| Name | Votes |
|---|---|
| 1997: Metamorphosis | 110 |
| 1996: Waterworld | 100 |
Drum Corona International Vote Results
drum-corona-international
Part 5
Voting is officially closed for the Drum Corona International competition! Each corps now has the show which will compete on their behalf. I’ll talk about my plans for the rest of the season in another post that’s coming soon, but the purpose of this post is to simply show the final vote count for each corps, just as a reference. I will also talk about what my predictions were for each coprs, and what surprised me.
It’s worth noting that I did not do anything to exclude some poeple from voting multiple times (I didn’t track IP addresses or set cookies or anything), and some people figured that out towards the end of the voting. So some shows had very dedicated individuals voting for them! Not all of them ended up winning, but it was fun to watch!
In case you didn’t have a chance to vote, or if you’d like to look at the ballot again, or if you’d like to compare your votes to your friends, I’m leaving the ballot accessible here. In the meantime, you can follow the rest of the project at drumcoronaintl.org!
Academie Musicale
This is not a very well known corps, as they’re from French Canada and weren’t around in the world of DCI for all that long. The 1990s actually had a fair number of corps from Canada, and one of the tragedies of modern drum corps, from my point of view as a Canadian anyway, is the almost complete death of the activity north of the border. The Canadian drum corps community used to be vibrant, and Montreal was home to a couple of DCI World Championships!
Blue Devils
| Name | Votes |
|---|---|
| 2011: The Beat My Heart Skipped | 137 |
| 2008: Constantly Risking Absurdity | 91 |
| 2006: The Godfather, Part BLUE | 59 |
| 2013: The re:Rite of Spring | 43 |
| 2018: Dreams and Nighthawks | 35 |
| 2016: As Dreams Are Made On | 30 |
| 2004: The SummerTrain Blues Mix | 25 |
| 2000: Methods of Madness | 16 |
| 1998: One Hand, One Heart | 15 |
| 2002: Jazz: Music Made in America | 13 |
| 2005: Dance Derby of the Century | 7 |
| 1995: Carpe Noctem | 6 |
| 1993: A Don Ellis Portrait | 3 |
Blue Devils have the honor of having the highest number of shows removed due to ineligibility, because they win all the time. It’s worth noting, however, that the vast majority of their championships happened in this 27 year period, so this does present a somewhat skewed perception of the Blue Devil’s place in DCI history. I’m not surprised by the results though - The Beat My Heart Skipped was a wonderful show, and doesn’t normally get the credit it deserves because it didn’t win. To this day I think it’s one of the most emotional shows Blue Devils have ever fielded.
Blue Knights
| Name | Votes |
|---|---|
| 2015: Because | 92 |
| 2014: That One Second | 67 |
| 2019: ...I Remember Everything | 59 |
| 2018: The Fall and Rise | 35 |
| 2017: ...i | 28 |
| 2016: The Great Event | 18 |
| 2011: An English Folk Song Suite | 18 |
| 2010: Europa | 11 |
| 1994: Trittico for Brass Band | 11 |
| 1993: The Next Generation | 10 |
| 2013: NoBeginningNoEnd | 8 |
| 2004: A Knight’s Tale | 6 |
| 2012: Avian | 5 |
| 2005: A Midsummer Knight’s Dream | 5 |
| 2009: Shiver - A Winter in Colorado | 4 |
| 2007: Dark Dances | 3 |
| 1999: Suite for Brass and Percussion | 3 |
| 2000: Colors of Brass and Percussion | 2 |
| 2008: Knight Reign | 1 |
| 2002: Fear and Trembling | 1 |
| 1998: Masters of the Symphony | 1 |
| 1997: Selections from Ben Hur | 1 |
| 1996: Music of Ron Nelson | 1 |
I thought That One Second was going to win. I think a lot of people see it as the show where the Blue Knights found their voice with their modern, emotional show design and performace. I don’t think the Blue Knights get enough credit for the impact they’ve had on drum corps show design in the last decade or so. Because was a really good show and I think it won because it’s one of the highest scoring Blue Knights shows ever, and the only time Blue Knights have performed after the intermission at DCI Finals.
