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History in a Nutshell The North Port High School Alliance Drum and Bugle Corps is a DCI inspired high school drum corps. Students at the school are given the unique opportunity to sign up for the Alliance Corps as a class elective and participate in a season of marching, playing, and touring like any DCI or DCA corps would do. The Alliance Drum and Bugle Corps was the brainchild of the school's principal, Dr. George Kenney, and a seasoned band director, Mr. Owen Bradley. Together, along with the support of the surrounding community, the school - which was still under construction - was able to purchase brand new Dynasty Bb horns and Pearl drums. And by the time of the school's grand opening in 2001, the corps was able to usher it in with their first public hearing. Since then, the Alliance has been growing strong and rapid with much interest. Members of the corps are taught the history of drum corps so they know their roots. DCI and DCA recordings are common class study material. Alliance members are treated the same way in which any DCI or DCA corps would be treated and are expected to act with the pride, honor, and self discipline any DCI or DCA corps would be expected to have. They know that there is no substitute for hard work and discipline. The NPHS Alliance Drum and Bugle Corps is to this day, growing and working hard to achieve its goals. Though they may be a high school drum corps, they have DCI spirit. |
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The North Port High School Alliance Drum and Bugle Corps was formed in February of 2001. The directors, Owen Bradley and Scott Forsythe along with Dr. George Kenney began having rehearsals once a week to train students how to march and play. From these humble beginnings, the corps has established a top notch marching unit with the unique distinction of being the only high school drum and bugle corps in the nation. North Port HS was fortunate to receive a $80,000 from a local foundation (thank you Venice!) and some other grants to purchase horns and percussion, etc., etc. With the grants they bought 80 Dynasty Bb horns and Pearl Percussion. When the school opened in 2001, it housed grades 6-10. The high school contained barely 500 students. Of this small number only a handful had prior band experience. Mr. Bradley and Mr. Forsythe began training students in the 6th grade with the idea of having them continue throughout the high school program. The first year, over 100 sixth graders were started, with over 90 the next year. This provided a strong foundation for a thriving band program. In 2002, in only the second year of their existence, the Alliance Drum and Bugle Corps proudly accepted an invitation to perform at the Nokia Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, LA. The corps raised over $70,000 in their efforts to provide this once in a lifetime opportunity. To this day, the corps's members look back on that experience as their "rite of passage" to a mature and vibrant organization. |
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