Spartans Drum and Bugle Corps
The Spartans Drum and Bugle Corps is an Open Class competitive junior drum and bugle corps. Based in Nashua, New Hampshire, the Spartans performs in Drum Corps International competitions. The Spartans won the DCI Division II World Championship in 1997, 1998, 2004, 2005, and 2007, and in 2019 won the DCI Open Class Championship that replaced Divisions II and III in 2008.
History
Source:The Spartans Drum and Bugle Corps was founded in 1955 by Albert LaFlamme as a way to keep at-risk youth off of the streets. Mr. LaFlamme was succeeded as corps director by his son Peter. Today, the corps is run by Albert’s grandson, Paul "PG" LaFlamme Jr.
Over the corps' long history, it has performed for Presidents Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, and George H.W. Bush.
In 1990, the corps was gifted with a corps hall that also hosted their bingo operation.
A fire in 1999 destroyed nearly everything the corps owned--- instruments, uniforms, equipment, vehicles. The dedication of the corps' members, staff, and supporters, as well as the greater drum corps community, kept the corps in operation and in competition, with the corps placing second that year at DCI Division II Finals in Madison, Wisconsin.
Despite being DCI Division II Champions five time, in 2009, the economic downturn known asthe "Great Recession" forced the Spartans into bankruptcy. Bingo revenues had dropped off to a point where the corps discontinued that fundraising activity. Efforts to sell the corps hall had not been successful, although payments were still due on the hall's mortgage.
The corps went through a year of inactivity and reorganized, including a change of management and sale of the corps hall for an amount large enough to pay off the corps' debts. The corps then successfully returned to competition in 2010.
Since returning to the DCI competition field in 2010, Spartans have never placed outside the top 5 in the Open Class championship. The corps has also qualified for World Class semi finals for the past 8 consecutive seasons, 2012–19.
In 2019, ten years after the corps went inactive for a season, Spartans were crowned champions of the 2019 DCI Open Class championship, scoring 81.050. They were also the only DCI corps to go undefeated for the 2019 regular season.
Sponsorship
The Spartans Drum and Bugle Corps is a registered non-profit 501 musical organization which has a Board of Directors, director, and staff assigned to carry out the organization's mission. The president of the board is Paul "PG" LaFlamme, Jr., the operations director is Ann Prendergast, and the corps director is Richard Rigolini.Show Summary (1972-2020)
Source:Gold background indicates DCI Championship; pale blue background indicates DCI Class Finalist; pale green background indicates DCI semifinalist; pale purple background indicates Open Class finalist and World Class semifinalist.
| Year | Theme | Repertoire | Score | DCI Placement |
| 1972 | Parade of the Charioteers by Miklós Rózsa / Miami Beach / Colour My World & To Be Free by James Pankow / Miserlou adapted by Nicholas Roubanis / Love Theme by Miklós Rózsa | Did not attend | ||
| 1973 | Entrance to Sparta & Nonename by Albert LaFlamme / Soul Explosion by Gladys Bruce / Lover Man by Jimmy Davis, Ram Ramirez, and James Sherman / Air Mail Special by Benny Goodman, James Mundy, and Charlie Christian / Miserlou adapted by Nicholas Roubanis / Love Theme by Miklós Rózsa | Did not attend | ||
| 1974 | St. Louis Blues March by W. C. Handy adapted my Glenn Miller / 2nd Hungarian Rhapsody by Franz Liszt / Moonlight Serenade by Glenn Miller and Mitchell Parish / Sing, Sing, Sing by Louis Prima / Besame Mucho by Consuelo Velázquez and Sunny Skylar / Love Theme by Miklós Rózsa / Basin Street Blues by Spencer Williams | Did not attend | ||
