The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps

The Cadets Drum Corps

Type	Drum and bugle corps
Location	Allentown, Pennsylvania
Division	DCI World Class
Founded	1934; 87 years ago (1934)
Director	Denise Bonfiglio
Championship titles	American Legion: 1940 1948 1949 1950 1953 1957 1960 1961 1962 1964 CYO: 1984 DCI: 1983 1984 1985 1987 1990 1993 1998 2000 2005 2011
Website	Cadets homepage

The Cadets Drum Corps (formerly the Holy Name Cadets, Cadets of Garfield, Garfield Cadets, and Cadets of Bergen County) is a World Class competitive junior drum and bugle corps. Based in Allentown, Pennsylvania, The Cadets was one of the thirteen founding corps of Drum Corps International (DCI), is a ten-time DCI World Champion, and is the oldest continuously active junior drum and bugle corps in North America.^[1]

History[]

Charles Mura, Michael Koeph, and the Rev. Edwin Garrity of the Holy Name Catholic parish in Garfield, New Jersey founded the Holy Name Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps in 1934 as an activity for the boys in the parish. The corps quickly became one of the top competitive corps in the country. In 1940, the Cadets won the American Legion Junior National Championship in Boston, the first of a record nine Legion titles the corps would win between 1940 and 1964. The corps was known not only for its talent but for its traveling to compete. In 1950, the Cadets went on the road for three weeks in order to defend their Legion title in Los Angeles.^[2][3]

In 1958, the Holy Name parish declined to support the corps' travel and disbanded the corps. The members and staff, however, were not willing to cease the corps operations, and reorganized as a new organization, even though the parish kept the uniforms and instruments. The corps traveled to Chicago for Legion Nationals at the members' own expense. Marching as the Cadets of Garfield; wearing uniforms of white shorts, red golf shirts, and "Aussie" hats; and using instruments borrowed from the Chicago Cavaliers, the corps managed to finish in second place (one spot ahead of the defending champion Cavaliers). Midway through the 1959 season, the parish allowed the corps to once more wear the uniform that remains their trademark.^[2][3]

In the second half of the Sixties, the Garfield Cadets became more of an also-ran than a champion. In 1969, the corps became coed. In 1971, the Cadets marched a show they called, "No More War"; at VFW Nationals in Dallas. They reportedly tried to convince the VFW officials that the peace symbol in their drill was actually the Mercedes-Benz logo. Also in 1971, the Garfield Cadets, along with the 27th Lancers, Boston Crusaders, Blessed Sacrament Golden Knights, and Blue Rock, formed the United Organization of Junior Corps (also known as the "Alliance"). This action was taken in reaction to the rigid, inflexible rules of the American Legion and VFW (the primary rule makers and sponsors of both corps and shows) and the low or nonexistent performance fees paid for appearing in the various competitions. The corps felt that not only were they having their creative potential as artistic performing groups stifled, but they were being financially starved. (A similar group of Midwestern corps, the Midwest Combine, was formed by the Blue Stars, Cavaliers, Madison Scouts, Santa Clara Vanguard, and the Troopers.) The Alliance members felt that the corps should be making their own rules, operating their own competitions and championships, and keeping the bulk of the monies those shows earned. For the 1971 season, the corps stuck together, offering show promoters the five corps as a package. Despite pressure on show sponsors, judges, and other drum corps, the corps were booked into a number of shows together.^[2][3][4]

In 1972, the Garfield Cadets, along with the nine other corps from the Alliance and the Midwest Combine, plus the Anaheim Kingsmen, Argonne Rebels, and De La Salle Oaklands were founding members of Drum Corps International, which remains as the sanctioning body for junior corps in North America. At the first DCI World Championships in Whitewater, Wisconsin, the Cadets just missed making Finals and finished in thirteenth place in a competition that featured thirty-nine corps from the East, the South, the West Coast, the Midwest and Great Plains, and Canada. The corps would fail to make DCI Finals for the first four years they were held and for six of DCI's first eight seasons. After their third Finals appearance in 1980, the Cadets quickly regained the corps' former championship form. In 1983–85, the Garfield Cadets became the first DCI corps to earn a three-peat—three consecutive DCI titles. On July 4, 1986 the Cadets performed as a part of the Liberty Weekend celebrating both the hundredth anniversary and the restoration of the Statue of Liberty. In 1987, the corps won its fourth DCI crown in five years.^[2][3]

