Oregon Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps

History

The original Oregon Crusaders junior drum and bugle corps was founded in Oregon City in 1971 by brothers Ron and David Jones, with 15-year-old David as Corps Director and 16-year-old Ron as composer, arranger, and drill designer. The first year corps consisted of a drill team with drum line, and is distinguished for suffering a bus breakdown as its 40 members were en route to the unit's only scheduled performance. The brothers reorganized in 1972, acquiring sponsorship of the Dickinson’s Gourmet Preserves Company (now owned by Smuckers) and fielded as Dickinson’s Oregon Crusaders. In 1973, the corps merged with the Imperial Cadets and marched as the 115 member Imperial Crusaders, but returned as the Oregon Crusaders in 1974 when the two corps split. After the Jones brothers aged out, the corps lapsed into inactivity.^{(See Note)}

In 1999, Rick Wise inaugurated a corps in Medford then known as the Southern Oregon Crusaders, though not affiliated with the original entity. In 2001, a collection of Southern Oregon Crusaders personnel along with a new group of staff members moved to reorganize the unit. Bill Perkins was named executive director, and Portland, Oregon was designated as the corps' new home. The name was also shortened to, "Oregon Crusaders." From 2001 to 2003, the growing corps performed valiantly throughout the western US garnering the attention of the larger drum corps community despite fledging membership and shoestring budget, which would including borrowed uniforms, horns and percussion equipment. In 2004, the corps traveled throughout the Western United States on its way to the DCI World Championships in Denver, where the corps won the Division III title, to complete an undefeated season.

In 2007 the corps was “re-founded” once again, this time by Dr. Phil Marshall, Jeff Bush, Travis Moddison and Mike Quillen. OC built a whole new staff and style with their show “Gates,” garnering a 5th place finish. Success continued in 2008 with their show “Inner Connections,” placing 4th in the newly combined Open Class. The following year OC placed as a DCI Open Class Finalist with their show “Equilibrium.” In 2010, OC received its highest placement ever of 2nd place in Open Class, and their highest score in corps history (94.0) for their show “Dance of the Flames.”

In 2011, the corps again drew upon the creative talents of Todd Zimbelman, Travis Moddison and JC Caceres, and added some new talent with Mike Stevens and Charlotte Morrow as they embarked on their ambitious 2011 program entitled “The Blue Hour.” Marching 114 members, the corps nearly captured the Open Class title with the highest score in its history (94.7), and received high brass, high visual performance, and Director of the Year was awarded to OC’s Mike Quillen. The corps then went to Indy, where it competed in World Class for the first time, achieving 18th best overall horn line, and receiving a score of 75.15.

In the summer of 2012, the Oregon Crusaders once again pushed the boundaries of the drum corps art form with their program “Dreaming in Color.” With the movement of color to color, from one dreamy trance-like phase to another, the drum corps’ activity predominated in visual ensemble artistry. The result was an undefeated year and the organization’s first Open Class World Championship with a score of 95.25, along with high brass, high visual performance, and high general effect. The corps went on to achieve 19th in World Class competition with a score of 77.45.

In 2013 the corps was awarded the ability to perform with the elite DCI World Class, before it officially became World Class in 2014. In 2013 the corps performed “My Heart, My Battle, My Soul” including Adele’s Rollin in the Deep along with House of the Rising Sun. The corps placed 17th with a score of 81.05.

In 2014 the corps performed “Nevermore” to the backdrop of Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Raven”. It featured Vienna Teng’s “Hymn of Acxiom”. Ian Flint joined the organization as Program Coordinator. The corps finished 19th with a score of 80.1.

In 2015 the corps added Bradley Kerr Green and Alex Blue on brass staff and Addison Kaeterle on colorguard. The corps performed “Midnight Garden” including music from the Disney film “Cinderella”. The corps finished 17th with a score of 78.55.

In 2016 the corps added Adam Sage as Artistic Director. They performed “Hunted” with “Who wants to live forever?” by Queen, along with Bjork’s “Hunter” and “Knights of Cydonia” by Muse. The corps finished 18th with a score of 79.725.

In 2017 the corps added Tim Snyder as Brass Caption Head, Jodie Rhodes as Program Coordinator and Dr. Chris Whyte as Music Coordinator.

Note: The Jones brothers have established an attachment to the new organization and credit their experience in operating the original Oregon Crusaders for their later success in life. David, having been responsible for the corps' travel, today is vice president of a major, premium travel agency. Ron continued in music and is a successful Emmy- and Grammy-nominated composer of film and television soundtracks, and co-arranged the corps's 2003 program "Mysterious Mountain".

Sponsorship

The Oregon Crusaders is a 501 (c)(3) musical organization that has a Board of Directors, Executive Director, and staff assigned to carry out the organization's mission. The Board President is Dr. Philip Marshall, and the Executive Director is Mike Quillen.

The Oregon Crusaders organization also sponsors OC Indoor, which has ensembles that compete during the winter at competitions in the Northwest Marching Band and Winter Guard International circuits. The Oregon Crusaders Independent Percussion Ensemble, organized in 2008, took first place at the 2009 WGI World Championships in the Percussion Independent A (PIA) and finished 3rd in 2010. In the 2011 season, the unit moved into World Class competition and has finished in WGI Independent World Class Finals in 2011, 2013, and 2014. Compass Rose, formerly the Oregon Crusaders Independent Colorguard has been a finalist in WGI Independent Open World Finals in 2014 and 2015.

Show Summary (2000-2017)

Source:

Gold background indicates DCI Championship; pale blue background indicates DCI Class Finalist; pale green background indicates DCI semifinalist.

Corps Song

"Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen

Corps Symbol

The symbol of the Oregon Crusaders is the OC compass rose.

The Walk

On the final rehearsal evening of the season, the corps members march forward 5 yards for every year they have been in the corps.

Cape Day

On the last full day of rehearsal it has become traditional for the entire corps to wear a cape--- usually a towel. In addition, the soprano bugles/trumpets wear a tie with their cape. Most of the corps calls the day, "Cape Day" while the trumpets refer to it as "Trumpet Cape And Tie Day".

Oregon Water

Before tour, a hornline rookie is assigned to purchase a jug of water bottled only in Oregon. The hornline then shares the water to drink before the corps' final performance.

Dave the Tree

At the start of all-days the trumpets are donated an Oregon-grown Douglas fir sapling which is then dubbed "Dave" to nurture over the summer. This originated in 2012 when the trumpet section found an abandoned potted tree at their housing site in Tillamook, Oregon. During the age-out ceremony on semi-finals day the age-outs take the tree onto the field and where it is left.