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Govenaires


Other Names:St. Peter Legion Corps, St. Peter Drum & Bugle Corps

St. Peter, MN United States
Founded: 1927

Active All Age
YearPositionScoreTheme/Songs
1992 Blue Birdland * Scream Machine * Harlem Nocturne * Sing Sing Sing  
1993 Blue Birdland * Love for Sale * Harlem Nocturne * Since I Fell for You  
1994 Big Spender (from Sweet Charity) * Love for Sale * Brother Can You Spare A Dime * Street Corner Ambassador * Since I Fell for You  
1995 Fever * Groovin' Hard * Palookaville * Stolen Moments * Just a Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody  
1996 Birdland * Groovin' Hard * A Night in Tunisia * Moondance  
1997 Pressure Cooker * 'Round Midnight * Samba De Los Gatos * Penguin Shuffle  
1998 "Music That's Fun to Play" - Blue Birdland * Theme from Shaft * A Night in Tunisia  
1999 "American Dance" - Fever * The Penguin Shuffle * Love for Sale * Jelly Donut  
2001 Celebration Suite * La Fiesta * Malaguena  
2002 "Songs From The Wild Party" - Blue Birdland * Brass Machine * Songs from The Wild party  
2003 Georgia on my Mind * Tank (from Cowboy Bebop) * Rush (from Cowboy Bebop) * Hey Pachuko  
2004 202 75.163 "Livin's Easy" - Summertime (from Porgy and Bess) * A Night in Tunisia * In the Stone  
2005 202 78.088 "A Night In Town" - When a Man Loves a Woman * Groovin' Hard * Land of Make Believe * Penguin Shuffle  
2006 201 78.625 "Get On The Bus" - Big Noise from Winnetka (from Reveille with Beverly) * Lust  
2007 202 83.188 "We've On'y Just Begun" - Julius * Love for Sale * Harlem Nocturne * Sing, Sang, Sung  
2008 206 77.413 House of the Rising Sun * Nutville * Selections (from The Wild Party)  
2009 201 82.400 “Summer of Seduction” - Crazy Little Thing Called Love * Lust * Hot for Teacher  
2010 204 81.013 Road Trip - On the Road Again * Motown Medley * A Night in Tunisia * Tiger Rag * When the Saints Go Marching In  
2011 201 84.930 What Happens in Vegas - Luck Be A Lady (from Guys and Dolls) * Money * Money, Money, Money * Big Spender (from Sweet Charity) * Can't Help Falling in Love * Wedding March * Viva Las Vegas  
2012 202 80.930 Hot - Fever * Too Darn Hot * Ring of Fire * Fire * Light My Fire * Hot Stuff * Hot Lunch Jam * Hot Stuff * Disco Inferno  
2013 202 84.780 Chasing Hollywood - Prologue and Theme (from City of Angels) * Sparkling Diamonds * Sunset Boulevard * Send in the Clowns (from A Little Night Music) * Don't Rain on My Parade (from Funny Girl)  
2014 202 83.980 Pasion - Man of La Mancha * The Rainmaker * Ojos A Si * Malaguena  
2015 201 82.450 Outlaw - Battle Without Honor or Humanity * The Magnificent Seven * The Ecstasy of Gold * Enemy Guns * Kashmir  
2016 10 84.450 Sherlock - Discombobulate (from Sherlock Holmes) * I Never Woke Up in Handcuffs Before (from Sherlock Holmes) * Chandelier * Excerpts  
2017 202 81.430 Uncharted: A Lost Relic - Hunt for Red October * Lux Aeterna (from Requiem for a Dream) * Hide and Seek * Enterprising Young Men (from Star Trek)  
2018 202 80.650 A Wo/Mans World - Proud Mary * Kaval Sviri * It's a Man's World * Run the World (Girls) * Ain't No Mountain High Enough * Respect  
2019 203 77.125 The Govies Take Manhattan - A Tone Parallel to Harlem * Hundred Story City (from Ordinary Days) * Sir Duke * Empire State of Mind  
2021 202 76.600 Where the Sidewalk Ends - Finlandia * Children's Hour of Dream * Pure Imagination (from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory) * Land of Make Believe  
2022 303 78.975 "Back On The Bus" - On The Road Again * Julius * All I Need Is a Miracle * Windy * Magic Bus  
2023 303 77.325 Paparazzi - Granada * Paparazzi  
2024 301 80.775 Woodstock: This is the Dawning - Suite: Judy Blue Eyes * Piece of My Heart * Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In * Original Music  
2025 . - (Repertoire not available)  
Position 200+ indicates Division II, Position 300+ indicates Division III, Position 400+ indicates Mini Corps.
The Govenaires Drum and Bugle Corps, formed in 1927 as the St. Peter Legion Corps, is a senior marching, maneuvering, and parade corps based in St. Peter, Minnesota. The corps colors are black and white, with green sashes.

The corps went inactive in 1938 as the United States became more involved in World War II. In 1944, under the direction of Cliff Hermel, the corps was reactivated and went on to win many state and local VFW and American Legion titles.

Other successful Minnesota drum corps during the 1940s and 1950s were the Laidlaw American Legion (now Minnesota Brass, Inc.), Chisholm, Sleepy Eye, Litchfield, Faribault, Chaska, Pine City, Mankato, and Austin Legion, as well as the Hamm’s Indians, the Golden Valley Raiders, St. Paul Scouts, and the Mapleaires.