The Garfield Cadets relocated outside Garfield to Hackensack and became the Cadets of Bergen County in 1989. The Cadets of Bergen County won DCI Championships in 1990, '93, '98, and 2000. In 1996, sponsorship of the corps was passed to Youth Education in the Arts (YEA), an umbrella organization sponsoring several youth and musical activities. Also in '96, the Cadets performed at the Summer Olympics in Atlanta. In 2003, Yea! and the corps moved to Allentown, Pennsylvania, and the corps dropped any reference to locale from its name, becoming simply, The Cadets.^[5] In January 2009, The Cadets marched in President Barack Obama's Inaugural Parade in Washington, D.C. The Cadets won additional DCI championships in 2005 and 2011, the corps' ninth and tenth in forty seasons.^[3]

To honor their 75th anniversary, the corps was called the Holy Name Cadets for the 2009 season.^[6]

2018 sexual misconduct allegations[]

On April 5, 2018, allegations were made in published reports that the longstanding corps director, George Hopkins, sexually harassed or abused multiple members of the corps and staff over a period of years.^[7] Later that day, Hopkins stepped down as director of The Cadets and YEA! CEO while denying the allegations. Sean King was named as interim CEO for YEA!^[8] On April 11, the Board of Directors tendered its resignation and a new Board and officers immediately took over operations of the organization.^[9] Claiming to have received no letter of resignation, the new board terminated Hopkins for cause. In his federal lawsuit seeking severance pay and other monies, Hopkins asserts that he resigned from the organization by letter on April 5, and that his departure was "mutually agreed"-upon.^[10] The organization also hired a Chicago labor and employment law firm, Franczek Radelet, to investigate the accusations against Hopkins as well as YEA!’s policies and procedures for providing a safe environment for youth members, employees, and volunteers. In addition, YEA! established a hotline for calls to report concerns or complaints.^[11]

The YEA! organization was immediately put on a probationary status by DCI with the statement that, "The terms of the probation include multiple steps for YEA! to take in order for its drum corps to participate in the upcoming 2018 DCI Summer Tour."^[12] As a part of the terms of probation, the corps' reassessed their planned travel to the West Coast to open the season, and instead decided to proceed with a schedule redrawn for East Coast shows.^[13] The corps' compliance with the terms of probation was sufficient for DCI to allow the corps to compete in 2018, and the probation was lifted in May 2019.

On November 13, Hopkins was indicted in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania for sexual assault, based on accusations of two women who are former employees of YEA. The charges are second-degree felonies. Hopkins surrendered to authorities, was arraigned, and was released on $50,000 bail with a preliminary hearing scheduled for December 4.^[10] On September 22, 2020, Hopkins pleaded no contest to indecent assault and was sentenced to two years probation and fined $5,000.^[14]

In response to Hopkins suing YEA! for more than $500,000 in severance and back pay, the organization filed a counter suit against the former director for $1.5 million in losses which it alleges to have lost due to the sexual misconduct scandal. This amount of the lawsuit includes recovery for lost sponsorships and pledged donations to The Cadets and YEA!, a major loss of participants in the US Bands program, as well as legal fees incurred due to the scandal.^[15]

Organizational Ties[]

The Cadets was formerly part of Youth Education in the Arts (YEA!), a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. In addition to The Cadets, YEA! also sponsored the recently inactive 2016 DCA Champion Cadets2 Drum Corps, 2014 WGI Independent Open Champion Cadets Winter Percussion, and Cadets Winter Guard; USBands (formerly United States Scholastic Band Association); the Urban Arts Center of the Lehigh Valley, which included the Xcape Dance Studio.^[16]

The Cadets began operating independently of YEA! as of March 31, 2020.^[17] On May 1, 2020, The Cadets announced the creation of a new 501(c)3 non-profit organization: Cadets Arts & Entertainment, Inc. (CAE).^[18] A new Board of Directors was established, led by CEO and Cadets Director Denise Bonfiglio.

