The Connecticut Hurricanes
LocationSeymour, CT
DivisionDCI All-Age
Founded1932
Executive DirectorDavid Pyrch
Championship titlesYankee Circuit Champions 1958, Northeastern Circuit Champions 1962 & 1963, World Open Champions 1964, American Legion National Champions 1967, National Dream Contest Champions 1967, 1968 & 1969 and DCA Open Class Champions 1967, 1969, 1981, 2022, 2023

The Connecticut Hurricanes, also known by their nickname the Hurcs, is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization based in Seymour, Connecticut existing as an all-age, co-ed, competitive drum and bugle corps. The Hurricanes reigned as the oldest, continually active organization in DCA until its merger with DCI, along with some of the most extensive history of any senior corps.

Mission statement

"The mission of the Hurricanes Drum and Bugle Corps[1] is to provide a competitive platform on which members can build successful healthy lifestyles through music and performance, as well as to promote artistic excellence. Emphasis is placed on development of self-esteem, self-motivation and self-reliance. It encourages team work, sportsmanship, civic pride and contributions of one's personal best to a group effort geared toward individual achievement of common goals. It is an education designed to help members become the best they can be."

History

The extensive history of the Hurricanes[2][3] can be divided into three distinct periods as follows;

Pre-competitive years, 1932-1954

The Hurricanes were formed in 1932 in Derby, CT and were originally known as the John H. Collins Post Fife Drum & Bugle Corps. Members were predominantly veterans from World War I. They thrived as a parade corps for twenty three years accompanying the John H. Collins American Legion Post in local parades as well as to the American Legion's State and National Conventions throughout the U.S.A. In the post World War II years of the 1940s the ranks were swelled by returning vets, as well as many new members, and the interest began shifting towards competitive field competition, an activity rapidly gaining in popularity. The fifes were phased out beginning in 1949 as the corps transformed to drums and bugles only.

The Hurricanes Hornline warming up at the Israeli Day Parade in New York City

Pre-DCA, 1955-1963

The Corps officially transformed into a competitive field corps in 1955 and became a member of the Yankee Circuit, and subsequently the Northeastern Circuit. Though the corps was unofficially known by the nickname Hurricanes since 1951, Hurricane Diane and Hurricane Connie, powerful back to back storms that devastated the Naugatuck Valley of Connecticut in 1955, served as the inspiration to permanently change the name of the corps to the Connecticut Hurricanes in February 1956. The fledgling corps endured the expected growing pains that accompanied the transition in those first few years, but a top notch instructional staff and gritty determination propelled the Corps towards new heights and they would eventually become one of the premier corps of the Northeastern Circuit, where they competed through 1963, garnering two championships.

Modern years (DCA), (DCI All-Age) 1964-present

In 1964 on the heels of a successful rise to prominence in the Northeastern Circuit, the Hurricanes became a charter member of Drum Corps Associates (DCA).[4] Since that inaugural year of DCA competition, they have captured five DCA Championship titles (1967, 1969, 1981, 2022, and 2023) and have failed to reach the finals in the DCA championship contest five times (1986, 1989, 2003, 2016, and 2017). The Hurricanes have finished in the coveted top five in DCA finals competition a respectable twenty-six times.[5] Starting in 2024, due to DCA merging with DCI, the Hurricanes will now be competing in the new DCI All-Age Class.

Show summary (1957-2023)

