Atlanta CorpsVets
Encyclopedia
The Atlanta CorpsVets is an all-age drum and bugle corps that competes in the Drum Corps Associates circuit, and is a 501c3 Not-For-Profit Organization based in Atlanta, Georgia
. It was founded in 1997 and is one of three competitive Drum Corps
in the state of Georgia. The Atlanta CorpsVets have recently announced the purchase of brand-new instruments for the first time in their history and will be performing on King
Ultimate Brass beginning with the 2009 season
.
. The Woffords and Walshes met that night, and collaborated to bring the corps into being. Many signed up for further information, and the first interest meeting was held at Post 1 in late Fall, 1997. The first rehearsal of the corps was in January 1998, with basics block rehearsals conducted throughout Piedmont Park. The very first performance was at the 1998 St. Patrick's Day Parade in Atlanta.
That summer, the corps boasted a membership of 44 performers, and performed exhibitions at a local DCI
competition as well as marched in the WSB-TV
Salute 2 America Parade in downtown Atlanta. The final performance that inaugural season was at the Drum Corps Associates
Championship in Allentown, Pennsylvania where several members represented the corps in the Individual and Ensemble Competition. Every year since the corps' founding, they have participated in the Atlanta St. Patrick's Day parade, the WSB-TV Salute 2 America Parade and at the local DCI competitions in Georgia and Alabama
Championships in the Class A division. In 2001 the CorpsVets grew to 65 members and won the Class A title at the DCA
championships with a record score in that division.
The following year, 2002, the corps grew to 94 members, advanced to the highly competitive Open Class Division of DCA
and tied for 11th place at the championships. Competing again in the Open Class Division, the corps passed another milestone by earning an 8th place finish at the 2003 DCA
Championships in Scranton, Pennsylvania
with a production entitled "The Wild Party."
For the 2004 competitive season, the CorpsVets fielded a production titled, "The Heart of Jazz." The corps placed tenth at the DCA
Championships that year.
During the 2005 season the Atlanta CorpsVets went from being a senior corps to an all-age corps. During the 2005 season the CorpsVets put on a show called M.O.D.E. (The Music of Don Ellis), featuring the songs "Open Wide" and "Strawberry Soup." The corps placed ninth at DCA
.
The 2006 CorpsVets program was called "A Trip to Vegas." The repertoire consisted of "Luck Be A Lady" (from the musical "Guys and Dolls"), "Feeling Good," "Copacabana," "Everybody Needs Somebody Sometime," "A Little Less Conversation," "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend," "Can't Help Falling In Love," and "Viva Las Vegas
." The corps placed 9th place at finals that year.
In 2007, CorpsVets celebrated their tenth anniversary with a program entitled, "A Celebration, From Us to You." The repertoire included "Georgia on my Mind
" (from Taxi!), "Bacchanalia," "La Fiesta," and "Remembrance." Once again, the corps placed ninth at the DCA finals.
The corps' 2008 program was entitled "Simple Gifts," and consisted of the songs "Appalachian Morning", "Inferno", "Down to the River to Pray", "Shenandoah
", and "Simple Gifts
". For the fourth straight year, the corps placed ninth at the DCA finals.
2009 program "Southern Suite": "Tara's Theme", "I Got Plenty O' Nuttin'", "The First Letter", "Miss Otis Regrets", "Maybe God is Tryin' to Tell You Somethin'". 10th place at DCA Championships.
2010 program (change is coming) "360": "We Go On", "Celebration", "The Sage of Time Prologue", "Chaos", "Home" from Walt Disney World's Millennium Celebration by Gavin Greenaway.
stage show in Centennial Olympic Park, opened the Southeastern Emmy Awards show, performed the National Anthem for the Georgia Force and the Rome Braves, marched in the Old Soldier's Day Parade in Alpharetta, Georgia, the July 4 Parade in Decatur, Georgia and the Georgia Mountain Fair Parade in Hiawassee.
