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Spartans Drum and Bugle Corps

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}

{{Infobox drums corps

| name = Spartans Drum and Bugle Corps

| logo = SpartansDBC Logo.jpg

| logo_caption =

| location = Nashua, New Hampshire

| division = Open Class

| founded = {{Start date|1955}}

| director = Anthony Montesion

| titles = {{plainlist|

  • DCI Open Class

{{hlist|1997|1998|2004|2005|2007|2019|2023|2024}}

}}

| website = {{URL|http://www.spartansdbc.org/ }}

|president=Paul LaFlamme}}{{Short description|Drum and bugle corps based in Nashua, New Hampshire}}

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 (DCI) competitions.{{cite web|url=https://www.dci.org/corps |title=Corps |publisher=Drum Corps International |date= |accessdate=24 February 2018 }} The Spartans won the DCI Division II World Championship in 1997, 1998, 2004, 2005, 2007, and in 2019, 2023, and 2024 won the DCI Open Class Championship that replaced Divisions II and III in 2008.{{cite web |url=http://www.dcxmuseum.org/index.cfm?view=corpslist&CorpsID=66 |title=Spartans |publisher=DCX: The Drum Corps Xperience |accessdate=8 August 2019 }}

History

Source:{{cite book |last1=Carlson |first1=Michael |editor-last =Vickers |editor-first=Steve |title=A History of Drum & Bugle Corps, 2 Vols |volume= 2 |publisher= Drum Corps World |date= 2003 }}

The Spartans Drum and Bugle Corps was founded in 1955 by Albert LaFlamme. LaFlamme was succeeded as corps director by his son, Peter. Today, the corps is run by Albert's grandson, Paul LaFlamme.{{Cite web|url=http://www.spartansdbc.org/about/|title=About Us | Spartans Drum & Bugle Corps - Nashua, NH}}

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 times, in 2009 the economic downturn 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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.lowellsun.com/local/ci_11441758|title=Drum-and-bugle corps files for bankruptcy|date=13 January 2009}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/20/us/20bankrupt.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0|title = Charities Now Seek Bankruptcy Protection|newspaper = The New York Times|date = 20 February 2009|last1 = Strom|first1 = Stephanie}} The corps went through a year of inactivity and reorganized, including a change of management and sale of the corps hall.{{Cite web|url=http://drumcorpseurope.org/article.php?news=7384?&Lang=IT|title=TransIP - Reserved domain}}{{cite web |url=http://www.newhampshire.com/article/20120908/NEWHAMPSHIRE/709089969/0/services04 |title=Cash reward: Spartans Drum and Bugle Corps is Chase-ing money award {{!}} New Hampshire NewHampshire.com |website=www.newhampshire.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512223255/http://www.newhampshire.com/article/20120908/NEWHAMPSHIRE/709089969/0/services04 |archive-date=2014-05-12}} The corps then successfully returned to competition in 2010.{{Cite web|url=http://homenewshere.com/tewksbury_town_crier/article_11102d6b-2221-50f1-a3e7-5e937028f498.html|title = Spartans Drum and Bugle Corps| date=16 October 2010 }}

Since returning to the DCI competition field in 2010, the Spartans have never placed outside the top 5 in the Open Class championship. The corps has also qualified for World Class semi finals consecutively since 2012, regularly finishing above a number of World Class corps.

In 2019, ten years after the corps went inactive, the Spartans were crowned the champions of the 2019 DCI Open Class World Championship with a score of 81.050. They were also the only corps to go undefeated throughout the regular season before world finals week. This was repeated in 2023 and 2024 when the Spartans were consecutively crowned undefeated Open Class World Champions.{{Cite web |title=DCI Open Class World Championship Finals |url=https://www.dci.org/scores/final-scores/2023-dci-open-class-world-championship-finals}}

In 2025, after two undefeated seasons in a row, the Spartans announced their intent to transition to DCI's World Class for the 2026 season and beyond. They will undergo a hybrid classification structure for the 2025 season, and will compete in eight World Class shows, where they will perform alongside other World Class groups. An official vote at DCI's postseason membership meeting will determine their status for the 2026 season. {{Cite web |last=Shelton |first=Natalie |date=2025-01-10 |title=BREAKING: Spartans Announce Intention to Transition to DCI World Class |url=https://www.flomarching.com/articles/13431782-breaking-spartans-announce-intention-to-transition-to-dci-world-class |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=FloMarching |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Spartans pave path to World Class, will kick off transition year in 2025 |url=https://dci.org/news/spartans-pave-path-to-world-class-will-kick-off-transition-year-in-2025 |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=dci.org |language=en}}

