Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps

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The Blue Devils

Location	Concord, CA
Division	Division I
Founded	1970
Director	David Gibbs
Championship Titles	1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1986, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2003
Corps Uniform	Blue jackets with black triangular inset, black pants, white stripes along each shoulder and sleeve as well as through the black sequin inset connecting to a white stripe down the front of the left pantleg, black shakos with black plumes

The Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps is a Division I drum and bugle corps based in Concord, California and founded in 1957 as a Drum and Bell corps, and is a member corps of Drum Corps International. The Blue Devils (sometimes just "the Devils", "Devs" or "BD") are the most successful corps of the DCI era, with a total of eleven world champion titles to their name over the four decades of DCI's existence. At their first DCI finals appearance in 1973, the Blue Devils placed twenty fourth, advancing the next year to ninth and then to third in 1975. In 1976 they won their first DCI title and since have never placed out of the top five corps at finals, the only corps to lay claim to this amazing streak. The Blue Devils have also won more brass, drum, guard, and marching titles than any other drum corps. (They are currently tied with Santa Clara Vanguard in most drum titles)

The Blue Devils have been crowned DCI Champions eleven times, in 1976, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1986, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1999, and 2003. In addition, they have placed second in finals six times (1981, 1983, 1984, 2001, 2002, and 2004) and third eight times (1975, 1978, 1985, 1988, 1995, 1998, 2000, and 2006).

The Devils have long stuck to jazz and Latin repertoires, including their famous use of Buddy Rich's Channel One Suite (at the time of its performance in 1976, the longest single piece ever performed in the DCI circuit), as well as such notable repertoires as the music of Chick Corea and Chuck Mangione. As a result of their musical style choices, the Devils are the corps most associated with jazz. The Blue Devils percussion is also one of the best in the activity and has recently been highlighted with the creation of BD Entertainment, a professional percussion ensemble performing at sports venues. BD Entertainment recently performed at the 2005 NBA All-Star game. Their soprano line is well-known to have some of the best and most exciting "screamers" in all of DCI. As such, a high note trumpet solo can be found in almost every show.

In 2006 the corps performed the music of Nino Rota in a show based on the classic Godfather films entitled, The Godfather - Part Blue. A new feature for the corps throughout the months preceding and during the upcoming season is the BlueView video podcast which debuted in January, 2006.

[edit] Management & Mission

BD Performing Arts is the corporate entitiy that manages the Blue Devils Drum & Bugle Corps (also known as the Blue Devils A-Corps. Along with the A-Corps, BD Performing Arts supports the B-Corps, the C-Corps, the Blue Devils Winter Guard program, the Diablo Wind Symphony, and BD Entertainment. The Executive Director of BD Performing Arts is David Gibbs. The Board of Directors of BD Performing Arts are:

Todd Tanji - President, Alumnus
Donna Batchelor - Vice President
Kit Rodgers - Chief Financial Officer
Carole Henderson - Secretary
Robert Brown, Alumnus
Jeff DeMello, Alumnus, Past President
Doug Peterson, Alumnus
Brian Ripley
Mundy Viar

The Mission of the BD Performing Arts organization is as follows:

Music and the performing arts connect youth with their culture through a common language crossing generational, social, and racial barriers. The activities that a young person pursues influences the type of person he or she becomes. The experience that comes with participation in a performing arts organization builds discipline, character, pride, and self-confidence at a crucial age and forms the springboard to even greater achievements in adulthood.

BD Performing Arts programs permanently enrich the lives of young people through a commitment to youth development and performance excellence while providing enjoyment for our local community and audiences worldwide.

[edit] Trivia

The Blue Devils have used a vocal influence in every show since 2003.

Year	Show Title	Vocal
2003	"Phenomeneon Of Cool"	Predetermined collective scat
2004	"The SummerTrain Blues MIX"	Predetermined collective scat
2005	"Dance Derby Of The Century"	Amplified announcement of the status of the "dance competition"
2006	"The Godfather Part BLUE"	Moments of scatter drill and scatter speak, as well as repeated chants of "Sleep with the fishes" and "Vito". Also, the introduction of one of the show's movements begins with a front ensemble member announcing via microphone "I'll make him an offer he can't refuse".