During Labor Day Weekend, Drum Corps Associates (DCA) Open Class corps compete to earn the title of DCA Open Class World Champion. The championships consist of 2 rounds (Prelims and Finals) held on 2 consecutive nights (the Saturday and Sunday nights of Labor Day weekend). All corps compete at Prelims, with the top 10 Open Class and top 4 Class A corps competing at Finals. The champion is determined by the overall high score in the Finals competition. There are also a number of caption awards (high brass, high percussion, high visual, etc.), though the process of determination for those awards has changed from year to year.
Only eleven corps have won at least one DCA title (including 2 ties): Reading Buccaneers – 17 titles Hawthorne Caballeros – 10 titles Bushwackers – 6 titles (1 tie) Long Island Sunrisers – 6 titles (1 tie) Empire Statesmen – 5 titles (1 tie) Syracuse Brigadiers – 5 titles (1 tie) Connecticut Hurricanes – 3 titles Skyliners – 3 titles Minnesota Brass – 1 title Westshoremen – 1 title Cadets2 – 1 title
As of the conclusion of the 2019 competitive season, the Buccaneers, Bushwackers, Caballeros, Hurricanes, Skyliners, and Sunrisers remain in active Open Class competition. The Cadets2, Minnesota Brass, Brigadiers, Empire Statesmen, and Westshoremen are inactive.
1965 Champion: Reading Buccaneers of Reading, Pennsylvania Repertoire: Burke's Law From This Moment On Portrait of My Love Maria This Had Better Be The Night El Cid After You've Gone Beyond the Sea Score: 84.50 Location: Milford, Connecticut Venue: Jonathan Law Field Date: September 11
1966 Champion: New York Skyliners of New York, NY Repertoire: Charlie Welch (from Mr. Wonderful) Columbia the Gem of the Ocean (from Thousands Cheer) That Old Black Magic (from Bus Stop) Flight of the Bumblebee Once in Love with Amy (from Where's Charley?) Hava Nagila Oklahoma (from Oklahoma!) Score: 84.53 Location: Bridgeport, Connecticut Venue: JFK Stadium Date: September 4
1967 Champion: Connecticut Hurricanes of Derby, Connecticut Repertoire: You Gotta 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 Score: 85.583 Location: Bridgeport, Connecticut Venue: JFK Stadium Date: September 3
1968 Champion: Reading Buccaneers of Reading, Pennsylvania Repertoire: Unavailable Score: 82.15 Location: Rochester, New York Venue: Aquinas Stadium Date: September 1
1969 Champion: Connecticut Hurricanes of Derby, Connecticut Repertoire: Queen of Sheba March Hallelujah Chorus Rhapsody in Blue Walk on the Wild Side Hang 'Em High Magnificent Seven Also Sprach Zarathustra (from 2001: A Space Odyssey) Score: 79.745 Location: Rochester, New York Venue: Aquinas Stadium Date: August 31
1970 Champion: Hawthorne Caballeros of Hawthorne, New Jersey Repertoire: Captain From Castile Ted Meets Johnny Sabre Dance 1812 Overture Samba de Orpheo Score: 82.775 Location: Rochester, New York Venue: Aquinas Stadium Date: September 6
1971 Champion: New York Skyliners of New York, NY Repertoire: NY Montage Little Old New York (from Tenderloin) Longest Day Alabama Jubilee Lucretia McEvil Comes Love Slaughter on 10th Avenue (from On Your Toes) Little Old New York (from Tenderloin) East Side-West Side Fanfare Score: 91.5 Location: Rochester, New York Venue: Aquinas Stadium Date: September 5
1972 Champion: Hawthorne Caballeros of Hawthorne, New Jersey Repertoire: El Gato Montes Captain From Castile Theme from Patton Everybody's Everything Sabre Dance Flamenco Cha-Cha Samba de Orpheo Score: 90.6 Location: Jersey City, New Jersey Venue: Roosevelt Stadium Date: September 3
1973 Champion: Hawthorne Caballeros of Hawthorne, New Jersey Repertoire: Man of La Mancha South Rampart Street Parade Everybody's Everything Sabre Dance Flamenco Cha-Cha Harmonica Man Score: 89.85 Location: Rochester, New York Venue: Aquinas Stadium Date: September 2
