As little as 30 years ago, there were 70-some drum and bugle corps in Ontario.
Now, there is one.
Who would have guessed the only remaining corps would be right here in Sudbury?
For the last 61 years, The Blue Saints have been booming. And they aren't just making noise.
The local drum and bugle corps has been finding success wherever it goes.
The crew just returned from the Canadian Drumline Central Regional Championships, where the drummers brought home top honours. They placed first, earning an impressive score to beat out the 16 other drumlines competing.
“Competition was tight with the Blue Saints finishing on top,” said Mark Ripley, executive director of the corps. “This sets the corps up for an exciting season this summer as the corps enters outdoor competitions.”
Michelle Potvin, a Grade 9 student who plays second base in the drumline, said it takes a lot of hard work to put together a winning performance.
“You have to know your music and it has to be somewhat challenging so you can engage your audience,” she said.
The drummer said she is more than pleased with how her fellow musicians performed.
“We didn't expect to win going in,” she said.
The judges, however, were impressed by the group's tough music selection, how well they performed it and how well they played as a unit.
Following the success of their first competition, the corps has big plans in the coming months. It won't be long before the group heads south to perform in the United States.
And, while it may be a great opportunity for youth to travel and experience lifestyles miles away from their own, the American tour has a much more practical purpose.
It is actually a fundraisers for the troupe.
Ben Ripley, the corps' percussion instructor, said the difference between drum corps in Canada and the United States are huge.
Having a Canadian troupe like the Blue Saints perform at American shows is a well-paying gig — enough to ensure the kids don't have to sell chocolate bars and magazine subscriptions in order to make enough money to cover their competition expenses.
This summer, the Blue Saints will be on the “marching music major league” circuit.
“They are the best of the best at what they do,” Ben said.
The local corps consists of youth and young adults between 12 and 21. Many of the musicians had no prior music experience before joining the group.
While their success stories are plenty, it isn't entirely good news that surrounds the Blue Saints. Ben said the decline of the drum and bugle corps as a whole in Canada is a shame.
A teacher by day, Ben said the decline in music education in schools has made it increasingly difficult to get kids excited about a group like Blue Saints.
Their corps, which runs with between 35 and 40 musicians, is small when compared to be the big American groups they play with.
“We'd like to be way more,” Ben said.
As is, the local corps is only the size it is because it includes members from all over Ontario.
All it takes to participate is the right attitude, and the willingness to show up.
“What do we strive for,” Ben said in front of his percussion players.
“Perfection,” they said back in unison.
“Then what?”
“More perfection.”
The Blue Saints will be performing at home on July 27. Stay tuned to NorthernLife.ca for more details.
To learn more about the corps, or to get involved, visit www.bluesaints.com.
Director Mark can also be reached at [email protected] or 705-692-JOIN (5646) for those interested in getting involved.
