Les Diplomates

Quebec City, QU Canada
Founded: 1961

Inactive Senior

CORPS Photos

Les Diplomates, formed in September, 1961, was a senior marching and maneuvering corps based in Montreal/Quebec City, Quebec.

This French-speaking group was known as the Frenchmen of drum corps. The uniforms were red and black, with green accents. "On vous presentera un spectacle du tonnerre, un spectacle grandiose, -- quelque chose de magnifique, quoi!"

The corps was consistent provincial senior champions and Canadian senior champions. Les Diplomates participated in DCA competition from 1968 through 1973, with its highest finish, fourth, coming in 1973. This was also the highest DCA finish for any Canadian corps (equalled by Les Metropolitains in 1994); the corps’ drum line took high percussion that year.

“Les Dips” has been called arguably the greatest senior drum corps to come out of Canada. They pioneered a number of innovations, such as mass block maneuvers and orchestral style percussion effects, as well as the C-bass bugle. Veterans remember the corps’ performances of such classics as "Nutcracker Suite" and "Cavalleria Rusticana." They also may have been the first major senior corps to go coed, sometime after 1960.

Andre De Blois and Leon Bernier were important in Les Diplomates’ history.

The corps disbanded before the 1974 season.

[A History of Drum & Bugle Corps, 2002; NanciD, RAMD, 1/5/2002; Bob Pepin, RAMD, 10/30/00 and 4/21/00; Tom Peasley, RAMD, 4/30/01; http://www.in2corps.com/legends/diplomats/dips.htm]

Members (7)

Member Name Section Years Involved
Bigras, Andrée snare line 2005
Masse, Ronald Percussion - Drum Line 2005
Nadeau, Francois drumline 2007
Pepin, Robert Horns/Production Team 1964 to 1968; 1970 to 1973
Ranger, Jacques Horn Line (Euphonium) 1973
Ranger, Jacques Euphonium 1973
Sirois, Michel Baryton 2006

CORPS 5 items

Les Diplomates

Les Diplomates from the Bill Ives Collection
Les Diplomates

Les Diplomates button 2 from the Bob Carell Collection
Les Diplomates

Les Diplomates button about 1962 from the Bob Carell Collection
Les Diplomates

LesDiplomates,QuebecCity,QC,Pin1-RedLionCrest(RE-2.25)AA_U_S from the Richard Elmquist Collection
Les Diplomates

LesDiplomates,QuebecCity,QC,Pin2-RedDOval(JSH)AA_U_S from the Richard Elmquist Collection

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