Spartans Drum and Bugle Corps

The Spartans Drum and Bugle Corps is an Open Class competitive junior drum and bugle corps. Based in Nashua, New Hampshire, the Spartans performs in Drum Corps International (DCI) competitions.[1] The Spartans won the DCI Division II World Championship in 1997, 1998, 2004, 2005, 2007, and in 2019, 2023, and 2024 won the DCI Open Class Championship that replaced Divisions II and III in 2008.[2]

Spartans Drum and Bugle Corps
LocationNashua, New Hampshire
DivisionOpen Class
Founded1955 (1955)
PresidentPaul LaFlamme
DirectorAnthony Montesion
Championship titles
  • 1997
  • 1998
  • 2004
  • 2005
  • 2007
  • 2019
  • 2023
  • 2024
Websitewww.spartansdbc.org

History

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Source:[2][3]

The Spartans Drum and Bugle Corps was founded in 1955 by Albert LaFlamme. LaFlamme was succeeded as corps director by his son, Peter. Today, the corps is run by Albert's grandson, Paul LaFlamme.[4]

A fire in 1999 destroyed nearly everything the corps owned: instruments, uniforms, equipment, vehicles. The dedication of the corps' members, staff, and supporters, as well as the greater drum corps community, kept the corps in operation and in competition, with the corps placing second that year at DCI Division II Finals in Madison, Wisconsin.

Despite being DCI Division II Champions five times, in 2009 the economic downturn forced the Spartans into bankruptcy. Bingo revenues had dropped off to a point where the corps discontinued that fundraising activity. Efforts to sell the corps hall had not been successful.[5][6] The corps went through a year of inactivity and reorganized, including a change of management and sale of the corps hall.[7][8] The corps then successfully returned to competition in 2010.[9]

Since returning to the DCI competition field in 2010, the Spartans have never placed outside the top 5 in the Open Class championship. The corps has also qualified for World Class semi finals consecutively since 2012, regularly finishing above a number of World Class corps.

In 2019, ten years after the corps went inactive, the Spartans were crowned the champions of the 2019 DCI Open Class World Championship with a score of 81.050. They were also the only corps to go undefeated throughout the regular season before world finals week. This was repeated in 2023 and 2024 when the Spartans were consecutively crowned undefeated Open Class World Champions.[10]

Sponsorship

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The Spartans Drum and Bugle Corps is a registered non-profit 501(c)(3) musical organization. The president of the organization is Paul "PG" LaFlamme Jr. and the corps director is Anthony Montesion.

Show summary (1972–2024)

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Source:[2]

