Drum Corps Associates Open Class World Champions

Updated on Dec 29, 2023

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Similar Drum Corps Associates, Reading Buccaneers Drum and, Hawthorne Caballeros Drum and, Empire Statesmen Drum and, Minnesota Brass Drum and

During Labor Day Weekend, Drum Corps Associates (DCA) Open Class corps compete to earn the title of DCA Open Class World Champion. The championships consist of 2 rounds (Prelims and Finals) held on 2 consecutive nights (the Saturday and Sunday nights of Labor Day weekend). All corps compete at Prelims, with the top 10 Open Class and top 4 Class A corps competing at Finals. The champion is determined by the overall high score in the Finals competition. There are also a number of caption awards (high brass, high percussion, high visual, etc.), though the process of determination for those awards has changed from year to year.

Only ten corps have won at least one DCA title (including 2 ties):

Reading Buccaneers - 14 titles

Hawthorne Caballeros - 9 titles

Bushwackers - 6 titles (1 tie)

Long Island Sunrisers - 6 titles (1 tie)

Empire Statesmen - 5 titles (1 tie)

Syracuse Brigadiers - 5 titles (1 tie)

Connecticut Hurricanes - 3 titles

New York Skyliners - 3 titles

Minnesota Brass - 1 title

Westshoremen - 1 title

Cadets2 - 1 title

As of the conclusion of the 2015 competitive season, the Buccaneers, Bushwackers, Caballeros, Hurricanes, Cadets2, Minnesota Brass, Skyliners, and Sunrisers remained in active Open Class competition. The Brigadiers, Empire Statesmen, and Westshoremen were inactive.

1965

Champion: Reading Buccaneers of Reading, Pennsylvania

Repertoire:

Burke's Law

From This Moment On

Portrait of My Love

Maria

This Had Better Be The Night

El Cid

After You've Gone

Beyond the Sea

Score: 84.50

Location: Milford, Connecticut

Venue: Jonathan Law Field

Date: September 11

1966

Champion: New York Skyliners of New York, NY

Repertoire:

Charlie Welch (from Mr. Wonderful)

Columbia the Gem of the Ocean (from Thousands Cheer)

That Old Black Magic (from Bus Stop)

Flight of the Bumblebee

Once in Love with Amy (from Where's Charley?)

Hava Nagila

Oklahoma (from Oklahoma!)

Score: 84.53

Location: Bridgeport, Connecticut

Venue: JFK Stadium

Date: September 4

1967

Champion: Connecticut Hurricanes of Derby, Connecticut

Repertoire:

You Gotta Start Off Each Day With A Song

Just One Of Those Songs

Under the Double Eagle

National Emblem March

America I Love You

Rhapsody in Blue

Fiddler On the Roof

Return Of The Magnificent Seven

Score: 85.583

Location: Bridgeport, Connecticut

Venue: JFK Stadium

Date: September 3

1968

Champion: Reading Buccaneers of Reading, Pennsylvania

Repertoire: Unavailable

Score: 82.15

Location: Rochester, New York

Venue: Aquinas Stadium

Date: September 1

1969

Champion: Connecticut Hurricanes of Derby, Connecticut

Repertoire:

Queen of Sheba March

Hallelujah Chorus

Rhapsody in Blue

Walk on the Wild Side

Hang 'Em High

Magnificent Seven

Also Sprach Zarathustra (from 2001: A Space Odyssey)

Score: 79.745

Location: Rochester, New York

Venue: Aquinas Stadium

Date: August 31

1970

Champion: Hawthorne Caballeros of Hawthorne, New Jersey

Repertoire:

Captain From Castile

Ted Meets Johnny

Sabre Dance

1812 Overture

Samba de Orpheo

Score: 82.775

Location: Rochester, New York

Venue: Aquinas Stadium

Date: September 6

1971

Champion: New York Skyliners of New York, NY

Repertoire:

NY Montage

Little Old New York (from Tenderloin)