"For 86 years, The Cadets have been leaders and innovators in performing arts education," Bonfiglio said. "We are now opening a new chapter in the storied history of The Cadets by creating a 501(c)(3) nonprofit entity guided by the following founding principles: To educate youth from around the globe on the value of teamwork, inclusiveness, kindness, self-expression, and open communication; To create a safe and inclusive environment for all participants; and To enrich lives by teaching critical development skills required for the pursuit of personal excellence."

With no 2020 drum corps season, Cadets Arts & Entertainment focused its attention on establishing clear policies, strict safeguards and strategic committees that meet regularly to help guide The Cadets forward.^[19] Committees were created in the areas of Health and Wellness, Equality and Inclusion, Performing Arts Education, Governance, and Finance.

Show summary (1972–2021)[]

Source:^[20]

Key

Pale blue background indicates DCI Class Finalist

Gold background indicates DCI Championship

Year	Theme	Repertoire	Score	Placement
1972		Mars (from The Planets) by Gustav Holst / Rule, Britannia! by Thomas Arne and James Thomson / The Sinfonians by Clifton Williams / Yankee Doodle (Traditional) and Richard Shuckburgh / Greensleeves (Traditional) / Children's Dance (from Merry Mount Suite) by Howard Hanson / Amazing Grace by William Walker and John Newton / Jupiter (from The Planets) by Gustav Holst / Fanfare, Chorale, and Finale by Gustav Mahler / A Mighty Fortress is Our God by Martin Luther	78.45	13th
1973		The Sinfonians by Clifton Williams / Give it One by Maynard Ferguson and Alan Downey / A Mighty Fortress is Our God by Martin Luther / Procession of Bacchus (from Sylvia) by Jean Sibelius	72.00	13th
1974		The Sea Hawk by Erich Wolfgang Korngold / One Tin Soldier by Dennis Lambert and Brian Potter / Parade of the Toy Soldiers by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky / In the Mood by Wingy Manone, Joe Garland, and Andy Razaf / Lullaby of Broadway by Harry Warren and Al Dubin / Avenue C by Buck Clayton / Alexander's Ragtime Band by Irving Berlin / Alabama Jubilee by George L. Cobb and Jack Yellen / Sunshine On My Shoulders by John Denver, Dick Kniss, and Mike Taylor	75.15	19th
1975		Hall of the Mountain King by Edvard Grieg / Fanfare for the Common Man & Lincoln Portrait by Aaron Copland / Anything Goes by Cole Porter / Avenue C by Buck Clayton / In the Mood by Wingy Manone, Joe Garland, and Andy Razaf / Tiger Rag by Nick LaRocca, Eddie Edwards, Henry Ragas, Tony Sbarbaro, and Larry Shields / Alexander's Ragtime Band by Irving Berlin / What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life? by Michel Legrand, Alan Bergman, and Marilyn Bergman / Romeo and Juliet by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky	80.55	11th
1976		Prelude 3rd Act (from Lohengrin) by Richard Wagner / Pieces of Dreams by Michel Legrand, Alan Bergman, and Marilyn Bergman / Echano (from Children of Sanchez) by Chuck Mangione / The Elks' Parade by Bobby Sherwood / This is My Country by Al Jacobs and Don Raye / Yankee Doodle (Traditional) and Richard Shuckburgh	82.45	14th
1977		Rite of Spring by Igor Stravinsky / Primal Scream by Jay Chattaway and Maynard Ferguson / Star Trek by Alexander Courage / Pieces of Dreams by Michel Legrand, Alan Bergman, and Marilyn Bergman / Echano by Chuck Mangione / I Don't Know How to Love Him (from Jesus Christ Superstar) by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice	78.15	12th
1978		Advance of the Sponges by HIGGINS / Left Bank Express by Pete Jackson / Pieces of Dreams by Michel Legrand, Alan Bergman, and Marilyn Bergman / Echano by Chuck Mangione / Strawberry Soup by Don Ellis / I Don't Know How to Love Him (from Jesus Christ Superstar) by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice	79.05	14th
1979		Carmina Burana by Carl Orff / Chump Change by Bill Cosby and Quincy Jones / Children of Sanchez & Echano by Chuck Mangione / I Don't Know How to Love Him (from Jesus Christ Superstar) by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice	76.75	16th
