Pioneer Drum and Bugle Corps

The Pioneer Drum & Bugle Corps & Color Guard is a World Class (formerly Division I) competitive junior drum and bugle corps. Based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Pioneer is a member corps of Drum Corps International (DCI).^[1]

History

Pioneer traces its roots to the St.Patrick's (Catholic) parish of Milwaukee and its drum and bugle (D&B) corps, the Imperials of St. Patrick, founded in 1961, although some have said that the actual founding of the corps was the start of the Thunderbolts of Cedarburg, Wisconsin in 1953.^{(See Note A)} Both corps had been active in the Milwaukee area and the Midwest region, and both attended the inaugural DCI World Championship prelims in Whitewater, Wisconsin in 1972, with the Imperials of St. Patrick finishing in 19th place and the Thunderbolts in 28th.

By 1973, the Imperials were facing financial difficulties, and the Thunderbolts were having difficulty maintaining support staff, so the two corps merged. This resulted in a 150 member corps that was not only much larger than most drum corps of that time, but one that had both financial and staff stability. Unable to decide on a better name and wearing the vastly different uniforms of both corps, the new corps was called "The Thing" during its first season. In 1974, the corps received the sponsorship of the Pioneer Container Corporation and found a name.

While not initially a power, Pioneer became a regular competitor in the Midwest region during the remainder of the 1970s, and in 1978, the corps was one of the founding members of Drum Corps Midwest (DCM) which was to become the premier regional circuit in North America over the next quarter century. The corps also started a cadet feeder corps, known as Pioneer II, and in 1985, when the primary corps went inactive, Pioneer II began a transition into becoming Pioneer in 1986. By 1989, Pioneer had started to become a power in Class A60. In 1991, the corps won both the DCM Division III (DIII) title and the DCI Class A60 World Championship; in 1992, they won their 3rd DCM DIII championship but finished second in DCI DIII to the Mandarins.

In 1993 Pioneer, moved into Division II (DII), where the corps was an immediate challenger for the championship. The corps was DCM DII champions four consecutive years, 1993-96. In 1994, the corps was undefeated and won the DCI DII crown. They defended their DCI title in 1995, but in 1996, fell in finals to Quebec's Les Etoiles by two tenths of a point. Pioneer moved to Division I (DI) in 1997, and have continued to compete in that division (now known as World Class), where the corps' best finish at the DCI World Championships was 16th place in 2000. Although Pioneer won the DCM DI title in 2004 and 2005, making them the only corps to win DCM titles in 3 divisions; the most prominent corps had abandoned DCM by then, and there were no other competitors for the DI titles.^[2][3]

Pioneer celebrated the corp's 50th anniversary during the 2011 season.^[4]

Sponsorship

The Pioneer Drum & Bugle Corps & Color Guard is a 501 (c)(3) musical organization. As such, it has a Board of Directors, director, and staff assigned to carry out the organization's mission. Roman Blenski II^{(See Note B)} is the corps director and the organization's Executive Director.^[5]

Notes

Note A--- Originally the Cedarburg High school Drum & Bugle corps, the Thunderbolts gained sponsorship by the Kiekhaefer Mercury Corporation, a manufacturer of outboard motors, and they were officially named the Mercury Thunderbolts. In 1971, the corps and Mercury parted company, and the corps took the name Thunderbolts of Cedarburg. When The Thing was formed, the corps also brought a cadet feeder corps into the new organization. In 1976, the Thunderbolt Cadets parted company with Pioneer, and, using the name Cedarburg Thunderbolts, marched as a separate unit until ceasing operations after the 1979 season.^[2][3]

Note B---Roman Blenski II, a member of the DCI Hall of Fame, World Drum Corps Hall of Fame, and the Canadian Legion of Honor, began his association with the corps in the Imperials of St. Patrick's first season. In 1961, while still a marching member of the Norwood Park (IL) Imperials, Blenski was hired to teach the young, novice brass players from the St. Patrick Parish School. He has been associated with the corps ever since. His wife Susan was also an instructor for the Imperials of St. Patrick. Their children marched in Pioneer, a family tradition passed on to grandchildren. Blenski was also Executive Director of DCM from 1979 until it ceased operations in 2005 and continues to serve as a member of the Executive Board of DCI. Susan Blenski serves as Pioneer's treasurer and director of its bingo operation.^[6][7]

Show Summary (1973-2017)

Sources: ^[8][9]

Gold background indicates DCI Championship; pale blue background indicates DCI Class Finalist; pale green background indicates DCI semifinalist.

Traditions

Pioneer has a tradition of Irish and Celtic influence in it uniforms and in its musical programs. This and the corps' shamrock logo are a heritage of the Imperials of St. Patrick.

Since the corps' days in Division III, Pioneer's motto has been, "Better Every Day." This motto had been used by the Marion (OH) Cadets D&B corps, who, in 1990, allowed Pioneer to also use it.

Whether it is a part of the year's musical program or not, since at least the mid-1990s, at the conclusion of each performance, Pioneer has marched off the field and/or "trooped the stands" (marched across the front of the grandstand in parade formation) while playing the traditional Irish air Garryowen (better known as the Garry Owen march).

Pioneerland

Purchased on St.Patrick's Day in 1993, the Pioneer Musical Youth Center, better known as "Pioneerland" is a 7 acres (2.8 ha) property in the Milwaukee suburb of Cudahy, Wisconsin that is the corps base of operations. The site contains a full drill field, offices and work space for corps staff, a garage for the corps' trucks and buses, a parking lot, and plans for future additional buildings.^[10]

References

External links

• Pioneer Drum & Bugle Corps & Color Guard website
• Drum Corps International website