Esperanza Drum and Bugle Corps

The Esperanza Drum and Bugle Corps was a World Class (formerly Division I) drum and bugle corps based in San Diego, California and founded in the fall of 1999, and was a member of Drum Corps International (DCI).

Esperanza
LocationSan Diego, CA
DivisionWorld Class
Founded1999
Folded2007
DirectorAlan Cox
Championship titles2003 (Division II)
Uniformburgundy tunic, silver stripe, black pants, black gloves, black shako with silver eagle and black plume

Esperanza is one of several musical/performing arts programs incorporated under its parent organization, the Esperanza Performing Arts Association, Inc. Along with a winter guard and an indoor percussion ensemble, the Esperanza Drum & Bugle Corps has established itself as San Diego's premier performing pageantry arts program. During its history the organization has included the Esperanza de Luz winterguards (Open and World), Esperanza Winter Percussion Ensemble and the San Diego Brass and Percussion Ensemble (a community band). The Esperanza Organization has produced top quality national caliber championship and finalist programs in drum corps, winter guard and winter percussion.

History

Esperanza made its debut performance in June 2000 at the Esperanza Experience held at Southwestern College in Chula Vista, CA.

In its first year the corps toured Southern and Northern California ending its season in mid-July. During its second year in 2001 the corps traveled out of California for the first time by competing in the DCI Southwestern Regional at San Antonio. In 2002 the corps attended DCI Championships for the time and finished 6th in Division II.

Esperanza is a one-time DCI Division II/III (Now Open Class) Champion, in 2003 with a score of 95.6. In only its fourth year the corps won the DCI Division II Championships in Orlando, Florida. This was the first time any corps from Southern California had won any DCI Championship title since 1972.

After winning the 2003 Drum Corps International Division II Championship, the Corps promptly moved up the ranks by entering the Drum Corps International Regional Division I Class. The Corps is the first DCI Division I drum corps from San Diego County. Their highest finish in Division I is 20th, in the 2005 season.

Esperanza Drum Majors have been:2000-Dannie Baker, 2001-2003-Rich Chavez, 2004-Michael Wojcik, 2005-2006-Sean Zanganeh.

The corps founder is Alan Cox, who also served as its Executive Director until resigning in March 2007. Further, in March 2007 the corps announced that it would not be fielding a competitive drum and bugle corps for the 2007 Drum Corps International competitive season.

Show summary (2000-6)

Source:[1]

Gold background indicates DCI Championship.

Caption text
YearThemeRepertoireScorePlacement
2000Anthology of Wind BeginsCanzona by Peter Mennin / Watchman, Tell Us of the Night by Mark Camphouse / Vesuvius by Frank Ticheli
2001Songs of CeremonyLiturgical Dances & On a Hymnsong of Lowell Mason by David Holsinger / Coventry Variant by Greg Sanders
2002Conquest - The Rise and Fall of EmpireShadows of the Empire (from Star Wars - Shadows of the Empire) by Joel McNeely / The Crystal Chamber (from Atlantis - The Lost Empire) by James Newton Howard / Cantata (from Alexander Nevsky) by Sergei Prokofiev / Destruction of Xizor's Palace (from Star Wars - Shadows of the Empire) by Joel McNeely92.206th
Div. II
2003ReflectionsMishima by Philip Glass / Concerto for Harpsichord and Orchestra by Gebrtj Gorecki / You're Still You by Linda Thompson & Ennio Morricone / Jubal Step by Wynton Marsalis95.601st
Div. II
2004FiveHeroes Symphony Mvt I & 1000 Airplanes on the Roof by Philip Glass / October by Eric Whitacre / Cantus - Song of Aeolus by Karl Jenkins / Five by John Mapes76.32521st
2005CrossroadsPiano Concerto No. 1 by Keith Emerson76.20020th
2006Chakra: Energy, Endurance, ExhilarationMeetings Along the Edge & Sadhanipa by Ravi Shankar & Philip Glass / Song of India by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov / Glass Palace (Mvt III) by Surinder Sandhu72.80022nd

Traditions
Esperanza Trumpet - Whitney Marty

Corps Song

The Esperanza Corps Song is "You're Still You" by Josh Groban. This piece was the corps' 2003 championship Ballad. Last Time performed was in 2006 for the "age-outs" of that year, the day after their final performance.

Staff stretch

The morning of DCI Quarter Finals the entire teaching and support staff joins the corps in the morning circle for stretch. This began during morning stretch in 2003 at DCI Division II Finals when the corps won the DCI Division II Championship.

Trivia
  • Esperanza Drum & Bugle Corps won the 2003 DCI Division II Championship. Esperanza was the first drum corps from Southern California to win any DCI Championship title since 1972.
  • Esperanza was also undefeated for the 2003 season in the Division II bracket.
  • In addition to earning the 2003 DCI Division II Championship crown, Drum Major Rich Chavez won the Division II Drum Major of the Year leading Esperanza to the championship title.
  • The corps was promoted to Regional Division 1 in 2004.
  • The corps was promoted to Division 1 (now World Class) in 2006.
  • The nickname for the pit ATV is "Pooter". The current vehicle is "P3" for Pooter 3 because it is the third vehicle owned by the corps. The name came from the sound of the engine for the very first cart in 2002 (poot-poot-poot-poot).
  • In 2004, the "Flash" was done twice. Once as a full horn line, and a second time a soloists does it in the center of a rotating block. This is because the move is 5 counts and the title of the show that year was "Five!" Both times, the visual can be viewed on the DVD in the upper right hand corner.
  • In 2005, the corps moved up the division 1 ranks by beating the 2005 Magic of Orlando. The show entitled "Crossroads" 20th place.
  • In 2006, the Esperanza Bass Drum Ensemble beat The Santa Clara Vanguard's Bass Drum Ensemble in the Individual and Ensemble portion of the competitive season.
  • In 2006, the corps show was entitled "Chakra"

References
  1. "Esperanza/Repertoire". DCX: The Drum Corps Xperience. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
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