Blue Stars
| Name | Votes |
|---|---|
| 2009: The Factory | 107 |
| 2017: Star Crossed | 68 |
| 2014: Where the Heart Is | 54 |
| 2019: Call of the Wild | 39 |
| 2008: Le Tour: Every Second Counts | 25 |
| 2018: The Once and Future Carpenter | 24 |
| 2010: Houdini | 20 |
| 2011: ReBourne | 13 |
| 2016: Le Reve | 12 |
| 2015: Sideshow | 11 |
| 2013: Voodoo: I Put a Spell on You | 10 |
| 2012: The Blue World | 10 |
| 2007: Power and Grace | 5 |
| 2006: The Gift of Freedom | 2 |
I fell in love with Blue Stars the minute I saw The Factory, and it’s a big reason why I decided to march there in 2012. Talking to other members at the time, The Factory was an incredibly influential. I think it is a testament to how good a drum corps show can be when the music is written specifically for a drum corps. I’m a little surprised it won, but I’ do k’m pretty sure this is becuase my friends and family all colluded to get it to win. Good job!
Bluecoats
| Name | Votes |
|---|---|
| 2014: Tilt | 153 |
| 2015: Kinetic Noise | 140 |
| 2019: The Bluecoats | 79 |
| 2018: Session 44 | 53 |
| 2017: Jagged Line | 33 |
| 2008: The Knockout | 28 |
| 2010: Metropolis: The Future is Now | 19 |
| 2012: UnMasqued | 13 |
| 2013: ...to look for America | 11 |
| 2006: Connexus | 10 |
| 2005: Caravan | 10 |
| 2011: Brave New World | 8 |
| 1999: Music of Chick Corea | 3 |
| 2007: Criminal | 2 |
| 1993: Standards in Blue: A Tribute to Dizzy Gillespie | 2 |
| 2009: Imagine | 1 |
| 2001: Latin Sketches | 1 |
No surprises here - Tilt has the largest fandom of just about any drum corps show these days. One individual wanted Kinetic Noise to win quite badly, and they almost pulled it off, but Tilt’s place in Bluecoats history is undeniable. I was pulling for the The Knockout myself - the Boxer hit was unforgettable.
Boston Crusaders
| Name | Votes |
|---|---|
| 2018: S.O.S. | 126 |
| 1993: Untitled | 120 |
| 2017: Wicked Games | 85 |
| 2019: Goliath | 57 |
| 2014: Animal Farm | 28 |
| 2013: Rise | 26 |
| 2011: Revolution | 22 |
| 2000: RED | 17 |
| 2002: You Are My Star | 14 |
| 2010: Thy Kingdom Come | 9 |
| 2001: Harmonium | 6 |
| 2015: Conquest | 5 |
| 2009: The Core of Temptation | 5 |
| 2008: Neocosmos | 4 |
| 2003: BRAVO! | 4 |
| 2016: QUIXOTIC | 3 |
| 2006: Cathedrals of the Mind | 3 |
| 2012: The Titans | 2 |
| 2007: A Picasso Suite | 2 |
| 2005: Ode to Joy | 2 |
| 2004: The Composition of Color | 1 |
| 1999: A Collection of Symphonic Dances | 1 |
I was surprised by how this vote turned out. Goliath was such a fan favourite last year that I thought it was going to win easily, but it turns out their 1993 show had a dedicated following of a few individuals. Still, S.O.S. was a great show, and it’s easy to see why it won.
Capital Regiment
| Name | Votes |
|---|---|
| 2006: Life Rhythms: Work, Rest, Play | 107 |
| 2005: Chiaroscuro! | 40 |
| 2003: A Brave New World | 38 |
| 2004: Celebration of Life: Mind, Body, and Spirit | 15 |
I’m not familiar with any of these shows, so I’m not surprised the most recent show won here. Capital Regiment was a very good mid-level drum corps, and it’s too bad they’ve folded.
