The Brigadiers


Other Names:PLAV Post #14, AL Post #1677, Syracuse Brigadiers

Syracuse, NY United States
Founded: 1947

Inactive Senior
YearPositionScoreTheme/Songs
1953 ?? * ?? * Hello Everybody Hello * This Is My Country * Great Day * ?? * Serenata * ?? * ?? * Goodbye My Coney Island Baby * Look Sharp (Gillette Song) * ?? * ?? * St. Louis Blues March * ?? * I'll Be Blue Again * So Long For Awhile (Hit Parade)  
1960 Everything's Coming Up Roses (from Gypsy) * Black Saddle * Victory at Sea * Shangri-La  
1961 Another Opening, Another Show (from Kiss Me, Kate) * Everything's Coming Up Roses (from Gypsy) * Just One of Those Things * Allies on the March * Overture (from The Boys From Syracuse) * Black Saddle * I Ain't Down Yet (from The Unsinkable Molly Brown) * Meet Me Tonight in Dreamland (from In the Good Old Summertime) * Shangri-La  
1963 Happy Talk (from South Pacific) * Miss America * Flower Drum Song * Black Saddle  
1964 Overture * Black Saddle * Charade * Make Someone Happy (from Do Re Mi) * I've Got a Lot of Living To Do * Fanfare and Allegro * Breezin' Along With the Breeze  
1965 I'm The Greatest Star (from Funny Girl) * Theme from 633 Squadron * Dance Ballerina Dance * You Are Woman (from Funny Girl) * Love Is Just Around The Corner * Post Salute * The Billboard March * Breezin' Along With the Breeze  
1966 6 79.350 I'm The Greatest Star (from Funny Girl) * Shadow of Your Smile (from The Sandpiper) * Michael, Row Your Boat Ashore * America the Beautiful * Mexican Shuffle * Theme from The Munsters  
1967 6 77.883 On a Clear Day (from On a Clear Day You Can See Forever) * Come Back to Me (from On A Clear Day You Can See Forever) * America the Beautiful * Nice 'N' Easy * Mexican Shuffle * Michael, Row Your Boat Ashore * Indian War Dance * Ten Little Indians * Shadow of Your Smile (from The Sandpiper)  
1968 3 79.816 It's Today (from Mame) * America the Beautiful * Comedians' Galop * Yes, Indeed * Indian War Dance * Ten Little Indians * Shenandoah  
1969 8 62.975 It's Today (from Mame) * America the Beautiful * Comedians' Galop * Yes, Indeed * Laia Ladaia * Shenandoah  
1970 Shangri-La * Fascinatin' Rhythm (from Lady Be Good) * Chester * Fool On The Hill * Old Man River (from Show Boat) * Yellow Submarine * Shangri-La  
1971 10 77.550 (Repertoire not available)  
1973 13 65.950 Another Opening, Another Show (from Kiss Me, Kate) * Chester * Comedians' Galop * Black Saddle * Indian War Dance * Ten Little Indians * Shangri-La * Fascinatin' Rhythm (from Lady Be Good) * Shenandoah  
1992 11 81.500 Shangri-La * Ya Gotta Try * Wave * New York State of Mind  
1993 9 86.100 "Spanish Dreams" - Shangri-La * I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues * Ya Gotta Try * Spanish Dreams * If I Could Hold You Again  
1994 9 83.700 Bye Bye Blues * MacArthur Park * When a Man Loves a Woman  
1995 7 87.900 "Pictures in Jazz" - Blue Skies (from Alexander's Ragtime Band) * Since I Fell for You * Canto del Viento  
1996 5 90.600 "Cuban Jazz" - Espana * El Congo Valiente (from Cuban Fire Suite) * Requerdos * Canto del Viento  
1997 1 96.300 "Night and Day: A Tribute to Cole Porter" - In the Still of the Night * Love for Sale * Night and Day * It's All Right With Me (from Can-Can)  
1998 2 96.300 "Art and Energy: The Music of Cole Porter" - In the Still of the Night * Just One of Those Things * Night and Day * What is This Thing Called Love?  
1999 1 97.500 Channel One Suite * Harlem Nocturne * Mercy Mercy Mercy  
2000 1 98.000 "City Rhythms" - Slaughter on Tenth Avenue (from On Your Toes) * Ballet in Brass * Artistry in Rhythm * Harlem Nocturne  
2001 1 97.950 Jazz After Hours - Seven Year Itch * Come Back to Me (from On A Clear Day You Can See Forever) * God Bless the Child * MacArthur Park  
2002 1 98.600 "Picasso Sketchbook" - Spanish Fantasy * Day Danse * Guaganco * All Or Nothing At All  
2003 2 96.075 "Pop Art" - Overture (from Tommy) * Pinball Wizard (from Tommy) * It's a Boy (from Tommy) * Hear Me (from Tommy) * The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face * Open Up Wide * Get It On * Tommy Reprise  
2004 2 96.188 "Caravan" - Lawrence of Arabia * Caravan * Out of Africa * (Drum Solo) * A Night in Tunisia  
2005 4 94.038 "Round Midnight" - A Night Piece for Orchestra.. Prelude & Blues (from Taxi Driver) * Orange Colored Sky * 'Round Midnight * Baroque Samba  
2006 6 91.538 The Show Must Go On (from Moulin Rouge) * Sparkling Diamonds * Come What May (from Moulin Rouge) * El Tango de Roxanne (from Moulin Rouge)  
2007 5 93.863 "Images in Time" - As Time Goes By (from Casablanca) * Spanish Fantasy * The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face * Evolution  
2008 7 90.013 “Reflexions: The Music of Samuel R. Hazo” - Sevens * Echoes * Ride  
2009 7 89.225 “Pictures at a New Exhibition" - Premenade (from Picture At An Exhibition) * Snow Caps * With Each Sunset * The Red Machine * A Young Person's Guide To The Orchestra  
2010 999.000 “Conquistador” - (Repertoire not available)  
Position 200+ indicates Division II, Position 300+ indicates Division III, Position 400+ indicates Mini Corps.
The Syracuse Brigadiers Drum and Bugle Corps is a precision musical/marching organization that is historically significant to the City of Syracuse and the Central New York region.

The corps began life in 1938 as a junior corps organized by the Polish Legion of American Veterans (PLAV) Post 14 in Syracuse. After World War II the original corps was reorganized as a senior drum and bugle corps. In field competition, this new senior corps captured the title of PLAV National Champions every year that the contest was held.

In 1954, The Boys from Syracuse, The Cortland Moose, and The Sons of American Legion Post 41 drum corps all merged under the name The Syracuse Brigadiers. This was the first step in their climb to international fame.

The Syracuse Brigadiers won the coveted title of New York State American Legion Champions from 1955 through 1960 and then again in 1964 and 1967. Under the sponsorship of PLAV Post 14 and American Legion Post 1677, the Syracuse Brigadiers were finalists in the American Legion National Championships every time they entered, were runners-up three times, and were international champions in 1957 and 1958.

During the 1968 season, although the Brigs membership was devastated by the tragic deaths of two of their members in an automobile accident after a rehearsal, the corps still came within a few tenths of a point from being crowned DCA World Champions.

The quality of the Brigadiers’ performances diminished during the following years. The corps was inactive in 1972, but made a sterling comeback attempt in 1973. Although other corps had the luxury of eleven months of preparation for the DCA World Championships, the Brigadiers had to endure an intense five-week rehearsal schedule before entering field competition only a few weeks before the 1973 DCA World Championships. A judging penalty for undersized flags at the preliminary competition caused the Brigs to miss DCA Finals by five hundredths of a point, a blow from which the corps was unable to recover. The Syracuse Brigadiers folded, for 17 years.

On August 11, 1990, the Rochester Crusaders sponsored the Pageant of Drums competition in Syracuse, featuring many of the top senior drum corps in the country. The Crusaders had decided to name the first-place trophy that year in honor of the late Charlie Ragonese, one of the Syracuse Brigadiers’ directors.

At the awards ceremony, about fifty former Brigadiers were invited from the grandstand and marched around the stadium to the strains of familiar Brigadier music of the past. The crowd rose to their feet and cheered. The rebirth of the Syracuse Brigadiers was under way.

Inspired by that night, a small group of former Brigadiers and fans met in October, 1990, to discuss resurrecting the Brigadiers. This dauntless group of organizers had to beg, borrow and almost steal equipment before they were able to put a parade corps on the street in 1991.

Since then, membership in the corps has grown greatly. Personal loans, second mortgages on homes, and membership fees have helped to finance the corps. The Syracuse Brigadiers once again entered field competition in 1992.

The corps immediately began to recapture past glories as well as establish new standards of excellence. With audience entertainment being the traditional priority for the Brigs, standing ovations greeted their every performance. Show sponsors began competing to have the Syracuse Brigadiers in their shows. The 1992 season ended in Scranton where the Brigadiers garnered an eleventh place finish at the DCA World Championships and earned Associate DCA membership. They improved their status in 1993 to a ninth-place finish and full DCA membership.

Heading into the 1994 season, the Syracuse Brigadiers had come full circle, combining the elements of the new Brigadiers with traditions of their illustrious past. Mr. Brigadier himself joined the instructional staff: Al “Corkey” Fabrizio, former soloist, drum major, and music arranger from the 1950s, 60s, and the 70s, along with several other former Brigs. Steadily growing in consistency and organizational structure, the Brigs placed seventh in 1995 and fifth in 1996.

With the establishment of Brigadier Hall, a reorganization, a rededication to a sound organizational structure, and a stronger commitment to their tradition of quality performance, the Brigadiers’ success continued to grow. In 1997, the corps shared the 1997 DCA World Championship. They finished second 1998, but 1999 brought them the undisputed World Championship by one of the largest margins of victory in history, 1.7 points. They then claimed the championship for a third time in 2000, and with the 2001 championship accomplished the coveted three-peat.

The 2002 season brought new challenges in musical and visual performance, with the hope and expectation of quality performances throughout the summer, and a fourth consecutive World Championship, with a score of 98.6. In 2003, the Brigadiers fell just short of winnng "one for the thumb" by finishing second to the Hawthorne Caballeros, and the 2004 finish was also second. The Brigadiers through 2004 has finished first or second for eight consecutive years.

The Brigadiers formed an alumni corps in 1998, still active in 2002 as a standstill group. As many Brig alumni now live in Florida, Roy Grant created a southern branch of the corps in 2002, called the Florida Brass. This group joins with the Brigadier Alumni corps at DCA.

[www.brigadiers.com; DCW, 6/28/02, p.14]

Members (92)

