The Spartans Drum and Bugle Corps is a community-based drum and bugle corps from Nashua, New Hampshire. The corps’ organization is run by a team of volunteer parents and teaching staff that help foster a proud, responsible youth organization, making it one of the most respected and established drum corps organizations.[1] It was founded in 1955 as a way to keep at-risk youth off the streets[1] and has since won the DCI Division I World Championship seven times (1997, 1998, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2019, 2023).
History with the Macy's Parade[]
The Spartans Drum and Bugle Corps will appear in the 2025 Parade as one of nine musical ensembles selected from more than 100 applicants, coinciding with their 70th anniversary. The corps' staff were influenced by the upcoming anniversary and saw it as a chance to add a "signature event" to their calendar; president Paul LaFlamme submitted an application and was eventually called about the news.[2]
Its appearance will also mark the first time a drum and bugle corps has marched in over a decade, and the second New Hampshire band to appear in the Parade’s history. The corps will be composed of both current and alumni members from the last five seasons, particularly those who had two competitive seasons interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Members and alumni from the last five years of the Southwind Legacy Project will also join the Spartans.[2]
The corps will host "creative fundraising events" in advance of its trip and will honor the community's involvement with uniforms created specifically for the event by Creative Costuming and Design; LaFlamme said they want to "create something that is modern in nature, but also speaks to our heritage."[2]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Spartans Drum & Bugle Corps - Nashua, NH. spartansdbc.org.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Woods, Ashlee. "Spartans selected to perform in 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade." Drum Corps International. July 5, 2024.