Key
Light blue background indicates DCI Open Class Finalist[a]
Goldenrod background indicates DCI Open Class Champion[a]
Pale green background indicates DCI World Class Semifinalist[b]
  1. ^ a b From 1986–1991, the Spartans competed in Class A, from 1992–2007 in Division II, and have competed since 2008 in Open Class. These are the same tier, just renamed.
  2. ^ From 1997–2001, the Spartans also competed at the Division I championships, and since 2011 at the World Class championships. These are the same competition, just renamed.
Year Repertoire World Championships
Score Placement
1972 Parade of the Charioteers (from Ben Hur) by Miklós Rózsa / Miami Beach / Colour My World & To Be Free by James Pankow / Miserlou (Traditional), adapted by Nicholas Roubanis / Love Theme (from Ben-Hur) by Miklós Rózsa Did not attend
World Championships
1973 Entrance to Sparta & Nonename by Albert LaFlamme / Soul Explosion by Gladys Bruce / Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be?) by Jimmy Davis, Ram Ramirez & James Sherman / Air Mail Special by Benny Goodman, James Mundy & Charlie Christian / Miserlou (Traditional), adapted by Nicholas Roubanis / Love Theme (from Ben-Hur) by Miklós Rózsa
1974 St. Louis Blues March by W. C. Handy, adapted my Glenn Miller / 2nd Hungarian Rhapsody by Franz Liszt / Moonlight Serenade by Glenn Miller & Mitchell Parish / Sing, Sing, Sing (With a Swing) by Louis Prima / Bésame Mucho by Consuelo Velázquez & Sunny Skylar / Love Theme (from Ben-Hur) by Miklós Rózsa / Basin Street Blues by Spencer Williams
1975 2nd Hungarian Rhapsody by Franz Liszt / Finlandia by Jean Sibelius / Boys and Girls Get Together by Jim Peterik / Miserlou (Traditional), adapted by Nicholas Roubanis / Sunrise, Sunset by Jerry Bock & Sheldon Harnick / Hang 'em High by Dominic Frontiere
1976 2nd Hungarian Rhapsody by Franz Liszt / Hallelujah Chorus by George Frideric Handel / Two Minds Meet by L. Raub & Bill Chase / Poet and Peasant Overture by Franz von Suppé / Finale (from Firebird Suite) by Igor Stravinsky
1977 Flying Home by Benny Goodman, Eddie DeLange, Lionel Hampton & Sydney Robin / Parade of the Charioteers (from Ben-Hur) by Miklós Rózsa / Hallelujah Chorus by George Frideric Handel / Ol' Man River (from Showboat) by Jerome Kern & Oscar Hammerstein II / Poet and Peasant Overture by Franz von Suppé / Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be?) by Jimmy Davis, Ram Ramirez & James Sherman / Live and Let Live by Cole Porter
1978 Compendium / Chump Change (from The New Bill Cosby Show) by Bill Cosby & Quincy Jones / A Day in the Life by Lennon–McCartney / Instant Concert by James Swearingen / Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin / Love Theme (from Ben-Hur) by Miklós Rózsa / Hang 'em High by Dominic Frontiere
1979 Favourite Things / William Tell Overture by Gioachino Rossini / Sun Shower by Chuck Mangione / Night Journey by Doc Severinsen, Ernie Chapman & Fred Crane / Hill Where the Lord Hides by Chuck Mangione / Percussion Overture / Pegasus by Hank Levy
1980–85 No information available
1986 Repertoire unavailable 67.900 8th Place
Class A
1987 Repertoire unavailable 70.400 5th Place
Class A
1988 Liberty Mission (Unknown) / Carmen by Georges Bizet / I Have Dreamed (from The King and I) by Rodgers and Hammerstein / Poet and Peasant Overture by Franz von Suppé 71.900 12th Place
Class A
1989 Camelot
Overture, Parade, Guenevere, What Do the Simple Folk Do? & Before I Gaze at You Again
All from Camelot by Frederick Loewe & Alan Jay Lerner
79.800 6th Place
Class A
1990 Scheherazade
Selections from Scheherazade by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
76.700 7th Place
Class A
1991 Scheherazade
Selections from Scheherazade by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
78.500 11th Place
Class A
1992 Hook
Selections from Hook by John Williams
84.000 7th Place
Division II & III
Finalist
1993 Aladdin
Selections from Aladdin by Alan Menken
84.900 8th Place
Division II
1994 Emerson, Lake, and Palmer