Carolina Crown
| Name | Votes |
|---|---|
| 2012: For the Common Good | 138 |
| 2016: Relentless | 73 |
| 2015: Inferno | 70 |
| 2009: The Grass is Always Greener | 57 |
| 2008: Finis | 56 |
| 2019: Beneath the Surface | 46 |
| 2007: Triple Crown | 45 |
| 2011: Rach Star | 36 |
| 2010: A Second Chance | 34 |
| 2014: Out of this World | 18 |
| 2005: Angelus! | 18 |
| 2018: Beast | 15 |
| 2017: It Is | 13 |
| 1995: Stormworks | 6 |
| 2004: Bohemia | 5 |
| 2006: In.Trance.It | 4 |
| 2003: Bell-isimo | 3 |
| 2002: Greek Mythology, Stories of Gods and Heroes | 3 |
I had no idea which show was going to win this vote. Almost every show Carolina Crown has put on the field since 2006 has been a great show, and they’re a consistent fan favourite. I marched with someone who liked to say “Other than your own, which drum corps’ show design do you like most and why is it Carolina Crown?”. I was hoping The Grass is Always Greener would win, but every show in the top 10 were good candidates. For the Commond Good won mostly because of one very committed individual who pushed it across the finish line!
Colts
| Name | Votes |
|---|---|
| 2019: When Hell Freezes Over | 87 |
| 2014: Dark Side of the Rainbow | 63 |
| 2007: Equinox | 20 |
| 2015: ...And a Shot Rings Out | 17 |
| 2002: Revelations | 12 |
| 1993: The Four Seasons | 12 |
| 2017: Both Sides Now | 9 |
| 1999: Voices | 9 |
| 1994: Relations and romance | 9 |
| 2012: Boundaries | 8 |
| 2013: Field of Dreams | 7 |
| 1998: A Cappella Celebration | 7 |
| 2010: True Colors | 5 |
| 2001: Chivalry | 4 |
| 1997: The Music of Blood, Sweat, and Tears | 4 |
| 2004: From the Heartland | 2 |
| 1995: Sunday Afternoon in the Park with George | 2 |
| 2016: Nachtmusik | 1 |
| 2011: Deception: The Jagged Edge | 1 |
| 2009: Fathoms | 1 |
I wasn’t sure what to expect from this vote. Back in 2014, it felt like Dark Side of the Rainbow was well-received by the entire drum corps community. I think the fact they missed Finals that year means a lot of drum corps fans have forgotten about it, and that left the door open for When Hell Freezes Over to win. Although I didn’t get a chance to see it last year, so it could be that I missed a great show!
Crossmen
| Name | Votes |
|---|---|
| 2019: Valkyrie | 83 |
| 2012: FRAGILE | 65 |
| 2018: The In-Between | 35 |
| 2017: Enigma | 28 |
| 2014: Alma Gitana: A Gypsy Soul | 23 |
| 1998: The Music of Pat Metheny | 20 |
| 2016: Continuum | 19 |
| 2015: Above and Beyond | 13 |
| 1999: Changing Perspectives: A Silver Celebration | 11 |
| 1993: Songs for Planet Earth Part II: A Celebration of Humanity | 11 |
| 1996: The Voices of Jazz | 10 |
| 2002: The Signature Series | 9 |
| 1997: The Colors of Jazz | 8 |
| 1994: Songs for Planet Earth Part III: Suite Children | 6 |
| 2007: Metamorphosis | 5 |
| 2006: Changing Lanes | 5 |
| 2005: Crossroads | 5 |
| 2008: Planet X | 2 |
| 2001: Late Night Jazz | 2 |
This is another corps where I didn’t know what to expect. I think Crossmen has had a lot of solid shows in the last decade, but none of them stick out to me as being greater than the others. I’m not surprised Valkyrie won, nor am I surprised the vote was as spread out as it was.
Freelancers
| Name | Votes |
|---|---|
| 1994: The Music of Matrix | 73 |
| 1993: The Music of Bill Chase | 67 |
It’s too bad I couldn’t find enough good data to include show from before 1993, because the Freelancers had some great shows in the 1980s. My mom was a big fan, so I grew up on shows like their John Williams tributes from 1988 and 1989.
Genesis
| Name | Votes |
|---|---|
| 2019: From the Ground Up | 115 |
| 2017: The Other Side of Now | 44 |
| 2018: RetroVertigo | 41 |
Genesis is among the youngest competitors in Drum Corona International and I’m not surprised their most recent show won the vote.