Longest Day

Alabama Jubilee

Lucretia McEvil

Comes Love

Slaughter on 10th Avenue (from On Your Toes)

Little Old New York (from Tenderloin)

East Side-West Side Fanfare

Score: 91.5

Location: Rochester, New York

Venue: Aquinas Stadium

Date: September 5

1972

Champion: Hawthorne Caballeros of Hawthorne, New Jersey

Repertoire:

El Gato Montes

Captain From Castile

Theme from Patton

Everybody's Everything

Sabre Dance

Flamenco Cha-Cha

Samba de Orpheo

Score: 90.6

Location: Jersey City, New Jersey

Venue: Roosevelt Stadium

Date: September 3

1973

Champion: Hawthorne Caballeros of Hawthorne, New Jersey

Repertoire:

Man of La Mancha

South Rampart Street Parade

Everybody's Everything

Sabre Dance

Flamenco Cha-Cha

Harmonica Man

Score: 89.85

Location: Rochester, New York

Venue: Aquinas Stadium

Date: September 2

1974

Champion: Hawthorne Caballeros of Hawthorne, New Jersey

Repertoire:

Man of La Mancha

Sweet Gypsy Rose

Soul Train

Mac Arthur Park

Flamenco Cha-Cha

Harmonica Man

Score: 83.5

Location: Rochester, New York

Venue: Aquinas Stadium

Date: September 1

1975

Champion: New York Skyliners of New York, NY

Repertoire:

How Could You Believe Me When I Said I Loved You

Hymn to Victory (from Victory at Sea)

West Side Story Medley

The Elks' Parade

Give My Regards to Broadway (from Yankee Doodle Dandy)

East Side-West Side Fanfare

Score: 91.28

Location: Rochester, New York

Venue: Holleder Memorial Stadium

Date: August 31

1976

Champion: Hawthorne Caballeros of Hawthorne, New Jersey

Repertoire:

Bully

Brazil (from The Gang's All Here)

Echano (from Children of Sanchez)

Flamenco Cha-Cha

Hill Where the Lord Hides

Score: 92.5

Location: Rochester, New York

Venue: Holleder Memorial Stadium

Date: September 5

1977

Champion: Long Island Sunrisers of Long Island, New York

Repertoire:

English Folk Song Suite by Ralph Vaughan Williams

Spain

Ol' Man River (from Show Boat) by Jerome Kern

Eli's Coming by Hoyt Axton

Dance Of The Wind-Up Toys (drum solo) by Chuck Mangione

Evergreen (from A Star is Born) by Paul Williams

Score: 94.15

Location: Allentown, Pennsylvania

Venue: J. Birney Crum Stadium

Date: September 3

1978

Champion: Long Island Sunrisers of Rockland County, New York

Repertoire:

English Folk Song Suite by Ralph Vaughan Williams

Malaga by Bill Holman (musician)

Farandole by Bizet, Georges

Evergreen (from A Star is Born) by Williams, Paul

Score: 90.85

Location: Allentown, Pennsylvania

Venue: J. Birney Crum Stadium

Date: September 3

1979

Champion: Reading Buccaneers of Reading, Pennsylvania

Repertoire:

Russian Sailor's Dance (from The Red Poppy) by Gliere, Reinhold

Fantasy by Earth, Wind and Fire

El Gato Triste by Mangione, Chuck

Feels So Good by Mangione, Chuck

Sylvia by Dilibes

Score: 90.5

Location: Hershey, Pennsylvania

Venue: Hershey Park Stadium

Date: September 2

1980

Champion: Reading Buccaneers of Reading, Pennsylvania

Repertoire:

The Sea Hawk by Korngold, Erik Wolfgang

Russian Sailor's Dance (from The Red Poppy) by Gliere, Reinhold

Spanish Dreams by Severinsen, Doc

Sambandrea Swing by Menza, Don

One Voice by Manilow, Barry

Sylvia by Dilibes

Score: 91.3

Location: Hershey, Pennsylvania

Venue: Hershey Park Stadium

Date: August 31

1981

Champion: Connecticut Hurricanes of Derby, Connecticut

Repertoire:

Queen of Sheba March by Respighi, Ottorino

Swing, Swing, Swing (from 1941) by Williams, John

Salute to Freedom by Statham, Frank

Devil Went Down to Georgia by Daniels, Charlie

It's My Turn by Sondheim, Stephen

Magnificent Seven by Bernstein, Elmer

Score: 89.65

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Venue: Franklin Field

Date: September 6

1982

Champion: Long Island Sunrisers of Rockland County, New York

Repertoire:

God Save the Queen by Ives, Charles

English Suite for Military Band by Williams, Ralph Vaughan

Barnum's Revenge by Coleman, Cy

Tiger of San Pedro by La Barbera, John

Legend of the One-Eyed Sailor by Mangione, Chuck

Send in the Clowns (from A Little Night Music) by Sondheim, Stephen

Come Follow the Band (from Barnum) by Coleman, Cy

Score: 89.85

Location: Allentown, Pennsylvania

Venue: J. Birney Crum Stadium

Date: September 5

1983

Champion: Long Island Sunrisers of Rockland County, New York

Repertoire:

Russian Meadowlands by Knipper, Lev

Alexander's Ragtime Band by Berlin, Irving

Legend of the One-Eyed Sailor by Mangione, Chuck

Peasant Dance by Hirschberg, David

Send in the Clowns (from A Little Night Music) by Sondheim, Stephen

Come Follow the Band (from Barnum) by Coleman, Cy

Score: 91.45

Location: Allentown, Pennsylvania

Venue: J. Birney Crum Stadium

Date: September 4

1984

Champion: Hawthorne Caballeros of Hawthorne, New Jersey

Repertoire:

Concierto de Aranjuez by Rodrigo, Joaquin

Nothing But D. Best by Best, Denzel de Costa

Malaguena by Lecuona, Ernesto

Don't Cry for Me Argentina (from Evita)

Score: 92.4

Location: Allentown, Pennsylvania

Venue: J. Birney Crum Stadium

Date: September 3

1985

Champion: Hawthorne Caballeros of Hawthorne, New Jersey

Repertoire:

Corre Nina by Purim, Flora

Upstart by Ellis, Don

Malaguena by Lecuona, Ernesto

L.A. Is My Lady by Jones, Quincy

Espana Cani by Marquina, Narro Pascual

Score: 92.5

Location: Allentown, Pennsylvania

Venue: J. Birney Crum Stadium

Date: September 1

1986

Champion: Bushwackers of Harrison, New Jersey

Repertoire:

Santos by Bellson, Louis

Quensabe Los Suertas de Los Tontos (from Cuban Fire Suite) by Richards, Johnny

La Suerte de Los Tontos (from Cuban Fire Suite) by Richards, Johnny

Egyptian Danza by Di Meola, Al

Ayres Eyes

Score: 92.45

Location: Allentown, Pennsylvania

Venue: J. Birney Crum Stadium

Date: August 31

1987

This championships were noted by rain so severe during Prelims that Final were cancelled (due to extensive damage to the grass field) and the standing Prelims stood as the Finals results

Champion: Long Island Sunrisers of Rockland County, New York

Repertoire:

Adventures on Earth (from E.T.) by Williams, John

Jupiter (from The Planets) by Holst, Gustav

Score: 94.84

Location: Allentown, Pennsylvania

Venue: J. Birney Crum Stadium

Date: September 6

1988

Champion: Bushwackers of Harrison, New Jersey / Long Island Sunrisers of Rockland County, New York

Bushwackers Repertoire:

Pellet Suite by McDougal, Ian

Inner Crisis by Willis, Larry

Mira, Mira by Ferguson, Maynard

Out of Africa (from Congo) by Bergman, Marilyn

Sunrisers Repertoire:

Savannah River Holiday by Nelson, Ron

Concerto in F by Gershwin, George

An American in Paris by Gershwin, George

Score: 96.36

Location: Hershey, Pennsylvania

Venue: Unavailable

Date: September 5

1989

Champion: Bushwackers of Harrison, New Jersey

Repertoire:

Time Check by Menza, Donald

In Her Family by Metheny, Pat

No Pasaran by Schanzer, Jeffrey

Mira, Mira by Ferguson, Maynard

Score: 95.1

Location: Allentown, Pennsylvania

Venue: J. Birney Crum Stadium

Date: September 3

1990

Champion: Bushwackers of Harrison, New Jersey

Repertoire:

Prototype by Stephen Melilo

Score: 96.9

Location: Allentown, Pennsylvania

Venue: J. Birney Crum Stadium

Date: September 2

1991

Champion: Empire Statesmen of Rochester, New York

Repertoire:

Begin the Beguine (from Night and Day) by Porter, Cole

Sophisticated Lady by Ellington, Duke

American Patrol by Miller, Glenn

Don't Sit Under The Apple Tree by Miller, Glenn

In the Mood by Miller, Glenn

America the Beautiful by Ward, Samuel A.

Battle Hymn of the Republic by Steffe, William

Score: 96.7

Location: Scranton, Pennsylvania

Venue: Lackawanna County Stadium

Date: September 1

1992

Champion: Bushwackers of Harrison, New Jersey

Repertoire:

The Ballad of Sweeney Todd) by Sondheim, Stephen

My Friends (from Sweeney Todd) by Sondheim, Stephen

Worst Pies in London (from Sweeney Todd) by Sondheim, Stephen

History of the World

Epiphany (from Sweeney Todd) by Sondheim, Stephen

Nothin's Gonna Harm You (from Sweeney Todd) by Sondheim, Stephen

Score: 96.7

Location: Scranton, Pennsylvania

Venue: Lackawanna County Stadium

Date: September 6

1993

Champion: Bushwackers of Harrison, New Jersey

Repertoire:

Sunday in the Park with George

Putting It Together (from Sunday in the Park with George) by Sondheim, Stephen

Color and Light (from Sunday in the Park with George) by Sondheim, Stephen

Sunday in the Park (from Sunday in the Park with George) by Sondheim, Stephen

Sunday by Sondheim, Stephen

Score: 96.6

Location: Scranton, Pennsylvania

Venue: Lackawanna County Stadium

Date: September 6

1994

Champion: Empire Statesmen of Rochester, New York

Repertoire:

The Music of Frank Sinatra

Ol' Man River (from Show Boat) by Kern, Jerome

I've Got the World on a String (from I'll Get By) by Arlen, Harold

April in Paris (from The Helen Morgan Story) by Duke, Vernon

My Way by Anka, Paul

Score: 96.0

Location: Scranton, Pennsylvania

Venue: Lackawanna County Stadium

Date: September 3

1995

Champion: Hawthorne Caballeros of Hawthorne, New Jersey

Repertoire:

Spanish Fantasies

Malaguena by Lecuona, Ernesto

Conquistador by Chattaway, Jay

Spanish Fantasy by Corea, Chick

Concierto de Aranjuez by Rodrigo, Joaquin

Espana Cani by Marquina, Narro Pascual

Score: 97.7

Location: Scranton, Pennsylvania

Venue: Lackawanna County Stadium

Date: September 3

1996

Champion: Westshoremen of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Repertoire:

Suite for Westshore

Granada Smoothie

All the Things You Are

Explosion!

