Minnesota Brass Drum and Bugle Corps

Minnesota Brass
LocationSt. Paul, Minnesota
DivisionDCI All-Age Open (Formerly DCA Open Class)
Founded1946
DirectorJake Esterberg
Championship titles2011

The Minnesota Brass Drum and Bugle Corps is an all-age drum and bugle corps based in St. Paul, Minnesota, United States, that competed in Drum Corps Associates (DCA) and currently competes in Drum Corps International (DCI). A consistent DCA Finalist, Minnesota Brass was the 2011 DCA Open Class World Champion. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Minnesota Brass has performed as a member of the SoundSport division under Drum Corps International. It also sponsors several indoor groups that currently compete in Winter Guard International under the MBI designation.

History

Minnesota Brass was founded in 1946 as the Cecil Kyle Legion Corps. Between the years of 1946 and 1968, the corps operated under the names of William Laidlaw Legion Corps, Laidlaw Toreadors, Grain Belt Diamonds, and Men of Laidlaw. In 1969, the organization became a self-supporting non-profit under the name of Brass, Inc. In 1980, the organization adopted the name Minnesota Brass, Inc.

Today, Minnesota Brass, Inc. is a non-profit performing arts organization based in St. Paul, Minnesota that operates five separate performing ensembles: Minnesota Brass, MBI Winter Guard, MBI Indoor Percussion, and MBI Winds.

The all-age drum and bugle corps is the largest and most well-known of the organization's ensembles. The corps performs under the name Minnesota Brass. The more formal Minnesota Brass, Inc. name is now used rarely and only to refer to the organization as a whole.

The corps has competed in the Drum Corps Associates (DCA) World Championships 34 times since 1973 and has placed in the top ten in Open Class competition every year since 1991, the second-longest streak behind the Hawthorne Caballeros Drum and Bugle Corps. In 2011, Minnesota Brass won its first DCA Open Class World Championship title.

At its August 2018 meeting, the board of directors of Minnesota Brass (MBI) voted to pursue an all-age drum and bugle corps to compete during the 2019 summer season.

Awards

DCI Soundsport Best in Show: 2022

DCA World Champions: 2011

DCA Mini-Corps Champions: 1999, 2005 (Minne-Brass)

DCA Colorguard Champions: 2011

DCA Horn Line Champions: 2010, 2011, 2015

DCA Frontline Champions: 2001, 2004, 2005

DCA Percussion Champions: 2003, 2004, 2010, 2013

Show summary (1973–2026)

Source:

Key
Blue background indicates finalist
Gold background indicates champion
YearThemeRepertoireScorePlacement
1990 Jackie (from The Honeymooners) by Jackie Gleason / Uncle Joe Shannon by Bill Conti / Suite for Jazz Orchestra by Michael Pendowski 85.400 11th DCA Open Class semifinalist
1991 Bye Bye Blues by Fred Hamm, Dave Bennett, Bert Lown and Chauncey Gray / Suite for Jazz Orchestra by Michael Pendowski 80.600 9th DCA Open Class finalist
1992 The Date (from Dick Tracy) by Danny Elfman / Pagan Flight (from Dragnet) by Ira Newborn /
Tess' Theme (from Dick Tracy) by Danny Elfman / The Chase (from Brigadoon by Frederick Loewe / The Untouchables by Ennio Morricone		 84.500 10th DCA Open Class finalist
1993 Perry Mason Theme (aka Park Avenue Beat) by Fred Steiner / Pagan Flight (from Dragnet) by Ira Newborn /
Pink Panther by Henry Mancini / Alfred Hitchcock Theme (Funeral March of the Marionette) by Charles Gounod / Batman Theme (from Batman) by Danny Elfman / Singin' in the Rain (from Singin' in the Rain) by Nacio Herb Brown / The Sound of Music by Richard Rodgers / Big Spender (from Sweet Charity) by Cy Coleman and Dorothy Fields / The Untouchables by Ennio Morricone / To Protect and Serve Donuts		 85.900 10th DCA Open Class finalist
1994 Memphis Belle The Final Mission / Vicki and Mr Valves / Prepare for Takeoff / Crippled Belle: The Bomb Run / The Landing (all by George Fenton) 86.700 8th DCA Open Class finalist
1995 Caribbean Holiday I Can't Get Started by Vernon Duke and Ira Gershwin / El Cumbanchero by Rafael Hernández Marín / St. Thomas by Sonny Rollins / New York State of Mind by Billy Joel / S.O.S by Rick Rueckert 81.200 10th DCA Open Class finalist
1996 Minnesota Jazz - Past and Present Jackie (from The Honeymooners) by Jackie Gleason / Blackbird (traditional) /
Caravan by Juan Tizol / Thanks for the Memories by Ralph Rainger		 87.600 7th DCA Open Class finalist
1997 Minnesota Classical - Maybe Not Light Cavalry Overture by Franz von Suppé / Poet and Peasant Overture by Giuseppe Verdi /
Caravan by Juan Tizol		 86.900 8th DCA Open Class finalist
1998 Tower of Power You’re Still a Young Man by Emilio Castillo and Stephen Kupka / Squib Cakes by Chester Thompson / Mr Toad's Wild Ride by Greg Adams and Nick Milo / The Soul of a Child by Bruce Conte / What is Hip by Emilio Castillo, Stephen Kupka and David Garibaldi 92.800 5th DCA Open Class finalist
1999 Earth, Wind and Fire In the Stone by Allee Willis, David Foster and Maurice White / Got to Get You into My Life by John Lennon and Paul McCartney /
Fantasy by Maurice White, Verdine White and Eddie del Barrio / After the Love Has Gone by William B. Champlin / In the Stone (reprise)		 95.000 4th DCA Open Class finalist
2000 Chicago Make Me Smile by James Pankow / Saturday in the Park by Robert Lamm /
25 or 6 to 4 by Robert Lamm / (I've Been) Searchin' So Long by James Pankow / Drum solo / Free by Robert Lamm / Make Me Smile (reprise)		 91.700 5th DCA Open Class finalist
2001 Shaken...Not Stirred: Music From James Bond Dr. No by Monty Norman / You Only Live Twice by John Barry / Tomorrow Never Dies by Sheryl Crow / Live and Let Die by Linda and Paul McCartney / From Russia With Love by John Barry and Lionel Bart / Dr. No (reprise) 92.050 6th DCA Open Class finalist
2002 Black To Blue Opening fanfare / A Night in Tunisia by Dizzy Gillespie and Frank Paparelli /
'Round Midnight by Thelonius Monk / I'm Beginning to See the Light by Harry James / Blue Skies (from Alexander's Ragtime Band) by Irving Berlin		 93.900 4th DCA Open Class finalist
2003 Dreams and Fantasies Celebration Suite by Chick Corea / Drume Negrita (traditional) / Adiós Nonino by Astor Piazzolla / Time to Say Goodbye by Andrea Bocelli / Spanish Fantasy IV by Chick Corea / Conquistador by Jay Chattaway and Maynard Ferguson 92.500 4th DCA Open Class finalist
2004 Moon Dancing Moon Over Bourbon Street by Sting / Moondance by Van Morrison /
Moonlight Sonata by Ludwig van Beethoven / Fly Me to the Moon by Bart Howard		 91.438 5th DCA Open Class finalist
2005 Line and Shape - The Music of Pat Metheny Third Wind by Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays / Letter from Home by Pat Metheny /
The First Circle by Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays		 93.038 6th DCA Open Class finalist
2006 Fantasy: A Drum Corps Dream Open Up Wide by Bill Chase / Get It On by Bill Chase and Terry Richards (Chase) /
Fantasy by Maurice White, Verdine White and Eddie del Barrio (Earth Wind and Fire) / The Soul of a Child by Emilio Castillo, Stephen Kupka and Bruce Conte (Tower of Power) / Up Tight by R. Lamm / Fantasy (reprise)		 92.325 5th DCA Open Class finalist
2007 Who Are You? Baba O’Riley / Behind Blue Eyes / Magic Bus / Love, Reign o'er Me / Who Are You? (all by Peter Townshend) 92.963 6th DCA Open Class finalist
2008 Connection Nutville by Horace Silver / Oblivion by Astor Piazzolla /
Wrapped Around Your Finger by Sting / Night Streets by Chick Corea		 96.513 2nd DCA Open Class finalist
2009 Nocturne: Song for the Night Harlem Nocturne by Earle Hagen and Dick Rogers / Commencement by Johnny Richards /
Zero Hour by Astor Piazzola / My Immortal by Amy Lee, Ben Moody and David Hodges (Evanescence) / Aspect by Johnny Richards /
A Night in Tunisia by Dizzy Gillespie and Frank Paparelli		 97.588 2nd DCA Open Class finalist
2010 Caravan One Night in Bangkok (from Chess) by Benny Andersson, Bjorn Ulvaeus and Tim Rice /
Bacchanale (from Samson and Delilah) by Camille Saint-Saens /
Nefud Mirage (from Lawrence of Arabia) by Maurice Jarre / Kashmir by Jimmy Page, Robert Plant and John Bonham (Led Zeppelin) /
Sheherazade by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov /
Caravan by Juan Tizol		 97.225 2nd DCA Open Class finalist
2011 Valhalla Immigrant Song by Led Zeppelin / Children's Hour of Dream by Charles Mingus /
Imagine by John Lennon / Ride of the Valkyries by Richard Wagner		 98.350 1st DCA Open Class champion
2012 Bonnie and Clyde Summertime (from Porgy and Bess) by George Gershwin and DuBose Heyward /
It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing by Duke Ellington /
Money by Roger Waters (Pink Floyd) / Speechless by Stefani Germanotta /
Medea's Dance of Vengeance, Op. 23a by Samuel Barber		 96.230 2nd DCA Open Class finalist
2013 PRIMAL Ritual Fire Dance (from El Amor Brujo) by Manuel de Falla / Dansa Barbara by Neboisa Zivkovic /
Danza Final (From Estancia Ballet) by Alberto Ginastera		 96.650 3rd DCA Open Class finalist
2014 SuperNova Knights of Cydonia by Matthew Bellamy (Muse) / Subterranean Homesick Alien by Thom Yorke (Radiohead) /
The Planets by Gustav Holst / Lux Aurumque by Eric Whitacre / Supernova		 96.530 2nd DCA Open Class finalist
2015 Mad Circus Karn Evil 9 by Keith Emerson, Greg Lake and Peter Sinfield /
The Breakfast Machine from Big Top Pee Wee by Danny Elfman /
Complainte Della Butte by Rufus Wainright / Roustabout by Beals Antique /
Night on Bald Mountain by Modest Mussorgsky /
The Show Must Go On by John Deacon, Roger Taylor, Freddie Mercury and Brian May (Queen)		 95.400 3rd DCA Open Class finalist
2016 Now Boarding To Tame the Perilous Skies by David Holsinger / Speed of Heat by Julie Giroux /
Come Fly With Me by Jimmy Van Heusen and Sammy Cahn / Married Life (from UP) by Michael Giacchino /
Girl From Ipanema by Antonio Carlos Jobim		 96.950 3rd DCA Open Class finalist
2017 Pins & Needles Hall of the Mountain King (from Peer Gynt Suite #1) by Edvard Grieg /
March of the Trolls by Edvard Grieg / Medea's Dance of Vengeance, Op. 23a by Samuel Barber /
Coraline by Bruno Courlais / Hurt by Trent Reznor		 88.980 9th DCA Open Class finalist
2018 Between the Lines Green by Michael Torte /
Mural (from Pleasantville) by Randy Newman / Paint It, Black by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards (The Rolling Stones) /
Pure Imagination (from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory) by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley		 Gold SoundSport
2019 Repertoire unavailable 92.330 (Gold) 2nd SoundSport
2020 Season canceled due to COVID-19
2021 Corps inactive
2022 Route 66 Driver’s License by Olivia Rodrigo /
Drive My Car by John Lennon and Paul McCartney (The Beatles) / (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66 by Bobby Troup (Chuck Berry) /
Free Bird by Allen Collins and Ronnie Van Zant (Lynyrd Skynyrd)		 96.667 (Gold) 1st SoundSport, Best of Show
2023 Speakeasy Crazy in Love by Beyoncé Knowles /
Piano Man by Billy Joel / Closing Time by Dan Wilson (Semisonic)		 Gold 2nd SoundSport
2024 Midwest Side Story Nature Boy by eden ahbez /
Concerto in F by George Gershwin / Copacabana by Barry Manilow, Jack Feldman and Bruce Sussman /
Bar Fight (Original music) / Ave Maria by Charles Gounod /
Il Padrino by Nino Rota / I Knew You Were Trouble by Taylor Swift, Max Martin and Karl Johan Schuster		 Gold 2nd SoundSport
2025 Fieri: Rising From The Ashes Automatic by Brett Kramer, J. Tyler Johnson, Joshua William Taylor, Nate Campany and Skylar Stonestreet (Half Alive) /
Fire (from Elements) by Brian Balmages / Ashes by Petey Martin, Jordan Smith and Andrew Tjornhom Tedd /
Phoenix Ascent by James Minas and Rok Nardin / Firebird Rising by Igor Stravinski		 80.300 11th DCI All-Age finalist
2026 The Oak – An 80th Anniversary Production Ether by Adam Neely and Shawn Crowder (Sungazer) /
Iris by John Rzeznik (Goo Goo Dolls) / Golden Hour by Cait Nishimura /
Concerto for Marimba by Gene Koschinski / Trees by Tyler Joseph (Twenty One Pilots) /
Iris (reprise)		 79.625 12th DCI All-Age finalist

References

  1. ↑ Mordorski, Paul (2003). "Minnesota Brass". In Vickers, Steve (ed.). A History of Drum & Bugle Corps. Vol. 2. Drum Corps World. pp. 292–293. OCLC 54892759.
  2. ↑ Powers, Pamela (June 8, 2003). "Marching orders". Leader-Telegram. p. 1F.
  3. ↑ Koop, Peggy M. (November 2, 1989). "Bugle corps wins hearts of crowd by not judges". Star Tribune. pp. 1Y–10Y.
  4. ↑ Jackson, Sharyn (July 12, 2012). "Playing extremely loud and incredibly close". Star Tribune. pp. E1–E2.
  5. ↑ "MBI: Repertoire". DCX: The Drum Corps Xperience. Retrieved October 31, 2025.
  6. ↑ "International culture on display at annual SoundSport festival". Drum Corps International. August 15, 2018. Retrieved August 20, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Recap: 2019 SoundSport International Music & Food Festival". SoundSport. Retrieved August 20, 2026.
  8. ↑ "Worldwide performers dazzle at the '23 SoundSport International Music & Food Festival". Drum Corps International. August 12, 2023. Retrieved August 20, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Hundreds of performers shine at sunny SoundSport festival". Drum Corps International. August 10, 2024. Retrieved August 20, 2026.