Racine Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps
Encyclopedia
The Racine Scouts - formally the Racine Explorer Scouts - based in Racine, Wisconsin
, are the oldest continually competitive Drum Corps in North America. Beginning in November 1927 as the Boy Scout of America Troop 15 of the Lutheran Church of the Atonement, the Racine Scouts are the oldest musical scouting unit. The Scouts' purpose is to make available a superior performing ensemble with an emphasis on education as well as inspire work ethic and promise in today's youth. They currently are an active junior drum corps
in Drum Corps International's
Open Class. The corps is currently under the direction of John Donovan.
Troop 15 began with a group of boys that got together in the Sunday school room in the Lutheran Church of the Atonement in Racine, WI. The very beginnings of the corps consisted of a piano, three pairs of drum sticks – provided by their drum instructor Earl Ray, a sandbox that was located in the Sunday school room, and the boys learned to whistle “Taps”.
The young boys that marched in Troop 15 earned the nickname “the noisy nomads” because they practiced their music and drill constantly in the streets of Racine. It should be noted that those boys also had to sing or hum their music, because instruments were not available at the time to those young men. In 1928, Troop 15 marched for the first time in Racine’s famous Fourth of July parade, a parade that Troop 15 and the Racine Scouts would be known for marching in. 1929 first brought Troop 15 more performance opportunities, such as performing in the Racine Zoo (after the 4th of July parade) and the opportunity to travel and perform at the Wisconsin - Colgate football game at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, WI.
Elof Erickson, assisted by the drum instructor Earl Ray and the bugle instructor William J. Peterson, conducted an experiment to stimulate interest in the group. The experiment worked so well that within a year the troop had to get special dispensation to double it authorized size. The troop drum corps had 52 members by this point.
In October 1931, the corps announced it was considering to be re-organized under the Racine County Boy Scout Council. A meeting was held to gauge the amount of interest in organizing a drum corps that would allow all the Racine Boy Scout troops to participate in. The meeting was a success having many troops show up, and the decision was made to organize this corps. The current leaders of the Troop 15 drum corps were put in charge of heading this new council-wide drum and bugle corps.
The 1930’s brought much success to the new Racine Scouts drum and bugle corps, winning many competitions, bringing in countless amounts of trophies, awards, and first place honors. From 1935 through 1940 the Racine Scouts went undefeated in competition, competing at big-name shows of the time including the Riverview Amusement Park’s “Tournament of Champions”, the Kenosha “Round-up”, and the “Chicagoland Music Festival”. The Racine Scouts even scored a 98.30 at the 1935 “Chicagoland Music Festival”, the highest drum and bugle corps score ever at the time.
Other 1930’s highlight performances for the corps include the 1937 Boy Scout national jamboree, performing a concert at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, performing for radio broadcasts, and performing for the Danish Crown Prince and Princess (1939).
It was in 1938 that a group of businessmen witnessed a performance of the Racine Scouts, and got inspired to form their own drum and bugle corps. The Racine Scouts provided many critical resources for the businessmen such as music, staff, and general support; playing a very critical role in the development of the Madison Scouts.
The Racine Scouts competed in a national competition for the first time in 1941 (American Legion
National Championship), but won't compete at the national level again until 1953 (the VFW
National Championship in Milwaukee, WI). The Racine Scouts continued their operations during World War II, by performing in multiple parade, exhibitions, and selling war bonds to the Racine community. In 1947, the Racine Scouts performed at the national Boy Scout jamboree. In their audience was a man named Don Warren, who after witnessing the Racine Scouts perform got an idea. Don acting upon his idea, he formed the Chicago Cavaliers.
Performing at the national Boy Scout jamboree in 1950, the Racine Scouts received their most prestigious title. The National Chief Scout declared the Racine Scouts the “Champions of Scouting”. This title established the Racine Scouts as the outstanding musical organization in Boy Scouts of America. After then, the Racine Scouts traveled to New York City for sightseeing and a performance on Times Square. Recordings were made of the Racine Scouts in New York City for a worldwide radio broadcast by NBC.