Marching Season

Carnival (from La Fiesta Mexicana)

Suite for Jazz Orchestra

Blues in the Night

Score: 96.9

Location: Rochester, New York

Venue: Frontier Field

Date: September 1

1997

Champion: Empire Statesmen of Rochester, New York / Syracuse Brigadiers of Syracuse, New York

Empire Repertoire:

Miss Saigon

Overture

Heat is On in Saigon

Sun and Moon

Dragon

Fall of Saigon

Brigadiers Repertoire:

Night and Day: A Tribute to Cole Porter

In the Still of the Night (from Night and Day)

Love for Sale (from Night and Day)

Night and Day

It's Alright With Me (from Can-Can)

Score: 96.3

Location: Allentown, Pennsylvania

Venue: J. Birney Crum Stadium

Date: August 31

1998

Champion: Empire Statesmen of Rochester, New York

Repertoire:

West Side Story

Fanfare

The Jets

Maria

America

Cool

The Rumble

Somewhere

Score: 97.9

Location: Allentown, Pennsylvania

Venue: J. Birney Crum Stadium

Date: September 6

1999

Champion: Syracuse Brigadiers of Syracuse, New York

Repertoire:

On the Town with Buddy and Mel

Channel One Suite by Reddie, Bill

Harlem Nocturne by Hagen, Earl

Mercy Mercy Mercy by Ochs, Michael

Score: 97.5

Location: Allentown, Pennsylvania

Venue: J. Birney Crum Stadium

Date: September 5

2000

Champion: Syracuse Brigadiers of Syracuse, New York

Repertoire:

City Rhythms

Slaughter on 10th Avenue (from On Your Toes) by Rodgers, Richard

Ballet in Brass by Brown, Les; Schoen, Victor

Artistry in Rhythm by Kenton, Stan

Harlem Nocturne by Hagen, Earle

Score: 98.0

Location: Syracuse, New York

Venue: P & C Stadium

Date: September 3

2001

Champion: Syracuse Brigadiers of Syracuse, New York

Repertoire:

Jazz Street, After Hours

Seven Year Itch by Newman, Alfred

Come Back to Me (from On A Clear Day You Can See Forever) by Lane, Burton

God Bless the Child by Herzog, Jr., Arthur; Holiday, Billy

Mac Arthur Park by Webb, Jimmy

Score: 97.95

Location: Syracuse, New York

Venue: P & C Stadium

Date: September 2

2002

Champion: Syracuse Brigadiers of Syracuse, New York

Repertoire:

Picasso Sketchbook

Spanish Fantasy by Corea, Chick

Day Danse by Corea, Chick

Guaganco by Sandoval, Arturo

All Or Nothing At All by Porter, Cole

Score: 98.6

Location: Scranton, Pennsylvania

Venue: Lackawanna County Stadium

Date: September 1

2003

Champion: Hawthorne Caballeros of Hawthorne, New Jersey

Repertoire:

El Toro Nuevo

El Toro Rojo by Poulan, Key

The Prayer by Bayer, Carol; Foster, David

El Toro Furioso by Poulan, Key

Score: 97.375

Location: Scranton, Pennsylvania

Venue: Lackawanna County Stadium

Date: August 31

2004

Champion: Empire Statesmen of Rochester, New York

Repertoire:

Go Hollywood!

Prologue and Theme (from City of Angels) by Coleman, Cy

With Every Breath I Take (from City of Angels)

Funny (from City of Angels)

Score: 96.513

Location: Scranton, Pennsylvania

Venue: Lackawanna County Stadium

Date: September 5

2005

Champion: Reading Buccaneers of Reading, Pennsylvania

Repertoire:

Variations in "B" - Music by Barber, Bartók, Bizet, and Britten

Farandole

Adagio for Strings

String Quartet #5 - Movement 4

A Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra

Score: 98.45

Location: Scranton, Pennsylvania

Venue: Lackawanna County Stadium

Date: September 4

2006

Champion: Reading Buccaneers of Reading, Pennsylvania

Repertoire:

Exotic Impressions

Bolero

Capriccio Espagnol

Claire de Lune

Scheherazade

Score: 97.238

Location: Rochester, New York

Venue: PAETEC Park

Date: September 3

2007

Champion: Reading Buccaneers of Reading, Pennsylvania

Repertoire:

Blue Era

New Era Dance

The Promise of Living

Malambo

Rhapsody in Blue

Score: 98.313

Location: Rochester, New York

Venue: PAETEC Park

Date: September 2

2008

Champion: Reading Buccaneers of Reading, Pennsylvania

Repertoire:

The Pursuit of Joy

Canon in D

Abram's Pursuit

Nessun Dorma

Ode to Joy

Score: 97.913

Location: Rochester, New York

Venue: PAETEC Park

Date: August 31

2009

Champion: Reading Buccaneers of Reading, Pennsylvania

Repertoire:

Demons & Angels

Dies Irae

A Simple Song

Ritual Fire Dance

Symphonia Resurrectus

Score: 99.025

Location: Rochester, New York

Venue: PAETEC Park

Date: September 6

2010

Champion: Reading Buccaneers of Reading, Pennsylvania

Repertoire:

Rome MMX

Pines of the Appian Way (fourth Movement from Pines of Rome)

Games at the Circus Maximus (Movement I from Roman Festivals)

Adagio from Spartacus

The Epiphany (Movement IV from Roman Festivals)

Score: 98.263

Location: Rochester, New York

Venue: PAETEC Park

Date: September 6

2011

Champion: Minnesota Brass of St. Paul, Minnesota

Repertoire:

Valhalla

Immigrant Song by Led Zeppelin

Children's Hour of Dream by Charles Mingus

Imagine by John Lennon

Ride of the Valkyries by Richard Wagner

Score: 98.35

Location: Rochester, New York

Venue: Sahlen's Stadium

Date: September 4

2012

Champion: Reading Buccaneers of Reading, Pennsylvania

Repertoire:

The Black Symphony

Warm Colors by Mark Lortz

The Four Sections for Orchestra, Mvt. IV by Steve Reich

New World (from Dancer in the Dark) by Björk

1812 Overture by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Score: 99.03

Location: Annapolis, Maryland

Venue: Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium

Date: September 2

2013

Champion: Reading Buccaneers of Reading, Pennsylvania

Repertoire:

Higher, Faster, Stronger

Symphony No. 11, Mvt IV by Dmitri Shostakovich

Original Composition by Mark Lortz

Chevaliers de Sangreal (from the film The DaVinci Code) by Hans Zimmer

Danse Bacchanale (from the opera Samson and Delilah) by Camille Saint-Saëns

Score: 98.43

Location: Annapolis, Maryland

Venue: Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium

Date: September 1

2014

Champion: Reading Buccaneers of Reading, Pennsylvania

Repertoire:

Break On Through

Break On Through (To the Other Side) by The Doors

Fourth Ballet Suite by Dmitri Shostakovich

Orawa for String Orchestra by Wojciech Kilar

Heat of the Day by Pat Metheny

Original Composition by Mark Lortz, Johnny Trujillo, and Greg Tsalikis

Score: 97.55

Location: Rochester, New York

Venue: Sahlen's Stadium

Date: August 31

2015

Champion: Reading Buccaneers of Reading, Pennsylvania

Repertoire:

Twist It

Pagliacci by Ruggero Leoncavallo

Palladio by Karl Jenkins

Moonlight Sonata by Ludwig von Beethoven

Going the Distance (from Rocky) by Bill Conti

William Tell Overture by Gioachino Rossini

Score: 97.58

Location: Rochester, New York

Venue: Sahlen's Stadium

Date: Sep 7

2016

Champion: Cadets2 of Allentown, Pennsylvania

Repertoire:

Full Circle

The Heat of the Day by Pat Matheny

First Circle by Pat Matheny

Third Wind by Pat Matheny

Both Sides Now by Joni Mitchell

Score: 97.95

Location: Rochester, NY

Date: Sep 4

Cadets2's first DCA World Championship victory

References

Drum Corps Associates Open Class World Champions Wikipedia

(Text) CC BY-SA

Contents

1965

1966

1967

1968

1969

1970

1971

1972

1973

1974

1975

1976

1977

1978

1979

1980

1981

1982

1983

1984

1985

1986

1987

1988

1989

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

References