The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps of Erie, PA has announced a suspension of competition for the 2024 competitive season because of a lack of reaching fundraising goals.
This comes less than a year after Santa Clara Vanguard’s non-participation in the 2023 competition season for the same reason.
“The care and concern for our students remains our top priority,” Cadets board chair John Broschak said in an announcement on the Cadets website. “We would only have moved forward with the competitive season if we had the ability to provide a quality experience for our members, staff and volunteers. The CAE Board will continue to evaluate our path forward in the coming weeks.”
The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps is a founding member of DCI and the oldest continuously active Corps, founded in 1934 in Garfield, NJ as the Holy Name Cadets. With maroon, gold, and cream colored uniforms which have remained relatively unchanged, the identity of the Cadets has a proud, storied history. In 1985, The Cadets accomplished the first “threepeat” (three consecutive championship wins) in DCI history. The drill written for these three shows (83, 84, 85) was ingenuitive and pushed the envelope on what was possible, with the now-classic then-shocking “Z-Pull” as a standout.
In 2004, The Cadets completely relocated from its historical home in NJ to Allentown PA, mostly for financial reasons. This last year The Cadets relocated once more from Allentown to Erie, PA. With amazing facilities and housing at the Erie sports center, and being rock throwing distance from Lucas OIl stadium, this definitely seems to be a beneficial move. While its not known for sure the exact financial strain The Cadets are under, the growing touring fees (~2k in 2015 to ~5k in 2023) give an insight which show higher show and fuel costs are definitely a factor.
Whatever the reason and whatever the solution, this is an unfortunate situation for the world of drum corps. The Cadets not performing for its 90th anniversary season is a major disappointment to everyone involved, but undoubtedly they will spring back better than ever in 2025.