In the late 1950s, when the St. Peter Legion went bankrupt, Cliff Hermel bought all the corps’ equipment, allowing the group to continue to operate as a senior corps. During this period Cliff and his wife Katie also created two junior corps, the Black Knights for members 8-13 years old, and the Crusaders for members 13-21 years old. The St. Peter Legion officially became the Govenaires in the late 1960s to honor the five governors of Minnesota who hailed from St. Peter.

By 1975, the Crusaders and the Black Knights had folded because of the toll that the Vietnam War was taking on their male membership. Up until this time women were not allowed in these drum corps. Women were first welcomed into the Black Knights in 1966, although Margaret Mayer was an unofficial member for an entire year before that.

In 1976, the Govenaires was chosen to represent Minnesota at the National American Legion Convention in Seattle, again at the 1977 National Convention in Denver, and again in 1985 at New Orleans. They did not compete at these appearances.

Important names in the corps’ history include Bill Stangler, Bob Friedman, Pat Mayer, Greg Anisted, Stu Hanson, Nancy Hanson, Bill Wencl (who started the Jesse James Gang in Northfield), Don Freid, Mike Mayer (who started Chop Stix percussion line in 1991), Nick Rosa, Lars Wach, and John Mayer.

In the new century, the Govenaires appear in many civic parades and competitions throughout southern Minnesota and the Midwest, in addition to performing many acts of good will in the St. Peter/Mankato area. The Govenaires are active members in Drum Corps Midwest, and have consistently been one of the top corps in their division.

In 2003, The Govenaires received second place overall in the Senior Division at the Drum Corps Midwest Championships.

In their 77th season, the Govenaires have the distinction of being the oldest competitive senior corps in the world. The corps proudly took second place in their very first DCA Class A Finals in 2004. Their show was called 'Another Summer.'

[http://www.hickorytech.net/~govies/history.htm]

Members (16)

Member Name Section Years Involved
Baumann, Walter Snare Line 2010 to 2014
Bold, Fritz contra 2003
Bonfig, Mike Soprano 1998 to 1999
Frahm, Sarah Frontline 2003 to 2004
Hanson, Stu Contra 1965 to 1995
Kilanowski, Matthew Trumpet 2010
Kruse, Aaron Mellophone 2004
Landsteiner, Jessica Trumpet 2015
Lillis, Terry Front Ensemble 2014 to 2018
Lindquist, Jesica Baritone 2015 to 2016
Loos, Brian Sop. 2003 to 2004
Schmeling, Kristi soprano/mellophone 1996 to 2003
Short, Jim Brass Staff 1997
Short, Jim Soprano 1998
Stoel, Kurt Contra 1999 to 2004
Urbanowicz, Todd Trumpet 2011

CORPS 20 items

Govenaires

80th Anniversary Button Contributed by James Fawber
Govenaires

Govenaires Bumper Sticker from the Bill Ives Collection
Govenaires

Govenaires from the Bill Ives Collection
Govenaires

Govenairs StPeter MN from the Bill Ives Collection
Govenaires

Govenaires,St.Peter,MN,BS1-GoGovies(BIV)AA_U_S from the Richard Elmquist Collection
Govenaires

Govenaires,St.Peter,MN,LP1-Since1927(DST-1.5x0.5)AA_U_S from the Richard Elmquist Collection Contributed by Donn Stroh
Govenaires

Govenaires,St.Peter,MN,Patch1-1997-70thAnn(BIV-3.5)AA_U_S from the Richard Elmquist Collection Contributed by Bill Ives
Govenaires

Govenaires,ST.Peter,MN,Patch2-2007-80thAnn(Site)AA_U_S from the Richard Elmquist Collection Contributed by UNKNOWN
Govenaires

Govenaires,St.Peter,MN,Pin1-Since1927(RE-2.75x1.75)AA_U_S from the Richard Elmquist Collection
Govenaires

Govenaires,St.Peter,MN,Pin10-Green&BlackStripe(RE-2.75x1.75)AA_U_S from the Richard Elmquist Collection
Govenaires

Govenaires,St.Peter,MN,Pin11-75thAnnAlumniSilver(DHU)AA_U_S from the Richard Elmquist Collection
Govenaires

Govenaires,St.Peter,MN,Pin2-2006_SchoolBus(DCHP)AA_U_S from the Richard Elmquist Collection
Govenaires

Govenaires,St.Peter,MN,Pin3-2005-DrumCorpsExpo(DCHP)AA_U_S from the Richard Elmquist Collection
Govenaires

Govenaires,St.Peter,MN,Pin4-2008-DrumCorpsExpo(DCHP)AA_U_S from the Richard Elmquist Collection
Govenaires

Govenaires,St.Peter,MN,Pin5-2009-DrumCorpsExpo(DCHP)AA_U_S from the Richard Elmquist Collection
Govenaires

Govenaires,St.Peter,MN,Pin6-2010-DrumCorpsExpo(DCHP)AA_U_S from the Richard Elmquist Collection
Govenaires

Govenaires,St.Peter,MN,Pin7-2012-DrumCorpsExpo(DCHP)AA_U_S from the Richard Elmquist Collection
Govenaires

Govenaires,St.Peter,MN,Pin8-Since1927WideStripe(GBA-2.75x1.75)AA_U_S from the Richard Elmquist Collection
Govenaires

Govenaires,St.Peter,MN,Pin9-2002-75thAnn(GBA)AA_U_S from the Richard Elmquist Collection
Govenaires
PDF Document

260-261, Govenaires from the Steve Vickers Collection

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