirit of America Medley * Magnificent Seven86.3503rd
1981Les Preludes Overture * Queen of Sheba March * Swing, Swing, Swing (from 1941) * Salute to Freedom * Devil Went Down to Georgia * It's My Turn * Magnificent Seven89.6501st
1982Rustic Wedding Overture * Moonlight Serenade * Swing, Swing, Swing (from 1941) * Salute to Freedom * Let It Be Me * Magnificent Seven87.6503rd
1983Overture (from Swan Lake) * Rustic Wedding March * Swing, Swing, Swing (from 1941) * Hallelujah Chorus * Memory (from Cats) * Magnificent Seven82.2007th
1984Meadowland * Pictures at an Exhibition * Gumbie Cats (from Cats) * Rhapsody in Blue * Magnificent Seven83.2506th
1985Olympic Fanfare * Imagination * Don't Leave Me * I Loved These Days * Magnificent Seven74.0509th
1986Concerto to End All Concertos * Catavento * Return of the Magnificent Seven * They Call the Wind Maria * Greatest Love of All * Magnificent Seven73.40012th
1987Theme (from An American Tail) * Market Street * Begin the Beguine * They Call the Wind Maria (from Paint Your Wagon) * Magnificent Seven82.64010th
1988Magnificent Seven Suite * Requiem for the Masses * Platoon * America the Beautiful * Market Place * Begin the Beguine * Try to Remember (from The Fantasticks) * The Way We Were * Magnificent Seven81.0409th
1989Buddy Rich Tribute; Bugle Call Rag & Willowcrest * West Side Story Medley; Maria, Somewhere, & Something's Coming * Magnificent Seven * Hang 'Em High * Magnificent Seven (reprise)82.00011th
1990Night on Bald Mountain * Pictures at an Exhibition * Swing Street * Cleanin' Up the Town * Wind Beneath My Wings * Magnificent Seven85.90010th
1991Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered * That Old Black Magic * Umulu * Symphonie Fantastique90.5005th
1992Gospel John * Make His Praise Glorious * Pour On the Power * Amazing Grace * Maybe God Is Tryin' to Tell You Something93.2004th
1993Ben Hur"Ben Hur"... Theme Song * Prologue * Adoration of the Magi * The Rowing of the Galley Slaves * The Naval Battle * Chorale * Finale91.2005th
1994Ben Hur"Ben Hur"... Theme Song * Prologue * Adoration of the Magi * Rowing of the Galley Slaves * Naval Battle * Finale89.9005th
1995"Hurcs Through the Years"... Stormy Weather * Rhapsody in Blue/Concerto in "F" medley by Gershwin * They Call the Wind Maria * Magnificent Seven90.6005th
1996To Die For (from The Lion King) * Hippo Attack (from Congo) * Bail Out (from Congo) * Umulu * Medley (from The Lion King)84.0009th
1997Sophisticated Lady * It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing * Caravan * Autumn Leaves * Magnificent Seven87.6006th
1998Baroque Samba * Stella by Starlight * Swing, Swing, Swing (from 1941)87.7007th
1999Vision of the American West"Vision of the American West"... Magnificent Seven Suite * Hang 'Em High90.1006th
2000Celtic Pride: Music from Far and Away"Celtic Pride: Music from Far and Away"... The Land Race (from Far and Away) * Greensleeves * Fantasia on the Dargason (from Second Suite in F) * Joseph and Shannon * Blowing Off Steam -drum solo * Finale (from Far and Away)91.3006th
2001Storm Warning"Storm Warning"...You Are My Sunshine (jazz version) * Stormy Weather (from Stormy Weather) * Hurricane (drum solo) * Come In from the Rain * Somewhere Over the Rainbow85.10010th
2002A Tribute to American Composers"A Tribute to American Composers" - Fanfare for the Common Man * Symphony #3, Mvt. 3 * Agnus Dei (from Adagio for Strings) * Ballet Sacra88.0008th
2003Hurcs in Vegas"Hurcs in Vegas"... Godzilla Eats Las Vegas * Viva Las Vegas * Theme from "I Dream of Jeannie" * Magnificent Seven * Bacchanal * I'll Be Seeing You * Heartbreak Hotel84.30011th