1974 Champion: Hawthorne Caballeros of Hawthorne, New Jersey Repertoire: Man of La Mancha Sweet Gypsy Rose Soul Train Mac Arthur Park Flamenco Cha-Cha Harmonica Man Score: 83.5 Location: Rochester, New York Venue: Aquinas Stadium Date: September 1
1975 Champion: New York Skyliners of New York, NY Repertoire: How Could You Believe Me When I Said I Loved You Hymn to Victory (from Victory at Sea) West Side Story Medley The Elks' Parade Give My Regards to Broadway (from Yankee Doodle Dandy) East Side-West Side Fanfare Score: 91.28 Location: Rochester, New York Venue: Holleder Memorial Stadium Date: August 31
1976 Champion: Hawthorne Caballeros of Hawthorne, New Jersey Repertoire: Bully Brazil (from The Gang's All Here) Echano (from Children of Sanchez) Flamenco Cha-Cha Hill Where the Lord Hides Score: 92.5 Location: Rochester, New York Venue: Holleder Memorial Stadium Date: September 5
1977 Champion: Long Island Sunrisers of Long Island, New York Repertoire: English Folk Song Suite by Ralph Vaughan Williams Spain Ol' Man River (from Show Boat) by Jerome Kern Eli's Coming by Hoyt Axton Dance Of The Wind-Up Toys (drum solo) by Chuck Mangione Evergreen (from A Star is Born) by Paul Williams Score: 94.15 Location: Allentown, Pennsylvania Venue: J. Birney Crum Stadium Date: September 3
1978 Champion: Long Island Sunrisers of Rockland County, New York Repertoire: English Folk Song Suite by Ralph Vaughan Williams Malaga by Bill Holman (musician) Farandole by Bizet, Georges Evergreen (from A Star is Born) by Williams, Paul Score: 90.85 Location: Allentown, Pennsylvania Venue: J. Birney Crum Stadium Date: September 3
1979 Champion: Reading Buccaneers of Reading, Pennsylvania Repertoire: Russian Sailor's Dance (from The Red Poppy) by Gliere, Reinhold Fantasy by Earth, Wind and Fire El Gato Triste by Mangione, Chuck Feels So Good by Mangione, Chuck Sylvia by Dilibes Score: 90.5 Location: Hershey, Pennsylvania Venue: Hershey Park Stadium Date: September 2
1980 Champion: Reading Buccaneers of Reading, Pennsylvania Repertoire: The Sea Hawk by Korngold, Erik Wolfgang Russian Sailor's Dance (from The Red Poppy) by Gliere, Reinhold Spanish Dreams by Severinsen, Doc Sambandrea Swing by Menza, Don One Voice by Manilow, Barry Sylvia by Dilibes Score: 91.3 Location: Hershey, Pennsylvania Venue: Hershey Park Stadium Date: August 31
1981 Champion: Connecticut Hurricanes of Derby, Connecticut Repertoire: Queen of Sheba March by Respighi, Ottorino Swing, Swing, Swing (from 1941) by Williams, John Salute to Freedom by Statham, Frank Devil Went Down to Georgia by Daniels, Charlie It's My Turn by Sondheim, Stephen Magnificent Seven by Bernstein, Elmer Score: 89.65 Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Venue: Franklin Field Date: September 6
1982 Champion: Long Island Sunrisers of Rockland County, New York Repertoire: God Save the Queen by Ives, Charles English Suite for Military Band by Vaughan Williams, Ralph Barnum's Revenge by Coleman, Cy Tiger of San Pedro by La Barbera, John Legend of the One-Eyed Sailor by Mangione, Chuck Send in the Clowns (from A Little Night Music) by Sondheim, Stephen Come Follow the Band (from Barnum) by Coleman, Cy Score: 89.85 Location: Allentown, Pennsylvania Venue: J. Birney Crum Stadium Date: September 5
1983 Champion: Long Island Sunrisers of Rockland County, New York Repertoire: Russian Meadowlands by Knipper, Lev Alexander's Ragtime Band by Berlin, Irving Legend of the One-Eyed Sailor by Mangione, Chuck Peasant Dance by Hirschberg, David Send in the Clowns (from A Little Night Music) by Sondheim, Stephen Come Follow the Band (from Barnum) by Coleman, Cy Score: 91.45 Location: Allentown, Pennsylvania Venue: J. Birney Crum Stadium Date: September 4
1984 Champion: Hawthorne Caballeros of Hawthorne, New Jersey Repertoire: Concierto de Aranjuez by Rodrigo, Joaquin Nothing But D. Best by Best, Denzel de Costa Malaguena by Lecuona, Ernesto Don't Cry for Me Argentina (from Evita) Score: 92.4 Location: Allentown, Pennsylvania Venue: J. Birney Crum Stadium Date: September 3
