White Sabers Drum and Bugle Corps

Last updated
White Sabers Drum & Bugle Corps
TypeDrum and Bugle Corps
Location Gates, NY
DivisionClass A (2005–14)
Open Class (2015–2021, 2023-Present)
World Class (2022) [1]
Founded1928;96 years ago (1928)
Corps DirectorBen Chaffee
Championship titlesDCA Class A: 2013, 2014
Website whitesabers.org

White Sabers Drum & Bugle Corps is an all-age competitive drum and bugle corps based in Gates, NY. [2] Founded in 1928, the corps has a long history as a parade corps. [3] White Sabers is a two-time DCA Class A World Champion (2013, 2014), a perennial DCA Open Class finalist - achieving 4th place in 2019. The Corps began competing in DCA's new World Class in 2022.

Contents

The corps was formerly known as the American Legion New York Post #87 Drum and Bugle Corps.

About

The Corps was founded in 1928 by the commander of the American Legion Post #87 in Dansville, New York (later renamed Daniel Goho, Inc. New York Post #87). In 1957, the corps gained independence from the American Legion post, and continued to perform as a concert and parade corps under the name Dansville White Sabers. [4]

The corps competed at the Red Carpet Association Championship in 1977. [5] Sometime later the corps became inactive.

After "fourteen years" of inactivity, an alumni reunion in 1994 revived interest in a Dansville-based corps. [2] In 2004, [6] the corps became active again, but did not compete.

In 2005, the White Sabers joined DCA as a Class A corps, and placed sixth against ten other competitors. The corps was a Class A finalist in 2006 and 2012, and Class A champions in 2013 and 2014. [7] Kevin Gamin described the corps' 2014 performance as "strong enough to have made Open Class finals. [8] " White Sabers advanced to Open Class in 2015, and were finalists every year they were a part of Open Class. 2015 Executive Director Leslie Amico was awarded Open Class "Director of the Year."

In 2022, the Corps officially relocated from Dansville, NY to the Rochester suburb of Gates, NY. Also in 2022, DCA reclassified their competitive structure with the addition of a World Class—the White Sabers elected to compete in World Class, joining the Bushwackers, Reading Buccaneers, and Hawthorne Caballeros. Corps Director Ben Chaffee was awarded World Class "Director of the Year" in 2022. The corps reclassified to DCA Open Class for the 2023 season, finishing in 2nd by a narrow margin of 0.25 points while taking caption victories in Brass, Visual, and Guard, while Ben Chaffee was once again awarded "Director of the Year" this time in Open Class. After the 2023 DCA season, the White Sabers like other DCA corps became part of the new DCI All-Age class.

Show Summary (2004–present)

Source: [3] [9]

Gold indicates DCA Championship; blue background indicates DCA class finalist.