The Spartans were selected to march in the 99th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade taking place on November 27th, 2025.{{Cite web |title=Spartans Drum & Bugle Corps to perform in 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade |url=https://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/2024/07/08/spartans-drum-bugle-corps-to-perform-in-2025-macys-thanksgiving-day-parade/ |access-date=2025-01-22 |website=nashuatelegraph.com |language=en-US}}

Sponsorship

The Spartans Drum and Bugle Corps is a registered non-profit 501(c)(3) musical organization. The president of the organization is Paul "PG" LaFlamme Jr. and the corps director is Anthony Montesion.

Show summary (1972–2024)

Source:

class="wikitable" style="font-size:100%;"

|+Key

|style="background-color:#AFEEEE"|Light blue background indicates DCI Open Class Finalist{{efn|name=Open Class|From 1986–1991, the Spartans competed in Class A, from 1992–2007 in Division II, and have competed since 2008 in Open Class. These are the same tier, just renamed.}}

style="background-color:#fcc200"|Goldenrod background indicates DCI Open Class Champion{{efn|name=Open Class}}
style="background-color:#d0f0c0"|Pale green background indicates DCI World Class Semifinalist{{efn|name=World Class|From 1997–2001, the Spartans also competed at the Division I championships, and since 2011 at the World Class championships. These are the same competition, just renamed.}}

{{notelist}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"

! scope="col" rowspan="2" |Year

! scope="col" rowspan="2" |Repertoire

! scope="col" colspan="2" |{{nowrap|World Championships}}

scope="col" | Score

! scope="col" | Placement

scope="row" | 1972

| Parade of the Charioteers (from Ben Hur) by Miklós Rózsa / Miami Beach / Colour My World & To Be Free by James Pankow / Miserlou (Traditional), adapted by Nicholas Roubanis / Love Theme (from Ben-Hur) by Miklós Rózsa

| colspan="2" rowspan="9" bgcolor="e5e4e2" | Did not attend
World Championships

scope="row" | 1973

| Entrance to Sparta & Nonename by Albert LaFlamme / Soul Explosion by Gladys Bruce / Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be?) by Jimmy Davis, Ram Ramirez & James Sherman / Air Mail Special by Benny Goodman, James Mundy & Charlie Christian / Miserlou (Traditional), adapted by Nicholas Roubanis / Love Theme (from Ben-Hur) by Miklós Rózsa

scope="row" | 1974

| St. Louis Blues March by W. C. Handy, adapted my Glenn Miller / 2nd Hungarian Rhapsody by Franz Liszt / Moonlight Serenade by Glenn Miller & Mitchell Parish / Sing, Sing, Sing (With a Swing) by Louis Prima / Bésame Mucho by Consuelo Velázquez & Sunny Skylar / Love Theme (from Ben-Hur) by Miklós Rózsa / Basin Street Blues by Spencer Williams

scope="row" | 1975

| 2nd Hungarian Rhapsody by Franz Liszt / Finlandia by Jean Sibelius / Boys and Girls Get Together by Jim Peterik / Miserlou (Traditional), adapted by Nicholas Roubanis / Sunrise, Sunset by Jerry Bock & Sheldon Harnick / Hang 'em High by Dominic Frontiere

scope="row" | 1976

| 2nd Hungarian Rhapsody by Franz Liszt / Hallelujah Chorus by George Frideric Handel / Two Minds Meet by L. Raub & Bill Chase / Poet and Peasant Overture by Franz von Suppé / Finale (from Firebird Suite) by Igor Stravinsky

scope="row" | 1977

| Flying Home by Benny Goodman, Eddie DeLange, Lionel Hampton & Sydney Robin / Parade of the Charioteers (from Ben-Hur) by Miklós Rózsa / Hallelujah Chorus by George Frideric Handel / Ol' Man River (from Showboat) by Jerome Kern & Oscar Hammerstein II / Poet and Peasant Overture by Franz von Suppé / Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be?) by Jimmy Davis, Ram Ramirez & James Sherman / Live and Let Live by Cole Porter

scope="row" | 1978

| Compendium / Chump Change (from The New Bill Cosby Show) by Bill Cosby & Quincy Jones / A Day in the Life by Lennon–McCartney / Instant Concert by James Swearingen / Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin / Love Theme (from Ben-Hur) by Miklós Rózsa / Hang 'em High by Dominic Frontiere