1980		One Voice by Barry Manilow / Evening Concert by Bill Conti / Fernando's Fantasy by Tom Scott / Fire Dance by Allen Vizzutti and Jeff Tkazyik (aka Tyzik) / The Elks' Parade by Bobby Sherwood / Through the Eyes of Love by Marvin Hamlisch and Carole Bayer Sager	76.45	10th
1981		Adventures in Time by Johnny Richards / Egyptian Danza by Al Di Meola / Fire Dance by Jeff Tkazyik and Allen Vizzutti / The Elks' Parade by Bobby Sherwood / Pieces of Dreams by Michel Legrand, Alan Bergman, and Marilyn Bergman	89.40	7th
1982		Piano Concerto in F by George Gershwin / Rocky Point Holiday by Ron Nelson / Cuban Overture by George Gershwin	92.25	3rd
1983		Rocky Point Holiday by Ron Nelson / In Nomine Patris, Almighty Father, Sanctus, Agnus Dei, God Said, De Profundis, part 2 & A Simple Song All from Mass by Leonard Bernstein	94.40	1st
1984		Selections from West Side Story by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim	98.00	1st
1985		Jeremiah Symphony, Overture to Candide & Make Our Garden Grow (from Candide) by Leonard Bernstein	98.40	1st
1986		On the Waterfront in 3 Parts by Leonard Bernstein / Christopher Street (from Wonderful Town) by Leonard Bernstein, Betty Comden, and Adolph Green	95.60	4th
1987	Appalachian Spring	Appalachian Spring by Aaron Copland	97.90	1st
1988	Third Symphony	Third Symphony by Aaron Copland	96.10	4th
1989	Les Misérables	I Dreamed A Dream, At the End of the Day, Look Down, On My Own, Attack on Rue Plumet, Bring Him Home, One Day More & At the Barricades All from Les Misérables by Claude-Michel Schönberg, Alain Boublil, Jean-Marc Natel and Herbert Kretzmer	95.60	5th
1990	A Bernstein Celebration	Overture to Candide & Mass by Leonard Bernstein / Somewhere (from West Side Story) by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim / Fancy Free Ballet by Leonard Bernstein	97.70	1st
1991	ABC's of Modern American Music	Short Ride in a Fast Machine by John Adams / Letter From Home by Aaron Copland / Prelude, Fugue & Riffs by Leonard Bernstein	93.70	6th
1992	To Tame the Perilous Skies	To Tame the Perilous Skies by David Holsinger	97.00	2nd
1993	In the Spring, At the Time When Kings Go Off to War	In the Spring, When Kings Go Off to War; Ballet Sacra & On a Hymnsong of Philip Bliss by David Holsinger	97.40	1st
1994	West Side Story	Dance at the Gym, Mambo, Cha-cha, Cool, Prologue/Rumble, A Boy Like That, Tonight & Finale All by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim	97.70	2nd
1995	An American Quintet	The Reivers, Born on the 4th of July, Blowing Off Steam (from Far and Away), Swing, Swing, Swing (from 1941) & Land Race (from Far and Away) All by John Williams	97.20	2nd
1996	The American West	The Promise of Living (from Tender Land) by Aaron Copland / Tulsa: A Portrait in Oil by Don Gillis / Gunfight (from Billy the Kid), Hoedown (from Rodeo) & Happy Ending (from the Red Pony) by Aaron Copland	96.90	3rd
1997	Celebration	Celebration & Year of the Dragon by Philip Sparke	97.60	2nd
1998	Stonehenge	Stonehenge & Canterbury Chorale by Jan Van der Roost	98.40	1st
1999	The Big Apple	The Big Apple (Symphony No. 2) by Johan de Meij / Theme from City of Angels by Gabriel Yared	96.40	4th
2000	We are the Future	Tapestry Of Nations, Prologue, Chaos and Meaning, The Sage of Time & The Promise All from Millennium Celebration by Gavin Greenaway	97.65	1st (Tie)
2001	Juxtaperformance	Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra by Benjamin Britten / Moondance by Van Morrison / Vide Cor Meum (from Hannibal) by Dante Alighieri and Patrick Cassidy / Farandole by Georges Bizet	97.60	2nd (Tie)
2002	An American Revival	Times Square (from On the Town) by Leonard Bernstein, Betty Comden, and Adolph Green / The Place Where Dreams Come True (from Field of Dreams) by James Horner / Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy by Don Raye and Hughie Prince / New York Memories by Don Hill / America the Beautiful by Samuel A. Ward and Katharine Lee Bates	96.75	3rd
2003	Our Favorite Things	Fanfare and Allegro by Clifton Williams / Malaguena by Ernesto Lecuona / Rocky Point Holiday by Ron Nelson	97.10	3rd
2004	Living With the Past	Aqualung by Ian Anderson and Jennie Anderson / Living in the Past & Thick as a Brick by Ian Anderson / Bourée (Bourrée in E minor) by Johann Sebastian Bach / Locomotive Breath, Songs from the Wood, Mother Goose & Cross-eyed Mary by Ian Anderson	95.60	4th