YearThemeRepertoireScoreResult
2004Selection from Songs Without Words by Gustav Holst / "Moondance" by Van Morrison / Santana Medley/Yaleo (original) / "Tuxedo Junction" by Erskine Hawkins, Bill Johnson, and Julian Dash / "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" by Patrick Gilmore / "Malagueña" by Ernesto Lecuona
2005Ain't It Rich: Music of Buddy RichSelections from Channel One Suite by Bill Reddie / "Space Shuttle" by John LaBarbera / "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" by Josef Zawinul / "Something" by George Harrison / "Dancing Men" by John LaBarbera68.7386th
(Class A)
2006Cool Shades of Latin Jazz"Feeling Good" by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley / "Save the Last Dance for Me" by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman / "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" by Andrew Lloyd Webber / "The Tiger of San Pedro" by John LaBarbera76.5132nd
(Class A)
2007The GladiatorFate of the Gods by Steven Reineke / "Mars" (from The Planets ) by Gustav Holst / Selection from Troy by James Horner / Selection from Gladiator by Hans Zimmer 75.2758th
(Class A)
2008Music of Robert W. SmithSelections from: The Great Locomotive Chase, Twelve Seconds to the Moon, Into the Storm, Africa: Ceremony, Song and Ritual, The Ascension, and Declaration in Blue by Robert W. Smith 77.3137th
(Class A)
2009The Music of Cirque du SoleilSelections from La Nouba and Quidam by Benoit Jutras 68.3136th
(Class A)
2010Cirque du Soleil"Incantation" and "Ninkou Latora" (from Quidam) by Benoit Jutras / "Ombra" (from Dralion ) by Violaine Corradi / "Reve Rouge" (from La Nouba) by Benoit Jutras / "Ravendhi" (from Dralion) by Benoit Jutras73.4258th
(Class A)
2011Rhapsody in Shades of Blue"Blue Morning, Blue Day" by Foreigner / "Blue" by Eiffel 65 / "Devil with the Blue Dress On" by Mitch Ryder / "Blue Rondo à la Turk" by Dave Brubeck / Selection from Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin 72.7007th
(Class A)
2012From Death 'Till DawnSelection from Danse macabre by Camille Saint-Saëns / Dies irae (from Requiem) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart / "Black Magic Woman" by Carlos Santana / "Love Potion No. 9" by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller / "Moondance" by Van Morrison77.0304th
(Class A)
2013Fanfare for a New WorldSelections from: Fanfare for a New Era by Jack Stamp, Symphony No. 9 by Antonín Dvořák and Dance of the New World by Dana Wilson / "Overture" and "New World" from Selmasongs by Björk 85.9301st
(Class A)
2014Arabian NightsSelections from: Arabian Dances by Brian Balmages, Scheherazade by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov / "Misirlou" (traditional) / "Nights in White Satin" by The Moody Blues 88.6001st
(Class A)
2015Incantation, Ritual and DanseSelections from: The Rite of Spring by Igor Stravinsky, Incantation and Dance by John Barnes Chance / "Incantation" (from Quidam) by Benoit Jutras / "Uninvited" by Alanis Morissette / "Danse Bacchanale" (from Samson and Delilah) by Camille Saint-Saëns88.3308th
(Open Class)
2016UnrequitedSelections from: Piano Sonata No. 14 by Ludwig van Beethoven and Romeo and Juliet by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky / "Dance of the Knights" (from Romeo and Juliet) by Sergei Prokofiev / "Marche au supplice" (from Symphonie fantastique ) by Hector Berlioz / No. 1. "Andante sostenuto" (from Symphony No. 4) by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky / II. “Allegretto" (from Symphony No. 7) by Ludwig van Beethoven / "My Immortal" by Evanescence 88.7307th
(Open Class)
2017WaterwaySSelections from: Waterways by Ludovico Einaudi, Equus by Eric Whitacre and Rain by Brian Balmages / "Bridge over Troubled Water" by Paul Simon / Selection from Niagara Falls by Michael Daugherty 93.3805th
(Open Class)
2018cONvErgenceTheme from Stranger Things by Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein / Asphalt Cocktail by John Mackey / "Say Something" by Ian Axel / Selection from The Firebird by Igor Stravinsky 91.7387th
(Open Class)
2019007 - Becoming BondYou Know My Name (from Casino Royale) / Welcome To Cuba (from Die Another Day) / Skyfall / Live and Let Die / Goldeneye91.9504th
(Open Class)
2020Season Cancelled due to COVID-19 Pandemic
2021Brave New WorldCanon in D - Pachelbel / New World Symphony - Dvorak / Alone - Marshmello / Rise Up - Andrea Day / Ode to Joy - Beethoven85.6006th

(Open Class)

2022Heavy Metal Iron Foundry by Alexander Mosolov / Enter Sandman , Nothing Else Matters , Battery, and For Whom the Bell Tolls All by Metallica / Gates of Gold by Joseph Curiale 90.8004th

(World Class)

2023InvasionThe Hand of Fate, Pt. 1 (from Signs) by James Newton Howard / Lightning Field by John Mackey / The Darkest Day, Fire Storm, and The Day We Fight Back (from Independence Day) by David Arnold 89.1502nd (Open Class)

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drum Corps Associates</span>

Drum Corps Associates (DCA) was a governing body for modern all-age and senior drum and bugle corps in North America. Its responsibilities included sanctioning competitions, certifying adjudicators, maintaining and enforcing rules of competition, and hosting an annual World Championship during Labor Day weekend. Historically, DCA members were referred to as "senior corps" in contrast to the "junior corps", who limit participants to a maximum 22 years of age. As DCA had no age restriction, the term "all-age corps" has come into common use.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps</span> California drum and bugle corps

The Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps is a World Class competitive junior drum and bugle corps based in Concord, California. The Blue Devils are members of Drum Corps International (DCI). They have finished first or second since 2007, and have placed no lower than fifth since 1975. They also hold the record for the highest score in DCI history, winning the 2014 DCI World Championships with a score of 99.65. The Blue Devils are the current DCI Champions, with a record of twenty-one titles to date.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps</span> California drum and bugle corps

Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps is a competitive drum and bugle corps, based in Santa Clara, California. The Santa Clara Vanguard is one of the thirteen founding member corps of Drum Corps International (DCI) and a seven time DCI World Champion, winning the title most recently in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps</span> American World Class competitive drum and bugle corps

The Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps, or simply The Bluecoats, is a World Class competitive drum and bugle corps. Based in Canton, Ohio, the Bluecoats are a member corps of Drum Corps International (DCI). The Bluecoats were the 2016 Drum Corps International World Class Champions.

The Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps is a World Class competitive junior drum and bugle corps. Based in Denver, Colorado, the Blue Knights are a member corps of Drum Corps International (DCI).

The Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps is a World Class competitive junior drum and bugle corps. Based in La Crosse, Wisconsin, the Blue Stars was one of the thirteen founding member corps of Drum Corps International.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mandarins Drum and Bugle Corps</span>

The Mandarins Drum and Bugle Corps is a World Class competitive drum and bugle corps. Based in Sacramento, California, the Mandarins is a member corps of Drum Corps International (DCI). Holders of eight DCI divisional championship titles, the Mandarins made its first World Class Finals appearance on August 11, 2018, with a tenth-place finish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reading Buccaneers Drum and Bugle Corps</span>

The Reading Buccaneers Drum and Bugle Corps is an all-age drum and bugle corps based in Reading, Pennsylvania. The corps was a charter member of Drum Corps Associates, and is now a member of the Drum Corps International All-Age Class.

