Drum Corps International

Drum Corps International

Drum Corps International logo
Type	Drum and Bugle Corps
Location	United States  Canada
Founded	1972
No. of corps	46 (World & Open Classes)
First champions	Anaheim Kingsmen
Current champions	Bluecoats (World Class) Blue Devils "B" (Open Class)
Website	http://www.dci.org/

Drum Corps International (DCI), formed in 1972, is the non-profit governing body for junior drum and bugle corps in the U.S. and Canada. Junior corps are composed of members 21 years of age and younger. DCI is composed of member corps who have earned their membership through competition. It is responsible for developing and enforcing the rules of competition and is the sanctioning body for junior corps competitions. DCI is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Its Board of Directors is composed primarily of directors of the member corps.

The stated purpose of a DCI corps is "...to provide a life changing experience for youth through the art of marching music performance." The DCI competitive summer tour, consisting of DCI-sanctioned competitions throughout the United States, culminates in August with the week-long DCI World Championships.

Other drum corps associations around the world are largely based upon DCI.

In 1971, at the urging of The Cavaliers founder Don Warren and Troopers founder Jim Jones, the Blue Stars, The Cavaliers, Madison Scouts, Santa Clara Vanguard, and the Troopers formed the Midwest Combine. A similar group of Eastern corps, the United Organization of Junior Corps (also known as the "Alliance"), was formed by the 27th Lancers, Garfield Cadets, Boston Crusaders, Blessed Sacrament Golden Knights, and Blue Rock.These actions was taken in reaction to the rigid, inflexible rules of the American Legion and VFW (the primary rule makers and sponsors of both corps and shows) and the low-to-nonexistent performance fees paid for appearing in the various competitions. The corps felt that not only were they having their creative potential as artistic performing groups stifled, but they were being financially starved. The two groups' members felt that the corps should be making their own rules, operating their own competitions and championships, and keeping the bulk of the monies those shows earned. For the 1971 season, the Combine and the Alliance stuck together, with both groups offering show promoters their five corps as a package. Despite pressure on show sponsors, judges, and other drum corps, the corps were not only booked into a number of shows together, but the Combine found a host for a show of their own, which was a spectacular success despite fears of failure that lasted until a standing-room-only crowd arrived literally at the last moment. In 1972, the ten corps from the Alliance and the Midwest Combine, plus the Anaheim Kingsmen, Argonne Rebels, and De La Salle Oaklands were the founding members of Drum Corps International. The inaugural DCI World Championships were held at Warhawks Stadium on the campus of University of Wisconsin–Whitewater with 39 corps from 15 states and one Canadian province in competition. The Anaheim Kingsmen were crowned the first DCI World Champions on August 18, 1972.