2005	The Zone: Dreamscapes in Four Parts with a Door	Twisted Nerve by Bernard Herrmann / Liquid by Jay Bocook / Overture to a New World & Cvalda (from Dancer in the Dark) by Björk / Vertigo by Bernard Herrmann / False Mirrors by Jay Bocook	99.15	1st
2006	Volume 2: Through the Looking Glass	History Repeating by Alex Gifford / White Rabbit by Grace Slick / Pollock by Jeff Beal / Original by Jay Bocook, Tom Aungst, and Neil Larrivee / Sanvean: I am Your Shadow by Lisa Gerrard and Andrew Claxton / Diaspora Dances (from Concerto for Orchestra) by Leonard Bernstein	93.075	5th
2007	This I Believe: Truth, Value, and the Personal Experience Called Drum Corps	Symphonic Movement by Václav Nelhýbel / Blue Shades by Frank Ticheli / Adiemus II- Cantata Mundi by Karl Jenkins	97.025	2nd
2008	...and the pursuit of happiness	Appalachian Spring by Aaron Copland / An American Elegy & Nitro by Frank Ticheli / Round Four by Frank Sullivan / Vesuvius & Apollo Unleashed by Frank Ticheli	94.75	5th
2009	West Side Story 2009: Conflict and Resolution	Rumble, Prologue, A Boy Like That-I Have A Love, Cool & Tonight by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim	97.20	3rd
2010	Toy SOULdier	Procession of the Nobles by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov / The School for Scandal - Overture by Samuel Barber / Prelude to Act II, Maypole Dances & Children's Dance (from Merry Mount Suite) by Howard Hanson / Dance of the Tumblers by Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov / March of the Toys (from Babes in Toyland) by Victor Herbert	95.10	5th
2011	Between Angels and Demons	Angels in the Architecture by Frank Ticheli / 160 BPM (from Angels and Demons) by Hans Zimmer / Doxology by Loys Bourgeois and Thomas Ken / Amazing Grace by William Walker and John Newton	98.35	1st
2012	12.25	Carol of the Bells (Traditional), Mykola Leontovych and Peter Wilhousky / Jingle Bells by James Lord Pierpont / Do You Hear What I Hear? by Gloria Shayne Baker and Noël Regney / O Tannenbaum (Traditional) and Ernst Anschütz / Hark! The Herald Angels Sing by Felix Mendelssohn, William H. Cummings, and Charles Wesley	95.05	4th
2013	Side >< Side: The Music of Samuel Barber	Symphony No. 1 / Adagio for Strings / Medea's Dance of Vengeance All by Samuel Barber	96.95	3rd
2014	Promise: An American Portrait	The Promise of Living (from The Tender Land); Lincoln Portrait; Music for the Theater Movements 1, 2 & 4; Grover's Corner (from Our Town) & Appalachian Spring All by Aaron Copland	96.875	3rd
2015	The Power of 10	Symphony No. 10 in E minor, Op. 93 (movements ii, iii, & iv) by Dmitri Shostakovich / Diane and Camilla (from Mulholland Drive) by Angelo Badalamenti / Original music by Jay Bocook	95.900	4th
2016	Awakening	The Pines of the Appian Way & The Pines of Villa Borghese by Ottorino Respighi / Turning, Lightning Field & Wine Dark Sea by John Mackey	92.763	6th
2017	The Faithful, The Fallen, The Forgiven	Devotions: Kyrie Eleison, Simple Song, De Profundis, Agnus Dei, Things Get Broken, Pax: Communion, and Offeratory (all from Mass) by Leonard Bernstein with incidental music by Dr. Drew Shanefield, Tom Aungst, and Omar Carmenates	91.675	7th
2018	The Unity Project	O Holy Name (Traditional) / Opening Scene by Drew Shanefield, Tom Aungst, and Omar Carmenates / Sound of Silence by Simon and Garfunkel / Sensemaya by Silvestre Revueltas / Misterioso by Drew Shanefield / Demonic Thesis by John Psathas / Ara Batur by Sigur Rós / Ballet Sacra by David Holsinger	92.225	7th
2019	Behold	Fanfare for the Women by Libby Larsen / Just by David Lang / Blueprint by Caroline Shaw / Dance 1 (from Estancia Orchestral Suite) by Alberto Ginestera / Bridge Over Troubled Water by Paul Simon / Do Better (original music) by Tom Aungst, Omar Carmenates, and Brandon Carrita / Symphony No. 4 (Finale) by David Maslanka	89.838	9th
2020		Season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021	...Shall Always Be	Everything Old Is New Again by Peter Allen / Appalachian Spring by Aaron Copland / Rocky Point Holiday by Ron Nelson / New World (from Dancer in the Dark) by Björk / Moondance by Van Morrison / The Land Race (from Far and Away) by John Williams