Glassmen
| Name | Votes |
|---|---|
| 2001: IMAGO | 64 |
| 2012: Glassworks | 39 |
| 2008: Kar-ne-vel | 27 |
| 2009: The Journey of ONE | 20 |
| 2006: Beethoven: Mastery & Madness | 20 |
| 2010: The Prayer Cycle | 19 |
| 2002: Odyssey | 15 |
| 2007: Gitano | 11 |
| 1999: Empire of Gold | 10 |
| 2000: Music of George Gershwin | 7 |
| 1998: Dreams of Gold | 7 |
| 1997: The Age of Gold | 4 |
| 2011: My Mortal Beloved | 3 |
| 1994: Days of Future Passed | 3 |
| 2005: A New World | 1 |
I thought Glassworks would win this vote handily, but I’m also really happy that IMAGO ended up winning. Glassmen don’t get enough credit for how good they were thoughout DCI’s history, and this is especially true of the late 1990s and early 2000s. IMAGO had them in the hunt for a medal!
Jersey Surf
| Name | Votes |
|---|---|
| 2012: Bridgemania | 93 |
| 2019: FantaSea | 67 |
| 2013: SOUL SURFIN’ | 12 |
| 2017: Make It Our Own | 9 |
| 2016: Ebb & Flow | 5 |
| 2015: Sun Surfing | 5 |
| 2009: Mozart Effect | 5 |
| 2018: [mondo mondrian] | 3 |
| 2014: Pay It Forward | 1 |
There was no doubt that Bridgemania would win. It is one of the most fun shows I ever had the pleasure of seeing in person, and I think I speak for a lot of durm corps fans when we hoped that Jersey Surf was going to take up the mantle of the Bridgemen more permanently. Modern DCI has a habit of taking itself a little too seriously, and a group like Bridgemen or the Velvet Knights would do it a lot of good.
Kiwanis Kavaliers
| Name | Votes |
|---|---|
| 2005: Mission Accomplished | 31 |
| 2001: Manhattan | 23 |
| 1998: An American in Paris | 15 |
| 2002: Hall of Justice | 11 |
| 2003: All You Need is Love | 10 |
| 1997: Evita | 9 |
| 1996: West Side Story | 9 |
| 2004: West Side | 7 |
| 1999: Variations in Jazz | 5 |
| 2000: Love in Time of War | 3 |
Kiwanis Kavaliers are another Canadian corps from the bygone era of drum corps in Canada. I’m not surprised Mission Accomplished won, and I look forward to learning more about the show. Anything related to the words “Mission Accomplished” from that era reminds me of President Bush, so I wonder if they addressed the association at all in their show.
Les Etoiles
| Name | Votes |
|---|---|
| 1999: Ice Storm | 52 |
| 1998: Hummell Gets the Rockets from the Film “The Rock” | 38 |
The third and final Canadian corps that will compete in Drum Corona International. It seemed pretty obvious that a show entitled Ice Storm, performed by Canadians, would win the vote.
Madison Scouts
| Name | Votes |
|---|---|
| 2011: New York Morning | 79 |
| 1995: A Drum Corps Fan’s Dream: A Day in the Life of a Bullfighter | 48 |
| 1996: A Drum Corps Fan’s Dream: Part Dos | 33 |
| 2013: Corps of Brothers | 24 |
| 2019: Majestic | 19 |
| 1999: Selections from Jesus Christ Superstar | 18 |
| 1997: The Pirates of Lake Mendota | 17 |
| 2010: Untitled | 12 |
| 2015: 78th & Madison | 11 |
| 2006: Primal Forces | 8 |
| 2004: MadiSonic | 7 |
| 2016: Judas | 6 |
| 2012: Reframed | 5 |
| 2005: The Carmen Project | 5 |
| 2018: Heart & Soul | 4 |
| 2007: Unbound | 4 |
| 2014: Time Trip | 3 |
| 2009: El Relampago | 3 |
| 2002: Conquest | 3 |
| 2017: The Last Man Standing | 2 |
| 2001: Hot Jazz – Madison Style | 2 |
| 1998: Power, Pizzaz, and All That Jazz! | 2 |
| 1993: Reflections and Evolution | 2 |
| 2008: La Noche de la Iguana | 1 |
| 2003: Gold, Green, and Red | 1 |
| 2000: The Cossack Brotherhood | 1 |
I was wondering if the Madison Scouts would be one of the corps where an old show from the 1990s would beat out their recent shows. 2nd and 3rd place were both from the 1990s, but New York Morning was an emotional show that paid tribute to 9/11 really well. The closer is unforgettable, so I gave it all my votes and I’m not that surprised it won.