The Bushwackers Drum and Bugle Corps is an all-age drum and bugle corps that competes in the Drum Corps Associates circuit, It was founded in 1981 in Harrison, New Jersey. The corps is based in Princeton, New Jersey and is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. The corps' percussion section is the only one in either junior or senior corps to ever win six straight High Percussion Awards at Championships: 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991. The Corps has won the Drum Corps Associates Open Class World Champions six times.

The Seattle Cascades Drum and Bugle Corps is a World Class competitive drum and bugle corps. Based in Seattle, Washington, the Cascades is a member corps of Drum Corps International.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pacific Crest Drum and Bugle Corps</span>

The Pacific Crest Drum and Bugle Corps is a World Class competitive junior drum and bugle corps. Based in Diamond Bar, California and City of Industry, California, Pacific Crest is a member corps of Drum Corps International (DCI).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Govenaires Drum and Bugle Corps</span>

The Govenaires Drum and Bugle Corps is an senior drum and bugle corps based in St. Peter, Minnesota, that competes in the Drum Corps International (DCI) All-Age class. Founded in 1927, the Governaires are considered to be the oldest continuously active drum and bugle corps. Prior to the dissolution of Drum Corps Associates (DCA), The Governaires won four DCA Class A World Champions.

Fusion Core Drum and Bugle Corps is an all-age drum and bugle corps from Morris County, New Jersey. The corps is a member of Drum Corps Associates (DCA), and as of 2018 compete in Open Class.

The Cincinnati Tradition Drum and Bugle Corps is an all-age drum and bugle corps based in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States. The corps is an active member of Drum Corps Associates (DCA), and two-time Class A champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carolina Gold Drum and Bugle Corps</span>

Carolina Gold Drum and Bugle Corps is an inactive Open Class competitive junior drum and bugle corps. Formerly based in Rocky Mount and Greensboro in its earlier years, Carolina Gold is now based in Raleigh, NC.

The Minnesota Brass Drum and Bugle Corps is an all-age drum and bugle corps based in St. Paul, Minnesota, United States, that competes in Drum Corps Associates (DCA). A consistent DCA Finalist, Minnesota Brass was the 2011 DCA Open Class World Champion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gold Drum and Bugle Corps</span>

The Gold Drum and Bugle Corps is an Open Class competitive junior drum and bugle corps. Based in Oceanside, California, Gold performs in Drum Corps International (DCI) competitions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">River City Rhythm Drum and Bugle Corps</span>

The River City Rhythm Drum and Bugle Corps is an Open Class competitive junior drum and bugle corps, based in Anoka, Minnesota. River City Rhythm performs in Drum Corps International (DCI) competitions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skyliners Drum and Bugle Corps</span>

The New York Skyliners Drum and Bugle Corps(formerly the Raymond A. Garbarina Memorial Corps, and Garbarina Skyliners) are an A Class competitive senior drum and bugle corps based in New York City, and currently rehearsing in Tioga County, New York.. The Skyliners were one of the original founding corps of Drum Corps Associates (DCA) and have won every major title available to a senior drum & bugle corps. The Skyliners are sponsored by the Raymond A. Garbarina Memorial American Legion Post #1523 in New York City. They have won the DCA World Championship three times, the DCA A Class Championship twice, and the American Legion National Title twice.

References

  1. "2022 Competitive Classes Announced!". 14 June 2022.
  2. 1 2 "About Us". White Sabers Drum Corps. 2012-10-26. Retrieved 2018-09-18.
  3. 1 2 "DCX - Drum Corps Xperience". www.dcxmuseum.org. Retrieved 2018-09-18.
  4. Ewing, George M., ed. (1977-08-10). "Farmington Fire Parade Awards Made". Daily Messenger. Vol. 181, no. 156. Canandaigua, New York: Canandaigua Messenger, Inc. p. 9.
  5. "DCX - Drum Corps Xperience". www.dcxmuseum.org. Retrieved 2018-09-18.
  6. Gamin, Kevin (2014-09-05). Vickers, Steve (ed.). "50th Anniversary DCA Championship a last-minute victory for Buccaneers". Drum Corps World. Vol. 43, no. 11. Madison, Wisconsin: Sight & Sounds, Inc. p. 7. Retrieved 2018-09-18.
  7. "Buccaneers, White Sabers take home 2013 DCA World Championship titles". www.dci.org. 2013-09-03. Retrieved 2014-06-12.
  8. Gamin, Kevin (2015-09-11). Vickers, Steve (ed.). "9/06 -- DCA Finals". Drum Corps World. Vol. 43, no. 10. Madison, Wisconsin: Sight & Sounds, Inc. p. 12. Retrieved 2018-09-18.
  9. "Drum Corps Associates » Historical Scores". dcacorps.org. Retrieved 2018-09-02.