Year Affiliation Theme Repertoire[6] Score[7][8] Placement
1957 American Legion Championship The King and I * Getting to Know You * Dancing Cheek to Cheek * As Time Goes By * Night and Day * Limehouse Blues * Shall We Dance * Give Me That Old Soft Shoe * I'll Never Smile Again 78.92 19th
1958 Yankee Circuit Championship Stormy Weather * Rain * Basin Street Blues * Muskrat Ramble * Tropical Heatwave * I'll Never Smile Again 86.45 1st
1959 Yankee Circuit Championship Stormy Weather * Rain * Battle Hymn of the Republic * Autumn Leaves * A Foggy Day in London Town * Tropical Heatwave 89.95 2nd
1960 Northeastern Circuit Championship 78.64 4th
1961 Northeastern Circuit Championship The Ten Commandments * Battle Hymn of the Republic * It Ain't Necessarily So * The Magnificent Seven * They Call the Wind Maria 86.26 2nd
1962 Northeastern Circuit Championship The Ten Commandments * They Call the Wind Maria * Battle Hymn of the Republic * I Got Plenty of Nuttin' * It Ain't Necessarily So * The Magnificent Seven * Maria (from West Side Story) * Tonight * Till the Clouds Roll By 87.15 1st
1963 Northeastern Circuit Championship Mutiny on the Bounty * Tonight * Battle Hymn of the Republic * I Got Plenty o' Nuttin' * It Ain't Necessarily So * The Magnificent Seven * Bill Bailey Won't You Please Come Home * Love Look Away 84.433 1st
1964 World Open Senior Championship The Man I Love * Hello, Dolly * Under the Double Eagle * Tropical Heat Wave * The Magnificent Seven * Caravan * Bill Bailey Won't You Please Come Home 84.433 1st
1965 DCA Championship The Man I Love * Zing Went the Strings of My Heart * Under the Double Eagle * Tropical Heat Wave * Magnificent Seven * Caravan * Bill Bailey Won't You Please Come Home * Rhapsody in Blue 84.360 2nd
1966 DCA Championship Inka Dinka Doo * Start Off Each Day with a Song * Just One of Those Songs * National Emblem March * Of Thee I Sing * Tropical Heat Wave * Magnificent Seven * Caravan * Bill Bailey, Won't You Please Come Home? * Just One of Those Songs (reprise) 84.400 2nd
1967 DCA Championship The Man I Love * Start Off Each Day with a Song * Just One of Those Songs * Under the Double Eagle * National Emblem March * America I Love You * Rhapsody in Blue * Fiddler on the Roof * Return of the Magnificent Seven * Stormy Weather 85.583 1st
1968 DCA Championship The Man I Love * Step to the Rear * Hallelujah Chorus * Rhapsody in Blue * Fiddler on the Roof * Magnificent Seven * Stormy Weather 78.450 6th
1969 DCA Championship Les Preludes Overture * Queen of Sheba March * Hallelujah Chorus * Rhapsody in Blue * Walk on the Wild Side * Hang 'Em High * Magnificent Seven * Sprach Zarathustra (from 2001: A Space Odyssey) 79.475 1st
1970 DCA Championship If My Friends Could See Me Now & I'm a Brass Band (from Sweet Charity) * Stars and Stripes Forever * Walk on the Wild Side * Hang 'Em High * Magnificent Seven * Sprach Zarathustra (from 2001: A Space Odyssey) 80.950 3rd
1971 DCA Championship If My Friends Could See Me Now & I'm a Brass Band (from Sweet Charity) * Stars and Stripes Forever * Malaguena * Hallelujah Chorus * They Call the Wind Maria (from Paint Your Wagon) * Hang 'Em High * Magnificent Seven * Also Sprach Zarathustra (from 2001: A Space Odyssey) 87.925 4th
1972 DCA Championship Fanfare for the New * Fiddler on the Roof * Malaguena * The Impossible Dream (from Man of La Mancha) * America the Beautiful * Rule Britannia * La Marseillaise * Fanfare for the Common Man * Hang 'Em High * Magnificent Seven * Sprach Zarathustra (from 2001: A Space Odyssey) 88.200 4th (tie)
1973 DCA Championship Circus Medley; Entry of the Gladiators, Ballyhoo March, Barnum and Bailey's Favorites & Billboard March * Theme from Shaft * Rhapsody in Blue * Journey for Peace * America the Beautiful * Rule Britannia * La Marseillaise * Fanfare for the Common Man * The Impossible Dream (from Man of La Mancha) * What the World Needs Now * Hang 'Em High * Magnificent Seven * Billboard March (reprise) 85.300 3rd
1974 DCA Championship Stormy Weather (from Stormy Weather) * Don't Rain on My Parade (from Funny Girl) * Rat Tat Tat * Margie * Circus Medley; Entry of the Gladiators, Ballyhoo March, Barnum and Bailey's Favorites & Billboard March * The Way We Were * Tropical Heatwave * They Call the Wind Maria (from Paint Your Wagon) * Magnificent Seven * Stormy Weather (from Stormy Weather) 66.700 6th