scope="row" | 1979

| Favourite Things / William Tell Overture by Gioachino Rossini / Sun Shower by Chuck Mangione / Night Journey by Doc Severinsen, Ernie Chapman & Fred Crane / Hill Where the Lord Hides by Chuck Mangione / Percussion Overture / Pegasus by Hank Levy

scope="row" | 1980–85

| No information available

scope="row" | 1986

| Repertoire unavailable || 67.900 || 8th Place
Class A

scope="row" | 1987

| Repertoire unavailable || 70.400

| 5th Place
Class A

scope="row" | 1988

| Liberty Mission (Unknown) / Carmen by Georges Bizet / I Have Dreamed (from The King and I) by Rodgers and Hammerstein / Poet and Peasant Overture by Franz von Suppé || 71.900 || 12th Place
Class A

scope="row" | 1989

| Camelot
Overture, Parade, Guenevere, What Do the Simple Folk Do? & Before I Gaze at You Again
All from Camelot by Frederick Loewe & Alan Jay Lerner

| 79.800

| 6th Place
Class A

scope="row" | 1990

| Scheherazade
Selections from Scheherazade by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

| 76.700 || 7th Place
Class A

scope="row" | 1991

| Scheherazade
Selections from Scheherazade by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

| 78.500 || 11th Place
Class A

scope="row" | 1992

| Hook
Selections from Hook by John Williams

| 84.000

| bgcolor="afeeee" | 7th Place
Division II & III
Finalist

scope="row" | 1993

| Aladdin
Selections from Aladdin by Alan Menken

| 84.900 || 8th Place
Division II

scope="row" | 1994

| Emerson, Lake, and Palmer
Music by Keith Emerson, Greg Lake & Carl Palmer

| 82.600 || 9th Place
Division II

scope="row" | 1995

| Rome: The Eternal City
Ben-Hur by Miklós Rózsa / Bacchanale (from Samson and Delilah) by Camille Saint-Saëns / Roman Festivals & Pines of the Appian Way (from The Pines of Rome) by Ottorino Respighi

| 88.800

| bgcolor="afeeee" | 4th Place
Division II
Finalist

scope="row" | 1996

| Return to Rome
Inzio (from Ben-Hur) 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

| bgcolor="afeeee" | 4th Place
Division II
Finalist

scope="row" rowspan="2" | 1997

| rowspan="2" | Three Revelations
Awakening, Contemplation & Rejoicing by Alfred Reed

| 94.200

| bgcolor="fcc200" | 1st Place
Division II
Champion

69.800

| 23rd Place
Division I

scope="row" rowspan="2" | 1998

| rowspan="2" | Sinfonia Vocci: The Music of David Holsinger
Sinfonia Vocci & Ballet Sacra by David Holsinger

| 97.100

| bgcolor="fcc200" | 1st Place
Division II
Champion

73.000

| 22nd Place
Division I

scope="row" rowspan="2" | 1999

| rowspan="2" | Easter Symphony
Kings, Deathtree & Symphonia Resurrectus
All from The Easter Symphony by David Holsinger

| 95.300

| bgcolor="afeeee" | 2nd Place
Division II
Finalist

73.700

| 22nd Place
Division I

scope="row" | 2000

| Glorioso
Glorioso, Oratio, Cantus III & Diofestos

| 80.750 || 8th Place
Division II

scope="row" rowspan="2" | 2001

| rowspan="2" | Gladiator
The Battle & Barbarian Horde (from Gladiator) by Hans Zimmer & Lisa Gerrard / Ben-Hur by Miklós Rózsa

| 93.950

| bgcolor="afeeee" | 3rd Place
Division II & III
Finalist

73.800

| 20th Place
Division I

scope="row" | 2002

| Guardians
Music from Gladiator by Hans Zimmer & Lisa Gerrard / Ben-Hur by Miklós Rózsa / Music from The Mummy Returns by Alan Silvestri / Bacchanale (from Samson and Delilah) by Camille Saint-Saëns

| 93.900

| bgcolor="afeeee" | 5th Place
Division II & III
Finalist

scope="row" | 2003

| The Divine Comedy
Inferno, Ascension, Paradise & Finale
All from The Divine Comedy, Symphony No. 1 by Robert W. Smith

