Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps
Encyclopedia
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...
based in Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
and founded in 1958, and are a member corps of Drum Corps International
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...
. They are known throughout the circuit for their moving interpretations of classical music, use of choreography and colorful hand-painted flags. The Blue Knights administer a competitive drum corps that annually tours and competes throughout the country. The corps is a thirteen-time DCI finalist, with their highest finish being sixth in 2000 and seventh in 1994,1999 and 2006, having fallen out of the finals only four times since they first made the Top Twelve in 1991. The organization also fields an indoor percussion ensemble
Indoor percussion ensemble
An indoor percussion ensemble or indoor drumline consists of the marching percussion and front ensemble sections of a marching band or drum corps. The only exceptions are in concert divisions where the marching line is absent and the ensemble consists entirely of a pit...
, winter brass ensemble and a winter guard
Winter guard
Winter guard is an indoor color guard activity, derived from marching band or drum & bugle corps. Unlike traditional color guard, winter guard is performed indoors, usually in a gymnasium or an indoor arena...
unit, Opus 10, which competes on the Rocky Mountain Percussion Association and Winter Guard International
Winter Guard International
Spawning from the organization Drum Corps International , Winter Guard International was founded in 1977. WGI is a visual performing arts organization that hosts regional and national competitions for color guard and indoor percussion ensembles. Contests are held in the U.S...
circuits. The Blue Knights also organize the professional performing percussion group, Stampede, which performs at Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
football games.
The corps director is Mark Arnold.
Shows by year (DCI era)
| Year | Theme | Repertoire | Score | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | ? | ? | 48.150 | 21 | |
| 1976 | ? | Battle of Britain / Hill Where the Lord Hides / Battle Hymn of the Republic / Feelings | - | - | |
| 1977 | "West Side Story Medley" | West Side Story Medley / Somewhere (from West Side Story) / When You're a Jet / Maybe tonight / I Get Crazy / Hill Where the Lord Hides / Evergreen (from A Star is Born) / Maria (from West Side Story) | 57.900 | 41 | |
| 1983 | ? | ? | 51.700 | 31 | |
| 1984 | ? | If You Could Read My Mind / Sweet Inspiration / Trilogy / Magician / Ain't No Mountain High Enough / I'm Gonna Make You Love Me | 70.700 | 22 | |
| 1985 | "A Pirates' Tale" | A Pirates' Tale | 68.200 | 31 | |
| 1986 | "Rockin' The Rockies" | Rockin' The Paradise / Too Much Time on my Hands / Since You Asked / Light Up / Thick as a Brick / First Time | 68.700 | 27 | |
| 1987 | ? | Savannah River Holiday / Ritual Fire Dance (from El Amor Brujo) / Requiem | 73.400 | 22 | |
| 1988 | ? | Moorside March / Divertimento for Band / Pie Jesu (from Requiem) / March from The Suite in E Flat | 78.600 | 17 | |
| 1989 | ? | Moorside March / Punchinello | 81.200 | 16 | |
| 1990 | ? | Chichester Psalms / Offertory (from Mass) / I Go On (from Mass) / Sanctus (from Bernstein's Mass) / Agnus Dei (from Bernstein's Mass) | 85.400 | 13 | |
| 1991 | ? | Savannah River Holiday / Outdoor Overture / Aspen Jubilee | 87.700 | 9 | |
| 1992 | "Portraits of Aaron Copland" | Billy the Kid / Corral Nocturne (from Rodeo) / The Red Pony / Chorale and Shaker Dance | 90.000 | 9 | |
| 1993 | "The Next Generation" | Battle in the Mutara Nebula (from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn) / Clear All Moorings (From Star Trek VI) / Star Trek VI Suite / Little Green Men | 85.000 | 10 | |
| 1994 | "Trittico For Brass Band" | Trittico For Brass Band | 88.400 | 7 | |
| 1995 | "Legacy" | Introduction (from Legacy) / Main Theme (from Legacy) / Adagio (from Legacy) / Fugue (from Legacy) / Finale (from Legacy) | 81.300 | 13 | |
| 1996 | "Music of Ron Nelson" | Rocky Point Holiday / Sonoran Desert Holiday | 80.700 | 12 | |
| 1997 | ? | Prelude (from Ben Hur) / Overture to Ben Hur / The Battle, parts I and II (from Ben Hur) / Lithe Girl, Brown Girl (fourth movement from The Lovers) / Father In Heaven (from Prayers of Kierdegaard) | 88.200 | 9 | |
| 1998 | "Masters of the Symphony" | Tenth Symphony, Second Movement / Sixth Symphony, First and Third Movement - Pathetique / New World Symphony (Largo) / Ninth Symphony (Ode to Joy) | 89.500 | 9 | |
| 1999 | "Suite for Brass and Percussion" | Trittico For Brass Band / Partita For Band | 92.500 | 7 | |
| 2000 | "Colors of Brass and Percussion" | Montage Mvt 1 / Montage Mvt 3 / The Essence of Time – A Time for Love / The Essence of Time – A Time for Hate / The Essence of Time – A Time for Peace / Original | 92.000 | 6 | |
| 2001 | "Blue Toons" | Cartoon / Black Market Juggler / An American in Paris | 83.900 | 14 | |
| 2002 | "Fear and Trembling featuring the music of Dmitri Shostakovich and Samuel Barber" | Piano Concerto No. 1 Op.35 / Piano Concerto Op.38 | 85.500 | 13 | |
| 2003 | "Primary Colors" | Kaval Sviri / Izpoved / Prologue | 85.350 | 13 | |
| 2004 | "A Knight's Tale" | A Knight's Tale | 87.600 | 10 | |
| 2005 | "A Midsummer Knight's Dream" | A Midsummer Knight's Dream | 88.225 | 10 | |
| 2006 | "Dark Knights" | Piano Concerto | 90.125 | 7 | |
| 2007 | "Dark Dances" | Piano Concerto No. 1 / Symphony No. 10 | 90.275 | 8 | |
| 2008 | "Knight Reign" | Knight Reign | 88.250 | 9 | |
| 2009 | "Shiver: A Winter in Colorado" | Winter from the Four Seasons / Glide / Landslide / Tarantella / Coronation from “Stardust" | 86.450 | 11 | |
| 2010 | "Europa" | L'Arlesienne Suite No. 2: Farandole / W.N.(from Enigma Variations) / Nimrod (from Enigma Variations) / Brahms First Symphony; Movement 4 | 87.100 | 11 | |
| 2011 | "An English Folk Song Suite" | Featuring the music of Gustav Holst, Percy Grainger, and Ralph Vaughan Williams | 89.200 | 9 |
Awards and achievements
VFW National Finalist - 1963US Open Finalist - 1988
US Open Prelims - 1987
DCI Finalist - 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
DCI Semi-finalist - 1984, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1995, 2001, 2002, 2003
DCI Quarter-finalist - 1983, 1985, 1986
DCI Prelims - 1977
DCI Class A Prelims - 1975