Music by Keith Emerson, Greg Lake & Carl Palmer
82.600 9th Place
Division II
1995 Rome: The Eternal City
Ben-Hur by Miklós Rózsa / Bacchanale (from Samson and Delilah) by Camille Saint-Saëns / Roman Festivals & Pines of the Appian Way (from The Pines of Rome) by Ottorino Respighi
88.800 4th Place
Division II
Finalist
1996 Return to Rome
Inzio (from Ben-Hur) by Miklós Rózsa / Cenotaph by Jack Stamp / Dance of Belkis at Dawn, Dream of King Solomon, War Dance & Orgiastic Dance (from Belkis, Queen of Sheba) by Ottorino Respighi
89.500 4th Place
Division II
Finalist
1997 Three Revelations
Awakening, Contemplation & Rejoicing by Alfred Reed
94.200 1st Place
Division II
Champion
69.800 23rd Place
Division I
1998 Sinfonia Vocci: The Music of David Holsinger
Sinfonia Vocci & Ballet Sacra by David Holsinger
97.100 1st Place
Division II
Champion
73.000 22nd Place
Division I
1999 Easter Symphony
Kings, Deathtree & Symphonia Resurrectus
All from The Easter Symphony by David Holsinger
95.300 2nd Place
Division II
Finalist
73.700 22nd Place
Division I
2000 Glorioso
Glorioso, Oratio, Cantus III & Diofestos
80.750 8th Place
Division II
2001 Gladiator
The Battle & Barbarian Horde (from Gladiator) by Hans Zimmer & Lisa Gerrard / Ben-Hur by Miklós Rózsa
93.950 3rd Place
Division II & III
Finalist
73.800 20th Place
Division I
2002 Guardians
Music from Gladiator by Hans Zimmer & Lisa Gerrard / Ben-Hur by Miklós Rózsa / Music from The Mummy Returns by Alan Silvestri / Bacchanale (from Samson and Delilah) by Camille Saint-Saëns
93.900 5th Place
Division II & III
Finalist
2003 The Divine Comedy
Inferno, Ascension, Paradise & Finale
All from The Divine Comedy, Symphony No. 1 by Robert W. Smith
94.450 3rd Place
Division II & III
Finalist
2004 Medusa
Medusa Lures Poseidon, Athena's Rage, Serpents & The Gorgon's Pursuit
All from Medusa by Key Poulan
96.325 1st Place
Division II & III
Champion
2005 Vizier
Wisdom, Experience, Conceive, Meditation, Ascendant & Vizier: The All-Seeing Eye
All from Vizier by Key Poulan
96.275 1st Place
Division II & III
Champion
2006 Advent Rising
Bounty Hunter, Stolen Transport, Glorious Human, Aurelian Conflict & Canyon Encounter
All from Advent Rising by Tommy Tallarico
94.025 3rd Place
Division II & III
Finalist
2007 Tarot
Fortune Teller; The Emperor and Strength; The Fool; The Magician & The Sun, Death, and Judgment
All from Tarot by Key Poulan, Peter Furnari & Eric Putnam
96.150 1st Place
Division II & III
Champion
2008 Metallic Soundscapes
Kingfishers Catch Fire, Turning & Turbine by John Mackey
82.700 14th Place
Open Class
2009 Corps inactive
2010 Fire Dance
Inferno (from The Divine Comedy) by Robert W. Smith / Caronte, Ferryman of Souls; Entrance Into Hell; Interview of Ulysses & La Giudecca (all from Inferno di Dante) by Key Poulan
93.600 3rd Place
Open Class
Finalist
2011 Midnight
Midnight by Key Poulan / Bella's Lullabye & Other music from Twilight by Carter Burwell
91.500 4th Place
Open Class
Finalist
69.350 26th Place
World Class
2012 Renewal
Infernal Dance, The Princess Game with the Golden Apples & Dance of the Princesses (from The Firebird Suite) / Dance of the Earth (from The Rite of Spring) / Berceuse & Finale (from The Firebird Suite)
All by Igor Stravinsky
91.150 4th Place
Open Class
Finalist
70.750 24th Place
World Class
Semifinalist
2013 Live Free
Music from Swan Lake by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky / Music from The Matrix by Don Davis / Naqoyqatsi by Philip Glass
90.500 4th Place
Open Class
Finalist
72.850 24th Place
World Class
Semifinalist
2014 Olympus
Olympus Intro by Jeff Boulduc, Matt McGuire & Michael Moore / Symphony for Brass and Percussion, Mvt. II by Alfred Reed / You Are So Beautiful by Bruce Fisher, Billy Preston & Dennis Wilson / Symphony No. 2 Mvt. III & There Will Be Rest by Frank Ticheli
77.025 4th Place
Open Class
Finalist
74.050 24th Place
World Class
Semifinalist
2015 Spartans... At The Gates!
Prelude to War – Original music by Key Poulan, Michael Moore & Matt McGuire