| 1975 | 2nd Hungarian Rhapsody by Franz Liszt / Finlandia by Jean Sibelius / Boys and Girls Get Together by Jim Peterik / Miserlou adapted by Nicholas Roubanis / Sunrise, Sunset by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick / Hang 'em High by Dominic Frontiere | Did not attend | ||
| 1976 | 2nd Hungarian Rhapsody by Franz Liszt / Hallelujah Chorus by George Frideric Handel / Two Minds Meet by L. Raub and Bill Chase / Poet and Peasant Overture by Franz von Suppé / Finale by Igor Stravinsky | Did not attend | ||
| 1977 | Flying Home by Benny Goodman, Eddie DeLange, Lionel Hampton, and Sydney Robin / Parade of the Charioteers by Miklós Rózsa / Hallelujah Chorus by George Frideric Handel / Ol' Man River by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II / Poet and Peasant Overture by Franz von Suppé / Lover Man by Jimmy Davis, Ram Ramirez, and James Sherman / Live and Let Live by Cole Porter | Did not attend | ||
| 1978 | Compendium / Chump Change by Bill Cosby and Quincy Jones / A Day in the Life by Lennon–McCartney / Instant Concert by James Swearingen / Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin / Love Theme by Miklós Rózsa / Hang 'em High by Dominic Frontiere | Did not attend | ||
| 1979 | Favourite Things / William Tell Overture by Gioachino Rossini / Sun Shower by Chuck Mangione / Night Journey by Doc Severinsen, Ernie Chapman, and Fred Crane / Hill Where the Lord Hides by Chuck Mangione / Percussion Overture / Pegasus by Hank Levy | Did not attend | ||
| 1980 thru 1985 | No information available | Did not attend | ||
| 1986 | Repertoire unavailable | 67.900 | 8th Class A | |
| 1987 | Repertoire unavailable | 70.400 | 5th Class A60 | |
| 1988 | Liberty Mission / Carmen by Georges Bizet / I Have Dreamed by Rodgers and Hammerstein / Poet and Peasant Overture by Franz von Suppé | 71.900 | 12th Class A | |
| 1989 | Camelot | Overture, Parade, Guenevere, What Do the Simple Folk Do? & Before I Gaze at You Again All from Camelot by Frederick Loewe and Alan Jay Lerner | 79.800 | 6th Class A |
| 1990 | Scheharazade | Selections from Scheharazade by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov | 76.700 | 7th Class A |
| 1991 | Scheharazade | Selections from Scheharazade by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov | 78.500 | 11th Class A |
| 1992 | Hook | Selections from Hook by John Williams | 85.600 84.000 | 5th Div. II 7th Div.II/III |
| 1993 | Aladdin | Selections from Aladdin by Alan Menken | 84.900 | 8th Div. II |
| 1994 | Emerson, Lake, and Palmer | Music by Keith Emerson, Greg Lake, Carl Palmer, and unspecified others | 82.600 | 9th Div. II |
| 1995 | Rome - The Eternal City | Ben Hur by Miklós Rózsa / Bacchanale by Camille Saint-Saëns / Roman Festivals & Pines of the Appian Way by Ottorino Respighi | 88.800 | 4th Div. II |
| 1996 | Return to Rome | Inzio by Miklós Rózsa / Cenotaph by Jack Stamp / Dance of Belkis at Dawn, Dream of King Solomon, War Dance & Orgiastic Dance From Belkis, Queen of Sheba by Ottorino Respighi | 89.500 | 4th Div. II |
| 1997 | Three Revelations | Awakening, Contemplation & Rejoicing by Alfred Reed | 94.200 69.800 | 1st Div. II 23rd Div.I |
| 1998 | Sinfonia Vocci - The Music of David Holsinger | Sinfonia Vocci & Ballet Sacra by David Holsinger | 97.100 73.000 | 1st Div. II 22nd Div.I |
| 1999 | Easter Symphony | Kings, Deathtree & Symphonia Resurrectus All from The Easter Symphony by David Holsinger | 95.300 73.700 | 2nd Div.II 22nd Div.I |
| 2000 | Glorioso | Glorioso, Oratio, Cantus III & Diofestos | 80.705 | 8th Div.II |
| 2001 | Gladiator | The Battle & Barbarian Horde by Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard / Ben Hur by Miklós Rózsa | 93.950 73.800 | 3rd Div.II 20th Div.I |
| 2002 | Guardians | Music from Gladiator by Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard / Ben Hur by Miklós Rózsa / Music from The Mummy Returns by Alan Silvestri / Bacchanale by Camille Saint-Saëns | 93.900 | 5th Div.II |
| 2003 | The Divine Comedy | Inferno, Ascension, Paradise & Finale All from The Divine Comedy, Symphony No. 1 by Robert W. Smith | 94.450 | 3rd Div.II |