After the resolution of World War II, there was a huge growth in the number of active drum and bugle corps because of its rapidly growing popularity. The Racine Scouts then found it much harder to maintain their competitive success with the stiffer competition and the growing successes of other drum and bugle corps, both in the local and national level. While attending the 1953 nation Boy Scout jamboree, the Racine Scouts performed at the opening of Disneyland in California, and put on local concerts in the surrounding area. In 1954 the Racine Scouts took a less competitive schedule for more non-competitive performance opportunities, and were criticized by the “Midwest Corps News”. The audiences missed the scouts. Membership in the corps dropped since 1955, making the Racine Scouts a much younger and inexperienced corps than they were in the years previous, but maintained receiving numerous 2nd and 3rd placements at competitions.
In October 1957, the Racine Scouts for the purpose of training younger Boy Scouts organized a Junior Corps. The Junior corps made its debut in Racine’s Memorial Day parade in 1958, and have been active since. The Racine Scouts appeared in new Boy Scout uniforms in 1958, changing the uniform color to an olive green and the material from wool to gabardine. White neckerchiefs and the corps emblem were also added to complete their look.
In 1958 the Racine Scouts experienced one of their least successful years in competition. They remained competitively low for the next few years until 1962, placing first at prelims and finals at the Midwest States Small Corps Championships, and winning the VFW State Championship. In 1963, “Pageantry Life” magazine named the Racine Scouts one of the best drum corps in the Midwest.
In 1964, the Racine Scouts were reorganized into the new national program of Explorer Scouting. The corps was adapted and formed their own Explore Scout post. After this important change occurred, the Racine Scouts ridded themselves of the green Boy Scout uniforms in place of the current red, white, and blue uniforms that are used to this day. Though now officially named the Racine Explorer Scout drum and bugle corps, they were referred to as the “Chrome Domes” because of their new chrome dome helmets that accompanied their new uniform.
The rest of the 60’s proved to be very great for the Racine Scouts in competition, obtaining high placements at major competitions and VFW Nationals, as well as members of the Racine Scouts gaining 2nd place at individual instrument competitions between all the corps. One major change happened though in 1969, when the Racine Scouts opened their color guard to females 15 years and older. The color guard that year ended up numbering 35 girls, with more than 50 other girls on a waiting list.
The early 70’s saw the Racine Explorer Scouts having a drop in competitive success, but still maintained good membership numbers and other non-competitive performances, such as performing during the half time at a Green Bay Packers football game. Once Drum Corps International formed in 1972, the Racine Explorer Scouts first chose not to become involved with the organization, believing it was only a fad and DCI wouldn’t last for many years. The Racine Explorer Scouts competed at the local level in non-DCI competitions through 1974. Membership numbers began to drop and the Racine Explorer Scouts had a hard time recruiting members. In the fall of 1974 they decided to merge with the Mariners Drum and Bugle Corps (Greendale, WI) and the name Mariner Explorer Scouts was picked, but in April of 1975 the Racine Explorer Scouts dissolved the merger and fielded a small corps in the Illinois All American Drum Corps Circuit for the remainder of the 1975 season due to such low membership. The corps competed as a small Division III corps in 1976.
The Racine Explorer Scouts competed at 7 more VFW National competitions (1977,1978,1979,1980,1981,1982 and 1983) receiving low double-digit placement, and competed in almost every Drum Corps Midwest Championships since 1982 until DCM was disbanded after 2005. The corps competed exclusively in Division III ever since its formation in 1994, and began traveling to major DCI region contests in 2000 getting better competitive results.
In 2007, the Racine Scouts celebrated their 80th Anniversary with a show that celebrated the corps past, as well as formed an alumni drum and bugle corps for the season. The Racine Scouts and the alumni corps performed a standstill as part of a major event, and marching together as one unit in the Memorial Day parade in West Racine.
Due to the small number of corps remaining, DCI re-organized corps into the current day World Class and Open Class, the Racine Scouts now belonging to the Open Class group of corps. The Racine Scouts also very little competition at local shows now due to the very small numbers of Open Class corps. The Racine Scouts were the closest they’ve ever been to competing in a finals competition, since DCM disbanded, in the 2010 season receiving 13th place at DCI semi-finals; the top 12 corps move on to DCI finals.
The 2011 season saw an important change to the Racine Scouts hornline. During the early off-season, the staff of the corps decided it would be important to switch the corps to perform on horns in the key of B-flat, rather than in the key of G (which the corps has performed on during the preceding few decades). After a few tribulations with attempts early on in the pre-season to get the corps new horns, one of the associate directors at the time got in contact with the Vigilantes (a DCA corps that decided not to field for the 2011 season); he made an agreement with the corps to lease their B-flat horns for the summer. The 2011 season then became the first summer the Racine Scouts performed on B-flat horns. The membership for the summer - after performing on G horns for many years prior - found the adjustment to be rather smooth; the corps found it to be still competitive with their new sound and received numerous compliments, including from the Chicago Royal-Airs mentioning Racine still had a G-horn sound and they made the bigger Royal-Airs sound weak and sick (the two corps performed against each other in an SDCA show in 2011). The Racine Scouts were the last corps in DCI to switch from horns keyed in G to B-flat.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, are the oldest continually competitive Drum Corps in North America. Beginning in November 1927 as the Boy Scout of America Troop 15 of the Lutheran Church of the Atonement, the Racine Scouts are the oldest musical scouting unit. The Scouts' purpose is to make available a superior performing ensemble with an emphasis on education as well as inspire work ethic and promise in today's youth. They currently are an active junior 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 Drum Corps International's
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...
Open Class. The corps is currently under the direction of John Donovan.
History
The Racine Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps were first created as the Boy Scout Troop 15 of the Lutheran Church of the Atonement in November 1927. The corps is the creation of Elof Erickson, the scoutmaster of Troop 15 at the time. Drum corps forming from Boy Scout troops were becoming popular at the time, although Troop 15 wasn't the first drum corps to be formed from a Boy Scout Troop nor the first Boy Scout drum and bugle corps in Racine, Wisconsin. They’re now one of two remaining drum corps in Drum Corps International that maintains its ties to Boy Scouts of America.Troop 15 began with a group of boys that got together in the Sunday school room in the Lutheran Church of the Atonement in Racine, WI. The very beginnings of the corps consisted of a piano, three pairs of drum sticks – provided by their drum instructor Earl Ray, a sandbox that was located in the Sunday school room, and the boys learned to whistle “Taps”.
The young boys that marched in Troop 15 earned the nickname “the noisy nomads” because they practiced their music and drill constantly in the streets of Racine. It should be noted that those boys also had to sing or hum their music, because instruments were not available at the time to those young men. In 1928, Troop 15 marched for the first time in Racine’s famous Fourth of July parade, a parade that Troop 15 and the Racine Scouts would be known for marching in. 1929 first brought Troop 15 more performance opportunities, such as performing in the Racine Zoo (after the 4th of July parade) and the opportunity to travel and perform at the Wisconsin - Colgate football game at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, WI.
Elof Erickson, assisted by the drum instructor Earl Ray and the bugle instructor William J. Peterson, conducted an experiment to stimulate interest in the group. The experiment worked so well that within a year the troop had to get special dispensation to double it authorized size. The troop drum corps had 52 members by this point.
In October 1931, the corps announced it was considering to be re-organized under the Racine County Boy Scout Council. A meeting was held to gauge the amount of interest in organizing a drum corps that would allow all the Racine Boy Scout troops to participate in. The meeting was a success having many troops show up, and the decision was made to organize this corps. The current leaders of the Troop 15 drum corps were put in charge of heading this new council-wide drum and bugle corps.
The 1930’s brought much success to the new Racine Scouts drum and bugle corps, winning many competitions, bringing in countless amounts of trophies, awards, and first place honors. From 1935 through 1940 the Racine Scouts went undefeated in competition, competing at big-name shows of the time including the Riverview Amusement Park’s “Tournament of Champions”, the Kenosha “Round-up”, and the “Chicagoland Music Festival”. The Racine Scouts even scored a 98.30 at the 1935 “Chicagoland Music Festival”, the highest drum and bugle corps score ever at the time.
