Drum and bugle corps takes first place

ONEIDA >> The newly-formed Upstate Independent Drum and Bugle Corps from Oneida recently brought first place finishes in the combined Oneida County Firemen’s Convention and the Central New York Firemen’s Convention in Oriskany, N.Y.

The Corps was adjudicated by two separate judging panels and was unanimously awarded dual convention winners.

Upstate Independent Drum and Bugle Corps is under the direction of director Jinelle Jenkins. Jenkins’ support board includes John Marsala, Jeff Egelston, Doug Emerson and Morgan Jenkins, all of whom sat on an exploratory committee to return the drum and bugle corps activity to the Oneida/Canastota/Utica/Rome area after a 25 year absence.

The area was once home to several drum and bugle corps, such as The Silver Bullets, The Eagles of CNY, The Floyd Raiders, The Stanwix Heights Ridge Runners, The Oriskany Green Guardsmen, The Grey Ghosts, TheWampsville Drumadiers, The Bridgeport Pirates, The Utica Magnificent Yankees amongst several others. One by one they disbanded for one reason or another.

The committee who helped form the Upstate Independent Drum and Bugle Corps had a vision to reorganize a group to pay tribute to all of those drum and bugle corps and form a corps as

it was done 25-plus years ago by locating “Two Valve G Bugles” as the brass instrument of choice. Horns were located and purchased from all over the United States. The corps owns 40, which are equivalent to trumpet, French horn, trombone, baritone, euphonium and tuba. They are known as soprano, mellophone, baritone and contra bass. The corps also owns seven marching snare drums, four marching quads, and six bass drums along with marching cymbals.

The vision of the drum and bugle corps is a family-fun activity that makes great music and pageantry in local parades. The Upstate Independent Drum and Bugle Corps currently has entire families included in its membership ranging in age from 10 to 63. It is a safe, fun activity that sheds a positive light on the Oneida/Canastota/ Utica-Rome areas.

This year, the corps marched with members from New Hampshire, Connecticut and Toronto, Ontario Canada amongst several local communities.

Upstate Independent Drum and Bugle Corps is currently starting to focus on the 2017 parade season. Those interested in color guard (flag or rifle drill team), marching drum line and horn line are invited to join. All instruments are provided by Upstate Independent Drum and Bugle Corps. E-mail cnycorps2016@gmail.com or search Upstate Independent Drum and Bugle Corps on Facebook for membership inquiries.

PHOTOS COURTESY UPSTATE INDEPENDENT DRUM AND BUGLE CORPS The Upstate Independent Drum and Bugle Corps recently took first place at both the Oneida County Firemen’s Convention and the Central New York Firemen’s Convention in Oriskany.

The Upstate Independent Drum and Bugle Corps recently took first place at both the Oneida County Firemen’s Convention and the Central New York Firemen’s Convention in Oriskany.