| 2004 | Medusa | Medusa Lures Poseidon, Athena's Rage, Serpents & The Gorgon's Pursuit All from Medusa by Key Poulan | 96.325 96.550 | 1st Div.II 1s Div. II/III |
| 2005 | Vizier | Wisdom, Experience, Conceive, Meditation, Ascendant & Vizier: The All-Seeing Eye All from Vizier by Key Poulan | 96.275 97.150 | 1st Div.II 2nd Div.II/III |
| 2006 | Advent Rising | Bounty Hunter, Stolen Transport, Glorious Human, Aurelian Conflict & Canyon Encounter All from Advent Rising by Tommy Tallarico | 94.025 | 3rd Div.II |
| 2007 | Tarot | Fortune Teller; The Emperor and Strength; The Fool; The Magician & The Sun, Death, and Judgment All from Tarot by Key Poulan, Peter Furnari, and Eric Putnam | 96.150 | 1st Div.II |
| 2008 | Metallic Soundscapes | KIngfishers Catch Fire, Turning & Turbine by John Mackey | 82.700 | 14th Open Class |
| 2009 | Corps inactive | |||
| 2010 | Fire Dance | Inferno by Robert W. Smith / Caronte, Ferryman of Souls; Entrance Into Hell; Interview of Ulysses & La Giudecca by Key Poulan | 93.600 | 3rd Open Class |
| 2011 | Midnight | Midnight by Key Poulan / Bella's Lullabye & Other music from Twilight by Carter Burwell | 91.500 69.350 | 4th Open Class 26th World Class |
| 2012 | Renewal | Infernal Dance, The Princess Game with the Golden Apples & Dance of the Princesses / Dance of the Earth / Berceuse & Finale All by Igor Stravinsky | 91.150 70.750 | 4th Open Class 24th World Class |
| 2013 | Live Free | Music from Swan Lake by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky / Music from The Matrix by Don Davis / Naqoyqatsi by Philip Glass | 90.500 72.850 | 4th Open Class 24th World Class |
| 2014 | Olympus | Olympus Intro by Jeff Boulduc, Matt McGuire, and Michael Moore / Symphony for Brass and Percussion, Mvt. II by Alfred Reed / You Are So Beautiful by Bruce Fisher, Billy Preston, and Dennis Wilson / Symphony #2 Mvt. III & There Will Be Rest by Frank Ticheli | 77.025 74.050 | 4th Open Class 24th World Class |
| 2015 | Spartans... At The Gates! | Prelude to War–Original music by Key Poulan, Michael Moore, and Matt McGuire / Spartan Warrior To Victory–To Victory by Tyler Bates / Defending the Gates–Piano Concerto #1, 3rd Movement: Toccata Con Fuoco by Keith Emerson / Empyrean Mercenaries–From Trailerhead by Immediate / Battle–The Battle by Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard / Glory, Honor & Immortality–Lauds by Ron Nelson | 76.025 71.500 | 3rd Open Class 23rd World Class |
| 2016 | Totem | Gabriel's Oboe by Ennio Morricone / Ome Kayo by Guy Dubuc and Marc Lessard / Conflict by Key Poulan, Michael Moore, and Matt McGuire / Crazy in Love by Beyoncé Knowles, Rich Harrison, Shawn Carter, and Eugene Record / Sacrifice by Michael Moore and Matt McGuire / Adiemus Chorale VI by Karl Jenkins | 74.750 71.475 | 5th Open Class 25th World Class |
| 2017 | Connected | We Are Here to Connect / Missed Connections / ReConnected / We Are All Connected All original music by Key Poulan, Michael Moore, and Matt McGuire Angel by Sarah McLachlan | 75.935 73.475 | 5th Open Class 25th World Class |
| 2018 | Da Vinci’s Workshop | Meet Leonardo & The Vitruvian Man by Key Poulan, Matt McGuire, and Michael Moore / The Artist: Clair de Lune by Claude Debussy, arranged by Key Poulan and Michael Moore / The Workshop by Matt McGuire and Michael Moore / The Flying Machine: Sogno di Volare by Christopher Tin, arranged by Key Poulan, Matt McGuire, and Michael Moore | 75.713 74.250 | 5th Open Class 25th World Class |
| 2019 | Experiment X | Act I: Balkan Dance by Etienne Crausaz / Egyptic by David Satori, Zoe Jakes, Tommy "Sidecar" Cappel / Act II: Libertango by Astor Piazzolla / Act III: Shallow by Stefani Germanotta, Mark Ronson, Anthony Rossomando, and Andrew Wyatt / Act IV: Gretel & Shofukan by Michael League | 81.050 80.350 | 1st Open Class 19th World Class |
| 2020 | Season cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic |