Mello-Dears

Other Names:Apalachin Mello-Dears

Owego, NY United States
Founded: 1960

Inactive All Girl

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Repertoire for 1970
Maggie Flynn by Hugo Peretti \| Luigi Creatore \| George David Weiss
I'll Walk with God (from The Student Prince) by Nicholas Brodszky \| Paul Francis Webster Mario Lanza Sings Songs From The Student Prince & The Desert Song / Romberg
If My Friends Could See Me Now (from Sweet Charity) by Cy Coleman \| Dorothy Fields Sweet Charity - Soundtrack
Maria (from West Side Story) by Leonard Bernstein The Songs of West Side Story - RCA Victor 09026-62707-2 (various artists)
Somewhere (from West Side Story) by Leonard Bernstein The Songs of West Side Story - RCA Victor 09026-62707-2 (performed by Aretha Franklin)
My Heart Belongs to Daddy by Cole Porter Night And Day: The Cole Porter Album - Vanguard Classics - #3002; ASIN: B00000239I
Love Theme (from Romeo and Juliet) by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Manhattan Tower by Gordon Jenkins Manhattan Tower

CORPS Photos

The Mello-Dears, found in 1960, was an all-girl marching and maneuvering corps based in Owego, New York. This enthusiastic outfit couldn’t wait for their instruments to start performing. They hummed and sang their way through their first parade, smartly attired in black slacks and white shirts.

The corps, nicknamed “The Sweethearts of the Southern Tier,” appeared primarily in the northeastern United States, and traveled twice to Canada. One of their proudest moments was being presented a Canadian flag by the mayor of Perth, Ontario, in 1965.

In 1966 the corps, by now armed with instruments, went undefeated in 19 consecutive parades, and became champions of the first International All-Girl Contest. Honors continued in 1967 when the Mello-Dears took the titles of Sixth District American Legion Champions and VFW New York State Champions. The VFW championship was successfully defended in 1968. That year the corps also gained increased status among all-girl corps at the VFW National Competition held in Detroit .

By 1969 the corps ranks were filled by 85 girls who, they calculate, put in a combined 19,000 hours of rehearsal and competition. Their repertoire that year included
"Maggie Flynn," "I Walk with God," “If My Friends Could See Me Now," "West Side Story," "My Heart Belongs to Daddy," and "Manhattan Towers" as the finale fanfare.

In August 1970, the Mello-Dears captured second place at U.S. Open National Championship in the All-Girl Division, as well as fourth place in the Class A All-Girl World Open Championships. And in 1972 the group captured the World Open All-Girl Championships.

In DCI competition, the Mello-Dears participated from 1974 through 1983. Their highest finish was fifth in the All-Girl division in 1979.

The corps disbanded after the 1983 season.

[Colleen Marshall; Susan Thompson; scvandy@aol.com, RAMD, 8/31/97]

Members (14)

Member Name	Section	Years Involved
Burch, Colleen	Drumline	1969 to 1974
Clark, Michelle	baritone	1970 to 1974
Depew, Carole	baratone	1969 to 1974
Dunham/Woodward, Patty	Horn Line	1961 to 1966
Gauss, Susan	Contra-Bass	1976 to 1979
Gauss, Susan	Brass (Contra)	1975 to 1979
Nacarato, Michele	Drumline	1979 to 1986
Planck, Susan	Soprano	1971 to 1975
Stockdale, Linda	drum line	1968 to 1972
Tiffany, Rhonda	Drum Line	1970 to 1974
Van Wie, Ginny	Color Guard	1975
Van Wie, Ginny	Baritone	1976 to 1978
Vanderpool, Sue	Snare	1973 to 1980
Wiggs, Cathleen (Koons)	color guard	1968 to 1971