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There are more former members
of the Canadian Commanders
in the Optimists Alumni than any other senior
corps. Commanders Alumni include: Al Miller, Barry
Bell, Bill Kellas, Bob Keenan,
Dave Kirton, Glen Copp,
Gord O'Halloran,
Len Perrin, Lorne Ferrazzutti, Mel Dey,
Rick Robida, Ron Cottrell
(?),
Tom May
and Warren Berger. (I hope I didn't miss
anyone.) |
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The Canadian
Commanders were formed in late 1963. The
Viscounts from Hamilton, and the Jesters from
Toronto, were both struggling to maintain a
respectable presence on the Canadian senior drum
corps scene. Fred Hawkes of the Viscounts and
Vince Macciocchi of the Jesters got their heads
together and gained the sponsorship of the
Metropolitan Toronto Police Association.
The corps
started rehearsals in the fall of 1963. On
Tuesday night it was in Toronto,
Thursdays in Hamilton and Sundays in
Oakville. Attendance at rehearsals was so large
that one never quite saw or met everyone else.
The very
first public appearance that the Commanders made
was in an indoor arena in St. Catharines. They
had all components of their uniform, except for
the bright orange tunics, so they went on in
corps "T" shirts. The director had the idea to
split all sections in half and send them on
separately. The first half marched in, to
thunderous applause, and lined up across the
arena floor. They covered the floor from one
side to the other, and then some.
Don Chisholm,
the Drum Major, very theatrically brought the
corps to a halt, brought the horns up and made
as though the corps was about to play. Then he
slowly brought his arms down, the doors opened
up again and the second half of the Corps
marched in, to the total surprise of the
audience. The corps spread across the width of
the arena three times. No-one had ever seen a
corps that big before. The
audience clapped, cheered and screamed for a
very long time. Anyone who played in the corps
that first show had goosebumps that lasted for
hours and will remember that experience for the
rest of their life.
In 1964, the
first competing season, the Commanders took
second place at the Canadian Championships,
being narrowly beaten out by the Guelph
Royalaires.
(taken from the
Commanders Website) |
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CANADIAN COMMANDERS DRUM AND
BUGLE CORPS This has
been a gratifying year for The Commanders. But
now, it is the big contest for the year, The
Canadian Champion-ships. The Canadian Commanders
had such a successful championship appearance in
1964, finishing in a tie for Second Place, that
the executive, instructors and players are
doubling their efforts for an even better 1965.
Some of these people are: Vince Macciocchi,
director: Don Douglas, secretary; Fred Hawkes,
business manager. The instructors are: Barry
Bell, musical director; Al Morrison on horns;
Lorne Ferrazzutti on drums; Ivor Bramley on
drill ; Bill Coy, guard captain. Drum Majors
- Bob Bond and Glen Durish. And we do have some
new music and all new drills. We hope you like
the theme from "The Cardinal", Hello Dolly, Sing
Sing Sing, Softly As In A Morning Sunrise, Night
& Day, Black Bottom, Besame Mucho, and Alone
Together.
Our sponsor, The Metropolitan Toronto
Police, Association and The Canadian Commanders
hope you enjoy tonight's show. If you would like
a record by The Commanders, ask any one of us
for directions to the Publicity Department.
from the program for the 1965 "Nationals" |
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