The Brigadiers, established in 1938, are an all-age drum and bugle corps operated by the Brigadiers Music Association, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Based in Syracuse, New York, the Brigadiers were charter members of Drum Corps Associates and have also been known as PLAV Post #14, AL Post #1677, and the Syracuse Brigadiers.
Early Years
The corps originated as a junior ensemble organized by the Polish Legion of American Veterans (P.L.A.V.) Post #14 in Syracuse, NY. Initially performing as a parade corps, their activities were paused during World War II. After the war, the group reformed as an all-age drum and bugle corps, entering field competitions in 1947. A significant merger occurred in 1954 when The Boys from Syracuse, The Cortland Moose, and The Sons of American Legion Post 41 joined forces to become The Syracuse Brigadiers, marking the beginning of their rise to international recognition.
From 1947 to 1964, the Brigadiers participated in the American Legion National Championships, successfully reaching the finals each year and securing championships in 1957 and 1958. In 1965, they became charter members of DCA, competing until their operations ceased in 1973.
Modern Years
In October 1990, a group of alumni convened to explore the possibility of reviving the Syracuse Brigadiers. Following advertisements on television and radio, they established a parade corps in 1991, followed by a field corps in 1992. In their competitive return, the corps achieved an 11th place finish. The following year, they improved to ninth place, regaining full membership in DCA. The Brigadiers won championships in 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002, with their 2002 performance earning a historic score of 98.6, the highest recorded at that time. However, by 2009, the corps became inactive due to funding issues and declining membership.
Additional Information
The Syracuse Brigadiers were recognized as New York State American Legion Champions from 1955 to 1960, and again in 1964 and 1967. Sponsored by PLAV Post 14 and American Legion Post 1677, the corps consistently finished as finalists in the American Legion National Championships, securing runner-up positions three times and achieving international championships in 1957 and 1958.
During the 1968 season, the corps faced tragedy with the loss of two members in an automobile accident, yet they narrowly missed becoming DCA World Champions. The following years saw a decline in performance quality, leading to inactivity in 1972. A comeback effort in 1973 was thwarted by a judging penalty that resulted in missing the DCA Finals by just five hundredths of a point, ultimately leading to the corps folding for 17 years.
On August 11, 1990, the Rochester Crusaders Drum & Bugle Corps sponsored the Pageant of Drums competition in Syracuse, which featured prominent senior drum corps. In a tribute to the late Charlie Ragonese, a former director of the Syracuse Brigadiers, the first-place trophy was named in his honor. During the awards ceremony, around fifty former Brigadiers were invited to march in the stadium amidst familiar music, prompting an enthusiastic response from the audience and signaling the beginning of the corps’ revival.
Inspired by this event, a dedicated group of former members met later that year to plan the resurrection of the Brigadiers. They faced challenges in acquiring equipment, but successfully formed a parade corps in 1991 and subsequently returned to field competition in 1992.
The corps quickly began to regain its former glory while setting new standards of excellence, receiving standing ovations at performances. In 1992, they finished 11th at the DCA World Championships, earning Associate DCA membership, which they improved to ninth place in 1993 to achieve full DCA membership.
As the 1994 season approached, the Syracuse Brigadiers combined the new elements of the corps with their rich traditions. Al “Corkey” Fabrizio, a former soloist and drum major from the corps' earlier years, joined the instructional staff, helping to enhance the corps' consistency and organization. The Brigadiers placed seventh in 1995 and fifth in 1996.
With the establishment of Brigadier Hall and a renewed commitment to quality performance, the corps experienced continued success. They shared the DCA World Championship in 1997 and finished second in 1998. The year 1999 marked a historic victory as they claimed the World Championship by a significant margin of 1.7 points. They repeated this success in 2000 and achieved a three-peat championship in 2001.
The 2002 season introduced new challenges in both musical and visual performance, as the corps aimed for a fourth consecutive World Championship and scored 98.6. They fell short of "one for the thumb" in 2003, finishing second, and again placed second in 2004, marking eight consecutive years of finishing either first or second.
An alumni corps was formed in 1998, which remained active as a standstill group in 2002. Additionally, as many alumni relocated to Florida, Roy Grant established a southern branch of the corps known as the Florida Brass in 2002, which collaborates with the Brigadier Alumni corps at DCA events.