Magic Of Orlando
| Name | Votes |
|---|---|
| 2004: Pirates of the Caribbean | 41 |
| 2003: Silver Voices | 30 |
| 2006: Imagine! | 25 |
| 1996: Twelve Seconds to the Moon | 20 |
| 1993: Cirque De Magique | 17 |
| 1999: The Music of Mangione | 14 |
| 1994: Cirque De Magique, Part Deux | 8 |
| 1995: Danse Animale | 4 |
| 1997: Carnivale: Celebrations for Sinner and Saint | 3 |
| 2005: A New Beginning | 1 |
| 1998: Muddy Water Blues | 1 |
Magic of Orlando has a pretty distinguished place in DCI history, where they made DCI FInals in 2002 despite being a Division II corps. Their history is quite a saga, and I imagine 2002 would have won if it were eligible. That said, Pirates of the Caribbean is a pretty irresistible show title.
Mandarins
| Name | Votes |
|---|---|
| 2018: Life Rite After | 93 |
| 2017: Inside the Ink | 77 |
| 2019: Subterra | 62 |
| 2014: UnbreakABLE: The Human Spirit is Limitless | 11 |
| 2004: Samurai | 6 |
| 2006: Rhythm Nation | 5 |
| 2012: Prophecy | 4 |
| 2008: River | 3 |
| 2016: Forbidden Forest | 2 |
| 2013: Destination America: Journey of the Paper Sons | 2 |
| 2010: To Dream of Far Away Lands | 1 |
| 2009: Absolute | 1 |
| 2007: Dragon Dance | 1 |
| 2005: Loves Me… Loves Me Not… | 1 |
| 2003: Black Market Bazaar | 1 |
I don’t think the drum corps community has enjoyed watching the rise of any drum corps lately like we have with the Mandarins. They’ve carved out a niche for themselves with the dark, melodramatic show design, and Life Rite After embodies that perfectly. I also loved Inside the Ink, but there was no question which show would win this vote.
Music City
| Name | Votes |
|---|---|
| 2018: Hell on Wheels: The Final Journey of Casey Jones | 169 |
| 2019: Of Mice and Music | 31 |
I don’t think anyone had any doubts which show would win this vote. It won fan favourite on FloMarching consistently in 2018, and it was well deserved.
Oregon Crusaders
| Name | Votes |
|---|---|
| 2014: nevermore | 65 |
| 2018: Redrum | 58 |
| 2016: Hunted | 23 |
| 2017: EnCompass | 12 |
| 2013: My Choice, My Battle, My Soul | 12 |
| 2015: The Midnight Garden | 4 |
The folding of Oregon Crusaders was pretty abrubt after 2018. My favourite show of theirs was Dreaming in Color, which won them Open Class in 2012 and moved them up to World Class. I don’t think I’m alone in that. nevermore was a fun, dark show that paid tribute to Poe with style. I’m happy that it won.
Pacific Crest
| Name | Votes |
|---|---|
| 2019: Everglow | 102 |
| 2017: Golden State of Mind | 17 |
| 2018: Here’s to the Ones Who Dream | 12 |
| 2015: The Catalyst | 12 |
| 2004: On Dangerous Ground | 12 |
| 2013: Transfixed | 4 |
| 2010: Maze | 4 |
| 2008: Primality: The Rituals of Passion | 4 |
| 2016: The Union | 3 |
| 2014: No Strings Attached… | 3 |
| 2012: The Spectrum | 2 |
| 2006: From the City of Angels | 2 |
| 2003: Invocacion a Poderosos | 2 |
| 2005: Fluid States: Vapor, Solid, Liquid | 1 |
Everglow is one of the few shows I didn’t have a chance to see in 2019, and it seems like I missed out!
