Special Sub-Topic: DCI Championships 1981-2005 Click Here To Play: DCI Championships 1981-2005

Who won the DCI Championship in 2005 playing "Twisted Nerve"?

The Cadets. "Twisted Nerve" was originally composed by Bernard Herrmann for the 1968 movie of the same name. The whistling theme was recently popularized by the movie "Kill Bill, Vol. 1." The Cadets used this selection as a "prologue".

Who won the DCI Championship in 2004 playing "Paris and Bond"?

Cavaliers. The Cavaliers were not the first corps to do a James Bond themed show. The Velvet Knights did theirs in 1986 - wearing white dinner jackets (but keeping their trademark red hi-top Keds!) and playing classic Bond music from the Sean Connery and Roger Moore days, while the Cavies featured more recent Bond flicks, including this selection from "Tomorrow Never Dies" composed by David Arnold.

Who won the DCI Championship in 2003 playing "Take Five"?

Blue Devils. "The Phenomenon of Cool" featured music by Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck and Leonard Bernstein.

Who won the DCI Championship in 2002 playing "Melody"?

Cavaliers. "Melody" is the first portion of "Frameworks", original music written for the show by Richard Saucedo, Bret Kuhn and Erik Johnson. "Harmony" and "Rhythm" are the other sections.

Who won the DCI Championship in 2001 playing "Four Corners"?

Cavaliers. This was the first championship show to have original music written for the corps. "Frameworks" was written by Richard Saucedo. It also includes the famous "Fight Club" scene in the percussion feature.

What two corps were crowned DCI co-champions in 2000 playing "Niagara Falls" and "Tapestry of Nations"?

Cavaliers; The Cadets. Theoretically the last tie (with tiebreakers now in place), the Cavaliers won semi-finals with "Niagara Falls" by Bill Daugherty, but The Cadets' impassioned finals performance of Disney's Epcot Illuminations music by Gavin Greenway caught them.

What two corps were crowned DCI co-champions in 1999 playing "The Canyon" and "Malambo"?

Santa Clara Vanguard; Blue Devils. The two powerhouse California corps tied with their shows that looked back and forward in time. Ginastera's "Malambo" is a celebration of Argentinian rhythms which fit in perfectly with the Blue Devils' show featuring various rhythms of traditional world music, while the Santa Clara Vanguard used Philip Glass' "The Canyon" to introduce modern minimalism to many drum corps fans.

Who won the DCI Championship in 1998 playing "Stonehenge"?

Cadets of Bergen County. "Stonehenge" was composed by the Belgian composer Jan Van der Roost.

Who won the DCI Championship in 1997 playing "As Time Goes By"?

Blue Devils. In 1997, the Blue Devils presented the story of "Casablanca" on the field. It would be impossible to do such a show without the classic song sung by Dooley Wilson in the film.

What two corps were crowned DCI co-champions in 1996 playing "Shostakovich's Fifth Symphony Finale" and "Children's Hour of Dream"?

Phantom Regiment; Blue Devils. The first tie in DCI history, the Phantom Regiment earned their first championship flag after placing third in semi-finals with their Shostakovich music. On the other end of the musical spectrum, the Blue Devils got dangerous with their show titled "Club Blue: A Gangster Chronicle" including "Children's Hour of Dream" by Charles Mingus.

Who won the DCI Championship in 1995 playing "Mars: The Bringer of War"?

Cavaliers. Ten years after first performing Holst's "The Planets", the Cavaliers earned their second DCI title.

Who won the DCI Championship in 1994 playing "Night Streets"?

Blue Devils. In 1994 the show title was "My Spanish Heart", featuring the music of Chick Corea.

Who won the DCI Championship in 1993 playing "In The Spring At The Time When Kings Go Off For War"?

Cadets of Bergen County. Although they performed it with the guard dressed in medieval-styled uniforms, the title of the music (composed by David Holsinger) is Biblical in origin (1 Chronicles 20:1).

Who won the DCI Championship in 1992 playing "Peterloo Overture"?

Cavaliers. "Revolution and Triumph" included music from two other pieces also by Sir Malcom Arnold: "Four Cornish Dances" and "Four English Dances".

Who won the DCI Championship in 1991 playing "Roman Festivals"?

Star of Indiana. This was the one DCI championship for Star of Indiana, which eventually metamorphosed into the Tony award winning show "Blast". Their championship show featured the music of Italian impressionist Ottorino Respighi.

Who won the DCI Championship in 1990 playing "Overture to 'Candide'"?

Cadets of Bergen County. Their show was titled "A Bernstein Celebration" and also included music from "Mass", "West Side Story", and "Fancy Free".

Who won the DCI Championship in 1989 playing "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again"?

Santa Clara Vanguard. The second time was the charm with "Phantom of the Opera" by Andrew Lloyd-Webber.

Who won the DCI Championship in 1988 playing "Concerto for Guitar and Jazz Orchestra"?

Madison Scouts. In the last "untitled" championship show, this piece by Paul Hart was followed by the Scout's signature "Malaguena".

Who won the DCI Championship in 1987 playing "Appalachian Spring"?

Garfield Cadets. This Aaron Copland ballet score has been performed by numerous corps, but only the Cadets have won a championship with it.

Who won the DCI Championship in 1986 playing "Channel One Suite"?

Blue Devils. This Buddy Rich classic, written by Bill Reddie, has been used by the Blue Devils three times in championship shows.

Who won the DCI Championship in 1985 playing "Make Our Garden Grow"?

Garfield Cadets. Cadets and Leonard Bernstein again. This time it wasn't just the Overture to "Candide" that they played but also this aria.

Who won the DCI Championship in 1984 playing "Maria"?

Garfield Cadets. When the Cadets performed Bernstein's "West Side Story", it became the first time a championship show got all its music from one source.

Who won the DCI Championship in 1983 playing "Rocky Point Holiday"?

Garfield Cadets. With this Ron Nelson piece, followed by selections from Bernstein's "Mass", the Garfield Cadets earned their first DCI championship powered by the innovative drill of George Zingali including the famous "Z Pull".

Who won the DCI Championship in 1982 playing "T.O."?

Blue Devils. "T.O." refers to Toronto, Ontario - the hometown of the piece's writer, jazz trombonist Rob McConnell.

Who won the DCI Championship in 1981 playing "A Young Person's Guide To The Orchestra"?

Santa Clara Vanguard. This Benjamin Britten composition was appropriately presented as "A Young Person's Guide To Drum Corps" with each section of the corps featured in turn.