Les Diplomates de Quebec

From DrumCorpsWiki

Les Diplomates de Québec are a senior drum and bugle corps based in Québec City, Quebec.

[edit] History

Les Diplomates de Quebec were formed on September 20th 1961, following meetings with members of drum corps coming from bands in the Québec City area who wanted to face new challenges and participate to high level musical competitions. Some sources credit Léon Bernier with the founding of the corps in 1962.[1]

Province of Québec champions a their very first year in 1962

Canadian Drum Corps Association Senior Champions in September 1965, 1966, 1970

Participation in the most important North-American competitions

Concert at the famous Carnegie Hall of New York in May 1965

In 1967, they were part of the festivities of the Canadian Centennial in Vancouver

Starting in 1970, the Diplomates recruit their members from miscellaneous areas of the Province of Québec

In 1973, best performance of their history at the Drum Corps (DCA) Championship finishing 4th total and 1st for the drum line.

The uniforms and the flags have been designed by Guy Côté who has conceived the marching and manoeuvring (choreography).

Guy has been the main drum major assisted by Patrick Rouleau and Jean-Louis Brière.

Léon Bernier has taken charge of the musical arrangements (brass section) while the drum line was under the direction of Richard Scudder and Michel Boulanger.

Richard Scudder was an American drum judge. He was living in Rochester, N.Y. and traveled to Québec City once a month.

Michel Boulanger started as a drummer for the Diplomates and later became a Drum Corps Associates’ judge.

In September 2004, he was nominated to the American Drum & Bugle Corps Hall of Fame.

In 2006 the corps began reorganizing to become an active competing unit.