1985 Champion: Hawthorne Caballeros of Hawthorne, New Jersey Repertoire: Corre Nina by Purim, Flora Upstart by Ellis, Don Malaguena by Lecuona, Ernesto L.A. Is My Lady by Jones, Quincy Espana Cani by Marquina, Narro Pascual Score: 92.5 Location: Allentown, Pennsylvania Venue: J. Birney Crum Stadium Date: September 1
1986 Champion: Bushwackers of Harrison, New Jersey Repertoire: Santos by Bellson, Louis Quensabe Los Suertas de Los Tontos (from Cuban Fire Suite) by Richards, Johnny La Suerte de Los Tontos (from Cuban Fire Suite) by Richards, Johnny Egyptian Danza by Di Meola, Al Ayres Eyes Score: 92.45 Location: Allentown, Pennsylvania Venue: J. Birney Crum Stadium Date: August 31
1987 This championships were noted by rain so severe during Prelims that Final were cancelled (due to extensive damage to the grass field) and the standing Prelims stood as the Finals results Champion: Long Island Sunrisers of Rockland County, New York Repertoire: Adventures on Earth (from E.T.) by Williams, John Jupiter (from The Planets) by Holst, Gustav Score: 94.84 Location: Allentown, Pennsylvania Venue: J. Birney Crum Stadium Date: September 6
1988 Champion: Bushwackers of Harrison, New Jersey / Long Island Sunrisers of Rockland County, New York Bushwackers Repertoire: Pellet Suite by McDougal, Ian Inner Crisis by Willis, Larry Mira, Mira by Ferguson, Maynard Out of Africa (from Congo) by Bergman, Marilyn Sunrisers Repertoire: Savannah River Holiday by Nelson, Ron Concerto in F by Gershwin, George An American in Paris by Gershwin, George Score: 96.36 Location: Hershey, Pennsylvania Venue: Unavailable Date: September 5
1989 Champion: Bushwackers of Harrison, New Jersey Repertoire: Time Check by Menza, Donald In Her Family by Metheny, Pat No Pasaran by Schanzer, Jeffrey Mira, Mira by Ferguson, Maynard Score: 95.1 Location: Allentown, Pennsylvania Venue: J. Birney Crum Stadium Date: September 3 There was actually a tie with the Sunrisers both had a score of 95.00 and Bush was given an extra .1 due to caption placements.
1990 Champion: Bushwackers of Harrison, New Jersey Repertoire: Prototype by Stephen Melilo Score: 96.9 Location: Allentown, Pennsylvania Venue: J. Birney Crum Stadium Date: September 2
1991 Champion: Empire Statesmen of Rochester, New York Repertoire: Begin the Beguine (from Night and Day) by Porter, Cole Sophisticated Lady by Ellington, Duke American Patrol by Miller, Glenn Don't Sit Under The Apple Tree by Miller, Glenn In the Mood by Miller, Glenn America the Beautiful by Ward, Samuel A. Battle Hymn of the Republic by Steffe, William Score: 96.7 Location: Scranton, Pennsylvania Venue: Lackawanna County Stadium Date: September 1
1992 Champion: Bushwackers of Harrison, New Jersey Repertoire: The Ballad of Sweeney Todd) by Sondheim, Stephen My Friends (from Sweeney Todd) by Sondheim, Stephen Worst Pies in London (from Sweeney Todd) by Sondheim, Stephen History of the World Epiphany (from Sweeney Todd) by Sondheim, Stephen Nothin's Gonna Harm You (from Sweeney Todd) by Sondheim, Stephen Score: 96.7 Location: Scranton, Pennsylvania Venue: Lackawanna County Stadium Date: September 6
1993 Champion: Bushwackers of Harrison, New Jersey Repertoire: Sunday in the Park with George Putting It Together (from Sunday in the Park with George) by Sondheim, Stephen Color and Light (from Sunday in the Park with George) by Sondheim, Stephen Sunday in the Park (from Sunday in the Park with George) by Sondheim, Stephen Sunday by Sondheim, Stephen Score: 96.6 Location: Scranton, Pennsylvania Venue: Lackawanna County Stadium Date: September 6
1994 Champion: Empire Statesmen of Rochester, New York Repertoire: The Music of Frank Sinatra Ol' Man River (from Show Boat) by Kern, Jerome I've Got the World on a String (from I'll Get By) by Arlen, Harold April in Paris (from The Helen Morgan Story) by Duke, Vernon My Way by Anka, Paul Score: 96.0