Spartan Warrior To Victory – To Victory (from 300) by Tyler Bates
Defending the Gates – Piano Concerto No. 1, 3rd Movement: Toccata Con Fuoco by Keith Emerson
Empyrean Mercenaries – From Trailerhead by Immediate
Battle – The Battle (from Gladiator) by Hans Zimmer & Lisa Gerrard
Glory, Honor & Immortality – Lauds (Praise High Day) by Ron Nelson
76.025 3rd Place
Open Class
Finalist
71.500 23rd Place
World Class
Semifinalist
2016 Totem
Gabriel's Oboe (from The Mission) by Ennio Morricone / Ome Kayo (from Cirque du Soleil's Totem) by Guy Dubuc & Marc Lessard / Conflict by Key Poulan, Michael Moore & Matt McGuire / Crazy in Love by Beyoncé Knowles, Rich Harrison, Shawn Carter & Eugene Record / Sacrifice by Michael Moore & Matt McGuire / Adiemus Chorale VI (SolFa) by Karl Jenkins
74.750 5th Place
Open Class
Finalist
71.475 25th Place
World Class
Semifinalist
2017 Connected
We Are Here to Connect, Missed Connections, ReConnected & We Are All Connected (all by Key Poulan, Michael Moore & Matt McGuire) / Angel by Sarah McLachlan
75.925 5th Place
Open Class
Finalist
73.475 25th Place
World Class
Semifinalist
2018 Da Vinci's Workshop
Meet Leonardo & The Vitruvian Man by Key Poulan, Matt McGuire & Michael Moore / Clair de Lune by Claude Debussy, arranged by Key Poulan & Michael Moore / The Workshop by Matt McGuire & Michael Moore / Sogno di Volare by Christopher Tin, arranged by Key Poulan, Matt McGuire & Michael Moore
75.713 5th Place
Open Class
Finalist
74.250 25th Place
World Class
Semifinalist
2019 Experiment X
Act I: Balkan Dance by Etienne Crausaz / Egyptic by David Satori, Zoe Jakes, Tommy "Sidecar" Cappel (Beats Antique)
Act II: Libertango by Astor Piazzolla
Act III: Shallow by Stefani Germanotta (Lady Gaga), Mark Ronson, Anthony Rossomando & Andrew Wyatt
Act IV: Gretel & Shofukan by Michael League (Snarky Puppy)
81.050 1st Place
Open Class
Champion
80.350 19th Place
World Class
Semifinalist
2020 Season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021 Opted out of competition for the season
2022 On the Edge
Act I: Mustard Gas by Casey Crescenzo, Andy Wildrick, Erick Serna, Nick Crescenzo & Nate Patterson (The Dear Hunter)
Act II: Backlash by Simon Dobson
Act III: Retrograde by James Blake
Act IV: Spark by Hiromi Uehara, Anthony Jackson & Simon Phillips
81.025 4th Place
Open Class
Finalist
76.600 23rd Place
World Class
Semifinalist
2023 Surreal
Zambra by Ojos de Brujo / Redemption for the Pain Endured by The Dear Hunter / Fables of Faubus by Charles Mingus / Playing God by Polyphia / Tragic Kingdom by No Doubt
82.263 1st Place
Open Class
Champion
81.275 19th Place
World Class
Semifinalist
2024 Youtopia
Frontier by Holly Herndon / Sweet Release: Church: Renewing Vows by Wynton Marsallis / Alfonso Muskedunder by Todd Terje / What Was I Made For? by Billie Eilish O'Connell & Finneas O'Connell / Air Waltz by Oliver Davis / Original music by Aaron Goldberg, Mark Sachetta, Bryson Teel & Brian
82.963 1st Place
Open Class
Champion
81.525 19th Place
World Class
Semifinalist

References

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  1. ^ "Corps". Drum Corps International. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
  2. ^ a b c "Spartans". DCX: The Drum Corps Xperience. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  3. ^ Carlson, Michael (2003). Vickers, Steve (ed.). A History of Drum & Bugle Corps, 2 Vols. Vol. 2. Drum Corps World.
  4. ^ "About Us | Spartans Drum & Bugle Corps - Nashua, NH".
  5. ^ "Drum-and-bugle corps files for bankruptcy". 13 January 2009.
  6. ^ Strom, Stephanie (20 February 2009). "Charities Now Seek Bankruptcy Protection". The New York Times.
  7. ^ "TransIP - Reserved domain".
  8. ^ "Cash reward: Spartans Drum and Bugle Corps is Chase-ing money award | New Hampshire NewHampshire.com". www.newhampshire.com. Archived from the original on 12 May 2014.
  9. ^ "Spartans Drum and Bugle Corps". 16 October 2010.
  10. ^ "DCI Open Class World Championship Finals".
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