1975 DCA Championship I Got Rhythm (from Girl Crazy) * Walk on the Wild Side * Hallelujah Chorus * Jesus Christ Superstar * Hang 'Em High * Magnificent Seven * Circus Medley; Entry of the Gladiators, Ballyhoo March, Barnum and Bailey's Favorites & Billboard March * My Way 86.980 4th
1976 DCA Championship I Got Rhythm * Ease on Down the Road * Tropical Heat Wave * Hallelujah Chorus * Yankee Doodle * Stars and Stripes Forever * 79.950 6th
1977 DCA Championship Light Cavalry Overture * Watch Closely Now (drum solo) * Mighty High * Stormy Weather * Oklahoma Crude * Velvet Green (drum solo) * Nadia's Theme * Magnificent Seven 78.650 8th
1978 DCA Championship Cantina Band (from Star Wars) * Main Title (from Star Wars) * Throne Room (from Star Wars) * Antares, the Star * Princess Leia's Theme (from Star Wars) * Sanctus (from The Mass) * Agnus Dei (from The Mass) * Chorale Almighty Father (from The Mass) * Offertory (from The Mass) * Saturday Night Fever Medley * Salsation * My Way * Magnificent Seven 82.800 5th
1979 DCA Championship Children of Sanchez * Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band * "Got to Get You into My Life" * Nowhere Man * Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band * My Way * Magnificent Seven 78.650 5th
1980 DCA Championship Les Preludes Overture * Queen of Sheba March * Swing, Swing, Swing (from 1941) * Spirit of America Medley * Magnificent Seven 86.350 3rd
1981 DCA Championship Les Preludes Overture * Queen of Sheba March * Swing, Swing, Swing (from 1941) * Salute to Freedom * Devil Went Down to Georgia * It's My Turn * Magnificent Seven 89.650 1st
1982 DCA Championship Rustic Wedding Overture * Moonlight Serenade * Swing, Swing, Swing (from 1941) * Salute to Freedom * Let It Be Me * Magnificent Seven 87.650 3rd
1983 DCA Championship Overture (from Swan Lake) * Rustic Wedding March * Swing, Swing, Swing (from 1941) * Hallelujah Chorus * Memory (from Cats) * Magnificent Seven 82.200 7th
1984 DCA Championship Meadowland * Pictures at an Exhibition * Gumbie Cats (from Cats) * Rhapsody in Blue * Magnificent Seven 83.250 6th
1985 DCA Championship Olympic Fanfare * Imagination * Don't Leave Me * I Loved These Days * Magnificent Seven 74.050 9th
1986 DCA Championship Concerto to End All Concertos * Catavento * Return of the Magnificent Seven * They Call the Wind Maria * Greatest Love of All * Magnificent Seven 73.400 12th
1987 DCA Championship Theme (from An American Tail) * Market Street * Begin the Beguine * They Call the Wind Maria (from Paint Your Wagon) * Magnificent Seven 82.640 10th
1988 DCA Championship Magnificent Seven Suite * Requiem for the Masses * Platoon * America the Beautiful * Market Place * Begin the Beguine * Try to Remember (from The Fantasticks) * The Way We Were * Magnificent Seven 81.040 9th
1989 DCA Championship Buddy Rich Tribute; Bugle Call Rag & Willowcrest * West Side Story Medley; Maria, Somewhere, & Something's Coming * Magnificent Seven * Hang 'Em High * Magnificent Seven (reprise) 82.000 11th
1990 DCA Championship Night on Bald Mountain * Pictures at an Exhibition * Swing Street * Cleanin' Up the Town * Wind Beneath My Wings * Magnificent Seven 85.900 10th
1991 DCA Championship Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered * That Old Black Magic * Umulu * Symphonie Fantastique 90.500 5th
1992 DCA Championship Gospel John * Make His Praise Glorious * Pour On the Power * Amazing Grace * Maybe God Is Tryin' to Tell You Something 93.200 4th
1993 DCA Championship Ben Hur "Ben Hur"... Theme Song * Prologue * Adoration of the Magi * The Rowing of the Galley Slaves * The Naval Battle * Chorale * Finale 91.200 5th
1994 DCA Championship Ben Hur "Ben Hur"... Theme Song * Prologue * Adoration of the Magi * Rowing of the Galley Slaves * Naval Battle * Finale 89.900 5th
1995 DCA Championship "Hurcs Through the Years"... Stormy Weather * Rhapsody in Blue/Concerto in "F" medley by Gershwin * They Call the Wind Maria * Magnificent Seven 90.600 5th
1996 DCA Championship To Die For (from The Lion King) * Hippo Attack (from Congo) * Bail Out (from Congo) * Umulu * Medley (from The Lion King) 84.000 9th
1997 DCA Championship Sophisticated Lady * It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing * Caravan * Autumn Leaves * Magnificent Seven 87.600 6th
1998 DCA Championship Baroque Samba * Stella by Starlight * Swing, Swing, Swing (from 1941) 87.700 7th
1999 DCA Championship Vision of the American West "Vision of the American West"... Magnificent Seven Suite * Hang 'Em High 90.100 6th