2004The Hurcs 50th Anniversary Celebration : The Magnificent 50Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin / Make His Praise Glorious by Bill Wolaver / The Storm by John Meehan84.4759th
2005The Year It all Began"The Year It All Began"... Frankie Machine (from The Man with the Golden Arm) * To Kill a Mockingbird84.42510th
2006Jesus Christ Superstar"Jesus Christ Superstar"... Heaven on Their Minds * Everything's Alright * Jesus Must Die * Trial Before Pilate * John Nineteen Forty One * Superstar86.7387th
2007The Music of Leonard Bernstein"The Music of Leonard Bernstein"...On the Waterfront * Mambo (from West Side Story) * Make Our Garden Grow (from Candide) * Overture to Candide92.4887th
2008Journey West"Journey West"... Billy the Kid * Shenandoah * They Call the Wind Maria * Hoedown * Magnificent Seven94.9134th
2009The Gold Rush"The Gold Rush"... Gates of Gold: Call of the Mountain * Theme from Can-Can * The Red Pony * Grover's Corners (from Our Town) * Silverado95.8384th
2010Heaven Sent"Heaven Sent"... Gloria * Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee * God Said (from Bernstein's Mass) * Before the Throne of God Above * Gloria95.3384th
2011Gersshwin: Old, New and Blue"Gershwin: Old, New, and Blue"... Porgy and Bess * Concerto in F * Rhapsody in Blue * But Not for Me * Fascinating Rhythm94.3504th
2012Blokes and Birds"Blokes and Birds"... Rule Britannia * Downtown * Georgy Girl * Windy * First Suite in E-Flat * Greensleeves * Water Music * Major Modern General (drum solo) * Crown Imperial * The Windmills of Your Mind * Fantasia on the Dargason (from Second Suite in F) * Turn, Turn * God Save the Queen * A Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra93.1804th
2013Rage Against the Machine"Rage Against the Machine"... Enter the Machine * The Machine (from the Fifth Symphony) * Mechanical Love (from Bicentennial Man) * Sam at the Lake (from Transformers) * Revenge of the Fallen * Flynn Lives (from Tron Legacy) * My Name Is Lincoln (from The Island)84.8509th
2014Always Greener"Always Greener"... The Promise of Living (from Tender Land) * They Call the Wind Maria (from Paint Your Wagon) * Children's Dance (from Merry Mount Suite) * Make Our Garden Grow (from Candide) * Magnificent Seven87.3508th
2015After Hours"After Hours"...Sing Sing Sing * Since I Don't Have You * Nutville * Harlem Nocturne * Jump Jive an' Wail83.80010th
2016Freedom"Freedom"...Amazing Grace * Freedom * Nelle Tue Mani (from The Gladiator) * Freedom Trilogy82.2513th
2017Porgy and Bess"Porgy & Bess" - My Man's Gone Now (from Porgy and Bess) * Summertime (from Porgy and Bess) * Bess, You Is My Woman Now (from Porgy and Bess) * It Ain't Necessarily So (from Porgy and Bess) * Oh, Lord, I'm On My Way (from Porgy and Bess)79.7813th
2018Clash Atop Olympus"Clash Atop Olympus"...Original composition framing a Greek Mythology themed show...85.2759th
2019The Deadly Seven"The Deadly Seven"...Original composition based on the Seven Deadly Sins84.1508th
2020Season cancelled due to COVID-19 Pandemic
2021Brought to Light"Brought to Light"...Discover (Leap) * Expose (Prelude to Being Faster) * Emerge (But I will Always be Faster)85.4507th
2022Journey Home"Journey Home"...Home * Call to Adventure * Challenges and Temptations * Both Sides Now89.4501st

(Open Class)

2023Channel Green"Channel Green"...Stormy Weather * Blowin' in the Wind * White Rabbit * Rocket Man89.4001st

(Open Class)

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References

  1. Fisher, John M. (2019). Connecticut Hurricanes Drum & Bugle Corps. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN   978-1-4671-0388-6.
  2. Pisani, Joseph F. (May 5, 1974). "'Connecticut Hurricanes' Looking Ahead To a Championship Drum Corps Season". The Bridgeport Post . pp. C7.