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. It was founded in 1997 and is one of three competitive Drum Corps
Drum and bugle corps (modern)
A drum and bugle corps, also known as a drum corps, is a musical marching unit consisting of brass instruments, percussion instruments, and color guard. Typically operating as independent non-profit organizations, drum corps perform in competitions, parades, festivals, and other civic functions...
in the state of Georgia. The Atlanta CorpsVets have recently announced the purchase of brand-new instruments for the first time in their history and will be performing on King
King Musical Instruments
King Musical Instruments was a musical instrument manufacturing company located in Cleveland, Ohio.The company was founded as the H.N. White Company in 1893 by Henderson White, an engraver and instrument repairman. White designed a trombone for Thomas King, a local player...
Ultimate Brass beginning with the 2009 season
.
Founding
The Atlanta CorpsVets started as a simple idea of Robin and Tracey Wofford and Tom and Janet Walsh in conjunction with American Legion Post #1 in the summer of 1997. The Woffords attended a senior corps show in Wisconsin, and felt the time was right for Atlanta to have its own corps. After returning to Atlanta, Robin created the name "Corpsvets", and the initial outline of the corps was sketched. Robin and Tracey contacted friends and contacts of their drum corps days and began recruiting at a local drum corps event held at Jacksonville State UniversityJacksonville State University
Jacksonville State University is a regional public coeducational university located in Jacksonville, Alabama, USA. Founded in 1883, Jacksonville State offers programs of study in four academic units leading to Bachelor's, Master's, and Education Specialist degrees, in addition to continuing and...
. The Woffords and Walshes met that night, and collaborated to bring the corps into being. Many signed up for further information, and the first interest meeting was held at Post 1 in late Fall, 1997. The first rehearsal of the corps was in January 1998, with basics block rehearsals conducted throughout Piedmont Park. The very first performance was at the 1998 St. Patrick's Day Parade in Atlanta.
That summer, the corps boasted a membership of 44 performers, and performed exhibitions at a local DCI
Drum Corps International
Drum Corps International , formed in 1972, is the non-profit governing body operating the North American drum and bugle corps circuit for junior corps, whose members are between the ages of 14 and 21. It is the counterpart of Drum Corps Associates which governs senior or all-age drum corps...
competition as well as marched in the WSB-TV
WSB-TV
WSB-TV, virtual channel 2.1 , is the ABC affiliate in Atlanta, Georgia. It is the flagship television station of Cox Enterprises and its Cox Media Group subsidiary...
Salute 2 America Parade in downtown Atlanta. The final performance that inaugural season was at the Drum Corps Associates
Drum Corps Associates
Drum Corps Associates is the governing body for modern senior or all-age drum and bugle corps in North America. It is the counterpart of Drum Corps International which governs junior drum corps...
Championship in Allentown, Pennsylvania where several members represented the corps in the Individual and Ensemble Competition. Every year since the corps' founding, they have participated in the Atlanta St. Patrick's Day parade, the WSB-TV Salute 2 America Parade and at the local DCI competitions in Georgia and Alabama
Growth
In 1999 the corps grew to 55 members and traveled to the DCA Championships, placing 4th in the mini-corps competition. Growth continued in 2000, with the corps featuring 56 members and placing second at the DCADrum Corps Associates
Drum Corps Associates is the governing body for modern senior or all-age drum and bugle corps in North America. It is the counterpart of Drum Corps International which governs junior drum corps...
Championships in the Class A division. In 2001 the CorpsVets grew to 65 members and won the Class A title at the DCA
Drum Corps Associates
Drum Corps Associates is the governing body for modern senior or all-age drum and bugle corps in North America. It is the counterpart of Drum Corps International which governs junior drum corps...
championships with a record score in that division.
The following year, 2002, the corps grew to 94 members, advanced to the highly competitive Open Class Division of DCA
Drum Corps Associates
Drum Corps Associates is the governing body for modern senior or all-age drum and bugle corps in North America. It is the counterpart of Drum Corps International which governs junior drum corps...
and tied for 11th place at the championships. Competing again in the Open Class Division, the corps passed another milestone by earning an 8th place finish at the 2003 DCA
Drum Corps Associates
Drum Corps Associates is the governing body for modern senior or all-age drum and bugle corps in North America. It is the counterpart of Drum Corps International which governs junior drum corps...
Championships in Scranton, Pennsylvania
Scranton, Pennsylvania
Scranton is a city in the northeastern part of Pennsylvania, United States. It is the county seat of Lackawanna County and the largest principal city in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area. Scranton had a population of 76,089 in 2010, according to the U.S...
with a production entitled "The Wild Party."
For the 2004 competitive season, the CorpsVets fielded a production titled, "The Heart of Jazz." The corps placed tenth at the DCA
Drum Corps Associates
Drum Corps Associates is the governing body for modern senior or all-age drum and bugle corps in North America. It is the counterpart of Drum Corps International which governs junior drum corps...
Championships that year.
During the 2005 season the Atlanta CorpsVets went from being a senior corps to an all-age corps. During the 2005 season the CorpsVets put on a show called M.O.D.E. (The Music of Don Ellis), featuring the songs "Open Wide" and "Strawberry Soup." The corps placed ninth at DCA
Drum Corps Associates
Drum Corps Associates is the governing body for modern senior or all-age drum and bugle corps in North America. It is the counterpart of Drum Corps International which governs junior drum corps...
.
The 2006 CorpsVets program was called "A Trip to Vegas." The repertoire consisted of "Luck Be A Lady" (from the musical "Guys and Dolls"), "Feeling Good," "Copacabana," "Everybody Needs Somebody Sometime," "A Little Less Conversation," "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend," "Can't Help Falling In Love," and "Viva Las Vegas
Viva Las Vegas (song)
"Viva Las Vegas" is a 1964 song written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman and recorded by Elvis Presley for his Viva Las Vegas film vehicle of that year...
." The corps placed 9th place at finals that year.
In 2007, CorpsVets celebrated their tenth anniversary with a program entitled, "A Celebration, From Us to You." The repertoire included "Georgia on my Mind
Georgia on My Mind
"Georgia on My Mind" is a song written in 1930 by Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell . It is the official state song of the U.S. state of Georgia. Gorrell wrote the lyrics for Hoagy's sister, Georgia Carmichael. However, the lyrics of the song are ambiguous enough to refer either to the state or...
" (from Taxi!), "Bacchanalia," "La Fiesta," and "Remembrance." Once again, the corps placed ninth at the DCA finals.
The corps' 2008 program was entitled "Simple Gifts," and consisted of the songs "Appalachian Morning", "Inferno", "Down to the River to Pray", "Shenandoah
Oh Shenandoah
"Oh Shenandoah" is a traditional American folk song of uncertain origin, dating at least to the early 19th century...
", and "Simple Gifts
Simple Gifts
"Simple Gifts" is a Shaker song written and composed in 1848 by Elder Joseph Brackett.It has endured many inaccurate descriptions. Though often classified as an anonymous Shaker hymn or as a work song, it is better classified as a dance song.-Lyrics:...
". For the fourth straight year, the corps placed ninth at the DCA finals.
2009 program "Southern Suite": "Tara's Theme", "I Got Plenty O' Nuttin'", "The First Letter", "Miss Otis Regrets", "Maybe God is Tryin' to Tell You Somethin'". 10th place at DCA Championships.
2010 program (change is coming) "360": "We Go On", "Celebration", "The Sage of Time Prologue", "Chaos", "Home" from Walt Disney World's Millennium Celebration by Gavin Greenaway.
Other performances
In addition to competitive performances, the corps has also hosted educational clinics for local high school music students, performed at the July 4Independence Day (United States)
Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain...
stage show in Centennial Olympic Park, opened the Southeastern Emmy Awards show, performed the National Anthem for the Georgia Force and the Rome Braves, marched in the Old Soldier's Day Parade in Alpharetta, Georgia, the July 4 Parade in Decatur, Georgia and the Georgia Mountain Fair Parade in Hiawassee.
Philosophy
The CorpsVets philosophy is to provide entertaining and crowd-pleasing performances for its members and fans to enjoy. The corps has a close-knit, highly trained membership and staff who work together to create a dynamic, educational, and rewarding experience. Performance, community service, and friendship, are the defining characteristics of CorpsVets, which aims for excellence and leadership in the drum corps activity.External links
- CorpsVets: Official website
- Drum Corps Associates
- Drum Corps Wiki