Other 1930’s highlight performances for the corps include the 1937 Boy Scout national jamboree, performing a concert at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, performing for radio broadcasts, and performing for the Danish Crown Prince and Princess (1939).
It was in 1938 that a group of businessmen witnessed a performance of the Racine Scouts, and got inspired to form their own drum and bugle corps. The Racine Scouts provided many critical resources for the businessmen such as music, staff, and general support; playing a very critical role in the development of the Madison Scouts.
The Racine Scouts competed in a national competition for the first time in 1941 (American Legion
American Legion
The American Legion is a mutual-aid organization of veterans of the United States armed forces chartered by the United States Congress. It was founded to benefit those veterans who served during a wartime period as defined by Congress...
National Championship), but won't compete at the national level again until 1953 (the VFW
VFW
VFW may refer to:*Vereinigte Flugtechnische Werke*Veterans of Foreign Wars*Veterans of Future Wars*Video for Windows*VFW Parkway...
National Championship in Milwaukee, WI). The Racine Scouts continued their operations during World War II, by performing in multiple parade, exhibitions, and selling war bonds to the Racine community. In 1947, the Racine Scouts performed at the national Boy Scout jamboree. In their audience was a man named Don Warren, who after witnessing the Racine Scouts perform got an idea. Don acting upon his idea, he formed the Chicago Cavaliers.
Performing at the national Boy Scout jamboree in 1950, the Racine Scouts received their most prestigious title. The National Chief Scout declared the Racine Scouts the “Champions of Scouting”. This title established the Racine Scouts as the outstanding musical organization in Boy Scouts of America. After then, the Racine Scouts traveled to New York City for sightseeing and a performance on Times Square. Recordings were made of the Racine Scouts in New York City for a worldwide radio broadcast by NBC.
After the resolution of World War II, there was a huge growth in the number of active drum and bugle corps because of its rapidly growing popularity. The Racine Scouts then found it much harder to maintain their competitive success with the stiffer competition and the growing successes of other drum and bugle corps, both in the local and national level. While attending the 1953 nation Boy Scout jamboree, the Racine Scouts performed at the opening of Disneyland in California, and put on local concerts in the surrounding area. In 1954 the Racine Scouts took a less competitive schedule for more non-competitive performance opportunities, and were criticized by the “Midwest Corps News”. The audiences missed the scouts. Membership in the corps dropped since 1955, making the Racine Scouts a much younger and inexperienced corps than they were in the years previous, but maintained receiving numerous 2nd and 3rd placements at competitions.
In October 1957, the Racine Scouts for the purpose of training younger Boy Scouts organized a Junior Corps. The Junior corps made its debut in Racine’s Memorial Day parade in 1958, and have been active since. The Racine Scouts appeared in new Boy Scout uniforms in 1958, changing the uniform color to an olive green and the material from wool to gabardine. White neckerchiefs and the corps emblem were also added to complete their look.
In 1958 the Racine Scouts experienced one of their least successful years in competition. They remained competitively low for the next few years until 1962, placing first at prelims and finals at the Midwest States Small Corps Championships, and winning the VFW State Championship. In 1963, “Pageantry Life” magazine named the Racine Scouts one of the best drum corps in the Midwest.
In 1964, the Racine Scouts were reorganized into the new national program of Explorer Scouting. The corps was adapted and formed their own Explore Scout post. After this important change occurred, the Racine Scouts ridded themselves of the green Boy Scout uniforms in place of the current red, white, and blue uniforms that are used to this day. Though now officially named the Racine Explorer Scout drum and bugle corps, they were referred to as the “Chrome Domes” because of their new chrome dome helmets that accompanied their new uniform.