Phantom Regiment
| Name | Votes |
|---|---|
| 2003: Harmonic Journey | 124 |
| 2007: On Air | 91 |
| 2011: Juliet | 61 |
| 2010: Into the Light | 47 |
| 2006: Faust | 29 |
| 2018: This New World | 23 |
| 2012: Turandot | 23 |
| 2019: I Am Joan | 22 |
| 2005: Rhapsody | 20 |
| 1993: The Modern Imagination | 19 |
| 2004: Apasionada 874 | 13 |
| 2014: Swan Lake | 9 |
| 2015: City of Light | 7 |
| 1995: Adventures Under a Darkened Sky | 6 |
| 2017: Phantasm | 5 |
| 2016: Voice of Promise | 3 |
| 2000: The Masters of Mystique | 3 |
| 2013: Triumphant Journey | 2 |
| 1994: Songs for a Summer Nigh | 2 |
| 2009: The Red Violin | 1 |
Both Harmonic Journey and On Air are classis Phantom shows, from an era where they were formidable, despite not winning very much. 2000s Phantom is quite similar to 2010s Caroina Crown, in my opinion. The voting was neck and neck for each of the top shows, but utimately Harmonic Journey won out.
Pioneer
| Name | Votes |
|---|---|
| 2018: Celtic Dragons | 52 |
| 1997: Riverdance | 23 |
| 2006: Emeraldscapes | 11 |
| 2000: Dances of Brigadoon | 11 |
| 2008: Celtic Reflections | 5 |
| 1999: Greensleeves | 5 |
| 2016: St. Joan of Arc | 3 |
| 2002: Oliver | 2 |
| 1998: Irish in your Face | 2 |
| 2017: Irish on Broadway | 1 |
| 2015: Exodus: Divide the Sea, Unite the People | 1 |
| 2014: Joy! | 1 |
| 2012: Irish Immigrants: The Hands that Built America | 1 |
| 2009: Celtic Trinity | 1 |
| 2003: Spirit of the Pioneer | 1 |
Their show design has always made it clear what Pioneer values, and I’m not surprised their most recent show won. I remember thinking their 2018 show had the highest level of performance I’d seen from them in quite a while after I saw it live.
Santa Clara Vanguard
| Name | Votes |
|---|---|
| 2013: Les Miserables | 81 |
| 2015: The Spark of Invention | 63 |
| 2017: Ouroboros | 59 |
| 2016: Force of Nature | 36 |
| 2014: Scheherazade: Words 2 Live By | 34 |
| 2009: Ballet for Martha | 28 |
| 2004: Attraction: The Music of Scheherazade | 20 |
| 2019: Vox Eversio | 16 |
| 2012: Music of the Starry Night | 16 |
| 2001: New Era Metropolis | 14 |
| 2007: Eureka | 10 |
| 1998: Aaron Copland – The Modernist | 10 |
| 1995: Not the Nutcracker | 7 |
| 2008: 3hree: Mind, Body, Soul | 6 |
| 2006: Moto Perpetuo | 4 |
| 2003: Pathways | 4 |
| 2011: The Devil’s Staircase | 3 |
| 2005: Russia: Revolution-Evolution: 1917-1991 | 3 |
| 2000: The Age of Reverence | 3 |
| 2002: Sound, Shape, and Color | 2 |
| 1997: Fog City Sketches | 2 |
| 2010: Bartok | 1 |
| 1994: The Red Poppy | 1 |
SCV is, in my opinion, the most consitently great corps in DCI history. I grew up on SCV from the 70s and 80s, so their recent medals and 2018 championship have returned DCI to a state where things just feel right. There are so many great shows on the ballot I had no idea which would win, but Les Miserables is a classic.
Seattle Cascades
| Name | Votes |
|---|---|
| 2019: Off the Grid | 36 |
| 2002: City Riffs: The Music of Leonard Bernstein | 32 |
| 2017: Set Free | 30 |
| 2015: Intergalactic | 24 |
| 2005: Airborne Symphony | 13 |
| 2016: O | 8 |
| 2007: Three | 4 |
| 2018: What Goes Around | 3 |
| 2011: Pandora, A Dark Gift | 3 |
| 2012: Shinto | 2 |
| 2003: Festiva Danza | 2 |
| 2014: Turn | 1 |
| 2010: Silver Lining | 1 |
| 2006: Redemption | 1 |
I’m not familiar enough with Cascades shows to have a sense for which show would win the vote. I’m not surprised the most recent show won, but I think it would have been fun to have their Bernstein show in the competition.