Member Name Section Years Involved
Ainsworth, Shane Euphonium 2005
Anno, Jim Soprano 1968
Bauer, Matthew Bass Line 2003
Bauer, Matthew Bassline 2003 to 2005
Beaulieu, Patrick Soprano 1999
Benz, Ryan Benz Soprano/Drum Major 1998 to 2002
Bertrand, Derrick Mellophone 2003
Bill, Christopher Baritone 2008
Bough, Roland Drum Major 2001
Bough, Roland Contra Bass 2003
Burch, Colleen Honor Guard 2003 to 2004
Burnell, James Baritone 2002
Campagnola, Carl Lead Soprano 1992 to 1998
Caraccilo, Chris Guard Caption Head 1997 to 2003
Carpenter, Shawn Contrabass 2001 to 2004
Cooley, Stephen Brass Arranger/Instructor 1991 to 1993
Cullen, Paul Soprano 2001 to 2004
Cullen, Paul Comittee Member 2005
Cullen, Paul Brass Instructor 2006 to 2009
D'EREDITA, MICHELE Guard 1991 to 1993
Dailey, Gary Soprano bugle-solo 1967 to 1969
Drouin, Alex soprano 1998 to 2004
Fine, Dale Baritone 2003
Fine, Mar-Jean Baritone 2003
Fleck, David French Horn 1967 to 1968
Fleck, David Mellophone 1969; 1973; 1991 to 1992; 1994 to 2002
Forest, Mike Bass drum 2001 to 2002
GRANT, ROY soprano 1953 to 1972
Gamble, Jackie Colour guard 2000 to 2001
Hamilton, David Contra 1998
Hamilton, David Contra, Brass Instructor 1999
Hamilton, David Brass Caption Head 2000
Healion, Carol guard 2000
Heer, Scott Baritone 2000 to 2002
Hernandez, Gregorio Baritone 1997 to 2000
Hingray, Christine Contra 1999 to 2005
Johnson, Carlos Front Ensemble (Pit) 2004
Jones, Geoff Baritone 1999 to 2001; 2003
Keck, David Lead sop 1991 to 2002
Kent, David Soprano 2002
LaValle, Brian Snare line 2003 to 2005
Lass, Mary Soprano 2000
Lass, Mary Soprano 2000; 2002 to 2005
Lévis, André Soprano 1998 to 2003
Lévis, André Soprano 1998 to 2003; 2005; 2007
Mackiewicz, Dawn Marie Baritone 2000
Mackiewicz, Dawn Marie Soprano 2001
Meyer, Jr., John Mellophone 1999 to 2000; 2003 to 2004
Meyer, Jr., John Brass Instructor 2005 to 2006; 2009
Miller, Michael Mellophone 2001 to 2005
Miller, Michael Mellophone 2001 to 2005
Min, April Mellophone 2002 to 2003
Mitchell, Jonas Baritone 2000; 2002 to 2004
Nauck, Nikki mellophone 2002
Nauck, Nikki Asst Drum Major 2003
O'Shea, Trish Color Guard 2001 to 2003
Orser, Chad Contra Line 2003
Peashey, Ed Soprano 1959 to 1961
Peashey, Tom Brass 1966 to 1971
Predmore, Mike Contra 2002 to 2003
Prentice, David Baritone 1997
Presley, Nick Baritone 2004
Presley, Nick Contra 2005 to 2006
Proulx, Maxime Bass line 2004
Reese, Eddie Drumline 1973
Rose, Jason Contrabass 2002
Savage, Vickie Colorguard 1995 to 1998
Scarchilli, Joseph Mellophone 1973
Scherz, Spencer Mellophone 1993 to 1995
Sevigny ( spike ), Erik tenorline 2000 to 2002
Sigona, John Contra 2000 to 2003
Smardon, Steve baritone 1991 to 1992
Smardon, Steve brass staff 2007 to 2009
Stansfield, Scott soprano 2001 to 2002
Steiner, Fred Lead Baritone 2001
Stinson, Connie Rifle line 1991
Suckar, Rob Baritone/Honor Guard 2003
Surace, Santo Soprano 1973
Tobin, Andrea Color Guard 1997
Vassar, Richard Guard/drum line 1962 to 1971; 1991 to 2006
Vaughn, Steve Baritone 2008 to 2009
Vivenzio, Jim Lead Soprano 1991 to 1992
WASHBURN, Ed Snare Drummer 1967; 1971; 1973
Wildrick, Erin Guard 2000 to 2001
Wildrick, Melody guard 1993 to 2003
Wiseman, Alan Bari/Euph 1999 to 2002
Wnuk, John drumline 1967 to 1973
Zoni, Stephen Baritone 1966 to 1968
Zoss, Angela Brass (Mellophone) 2006 to 2008
lalonde, anne brass 1992 to 1993
mitchell, joe PIT 2003
owen, ivan colrguard 1994 to 1996

CORPS 10 items

The Brigadiers

Syracuse Brigadiers Pennant from the Bill Ives Collection
The Brigadiers

Brigadiers Bumper Sticker from the Bill Ives Collection
The Brigadiers

Syracuse Brigadiers from the Bill Ives Collection
The Brigadiers

Brigadiers,Syracuse,NY,BS1-Syracuse(BIV)AA_U_S from the Richard Elmquist Collection
The Brigadiers

Brigadiers,Syracuse,NY,KR1(eBay)AA_U_S from the Richard Elmquist Collection
The Brigadiers

Brigadiers,Syracuse,NY,Pin1-Bugler(Site-1.75x2.75)AA_U_S from the Richard Elmquist Collection
The Brigadiers

Brigadiers,Syracuse,NY,Pin2-Crest(BIV-2.25)AA_U_S from the Richard Elmquist Collection
The Brigadiers

Brigadiers,Syracuse,NY,Pin3-GoBrigs(RCR)AA_U_S from the Richard Elmquist Collection
The Brigadiers

Brigadiers,Syracuse,NY,PN1(BIV)AA_U_S from the Richard Elmquist Collection
The Brigadiers
PDF Document

406-407, Syracuse Brigadiers from the Steve Vickers Collection

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