The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps

Charles Mura, Michael Koeph, and the Rev. Edwin Garrity of the Holy Name Catholic parish in Garfield, New Jersey founded the Holy Name Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps in 1934 as an activity for the boys in the parish. The corps quickly became one of the top competitive corps in the country. In 1940, the Cadets won the American Legion Junior National Championship in Boston, the first of a record nine Legion titles the corps would win between 1940 and 1964. The corps was known not only for its talent but for its traveling to compete. In 1950, the Cadets went on the road for three weeks in order to defend their Legion title in Los Angeles.[2][3]

In 1958, the Holy Name parish declined to support the corps' travel and disbanded the corps. The members and staff, however, were not willing to cease the corps operations, and reorganized as a new organization, even though the parish kept the uniforms and instruments. The corps traveled to Chicago for Legion Nationals at the members' own expense. Marching as the Cadets of Garfield; wearing uniforms of white shorts, red golf shirts, and "Aussie" hats; and using instruments borrowed from the Chicago Cavaliers, the corps managed to finish in second place (one spot ahead of the defending champion Cavaliers). Midway through the 1959 season, the parish allowed the corps to once more wear the uniform that remains their trademark.[2][3]

In the second half of the Sixties, the Garfield Cadets became more of an also-ran than a champion. In 1969, the corps became coed. In 1971, the Cadets marched a show they called, "No More War"; at VFW Nationals in Dallas. They reportedly tried to convince the VFW officials that the peace symbol in their drill was actually the Mercedes-Benz logo. Also in 1971, the Garfield Cadets, along with the 27th Lancers, Boston Crusaders, Blessed Sacrament Golden Knights, and Blue Rock, formed the United Organization of Junior Corps (also known as the "Alliance"). This action was taken in reaction to the rigid, inflexible rules of the American Legion and VFW (the primary rule makers and sponsors of both corps and shows) and the low or nonexistent performance fees paid for appearing in the various competitions. The corps felt that not only were they having their creative potential as artistic performing groups stifled, but they were being financially starved. (A similar group of Midwestern corps, the Midwest Combine, was formed by the Blue Stars, Cavaliers, Madison Scouts, Santa Clara Vanguard, and the Troopers.) The Alliance members felt that the corps should be making their own rules, operating their own competitions and championships, and keeping the bulk of the monies those shows earned. For the 1971 season, the corps stuck together, offering show promoters the five corps as a package. Despite pressure on show sponsors, judges, and other drum corps, the corps were booked into a number of shows together.[2][3][4]

In 1972, the Garfield Cadets, along with the nine other corps from the Alliance and the Midwest Combine, plus the Anaheim Kingsmen, Argonne Rebels, and De La Salle Oaklands were founding members of Drum Corps International, which remains as the sanctioning body for junior corps in North America. At the first DCI World Championships in Whitewater, Wisconsin, the Cadets just missed making Finals and finished in thirteenth place in a competition that featured thirty-nine corps from the East, the South, the West Coast, the Midwest and Great Plains, and Canada. The corps would fail to make DCI Finals for the first four years they were held and for six of DCI's first eight seasons. After their third Finals appearance in 1980, the Cadets quickly regained the corps' former championship form. In 1983-85, the Garfield Cadets became the first DCI corps to earn a three-peat—three consecutive DCI titles. On July 4, 1986 the Cadets performed as a part of the Liberty Weekend celebrating both the hundredth anniversary and the restoration of the Statue of Liberty. In 1987, the corps won its fourth DCI crown in five years.[2][3]

The Garfield Cadets relocated outside Garfield to Hackensack and became the Cadets of Bergen County in 1989. The Cadets of Bergen County won DCI Championships in 1990, '93, '98, and 2000. In 1996, sponsorship of the corps was passed to Youth Education in the Arts (YEA), an umbrella organization sponsoring several youth and musical activities. Also in '96, the Cadets performed at the Summer Olympics in Atlanta. In 2003, Yea! and the corps moved to Allentown, Pennsylvania, and the corps dropped any reference to locale from its name, becoming simply, The Cadets.[5] In January 2009, The Cadets marched in President Barack Obama's Inaugural Parade in Washington, D.C. The Cadets won additional DCI championships in 2005 and 2011, the corps' ninth and tenth in forty seasons.[3]

To honor their 75th anniversary, the corps was called the Holy Name Cadets for the 2009 season.[6]

On April 5, 2018, allegations were made in published reports that the longstanding corps director, George Hopkins, sexually harassed or abused multiple members of the corps and staff over a period of years.[7] Later that day, Hopkins stepped down as director of The Cadets and YEA! CEO while denying the allegations.

The Cadets was formerly part of Youth Education in the Arts (YEA!), a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that had a Board of Directors, corps directors, and staff assigned to carry out the organization's mission. In addition to The Cadets, YEA! had also sponsored the recently inactive 2016 DCA Champion Cadets2 all-age drum and bugle corps, Cadets Winter Percussion, and Cadets Winter Guard, which have been put on hold until the financial situation is in a better state (November 28, 2018); USBands (formerly United States Scholastic Band Association); the Urban Arts Center of the Lehigh Valley, which includes the Xcape Dance Studio.[8]

As announced on February 10, 2020, the drum corps began operating independently of YEA! as of March 31, 2020.[9]

On May 1 2020, The Cadets announced the creation of a new 501(c)3 non-profit organization: Cadets Arts & Entertainment, Inc.[10]

In May 2020, a new non-profit organization, Cadets Arts & Entertainment, Inc., was formed to oversee The Cadets and future performing ensembles and educational opportunities for young people in the Lehigh Valley and nationwide.[10] A new Board of Directors was established, led by CEO and Cadets Director Denise Bonfiglio.

“For 86 years, The Cadets have been leaders and innovators in performing arts education,” Bonfiglio said. “We are now opening a new chapter in the storied history of The Cadets by creating a 501(c)(3) nonprofit entity, Cadets Arts and Entertainment, Inc., guided by the following founding principles: To educate youth from around the globe on the value of teamwork, inclusiveness, kindness, self-expression, and open communication; To create a safe and inclusive environment for all participants; and To enrich lives by teaching critical development skills required for the pursuit of personal excellence."

With no 2020 drum corps season, Cadets Arts & Entertainment focused its attention on establishing clear policies, strict safeguards and strategic committees that meet regularly to help guide The Cadets forward.[11] Committees were created in the areas of Health and Wellness, Equality and Inclusion, Performing Arts Education, Governance, and Finance.

Source:[12]

Gold background indicates DCI Championship; pale blue background indicates DCI Class Finalist; pale green background indicates DCI semifinalist.

At the annual World Championship Finals, Drum Corps International (DCI) presents awards to the corps with the high average scores from prelims, semifinals, and finals in five captions. The Cadets have won these caption awards:

Don Angelica Best General Effect Award

• 2000, 2005, 2011

John Brazale Best Visual Performance Award

• 2005, 2011

George Zingali Best Color Guard Performance Award

• 2005

Jim Ott Best Brass Performance Award

• 2000, 2005, 2015

Fred Sanford Best Percussion Performance Award

• 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2013

Prior to 2000 and the adoption of the current scoring format, the Cadets won these captions:

High General Effect Award

• 1983, 1984, 1985, 1990 (tie), 1992, 1993, 1997, 1998

High Visual Award

• 1983, 1984 (tie), 1987 (tie), 1990 (tie), 1993, 1998

High Color Guard Award

• 1989, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996

High Brass Award

• 1983, 1984 (3 way tie), 1985 (tie), 1987 (tie), 1995 (3 way tie)

High Percussion Award

• 1987, 1990

Source:[13]

• The Cadets website