Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Steel City Ambassador­s bring back the golden age

- By Shea Beaumont

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

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