Caption Awards[]

At the annual World Championship Finals, Drum Corps International (DCI) presents awards to the corps with the high average scores from prelims, semifinals, and finals in five captions. The Cadets have won these caption awards:

Don Angelica Best General Effect Award

• 2000, 2005, 2011

John Brazale Best Visual Performance Award

• 2005, 2011

George Zingali Best Color Guard Performance Award

• 2005

Jim Ott Best Brass Performance Award

• 2000, 2005, 2015

Fred Sanford Best Percussion Performance Award

• 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2013

Prior to 2000 and the adoption of the current scoring format, the Cadets won these captions:

High General Effect Award

• 1983, 1984, 1985, 1990 (tie), 1992, 1993, 1997, 1998

High Visual Award

• 1983, 1984 (tie), 1987 (tie), 1990 (tie), 1993, 1998

High Color Guard Award

• 1989, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996

High Brass Award

• 1983, 1984 (3-way tie), 1985 (tie), 1987 (tie), 1995 (3-way tie)

High Percussion Award

• 1987, 1990

Traditions and Trivia[]

Source:^[21]

Uniform[]

Since their founding in 1934, The Cadets have a distinctly recognizable West Point inspired uniform that has stuck with the corps throughout their entire existence. Each uniform consists of a white plume, maroon shako, maroon jacket with a white cross belt and three chevrons on both wrists, gold cummerbund with a gold drop-sash, cream pants with a single maroon pinstripe on either side, worn with white shoes. The uniform had gone relatively unchanged, except for the 1958 season and part of the '59 season, after they had parted company with the Holy Name parish, which refused to allow the corps to have the uniforms for that period. The corps rarely deviated from this style until recent years (2016 onwards), and some notable changes are listed below:

For the 2005 program, "The Zone: Dreamscapes in Four Parts with a Door," the corps used the normal color scheme for the uniform, but with both the back and the front appearing to be a front side. On the true front, the uniform was the normal maroon jacket, cream white pants and trim, but the "fake" front had maroon pants and an overlay that gave the appearance of a cream-fronted jacket with maroon trim, while the sash remained gold on either side. The shako had a visor and badge on both front and back, and the sash was white in front and maroon in back, maintaining the double-front appearance. Also, to keep with this "twilight-zone-like" experience, much of the marching was also done in a manner that helped make either side seem to be the correct side.

