"A Drum Corps Fan's Dream" - Madison Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps (1995), with Scott Boerma (Brass Composer & Arranger)

Sketchbook with Daniel Montoya Jr.

“Proud, Loud, and Pleasing the Crowd.” This is the mantra of the Madison Scouts Drum & Bugle corps. And it’s safe to say that since 1938, the Scouts have consistently brought audiences to their feet with their entertainment-focused programs. And while the corps had won two DCI world championships, in 1975 & 1988, for some, it was the shows of the 1990s that really solidified the Madison Explorer Scouts as one of, if not the favorite corps in all of DCI. Whether you were an alum of the corps, had a friend or family member that marched the corps, or just a normal fan with or without ties to other drum corps, the Scouts of Madison, Wisconsin was the corps you were always excited to see. Fans didn’t leave their seats to get a hot dog or go to the restroom when the Green & White took the field. After winning their 2nd DCI world championship in 1988 with Latin music by Paul Hart & Ernesto Lecuona, the corps spent the next few years exploring music from musicals, big band, jazz, & jazz fusion before finding their way back to Latin and Latin jazz music in 1994. This untitled production featured Santos by Louie Bellson, Cuban Overture by George Gershwin, & Malaga by Bill Holman. The corps had slowly been creeping up the finalist rankings since their 9th place finish in 1990 and finished the 1994 season in 6th place. For the 1995 season, the Scouts once again turned to Latin music by Joaquín Rodrigo, Bill Holman, and original music by Scott Boerma, brass composer & arranger, Jeff Moore, battery composer & arranger, and Taras Nihirniak, front ensemble composer & arranger. The Madison Scouts have had many crowd-pleasing shows throughout their history; we could fill an entire season of episodes focusing on each and every one of these shows. But perhaps no Scouts’ production is more loved than the 1995 production. This show has widely been considered one of the most entertaining drum corps shows of all time and for some, is the hands-down favorite. This opinion was in fact proven scientifically accurate with fans and alums voting the 1995 show as the winner of the 2020 Virtual Drums Along the Parade, with the 1988 championship show coming in 2nd. The 1995 DCI season ended with the Madison Scouts finishing in 4th place with a score of 95.40, and winning High Brass in a three-way tie. Joining me today is composer and arranger Scott Boerma, who was the brass composer & arranger for 20+ shows over a span of 4 decades! And who without a doubt I consider to be one of the "Four Horseman of DCI Arrangers.” If there was a Mount Rushmore for DCI Music Arrangers, his face would be one of the first 3 carved. On this episode of Musicbook, we discuss the Madison Scouts’ 1995 production, “A Drum Corps Fan’s Dream: A Day in the Life of a Bullfighter.” --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/sketchbookpodcast/support