Skyliners Alumni Prepare For 20th Anniversary Season

In 2014, the New York Skyliners Alumni Drum and Bugle Corps will be celebrating their 20th Anniversary. Founded in 1994 by a handful of alumni and friends, the mission of the corps is to preserve the musical and entertainment legacy of the New York Skyliners Drum & Bugle Corps as it existed from its inception in 1945, and to foster the interest and encourage the participation in this uniquely American art form.

The first parades were the Memorial Day parades in Garfield and Lodi in 1994/1995 with a dozen horns and 4 drums outfitted in red golf shirts, black pants, and baseball caps. 1996/1997 saw the first GAS performance, more parades, and other indoor appearances as the corps continued to grow. On Sept 5 1998, in 105 degrees in Allentown PA, the then 70-man horn line put on an exhibition at the DCA World Championships playing a host of well known, old favorites. In 2000, at the DCA Alumni Spectacular in Syracuse NY, a facsimile of the full uniform worn by the competition corps was unveiled. The white bucks returned at the 2003 Alumni Spectacular in Scranton PA.

Together with WDCHoF Carl Ruocco as Show Coordinator, the music committee has put together an exciting new program for the 2014 anniversary season. With the exception of SKY’s famous encore piece – “ELK’s Parade”, the corps will be learning an entire new musical book – spanning the gamut of old favorites, the later years, and for the first time, new music never performed by the NY Skyliners ! Arrangements are currently underway in preparation for fall rehearsals. Stay tuned for further announcements outlining the details of the program.

The Skyliners Alumni Drum & Bugle Corps is co-sponsored by AL Post 1523 Staten Island NY and VFW Post 4591 Hasbrouck Heights NJ. Rehearsals are held at VFW MEMORIAL POST 4591, 513 VETERANS PLACE, HASBROUCK HEIGHTS, NJ. The corps is seeking former members as well as anyone interested in being a part of this tradition, in all sections – brass, percussion, color guard, and honor guard.

For more information, please visit our website at http://www.skyalumni.org/ or contact our corps Director Rich Evans at skyalumdirector [at] hotmail [dot] com