Sky Ryders
| Name | Votes |
|---|---|
| 1993: Untitled | 120 |
This was one of the two automatic qualifiers for Drum Corona International. Like the Freelancers, the Sky Ryders made me which wish I could have included shows from the 1980s. Their DCI Finals run from 1986 to 1988 has some great shows which don’t get enough credit.
Southwind
| Name | Votes |
|---|---|
| 2000: Untitled | 39 |
| 2007: InTheLoop | 28 |
| 2002: Evolution | 17 |
| 2005: A Distorted Imagination | 16 |
| 1997: Scenes from Childhood | 12 |
| 2006: Duality | 9 |
| 1999: Untitled | 8 |
| 1996: A Gospel Celebration | 3 |
| 2004: A Journey Through the Sands | 2 |
| 2003: Dance Portraits | 1 |
| 2001: A New Era | 1 |
Southwind is the corps that started it all for Legends, which got their name based on Southwind’s ballad from 2000. My history with Legends made me vote for thsi show, and I’m pretty my fellow Legends alumni did the same. The show titles for Southwind remind us, more than any other corps, how recent the idea of naming every DCI show is.
Spirit of Atlanta
| Name | Votes |
|---|---|
| 2019: Neon Underground | 67 |
| 2018: Knock | 41 |
| 2013: Speakeasy | 33 |
| 2012: Sin City | 13 |
| 2001: Ghost Train | 12 |
| 2011: ATL Confidential | 6 |
| 1999: Jump, Jive, Jazz, and Wail | 6 |
| 1997: Southern Jazz – Spirit Style | 6 |
| 2006: Old, New, Borrowed, and Blue | 5 |
| 2005: The Spirit of Broadway | 5 |
| 2016: Georgia | 4 |
| 2003: Time | 4 |
| 1998: Untitled | 3 |
| 1996: Bye George: It’s Gershwin | 3 |
| 2017: Crossroads: We Are Here | 1 |
| 2014: Magnolia | 1 |
I thought one of their DCI Finals shows from 2011 to 2013 would win, but perhaps they’re not as recent a memory as I thought. That said, Neon Underground and Knock were both great shows, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Spirit back in DCI Finals soon.
Star of Indiana
| Name | Votes |
|---|---|
| 1993: The Music of Barber and Bartok | 210 |
This is the second of the two automatic qualifiers. I don’t think there’s much to say about Star 1993 that hasn’t already been said, but I’m worried that the internet will be pretty upset if this show doesn’t win Drum Corona International.
The Academy
| Name | Votes |
|---|---|
| 2016: Drum Corpse Bride | 149 |
| 2019: The Bridge Between | 26 |
| 2017: By a Hare | 25 |
| 2018: Academic | 22 |
| 2015: A Step in Time | 11 |
| 2011: (RE) | 11 |
| 2013: Piano Man | 7 |
| 2010: Strangers in Paradise | 7 |
| 2009: The Ascent | 6 |
| 2014: Vanity Fair | 5 |
| 2012: Left of Spring: Stravinsky Revisited | 5 |
| 2007: The Chase | 5 |
| 2008: Vienna Nights | 1 |
I will never forget the standing ovation they received before their Finals performance in 2016. It was well deserved and there was no doubt Drum Corpse Bride was going to win the vote by a mile.