In the 2006 show, "Volume 2: Through the Looking Glass," a similar trend as 2005 was followed, though this time, the "fake" front had a new overlay, giving the appearance of a baby blue front with different designs for each performer. The shako also was changed to appear maroon in the front and back, though the double visor was still used. Following this year, the uniform was changed back to its traditional design.

In 2011, the corps had the usual uniform design, but changed the colors in a different way. To support the show "Between Angels and Demons," which had the corps split in half with one half being "Angels," and the other "Demons," they had the two sides wear different colors. The "Demons" wore a full maroon uniform (shako, plume, jacket, pants, and shoes) while the "Angels" wore a full white uniform, both with the exception of the yellow sash adorned by both.

For the 2012 season, the full white uniform was extended to the entire corps for their "12.25" Christmas season show, and the sash was changed to maroon.

In 2014, the field corps wore the traditional uniform, while the pit wore white. Through the show, panels were removed from sashes worn by the field corps, changing the color worn from light blue to gold to yellow.

On July 30, 2015, The Cadets revealed new uniforms, which were black with silver lining. To create hype for the unveiling of the new uniforms, The Cadets had a blackout on their Facebook page.

In 2017, The Cadets utilized a new uniform for their program "The Faithful, The Fallen, The Forgiven" consisting of full length maroon cassocks with gold shoes before changing in to a more traditional "Cadets" style uniform with white pants before changing once again into a full white body suit for the show's closer.

In 2018, the corps featured white, close fitting uniforms with black mis-matched, horizontal stripes with a few maroon, sparkly stripes over top. Black collars, cuffs and shoulder points were made out of a black pvc material and studded with silver buttons. The back of the uniform, shoes and gloves were entirely black. The shako was black and white striped with a black panel in the front and a black, white and maroon plume during the beginning of the season and than changed to a straight black plume with silver mylar strands.

In preparation for the shortened 2021 season, The Cadets announced their traditional West Point uniforms would be making a return for the first time since 2014.

Corps Song[]

First written for the corps in 1937, "O Holy Name" is sung by the corps members before every performance. The lyrics are taught to new members each summer and sung to the tune of "O Tannenbaum."

The Cadets at DCI[]

Of the thirteen founding member corps of DCI, The Cadets are one of only four that have attended every World Championships, with the others being the Santa Clara Vanguard, The Cavaliers, and Madison Scouts. Of the four, only Santa Clara has advanced to Finals every year.

One of the Old Corps[]

The only junior drum and bugle corps older than The Cadets is the Racine Scouts, which was founded in 1927. The Scouts, however, have not competed on the field since 2015, making The Cadets the oldest continuously active junior corps. The Govenaires, an all-age/senior corps founded in 1927, retain the title of oldest continuously active corps.

In Step With Themselves[]

Where every other corps begins to march by "stepping off" on the left foot, beginning in 1985, The Cadets started stepping off on the right.

High Score[]

The Cadets' 2005 show "The Zone: Dreamscapes in Four Parts with a Door" tied the 2002 Cavaliers show "Frameworks" for the highest score ever achieved at DCI Finals, with a score of 99.15. This record stood for nine more years until it was broken by the 2014 Blue Devils, when their show "Felliniesque" earned a score of 99.650. Despite this, The Cadets' 2005 championship season remains the only one with a champion to win all captions and sub-captions.

Tradition & Innovation[]

While in many ways The Cadets are a very traditional corps, they have also been one of the innovators of the activity. This was especially true during their early DCI championship seasons, when they pioneered the use of complex, asymmetrical drills under the direction of drill designer George Zingali. Later, The Cadets and their then-director, George Hopkins, led the move toward the use of electronics, amplification, and vocals in drum corps.

References[]

External links[]

• The Cadets website