The rest of the 60’s proved to be very great for the Racine Scouts in competition, obtaining high placements at major competitions and VFW Nationals, as well as members of the Racine Scouts gaining 2nd place at individual instrument competitions between all the corps. One major change happened though in 1969, when the Racine Scouts opened their color guard to females 15 years and older. The color guard that year ended up numbering 35 girls, with more than 50 other girls on a waiting list.
The early 70’s saw the Racine Explorer Scouts having a drop in competitive success, but still maintained good membership numbers and other non-competitive performances, such as performing during the half time at a Green Bay Packers football game. Once Drum Corps International formed in 1972, the Racine Explorer Scouts first chose not to become involved with the organization, believing it was only a fad and DCI wouldn’t last for many years. The Racine Explorer Scouts competed at the local level in non-DCI competitions through 1974. Membership numbers began to drop and the Racine Explorer Scouts had a hard time recruiting members. In the fall of 1974 they decided to merge with the Mariners Drum and Bugle Corps (Greendale, WI) and the name Mariner Explorer Scouts was picked, but in April of 1975 the Racine Explorer Scouts dissolved the merger and fielded a small corps in the Illinois All American Drum Corps Circuit for the remainder of the 1975 season due to such low membership. The corps competed as a small Division III corps in 1976.
The Racine Explorer Scouts competed at 7 more VFW National competitions (1977,1978,1979,1980,1981,1982 and 1983) receiving low double-digit placement, and competed in almost every Drum Corps Midwest Championships since 1982 until DCM was disbanded after 2005. The corps competed exclusively in Division III ever since its formation in 1994, and began traveling to major DCI region contests in 2000 getting better competitive results.
In 2007, the Racine Scouts celebrated their 80th Anniversary with a show that celebrated the corps past, as well as formed an alumni drum and bugle corps for the season. The Racine Scouts and the alumni corps performed a standstill as part of a major event, and marching together as one unit in the Memorial Day parade in West Racine.
Due to the small number of corps remaining, DCI re-organized corps into the current day World Class and Open Class, the Racine Scouts now belonging to the Open Class group of corps. The Racine Scouts also very little competition at local shows now due to the very small numbers of Open Class corps. The Racine Scouts were the closest they’ve ever been to competing in a finals competition, since DCM disbanded, in the 2010 season receiving 13th place at DCI semi-finals; the top 12 corps move on to DCI finals.
The 2011 season saw an important change to the Racine Scouts hornline. During the early off-season, the staff of the corps decided it would be important to switch the corps to perform on horns in the key of B-flat, rather than in the key of G (which the corps has performed on during the preceding few decades). After a few tribulations with attempts early on in the pre-season to get the corps new horns, one of the associate directors at the time got in contact with the Vigilantes (a DCA corps that decided not to field for the 2011 season); he made an agreement with the corps to lease their B-flat horns for the summer. The 2011 season then became the first summer the Racine Scouts performed on B-flat horns. The membership for the summer - after performing on G horns for many years prior - found the adjustment to be rather smooth; the corps found it to be still competitive with their new sound and received numerous compliments, including from the Chicago Royal-Airs mentioning Racine still had a G-horn sound and they made the bigger Royal-Airs sound weak and sick (the two corps performed against each other in an SDCA show in 2011). The Racine Scouts were the last corps in DCI to switch from horns keyed in G to B-flat.
