St. Paul, MN United States
Founded: 1946
CORPS Photos
In 1948 members moved the corps to the Laidlaw American Legion Post in Minneapolis, starting an association with the Legion that would last a quarter century. The group was called the Laidlaw Drum & Bugles Corps until 1955.
In 1956, the corps decided to focus on a Spanish musical style and visual theme, choosing the name Laidlaw Toreadors. This corps became very successful, winning many state and regional Legion championships. The Toreadors name lasted until 1964.
For one season, 1965, the Minneapolis’ Grain Belt Brewery sponsored the corps, renamed the Grain Belt Diamonds. The “diamond-clear, smoother beer” had a diamond-shaped logo. Can you guess what shapes were used in their drill? The Diamonds were dressed in tuxedos; audiences said they looked like funeral directors.
When Grain Belt dropped its sponsorship, the corps went back to its Minneapolis American Legion home and was called the Men of Laidlaw. An association with Laidlaw continued well into the 1970s. The corps dressed itself in the blue windbreakers they would wear through 1975.
In 1969 the corps modernized its image and musical style. Going into its first performance of 1969, the corps still hadn't decided on a name. On a whim, they decided on “Twin Cities’ Amalgamated Brassworks, Inc.” They eventually streamlined the name (just a bit) to Brass, Inc. That same year, they began recruiting women into the corps, and many St. Paul Scouts and Hamm’s Indians alumni joined. And about this time, the corps began its tradition of jazz-oriented entertainment.
As an audition for the Red Carpet Association in 1972, the corps submitted a tape of a pro football halftime performance at which the temperature was so cold (minus 15 degrees) that actual playing was impossible. The corps had to march to a recording of the previous season's show broadcast over the stadium PA broadcast. The Red Carpet Association was so impressed with the sound of the corps under such adverse conditions that they promptly accepted the Brassmen into their ranks.
In 1978, the corps had the distinction of appearing in the movie "A Christmas to Remember."
In 1980 the corps finally answered its most frequently asked question - “Where are you from?” - by adding the “Minnesota” to its name. The new name also reflected the diversity of locations from which the corps drew its membership. It was no longer just a Twin Cities organization. The name came in handy as the corps began regular senior world championship competition.
In addition to parade revenues and members dues, corps funding moved from sponsorships to raising money through charitable gambling: bingo at first, and then pull-tabs. The corps also gets a significant portion of its revenue through corporate matching gifts and foundation grants. In the 1990s, musical repertoires became theme oriented, and MBI earned membership in the top ranks of senior drum corps. In 2002 and 2003, the Brass finished fourth in DCA Championship competition. Brent Turner was appointed corps director in late 2003.
The 2004 show was called 'Moon Dancing,' featuring tunes with the word "moon" in the title. It carried the corps to a fifth-place finish in DCA Championships.
The corps’ theme song is “For All We Know.”
Minnesota Brass Inc. boasts members with more than fifty years of drum corps experience such as Frank Lazar and Larry Wogensen.
[http://mnbrassinc.org/mbihistoryplus.html; DCW, 10/03, p.14; DCW, 1/04, p.3; DCW, 2/04, p.3]
Highest Score 47.400
Final show in DCX Archives August 30, 1970 American Legion National Championships Portland OR placed 2 with a score of 47.400
Highest Score 60.950
Final show in DCX Archives September 2, 1973 DCA Championships Prelims Rochester NY placed 16 with a score of 60.950
Highest Score 77.650
Final show in DCX Archives August 24, 1974 Red Carpet Association Championship Erie PA placed 5 with a score of 77.650
Highest Score 72.650
Final show in DCX Archives August 23, 1975 Red Carpet Association Championships Hamilton ONT Canada placed 5 with a score of 72.650
Highest Score 70.700
Final show in DCX Archives September 4, 1977 DCA Championships Prelims Allentown PA placed 12 with a score of 70.700
Highest Score 60.500
Final show in DCX Archives September 3, 1978 DCA Championships Prelims Allentown PA placed 12 with a score of 60.500
Highest Score 56.400
Final show in DCX Archives September 2, 1979 DCA Championships Prelims Hershey PA placed 11 with a score of 56.400
Highest Score 55.700
Final show in DCX Archives July 4, 1981 New Berlin WI placed 3 with a score of 55.700
Highest Score 49.200
Final show in DCX Archives July 4, 1982 South Saint Paul MN placed 4 with a score of 49.200
Highest Score 54.600
Final show in DCX Archives August 27, 1983 ICA Championship Towson MD placed 5 with a score of 51.300
Highest Score 49.000
Final show in DCX Archives July 15, 1984 Stillwater MN placed 4 with a score of 49.000
Highest Score 70.800
Final show in DCX Archives September 11, 1985 DCA Championships Prelims Allentown PA placed 14 with a score of 62.700
Highest Score 77.000
Final show in DCX Archives August 31, 1986 DCA Championships Prelims Allentown PA placed 9 with a score of 77.000
Highest Score 81.800
Final show in DCX Archives September 6, 1987 DCA Championships Prelims Allentown PA placed 11 with a score of 81.800
Highest Score 47.200
Final show in DCX Archives July 4, 1988 Saint Peter MN placed 3 with a score of 47.200
Highest Score 86.000
Final show in DCX Archives September 3, 1989 DCA Championships Allentown PA placed 9 with a score of 83.600
Highest Score 85.400
Final show in DCX Archives September 2, 1990 DCA Championships Prelims Allentown PA placed 11 with a score of 85.400
Highest Score 80.600
Final show in DCX Archives September 1, 1991 DCA Championships Prelims Scranton PA placed 9 with a score of 80.400
Highest Score 87.600
Final show in DCX Archives September 6, 1992 DCA Championships Prelims Scranton PA placed 10 with a score of 87.600
Highest Score 85.900
Final show in DCX Archives September 6, 1993 DCA Championships Prelims Scranton PA placed 8 with a score of 85.400
Highest Score 86.700
Final show in DCX Archives September 3, 1994 DCA Championships Prelims Scranton PA placed 9 with a score of 83.200
Highest Score 81.200
Final show in DCX Archives September 3, 1995 DCA Championships Scranton PA placed 10 with a score of 81.200
Highest Score 87.600
Final show in DCX Archives September 1, 1996 DCA Championships Rochester NY placed 7 with a score of 87.600
Highest Score 86.900
Final show in DCX Archives August 31, 1997 DCA Championships Allentown PA placed 8 with a score of 86.900
Highest Score 92.800
Final show in DCX Archives September 6, 1998 DCA Championships Allentown PA placed 5 with a score of 92.800
Highest Score 95.000
Final show in DCX Archives September 5, 1999 DCA Championships Allentown PA placed 4 with a score of 95.000
Highest Score 91.700
Final show in DCX Archives September 3, 2000 DCA Championships Syracuse NY placed 5 with a score of 91.700
Highest Score 92.050
Final show in DCX Archives September 2, 2001 DCA Championships - Open Class Finals Syracuse NY placed 6 with a score of 92.050
Highest Score 93.900
Final show in DCX Archives September 1, 2002 DCA Class A & Open Class Finals Scranton PA placed 4 with a score of 93.900
Highest Score 92.563
Final show in DCX Archives August 31, 2003 DCA Class A & Open Class Finals Scranton PA placed 4 with a score of 92.500
Highest Score 93.338
Final show in DCX Archives September 5, 2004 DCA Class A & Open Class Finals Scranton PA placed 5 with a score of 91.438
Highest Score 93.038
Final show in DCX Archives September 4, 2005 DCA Class A & Open Class Finals Scranton PA placed 6 with a score of 93.038
Highest Score 92.500
Final show in DCX Archives September 3, 2006 Open Class & Class A Finals Rochester NY placed 5 with a score of 92.325
Highest Score 92.963
Final show in DCX Archives September 2, 2007 DCA World Championships - Finals Rochester NY placed 6 with a score of 92.963
Highest Score 96.513
