Steel City Ambassadors bring back the golden age
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
In the 1980s, drum and bugle corps across the country saw a major drop in participation. But the Steel City Ambassadors were just getting started, and they’re still playing.
This year, the group, considered one of the region’s top senior drum and bugle corps, is celebrating its 35th season.
“There used to be a lot more, especially in Pittsburgh,” said corps director Rick Porter of Brookline. “Every town had their own corps who performed shows from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Some people think it’s too time-consuming, but those who still wanted to do it just found another place to play.”
The Ambassadors strive to re-create the sound of the golden era of American drum and bugle corps from the 1920s to the ’60s. Among the region’s standouts were the Pittsburgh Rockets, General Butler Vagabonds, Sharpsburg Cadets and the Vern Acklin Cavaliers.
Steel City has about 20 members ranging in age from 14 to 90, but most are in their 60s.
Evolution of the corps
The corps can be traced back to the military bands of World War I. Many were sponsored by Boy Scouts or VFW and American Legion posts, where they often rehearsed.
Often mistaken for marching bands, drum and bugle corps generally have more complex repertoires and routines and do not include woodwind instruments. Most spend their summers performing or competing around the country.
Drum Corps Associates and Drum Corps International formed in 1965 and 1972, respectively, to try to modernize competitions and create a single competitive circuit. Synthesizers and other instruments were allowed along with choreographed dance routines and color guards.
Rich Zamperini of Connellsville, who has served as the Ambassadors’ percussion instructor and arranger for five years, said the changes have been good for the corps.
“I think there’s been a huge metamorphosis, and I’m in favor of the changes, but a lot of my buddies are not,” he said.
The Ambassadors are part of the revival of the classic drum and bugle corps movement that began in the 1970s and ’80s.
“There’s a lot more of that competition coming back,” said mellophone player and board member Bill