Arts & Entertainment
Pioneer Drilling in Drum Corps' Spring Training
Local drum and bugle corps in the midst of its 50th season.
Marching members of the Pioneer Drum and Bugle Corps of Milwaukee are preparing for the organization's 50th anniversary celebration this weekend.
Founded 50 years ago by Roman Blenski, the Pioneer was formed from the 1973 merger of the Imperials of St. Patrick's and the Thunderbolts of Cedarburg. Blenski, a longtime Milwaukee resident, formed the Imperials of St Patrick's in 1961 and has been the organization's only director.
Every summer, young adults from across United States come to the area to march in the corps and compete against the best drum and bugle corps in the North America.
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More than 2,500 Pioneer alumni have marched in the ranks of the Imperial of St. Patrick's, Thunderbolts and Pioneer. On July 9-10, they will gather at Pioneerland, 2200 E. Birchwood Ave., (off of Pennsylvania Ave. on the border of Cudahy and Milwaukee) to celebrate a half century of drum corps activity.
Local participants include Marcus Wrobel of Franklin, Nicholas Fugh of Greendale and Jesse Hubbard of Milwaukee.
Find out what's happening in Oak Creekwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The high-school and college-age members practice 15 hours a day to learn their music and fast-pace drill. Dedication and loyalty are the two keys to having a successful drum corps. The members work and live together for two months, traveling more than 15,000 miles each summer.
Alumni, parents and fans can obtain information by visiting the Pioneer Alumni website or by calling (414) 327-2847.