| 94.450

| bgcolor="afeeee" | 3rd Place
Division II & III
Finalist

scope="row" | 2004

| Medusa
Medusa Lures Poseidon, Athena's Rage, Serpents & The Gorgon's Pursuit
All from Medusa by Key Poulan

| 96.325

| bgcolor="fcc200" | 1st Place
Division II & III
Champion

scope="row" | 2005

| Vizier
Wisdom, Experience, Conceive, Meditation, Ascendant & Vizier: The All-Seeing Eye
All from Vizier by Key Poulan

| 96.275

| bgcolor="fcc200" | 1st Place
Division II & III
Champion

scope="row" | 2006

| Advent Rising
Bounty Hunter, Stolen Transport, Glorious Human, Aurelian Conflict & Canyon Encounter
All from Advent Rising by Tommy Tallarico

| 94.025

| bgcolor="afeeee" | 3rd Place
Division II & III
Finalist

scope="row" | 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 & Eric Putnam

| 96.150

| bgcolor="fcc200" | 1st Place
Division II & III
Champion

scope="row" | 2008

| Metallic Soundscapes
Kingfishers Catch Fire, Turning & Turbine by John Mackey

| 82.700 || 14th Place
Open Class

scope="row" | 2009

| colspan="3" bgcolor="e5e4e2" | Corps inactive

scope="row" | 2010

| Fire Dance
Inferno (from The Divine Comedy) by Robert W. Smith / Caronte, Ferryman of Souls; Entrance Into Hell; Interview of Ulysses & La Giudecca (all from Inferno di Dante) by Key Poulan

| 93.600

| bgcolor="afeeee" | 3rd Place
Open Class
Finalist

rowspan="2" scope="row" | 2011

| rowspan="2" | Midnight
Midnight by Key Poulan / Bella's Lullabye & Other music from Twilight by Carter Burwell

| 91.500

| bgcolor="afeeee" | 4th Place
Open Class
Finalist

69.350

| 26th Place
World Class

rowspan="2" scope="row" | 2012

| rowspan="2" | Renewal
Infernal Dance, The Princess Game with the Golden Apples & Dance of the Princesses (from The Firebird Suite) / Dance of the Earth (from The Rite of Spring) / Berceuse & Finale (from The Firebird Suite)
All by Igor Stravinsky

| 91.150

| bgcolor="afeeee" | 4th Place
Open Class
Finalist

70.750

| bgcolor="d0f0c0" | 24th Place
World Class
Semifinalist

rowspan="2" scope="row" | 2013

| rowspan="2" | Live Free
Music from Swan Lake by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky / Music from The Matrix by Don Davis / Naqoyqatsi by Philip Glass

| 90.500

| bgcolor="afeeee" | 4th Place
Open Class
Finalist

72.850

| bgcolor="d0f0c0" | 24th Place
World Class
Semifinalist

rowspan="2" scope="row" | 2014

| rowspan="2" | Olympus
Olympus Intro by Jeff Boulduc, Matt McGuire & Michael Moore / Symphony for Brass and Percussion, Mvt. II by Alfred Reed / You Are So Beautiful by Bruce Fisher, Billy Preston & Dennis Wilson / Symphony No. 2 Mvt. III & There Will Be Rest by Frank Ticheli

| 77.025

| bgcolor="afeeee" | 4th Place
Open Class
Finalist

74.050

| bgcolor="d0f0c0" | 24th Place
World Class
Semifinalist

rowspan="2" scope="row" | 2015

| rowspan="2" | Spartans... At The Gates!
Prelude to War – Original music by Key Poulan, Michael Moore & Matt McGuire
Spartan Warrior To Victory – To Victory (from 300) by Tyler Bates
Defending the Gates – Piano Concerto No. 1, 3rd Movement: Toccata Con Fuoco by Keith Emerson
Empyrean Mercenaries – From Trailerhead by Immediate
Battle – The Battle (from Gladiator) by Hans Zimmer & Lisa Gerrard
Glory, Honor & Immortality – Lauds (Praise High Day) by Ron Nelson

| 76.025

| bgcolor="afeeee" | 3rd Place
Open Class
Finalist

71.500

| bgcolor="d0f0c0" | 23rd Place
World Class
Semifinalist

rowspan="2" scope="row" | 2016

| rowspan="2" | Totem
Gabriel's Oboe (from The Mission) by Ennio Morricone / Ome Kayo (from Cirque du Soleil's Totem) by Guy Dubuc & Marc Lessard / Conflict by Key Poulan, Michael Moore & Matt McGuire / Crazy in Love by Beyoncé Knowles, Rich Harrison, Shawn Carter & Eugene Record / Sacrifice by Michael Moore & Matt McGuire / Adiemus Chorale VI (SolFa) by Karl Jenkins

