The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps
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The Cadets
| Location | Bergenfield, New Jersey |
|---|---|
| Division | Division I |
| Founded | 1934 |
| Director | George Hopkins |
| Championship Titles | Eight |
| Corps Uniform | Maroon jacket with white sash, off-white pants, gold cumberbund, maroon shakos with white plumes |
The Cadets (formerly the Holy Name Cadets, Garfield Cadets, and Cadets of Bergen County) are a Division I drum and bugle corps based in Allentown, Pennsylvania and sponsored by Youth Education in the Arts, and are a member corps of Drum Corps International. Founded in 1934, The Cadets have one of the longest-standing continuous histories of any drum and bugle corps active today. They also hold the distinction of being one of the few charter corps of DCI who have attended every championship held.
The Cadets have been DCI champions eight times, in 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1990, 1993, 1998, and 2000. The three consecutive victories from 1983-1985 were the first "three-peat" to ever be made in DCI history, one of only two (the other by The Cavaliers). The corps has also placed second five times (1992, 1994, 1995, 1997, and 2001) and third four times (1982, 1996, 2002, and 2003).
Perhaps more than any other corps, The Cadets are a juxtaposition of history and progress. The corps can clearly trace its roots back to its founding, its uniforms have remained virtually unchanged for decades, and the corps frequently revisits the music that has won fans over in the past, such as Ron Nelson's "Rocky Point Holiday". At the same time, the corps was a pioneering force in the use of asymmetric marching formations, especially the famous "Z-Pull" by lauded drill designer George Zingali. The current corps director, George Hopkins, has continued to express his desire that the drum corps activity evolves, with proposals to integrate non-brass instruments, electronic music, and similar musical reforms, receiving decidedly little approval from the community at large.
While The Cadets have not been grounded in one traditional genre (in recent years shows have included the music of Jethro Tull, Ernesto Lecuona, and The Young Persons' Guide To The Orchestra), the corps frequently revisits the music of Leonard Bernstein. The Cadets have used Bernstein music in four of their eight championship shows, and in total have had eight shows in the DCI circuit featuring Bernstein's works. Among these are performances of music from West Side Story, Candide, Mass, Jeremiah, On the Waterfront, Wonderful Town, and Fancy Free. They have also performed music by Aaron Copland and David Holsinger.
