"What is Excelsior?"

Excelsior is an Albany, New York and Pittsfield, Massachusetts Regionally based “All-Age” Drum and Bugle Corps, a.k.a. Senior Corps, which was formed to fill a void that existed for many years in upstate New York, and the Berkshires.  Excelsior’s mission is to provide individuals and families, and the communities, with an exciting new entertaining and precision marching organization as well as a physically and musically educational program.

Excelsior is incorporated under the Non-profit Corporation Law of 1988 for the following purpose:  To promote the performing arts through the creation of a drum and bugle corps that will encourage the talent and ability of musical and performing youth and adults.  Excelsior will educate the members in musical and performing skills to stimulate interest in and to foster the development of an appreciation of drum corps.  This will be accomplished by participating in community events; sponsoring concerts and other similarly drum corps related events.

Membership will provide skills, friendship and memories that will last a lifetime.   Membership shall be open to all without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, national or ethnic origin, sexual orientation, citizen status, marital status, in accordance with the provisions of Title VII (sec4) of the Civil Rights Act of 1967.  Excelsior endeavors to promote diversity and to put opportunities within the reach of all.

It is an organization that will foster a caring, family-like atmosphere.  Excelsior is looking forward to an exciting and fun season, one that will require a lot of hard work and dedication from Corps members, staff and volunteers.  Excelsior’s membership drive and rehearsals officially began November 2004 in preparation for the 2005 appearance of an Alumni/parade corps and an exhibition corps.  In two years, the communities of Albany and Pittsfield will once again be represented in Drum Corps Associates (DCA) with a competing corps. 

"About Excelsior Membership"

Membership is based upon attitude, attendance, desire, physical ability, talent and status of membership fees. 

Excelsior does not have an upper age limit.  

Under18 members will be accepted conditionally upon parental or guardian participation and/or written permission. 

Under 16, members will be considered on individual basis; have to demonstrate exceptional maturity and abilities; needs parental or guardian participation and written permission.  If accepted, the member will serve probationary period, as may be required by corps management.

All members are encouraged to, and should consult with a physician before participating in the Corps. 

Excelsior encourages all members to participate in a fitness plan throughout the season, a plan to build strength, endurance and cardiovascular endurance.

"Competitive Auditions"

All-age Drum Corps, also known as Senior Corps, are a means for individuals without formally defined age limitations or levels of experience as one would find in organization of Junior Drum Corps.  You will frequently find that new members begin membership without any prior experience and build to a level of confidence and skill over time leaving them with a sense of accomplishment and personal value to the corps.

Although formal auditions are not currently conducted by Excelsior or planned for the future, it is however important to fill placement needs of the corps so that it can strive to become an entertaining and eventually competitive entity.  Generally speaking, auditions are not conducted in all-aged corps unless necessary for competitive quality or rules compliance.

“Education First Organization”

Excelsior Drum and Bugle Corps is an “Education First Organization”.  This means that for members of school age, any academically required participation needed for the completion of a course of study will be accepted as an excusable absence from corps obligations.  All academic conflicts will need to be communicated to corps management, section leaders, and caption heads as soon as they are known, and all academic conflicts will require written documentation from the school of academic study.  Examples of such academic conflicts are: state exams, national exams, college entrance exams (SAT, ACT), and collegiate exams which are prerequisites for graduation or post-graduate study (LSAT, MCAT).  Many teachers and professors understand the commitment and dedication necessary to be involved in an organization such as a drum and bugle corps. In many cases, class tests and course final exams given on the class level can be taken early and/or rescheduled if you ask. If at all possible, ask that you may be allowed to take any exams early and explain the situation to the school administration. If verification is necessary for this to occur, a member of corps management and/or a representative of the Administrative Board would be more than willing to contact the teacher or administrator.

“Band Friendly Corps”

Excelsior Drum & Bugle Corps is a "Band-Friendly Corps”.  Any legitimate school or band activity is considered an excused absence from rehearsals.  Activities include Solo & Ensemble performances, State competition or a higher level auditions All-State concerts, band concerts, and similar activities.  It will be the member’s responsibility to find out what information and work was missed to ensure they do not fall behind the corps learning schedule.  Excelsior does ask that preference is given to the corps for local parades (exceptions will be granted for those Excelsior members who hold a position of authority within their band; (i.e. drum major).  All we ask is that members coordinate his/her schedule with the appropriate caption head and let them know when you will be missing a rehearsal.  During the summer practice and performance schedule however, the member is expected to attend all rehearsals and performances.  It will be necessary for all school age members who are involved with their school marching band program to request a future schedule for any band camp (if your school participates in such a training activity). Conflicts during a band camp week will need to be addressed prior to the end of the previous school year.

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