About Us
Precision. Musicianship. Showmanship.
For a drum & bugle corps, these are the end results of dedication and self-discipline. Corps members spend countless hours rehearsing (sometimes in the rain) for the opportunity to march into a stadium full of people and bring the crowd to their feet.
The Chippewa Valley Brigade Drum & Bugle Corps was created specifically to bring this exciting activity to the young people of the region. Membership is by audition and is open to anyone between the ages of 14 & 21. Our expert staff will provide quality instruction & plenty of challenges for all members.
The Brigade is a project of the Chippewa Valley Drum & Bugle Corps Association Inc. Our mission is to provide a quality educational program, focusing on music & movement, to the youth of the Chippewa Valley region. Our goal is to create a program that enhances the local school music programs by raising the level of musicianship of our common members.
The Association, through the Chippewa Valley Brigade, is committed to making a contribution to the local performing arts community by providing a high-quality youth-in-music program. We are also working to collaborate with other youth activities to help insure that we can serve the broadest segment of the region’s young people.
Is It Like Marching Band?
Drum & bugle corps are privately-funded organizations that are operated by community volunteers and the parents & families of their membership - unlike school bands, which are part of the school curriculum and funded largely by tax dollars. This difference leads to two of the greatest strengths of the drum & bugle corps activity.
First, corps thrive on family & community involvement. Most parents find that drum & bugle corps gives them the perfect opportunity to spend more time with their kids. There are always jobs for adults: cooking meals at rehearsal camps, managing equipment, sewing flags & chaperoning, to name a few. Meanwhile, they actually get to observe their child acquiring new skills and gaining the confidence that comes from learning to perform with precision.
Secondly, members range in age from middle school to college. So younger members have older members to look up to and older members become mentors to their young colleagues and help to reinforce the instruction of the adult staff.
The Most Intense 11 Minutes of Your Life
We take an 11-minute show and polish it until it shines. Every note, every step, every spin must be precise. This attention to detail requires a great deal of self-discipline (and hours of practice) - but you’ll never forget the feeling of coming off the field after giving the best show of your life.
How Do I Join?
If you would like to participate in this great activity, please fill out our online Audition Registration form.
Scholarships & sponsorships are available.