Mission
"The Racine Scouts' purpose is to provide a quality performing ensemble with an emphasis on education as well as instill work ethic and promise in today's youth. The goals and ambitions of the Racine Scouts are to create a performing unit that accepts nothing less than a member's best effort and a strong willingness to improve every day, leading to a unit that is competitive with the top corps in our class. As the ensemble prospers it will be a driving force for the marching arts in Wisconsin and the world. We will create a positive environment for youth to evolve, grow and mature as musicians, performers and young adults."1936
- Repertoire:(Incomplete)
- Onward, Christian Soldiers
- On Wisconsin
- Lullaby on Broadway
1955
- Repertoire:
- Time On My Hands
- Springtime
- Tara's Theme
- Notre Dame Victory March
- Apple Blossom Time
- Red Sails In The Sunset
- Onward, Christian Soldiers
1962
- Repertoire:
- Sherrif Dupius
- Sweet Georgia Brown
- Maria (from West Side Story)
- Brazil
- America
- Rat Race
- Bullfighter
- Out Of This World
- Score: 70.350
1965
- Repertoire:
- The Minstrel Boy
- March of the Olympians
- Bullfighter
- Bye Bye Birdie
- High School Cadets
1968
- Repertoire:
- Columbia, The Gem Of The Ocean
- La Virgen De La Macarena
- Who Can I Turn To? (from Roar of the Greasepaint)
- Do Nothing 'Til You Hear From Me
- Score: 77.20
1970
- Repertoire:
- Ode To Joy
- More And More
- You've Lost That Loving Feeling
- (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay
- Dream A Little Dream Of Me
1995
- DCI Division III
- Repertoire:
- Music of Respighi
- Placement: 27th
- Score: 60.70
1996
- DCI Division III
- Repertoire:
- Dream, Dream, Dream
- Day Of The Dreamer, Part 1
- Let There Be Praise
- Beetlejuice
- Placement: 27th
- Score: 48.40
1997
- DCI Division III
- Repertoire:
- Big Noise From Winnetka
- You Always Hurt The One You Love
- Time After Time
- Patriotic Medley
- Placement: 29th
- Score: 54.30
1998
- DCI Division III
- Repertoire:
- Western Chrome
- Tumbleweed
- The Big Country
- Wagon Train
- Western Omelet
- Magnificent Seven
- Happy Trails
1999
- DCI Division III
- Repertoire:
- Gunsmoke
- Wild, Wild West
- Magnificent Seven
- Placement: 25th
- Score: 63.80
2000
- DCI Division III
- Repertoire:
- Nautical Fantasy
- McHale's Navy
- Flipper
- Gilligan's Island
- Blow The Man Down
- Popeye The Sailor Man
- Columbia, The Gem Of The Ocean
- Shenandoah
- Nautical Fantasy
- Placement: 27th
- Score: 55.85
2001
- DCI Division III
- Repertoire:
- Selections of George Gershwin
- An American In Paris
- Strike Up the Band
- Summertime (from Porgy and Bess)
- You Can't Take That Away From Me
- Rhapsody In Blue
- I Got Rhythm (from Girl Crazy)
- Selections of George Gershwin
- Placement: 15th
- Score: 71.10
2002
- DCI Division III
- Repertoire:
- Moonlight Serenade
- Bye Bye Blues
- The Best Is Yet To Come
- American Patrol
- You're A Grand Old Flag
- Placement: 22nd
- Score: 57.75
2003
- DCI Division III
- Repertoire:
- Shaken, Not Stirred
- James Bond Theme
- Goldeneye
- The Man With The Golden Gun
- Goldfinger
- Live And Let Die
- Moonraker
- Shaken, Not Stirred
- Placement: 18th
- Score: 68.35
2004
- DCI Division III
- Repertoire:
- Funk 'N Chrome
- Another Star
- Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing
- Stayin' Alive
- Salsation
- How Deep Is Your Love?