The Cadets
| Name | Votes |
|---|---|
| 2015: The Power of 10 | 104 |
| 2013: Side By Side | 94 |
| 2018: The Unity Project | 62 |
| 2012: `12.25` | 39 |
| 2003: Our Favorite Things | 29 |
| 2010: Toy Souldier | 24 |
| 2019: Behold! | 21 |
| 2017: The Faithful, The Fallen, The Forgiven | 19 |
| 2009: West Side Story: Celebration and Conflict | 17 |
| 2001: Juxtaperformance | 15 |
| 2002: An American Revival | 14 |
| 1995: An American Quintet | 12 |
| 2007: This I Believe | 11 |
| 2004: Living In the Past | 10 |
| 2014: Promise: An American Portrait | 9 |
| 2008: … and the pursuit of happiness | 7 |
| 1999: The Big Apple | 4 |
| 1994: West Side Story: Hot and Cool To Go | 4 |
| 1997: Celebration | 3 |
| 1996: An American West | 3 |
| 2006: Volume 2: Through the Looking Glass | 2 |
| 2016: Awakening | 1 |
For better or worse, I think The Power of 10 won because it’s the last show from “The Cadets” as we’d all come to know them under George Hopkins. I don’t know anyone who didn’t like the show. One voter tried to push Side by Side above it, but it won with some last-day support. I voted for The Unity Project myself, based mostly on the tears we all shed at their closer during Finals Week.
The Cavaliers
| Name | Votes |
|---|---|
| 2003: Spin Cycle | 106 |
| 2010: Mad World | 75 |
| 2019: The Wrong Side of the Tracks | 39 |
| 2011: XtraordinarY | 35 |
| 2008: Samurai | 31 |
| 2017: Men are from Mars | 28 |
| 2016: Propaganda | 25 |
| 2018: On Madness and Creativity | 24 |
| 2007: And So It Goes | 20 |
| 2014: Immortal | 8 |
| 2005: My Kind of Town | 8 |
| 1999: Classical Innovations | 7 |
| 1997: The Firebird | 6 |
| 2012: 15 Minutes of Fame | 5 |
| 1998: Traditions for a New Era | 5 |
| 2013: Secret Society | 4 |
| 1996: Pan American Sketches | 3 |
| 1994: Rituals | 1 |
I think it was pretty obvious that either Spin Cycle or Mad World would win the vote, and it turned out to be quite close. A few voters in the last week put Spin Cycle ahead.
Troopers
| Name | Votes |
|---|---|
| 2015: Wild Horses | 66 |
| 2009: Western Side Story | 51 |
| 2018: The New Road West | 23 |
| 2016: hero | 21 |
| 2013: Magnificent 11 | 18 |
| 2019: Beyond Boundaries | 17 |
| 2011: The Road Home | 16 |
| 2005: Gold Rush | 10 |
| 2017: Duels and Duets | 6 |
| 1995: A Copland Canvas | 6 |
| 2014: A People’s House | 3 |
| 2012: This Was the Future | 3 |
| 2002: Red, White, and Blue | 3 |
| 2010: Wanted | 2 |
| 2008: Iron Horse Express | 2 |
| 1994: Southwestern Sketches | 2 |
| 2003: Reflections of the Blue and Grey | 1 |
The Road Home is the most underrated Troopers show of all time, and this is a hill I will die on. The “infinity chord” is still one of the most unique and classic moments I’ve seen in any show in DCI history. That said, I really thought that Western Side Story would win given that it pushed them into Finals in 2009, but Wile Horses is a bit more recent and I think that’s why it won.
Velvet Knights
| Name | Votes |
|---|---|
| 1993: Magical Mystery Tour – Part III | 461 |
| 1996: Magical Mystery Tour In Space | 386 |
| 1994: A Midsummer Knight’s Dream | 343 |
| 1995: Harlequin Carnival | 10 |
DCI badly needs VK to make a comeback. They tried in 2010, and were tons of fun to run into on the road when I was with Legends. One person really loved the Velvet Knights, but also really didn’t like Harlequin Carnival. I had no idea which rendition of Magical Mystery Tour would win, but it was obvious that it would be one of them!
Support
I hope you are enjoying Drum Corona International! People who do open-source projects like this often ask for donations to help cover expenses (like server costs) but luckily I’ve got that covered. Instead, if you’re enjoying any of my projects, please consider donating to the Michigan Drum Corps Scholarship Fund.
The Michigan Drum Corps Scholarship Fund is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that I cofounded to help support members of the Michigan band community who are interested in DCI. The organization offers scholarships to Michigan students marching or auditioning with any DCI drum corps. The economic implications of COVID-19 are broad, and I think scholarships programs like this are especially important for keeping drum corps accessible to everyone. Every dollar helps!