Final show in DCX Archives August 31, 2008 Finals Rochester NY placed 2 with a score of 96.513
Highest Score 97.588
Final show in DCX Archives September 6, 2009 DCA Class A & Open Class Championships Rochester NY placed 2 with a score of 97.588
Highest Score 97.225
Final show in DCX Archives September 5, 2010 DCA Finals Rochester NY placed 2 with a score of 97.225
Highest Score 98.350
Final show in DCX Archives September 4, 2011 DCA World Championship Finals Rochester NY placed 1 with a score of 98.350
Highest Score 96.230
Final show in DCX Archives September 2, 2012 DCA World Championship Finals Annapolis MD placed 2 with a score of 96.230
Highest Score 96.700
Final show in DCX Archives September 1, 2013 DCA World Championship Finals Annapolis MD placed 3 with a score of 96.650
Highest Score 96.530
Final show in DCX Archives August 31, 2014 DCA World Championship Finals Rochester NY placed 2 with a score of 96.530
Highest Score 95.400
Final show in DCX Archives September 6, 2015 DCA Championship Finals Rochester NY placed 3 with a score of 95.400
Highest Score 96.950
Final show in DCX Archives September 4, 2016 DCA Championship Finals Rochester NY placed 3 with a score of 96.950
Highest Score 89.850
Final show in DCX Archives September 3, 2017 DCA Championship Finals Rochester NY placed 9 with a score of 88.980
Highest Score 0.000
Final show in DCX Archives August 10, 2019 SoundSport International Music & Food Festival Indianapolis IN United States
Highest Score 96.667
Final show in DCX Archives August 13, 2022 SoundSport International Music & Food Festival Indianapolis IN USA
Highest Score 95.667
Final show in DCX Archives August 12, 2023 SoundSport/Drumline Battle Indianapolis IN
Highest Score 0.000
Final show in DCX Archives August 10, 2024 SoundSport International Music and Food Festival Indianapolis IN
Member Name | Section | Years Involved |
---|---|---|
Albert-Gorr, Joy | Color Guard | 1976 to 1979 |
Anderson, David | Baritone | 1998 |
Ashton, Justin | Tenors | 2000 |
Babay, Joey | visual design | 2001 |
Baretich, Steve | baritone | 1994 |
Baumann, Walter | Snare Line | 2015 |
Bold, Fritz | contra | 1982; 1988; 1998 to 2000 |
Bonfig, Mike | Soprano | 2000 |
Byrnes, Patrick | Drum Major | 1994 to 2001 |
Compton-Allen, Rebecca | front line | 2002 to 2004 |
Davies, Brad | soprano | 1973 to 1977 |
Duesterbeck, Wayne | Drum Instructor | 1970 |
Flash, Anoka | Horn | 1978 to 2002 |
Garrett (Warren), Becky | Mello | 2007 to 2008; 2010 to 2012 |
Glewwe, Judy | color guard | 1989 to 1997 |
Harris, Catherine | French Horn | 1987 |
Helland, Scott | Baritone | 1996 to 1999 |
Helland, Scott | Visual Staff | 2000 to 2002 |
Holmen, Julie | color guard, asst. drum major | 1996 to 2002 |
Huberty/Jakubowski/Dooley, Rhonda | Color Guard | 1992 to 1994 |
Jakubowski (Johnson), Brenda | guard | 1992 |
Jensen, Terry | Drum | 1973 to 1978 |
Kaszas, Cameron | Mellophone | 1997 to 1999 |
Kilanowski, Matthew | Mellophone | 2012 |
Meyer, Nick | Soprano | 1998 to 2002 |
Novak, Heather | Frontline | 2002 to 2003 |
O'Connell, Edward | Percussion | 1986 |
O'Connell, Matt | Baritone | 1995 |
Oldemeyer, Michael | Baritone/Euphonium | 2000 to 2002 |
Patterson, Jim | Contra | 2002 |
Reed, Lea | Hornline | 2003 |
Reed, Lea | Trumpet | 2006 |
Reed, Michael | Drum Major | 2002 |
Santori, Katie | Contra | 2001 to 2004 |
Saunders, Von | Drum Major | 2003 |
Schunk, Carter | Trumpet | 2016 |
Smith, Linda | Color Guard | 1986 to 1994 |
Smith, Linda | Color Guard | 1986 to 1994 |
Steffen, Zachary | Drumline | 2015 |
Stout, Jeff | Colorguard | 1999; 2002 |
Traczyk, Rachel | Color Guard | 2003 |
Vasquez, Ramon | Trumpet/Brass Staff | 2004 to 2007 |
Wilde, Catherine | French Horn | 1987 |
Zabler, Robert | Colorguard | 1986 to 1989 |
Zabler, Robert (Bobby) | colorguard (rifle) | 1986 to 1987; 1989 |
diarrea, terrence | soprano | 1976 to 1987 |
swenson, fred | snare line | 1979 |
von Behren, David | Euphonium | 2008 |
von Behren, David | Cymbal instructor | 2009 to 2011 |
CORPS 19 items
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