2000 DCA Championship Celtic Pride: Music from Far and Away "Celtic Pride: Music from Far and Away"... The Land Race (from Far and Away) * Greensleeves * Fantasia on the Dargason (from Second Suite in F) * Joseph and Shannon * Blowing Off Steam -drum solo * Finale (from Far and Away) 91.300 6th
2001 DCA Championship Storm Warning "Storm Warning"...You Are My Sunshine (jazz version) * Stormy Weather (from Stormy Weather) * Hurricane (drum solo) * Come In from the Rain * Somewhere Over the Rainbow 85.100 10th
2002 DCA Championship A Tribute to American Composers "A Tribute to American Composers" - Fanfare for the Common Man * Symphony #3, Mvt. 3 * Agnus Dei (from Adagio for Strings) * Ballet Sacra 88.000 8th
2003 DCA Championship Hurcs in Vegas "Hurcs in Vegas"... Godzilla Eats Las Vegas * Viva Las Vegas * Theme from "I Dream of Jeannie" * Magnificent Seven * Bacchanal * I'll Be Seeing You * Heartbreak Hotel 84.300 11th
2004 DCA Championship The Hurcs 50th Anniversary Celebration : The Magnificent 50 Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin / Make His Praise Glorious by Bill Wolaver / The Storm by John Meehan 84.475 9th
2005 DCA Championship The Year It all Began "The Year It All Began"... Frankie Machine (from The Man with the Golden Arm) * To Kill a Mockingbird 84.425 10th
2006 DCA Championship Jesus Christ Superstar "Jesus Christ Superstar"... Heaven on Their Minds * Everything's Alright * Jesus Must Die * Trial Before Pilate * John Nineteen Forty One * Superstar 86.738 7th
2007 DCA Championship The Music of Leonard Bernstein "The Music of Leonard Bernstein"...On the Waterfront * Mambo (from West Side Story) * Make Our Garden Grow (from Candide) * Overture to Candide 92.488 7th
2008 DCA Championship Journey West "Journey West"... Billy the Kid * Shenandoah * They Call the Wind Maria * Hoedown * Magnificent Seven 94.913 4th
2009 DCA Championship The Gold Rush "The Gold Rush"... Gates of Gold: Call of the Mountain * Theme from Can-Can * The Red Pony * Grover's Corners (from Our Town) * Silverado 95.838 4th
2010 DCA Championship Heaven Sent "Heaven Sent"... Gloria * Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee * God Said (from Bernstein's Mass) * Before the Throne of God Above * Gloria 95.338 4th
2011 DCA Championship Gersshwin: Old, New and Blue "Gershwin: Old, New, and Blue"... Porgy and Bess * Concerto in F * Rhapsody in Blue * But Not for Me * Fascinating Rhythm 94.350 4th
2012 DCA Championship Blokes and Birds "Blokes and Birds"... Rule Britannia * Downtown * Georgy Girl * Windy * First Suite in E-Flat * Greensleeves * Water Music * Major Modern General (drum solo) * Crown Imperial * The Windmills of Your Mind * Fantasia on the Dargason (from Second Suite in F) * Turn, Turn * God Save the Queen * A Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra 93.180 4th
2013 DCA Championship Rage Against the Machine "Rage Against the Machine"... Enter the Machine * The Machine (from the Fifth Symphony) * Mechanical Love (from Bicentennial Man) * Sam at the Lake (from Transformers) * Revenge of the Fallen * Flynn Lives (from Tron Legacy) * My Name Is Lincoln (from The Island) 84.850 9th
2014 DCA Championship Always Greener "Always Greener"... The Promise of Living (from Tender Land) * They Call the Wind Maria (from Paint Your Wagon) * Children's Dance (from Merry Mount Suite) * Make Our Garden Grow (from Candide) * Magnificent Seven 87.350 8th
2015 DCA Championship After Hours "After Hours"...Sing Sing Sing * Since I Don't Have You * Nutville * Harlem Nocturne * Jump Jive an' Wail 83.800 10th
2016 DCA Championship Freedom "Freedom"...Amazing Grace * Freedom * Nelle Tue Mani (from The Gladiator) * Freedom Trilogy 82.25 13th
2017 DCA Championship Porgy and Bess "Porgy & Bess" - My Man's Gone Now (from Porgy and Bess) * Summertime (from Porgy and Bess) * Bess, You Is My Woman Now (from Porgy and Bess) * It Ain't Necessarily So (from Porgy and Bess) * Oh, Lord, I'm On My Way (from Porgy and Bess) 79.78 13th
2018 DCA Championship Clash Atop Olympus "Clash Atop Olympus"...Original composition framing a Greek Mythology themed show... 85.275 9th
2019 DCA Championship The Deadly Seven "The Deadly Seven"...Original composition based on the Seven Deadly Sins 84.150 8th
2020 Season cancelled due to COVID-19 Pandemic
2021 DCA Championship Brought to Light "Brought to Light"...Discover (Leap) * Expose (Prelude to Being Faster) * Emerge (But I will Always be Faster) 85.450 7th
2022 DCA Championship Journey Home "Journey Home"...Home * Call to Adventure * Challenges and Temptations * Both Sides Now 89.450 1st