| 74.750

| bgcolor="afeeee" | 5th Place
Open Class
Finalist

71.475

| bgcolor="d0f0c0" | 25th Place
World Class
Semifinalist

rowspan="2" scope="row" | 2017

| rowspan="2" | Connected
We Are Here to Connect, Missed Connections, ReConnected & We Are All Connected (all by Key Poulan, Michael Moore & Matt McGuire) / Angel by Sarah McLachlan

| 75.925

| bgcolor="afeeee" | 5th Place
Open Class
Finalist

73.475

| bgcolor="d0f0c0" | 25th Place
World Class
Semifinalist

rowspan="2" scope="row" | 2018

| rowspan="2" | Da Vinci's Workshop
Meet Leonardo & The Vitruvian Man by Key Poulan, Matt McGuire & Michael Moore / Clair de Lune by Claude Debussy, arranged by Key Poulan & Michael Moore / The Workshop by Matt McGuire & Michael Moore / Sogno di Volare by Christopher Tin, arranged by Key Poulan, Matt McGuire & Michael Moore

| 75.713

| bgcolor="afeeee" | 5th Place
Open Class
Finalist

74.250

| bgcolor="d0f0c0" | 25th Place
World Class
Semifinalist

rowspan="2" scope="row" | 2019

| rowspan="2" | Experiment X
Act I: Balkan Dance by Etienne Crausaz / Egyptic by David Satori, Zoe Jakes, Tommy "Sidecar" Cappel (Beats Antique)
Act II: Libertango by Astor Piazzolla
Act III: Shallow by Stefani Germanotta (Lady Gaga), Mark Ronson, Anthony Rossomando & Andrew Wyatt
Act IV: Gretel & Shofukan by Michael League (Snarky Puppy)

| 81.050

| bgcolor="fcc200" | 1st Place
Open Class
Champion

80.350

| bgcolor="d0f0c0" | 19th Place
World Class
Semifinalist

scope="row" | 2020

| colspan="3" bgcolor="e5e4e2" | Season canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic

scope="row" | 2021

| colspan="3" bgcolor="e5e4e2" | Opted out of competition for the season

rowspan="2" scope="row" | 2022

| rowspan="2" | On the Edge
Act I: Mustard Gas by Casey Crescenzo, Andy Wildrick, Erick Serna, Nick Crescenzo & Nate Patterson (The Dear Hunter)
Act II: Backlash by Simon Dobson
Act III: Retrograde by James Blake
Act IV: Spark by Hiromi Uehara, Anthony Jackson & Simon Phillips

| 81.025

| bgcolor="afeeee" | 4th Place
Open Class
Finalist

76.600

| bgcolor="d0f0c0" | 23rd Place
World Class
Semifinalist

rowspan="2" scope="row" | 2023

| rowspan="2" | Surreal
Zambra by Ojos de Brujo / Redemption for the Pain Endured by The Dear Hunter / Fables of Faubus by Charles Mingus / Playing God by Polyphia / Tragic Kingdom by No Doubt

|82.263

| bgcolor="fcc200" | 1st Place
Open Class
Champion

81.275

| bgcolor="d0f0c0" | 19th Place
World Class
Semifinalist

rowspan="2" scope="row" | 2024

| rowspan="2" | Youtopia
Frontier by Holly Herndon / Sweet Release: Church: Renewing Vows by Wynton Marsallis / Alfonso Muskedunder by Todd Terje / What Was I Made For? by Billie Eilish O'Connell & Finneas O'Connell / Air Waltz by Oliver Davis / Original music by Aaron Goldberg, Mark Sachetta, Bryson Teel & Brian

| 82.963

| bgcolor="fcc200" | 1st Place
Open Class
Champion

81.525

| bgcolor="d0f0c0" | 19th Place
World Class
Semifinalist

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • [http://www.spartansdbc.org/ Official website]

{{Drum Corps International}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Spartans Drum and Bugle Corps}}

Category:Drum Corps International Open Class corps

Category:Musical groups established in 1955

Category:Organizations based in New Hampshire

Category:1955 establishments in New Hampshire