- Boogie Wonderland
- I Will Survive
- Funk 'N Chrome
- Placement: 16th
- Score: 56.400
2007
- DCI Division III
- Repertoire:
- Portraits in Chrome: Idols, Icons, and Images
- Old Man River (from Showboat)
- Blue Skies
- Someone to Watch Over Me
- Caravan
- "Birthday Suite" which included:
- Sweet Georgia Brown
- Take Me Out to the Ball Game
- Those Magnificent Men and their Flying Machines
- Hooray For Hollywood
- Happy Birthday
- Portraits in Chrome: Idols, Icons, and Images
- Placement: 13th
- Score: 66.175
2008
- DCI Open Class
- Repertoire:
- Frankly, Sinatra
- All The Way
- The Way You Look Tonight (from Swing Time)
- Come Fly With Me
- I've Got You Under My Skin (from Night and Day)
- Luck Be A Lady (from Guys and Dolls)
- The Lady Is A Tramp (from Babes in Arms)
- That's Life
- Frankly, Sinatra
- Placement: 19th
- Score: 74.30
2009
- DCI Open Class
- Repertoire:
- New York Scenes Under Chrome Lights
- New York State of Mind
- Give My Regards to Broadway
- 42nd Street
- Harlem Nocturne
- Sing, Sang, Sung
- New York, New York
- New York Scenes Under Chrome Lights
- Placement: 16th
- Score: 74.30
2010
- DCI Open Class
- Repertoire:
- Fascinating Rhythms: The Music of George Gershwin
- Summertime
- Rhapsody in Blue
- An American in Paris
- Strike Up The Band
- I Loves You Porgy
- Bess, You Is My Woman Now
- I Got Rhythm
- Fascinating Rhythms: The Music of George Gershwin
- Placement: 13th
- Score: 74.50
2011
- DCI Open Class
- Repertoire:
- Resurrection
- Lux Aeterna (Rutter)
- Requiem: Dies Irae (Verdi)
- Ave Maria (Gounod)
- The Divine Comedy III: The Ascension
- Onward, Christian Soldiers
- Resurrection
- Open Class Prelims
- Placement: 14th
- Score: 69.55
- World Class Quarterfinals
- Placement: 39th
- Score: 48.50
Uniform
- The corps uniform up until 1964 were boy scout uniforms; The scout uniforms undergoing various changes through out the years.
- The corps has maintained their uniform look since its debut in 1964, making only slight modifications since then.
- Blue coat with a white and red pin-stripped sash and a white honor cord. The white sash containing the explorer corps logo.
- White bibbers, some years having a red stripe down the legs.
- White gloves, white socks, white shoes.
- The chrome dome. A 3lbs brass chrome plated helmet with a red fox-tail plume.
Scouting Heritage
- The corps maintains a part of their scouting heritage with symbols taken directly from the Boy Scouts of America organization.
- The corps' symbol is the Chrome Dome.
- The corps song is the melody to You'll Never Walk Alone.
- The Racine Scouts have different lyrics that go with the melody.
- The instrumental version played by the Racine Scouts is a different arrangement than that of the Madison Scouts.
Trivia
- Their nickname is the "Chrome Domes" for the 3lbs brass plated helmets that are worn as a part of their uniforms.
- The Racine Scouts are 1 of 4 drum and bugle corps left that are based out of Racine, WI. Though they are the only one that competes in DCI.
- The Racine Scouts have had a direct and powerful influence in the formation of the Cavaliers and the Madison Scouts.
- The Racine Scouts have made numerous performance appearances at the Boy Scout National Jamborees, the latest being the 2010 Centennial Jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill, VA.
- Their baritone/euphonium soloist in 2010 and 2011, Conner Heinle, competed and won DCI's I&E competition with a score of 98 (the highest brass score that year in both World and Open class) and 95 respectively. In 2010 he re-performed his solo on the field in Lucas Oil Stadium during the World Class Semi-finals.
- The Racine Scouts traveled to Detroit, MI in 1947 to honor and perform for Henry Fords' funeral.
- The Racine Scouts were the first "outside" musical unit to perform at the National Music Camps at Interlochen, MI.
- The Racine Scouts have been the oldest musical scouting unit since the 1930's.
- True to their scouting origins, the Racine Scouts required every member to be at least a First Class scout until the late 1950s.
- In 1959 the Scouts undertook a power tour, making 32 performances through Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin in just five days.
- The Racine Scouts went undefeated for 6 straight years in competition (1935-1940), a feat that no other corps has come close to since.
Sponsors
- Yamaha
- Vic Firth
- Marching USA
- D'Addario Strings
- Evans Drumheads
- Premier Percussion
- Northeast Band Supply
- Fruhauf Uniforms, Inc.
- TreeWorks Chimes
- Frito Lay
- Tracy Jane Art
- Richard Meek Air Conditioning
- WRJN Radio
- Schoep's Ice cream
- Vigilantes Drum & Bugle Corps