(Open Class)

2023 DCA Championship Channel Green "Channel Green"...Stormy Weather * Blowin' in the Wind * White Rabbit * Rocket Man 89.400 1st

(Open Class)

Identity

There are several distinguishing characteristics the give the Hurricanes their unique identity:[9][10]

  • The official colors are green, black and white.
  • A lightning bolt is prominently featured on the uniform.
  • The Drum Majors and the Honor Guard wear military style peaked hats in honor of Corps tradition.
  • The Corps theme song is the main theme from The Magnificent Seven.
  • The official street beat is "Downfall of Paris" as well as the marching beat known as "The Horse Walk."
  • The Corps song is sung to the melody of "They Call the Wind Maria".

Championships

Major titles garnered by the Hurricanes;[11][12]

  • Yankee Circuit Champions, 1958
  • Northeastern Circuit Champions, 1962 and 1963
  • World Open Senior Champions, 1964
  • American Legion National Champions, 1967
  • National Dream Champions, 1967, 1968, and 1969
  • Drum Corps Associates Champions, 1967, 1969, 1981, 2022, 2023

Notable alumni

  • The Hurricanes Hall of Fame[13] was established in 1994[14] to recognize those individuals who have demonstrated a high level of commitment, dedication and contribution to the Corps as well as the marching arts community. As of 2022 the Hall of Fame has enshrined eighty two Hurricanes for their outstanding service.
  • There are sixty six Hurricanes of Distinction[15] who are acclaimed in the realm of drum corps as well as the marching arts community on the whole and have been recognized as such through induction into the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame[16][17] and/or the Drum Corps International Hall of Fame.[18]

References

  1. ↑ "Mission Statement".
  2. ↑ A History of Drum and Bugle Corps vol. 2; Steve Vickers, ed.; Drum Corps World, pub 2003
  3. ↑ "Our History".
  4. ↑ "Drum Corps Associates".
  5. ↑ "scores@corpsreps.com - Historical Drum Corps Score Archives". Corpsreps.com. Retrieved 2015-05-03.
  6. ↑ "Audio Room".
  7. ↑ "scores@corpsreps.com - Historical Drum Corps Score Archives". Corpsreps.com. Retrieved 2015-05-03.
  8. ↑ "Score Library".
  9. ↑ A History of Drum and Bugle Corps vol. 2; Steve Vickers, ed.; Drum Corps World, pub. 2003
  10. ↑ "About".
  11. ↑ "scores@corpsreps.com - Historical Drum Corps Score Archives". Corpsreps.com. Retrieved 2015-05-03.
  12. ↑ "Score Library".
  13. ↑ "Hall of Fame".
  14. ↑ A History of Drum and Bugle Corps vol. 2; Steve Vickers, ed.; Drum Corps World, pub. 2003
  15. ↑ "Hurricanes of Distinction".
  16. ↑ "Members". Worlddrumcorpshof.org. 2014-08-05. Retrieved 2015-05-03.
  17. ↑ "Associate Members". Worlddrumcorpshof.org. 2014-12-10. Retrieved 2015-05-03.
  18. ↑ "Hall of Fame-overview-".
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