2023 DOP & WWC MSARP Performers

Drums on Parade

A very special thank you to Craig Mason and our Madison Scout brothers, Greg Jarosz, Chris Forbes, Norm Bakker, Kent Eversmeyer, Tim Spilde, Al Kent, Tom Brys, Josh Forbord, and Jim Latimer for adding a cherry to the top of an already great weekend of Drums on Parade events with your performance to kick off the show.

2023 Rockin for a Cure All-Stars Project

Madison Scouts All-Star Alumni Brass Ensemble

Experience the G Bugle Difference!

Alumni Age-out Class of 2023

As the 2023 Madison Scouts season winds down to its conclusion, we would like to take a moment to congratulate and welcome the newest class of alumni to MSAA. Welcome alumni age-out class of 2023:

Christos Theo - HOF 2023

Christos TheoChristos “Stos” Theo has been a part of the Madison Scouts for over thirty years. He joined the Madison Junior Scouts in 1965, then played snare with the “senior” corps from 1968-1975. Chris joined the percussion staff in 1976 and served as the principal percussion arranger from 1978-1983.

Chris was co-arranger and percussion consultant during the 1984 and 1985 seasons and was the principal percussion arranger for the 2006 Alumni Reunion Corps. In addition to his affiliation with the Scouts, Chris has been a percussion clinician, adjudicator, arranger, and consultant, for numerous drum corps and marching bands.

As a former designer with Wisconsin Public Television, Chris created the visual identity programs and animated title sequences for the 1979 and 1980 DCI Championship TV broadcasts. Chris has also designed several DCI yearbook and album covers, DCI’s 20th Anniversary logo, the Madison Scouts 50th Anniversary record album cover, and the Scouts’ 75th Anniversary logo, to name a few.

Chris is currently a Professor Emeritus and former Department Chair for the Department of Art & Design, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.

Director's Corner: Historical reflection

The brass section is on its way to Wisconsin for their February rehearsal weekend. Part of my pre-Madison Scouts rehearsal camp ritual is spent reviewing the corps' historical archives and visiting historic locations in town. Today I find myself in a hotel and coffee shop on the former site of Christ Presbyterian Church, where the first rehearsal in February of 1938 was held. As I read, I realize that as much as the activity and Madison Scouts have evolved, it's relatively easy to spot the educational, cultural, and social through-lines that connect us to our past. As I find these documents, I'll be sure to share them here for those who find them interesting. Entertainment, excellence, music and performance education, character development, service to others, human connection, life-long bonds...All since day one. (The two photos of news clips come from the December 8, 1991 issue of the 'Fleur-de-Lis', the former Madison Scouts newsletter that many likely recall. The 1940-41 photos come from C.H. Beebe's scrapbook archives that were recently digitized.) Shoutout to the 1991/92 corps brothers -- These are my personal favorite Madison Scouts productions... --

Don Marcouiller - HOF 2023

Don MarcouillerDonald R Marcouiller (1925-2018) took over as musical director of the Madison Scouts in 1950 and began what was to become the University of Wisconsin "connection" and the "Madison Style." As a graduate assistant with the UW Badger Band, Marcoullier brought a keen sense of general effect, an understanding of what would please and entertain a crowd. Marcoullier is most responsible for putting the Madison Scouts on a course that would place it at the leading edge of the drum corps activity.

He led the Wisconsin Band in the 1953 Rose Bowl. Don was elected to the University of Wisconsin Marching Band Hall of Fame in 2014. Then, in 1956, Don was named Director of Bands at Drake University, where he served until 1987.  While at Drake, he authored the book, “Marching for Marching Bands,” introducing the unit system of marching, which was widely adopted by marching bands across the U.S. For 50 years, he served on the Executive Committee of the Drake Relays and was elected to its Hall of Fame. He is Professor Emeritus of Wind and Brass Instruments and Director of Bands at Drake. Don was a Board Member of the American Bandmasters Association and Past President of the College Band Directors National Association, Iowa Bandmasters Association, Iowa Music Educators Association, and Des Moines Civic Music Association.

EJ Hess - HOF 2023

EJ HessEinar John (EJ) Hess (1893-1966) is one of the founding fathers of the Madison Scouts. In 1937, a group of Madison businessmen decided that Madison should have a drum and bugle corps. The men, E.J. Hess, Robert Gary, Tom Jones, and Bob Hess, wanted this corps to be composed of Boy Scouts. The first rehearsal was held on February 8, 1938 in the basement of the Christ Presbyterian Church with equipment borrowed from the Masons.

E.J. Hess was the first director and C.H. Beebe, Scoutmaster of Troop 20, was appointed quartermaster and became the Executive Director shortly thereafter.

Hall of Fame Class of 2023 News

The Madison Scouts, Forward Performing Arts, and the Madison Scouts Alumni Association will announce the second class of inductees into the Madison Scouts Hall of Fame at Drums on Parade July 1st. This year's class follows the 2022 inaugural class that included C. H. Beebe, William Howard, and Scott Stewart. The Madison Scouts Hall of Fame honors individuals who have participated and achieved at the highest level in the Madison Scouts organization throughout its long and storied history.

We hope you can be with us on July 1st, where we will be back in Middleton to honor the second class inducted into the Madison Scouts Hall of Fame.

James Elvord - HOF 2023

James ElvordJames Elvord taught some of the best horn lines in the drum corps activity while providing insights on improving brass judging that helped move the adjudication model from counting errors (ticks) to an evaluative system. He pioneered and developed the system of adjudication used in SoundSport competitions during DCI national championship events.

While he was brass caption head and program coordinator, Madison Scouts won the DCI World Championship in 1975 and won the high brass caption award three years in a row in 1973, 1974, and 1975. Madison Scouts were also US Open champions in 1970. Since 1974, he has been a brass consultant with a dozen well-known corps in the United States, Canada, and Japan.

July Update from Scouts Director, David Lofy

Madison Scouts Alumni,

I trust you've all had a fine start to your Summer season.

The Madison Scouts are actively engaged in 'Spring Training' or 'Pre-Tour,' as some may know it. The corps is in fantastic spirits as we've completed the show and are eager to hit the road on June 27th. We'll eventually be making our way down to Whitewater for a series of rehearsal days and 'Picture Day' before Drums on Parade on July 1. If you haven't already, buy your tickets at DCI.org. The corps will once again be visiting the tailgate after our COVID-19 hiatus. We're excited to sing our SATB version of You'll Never Walk Alone,' arranged by Scott Boerma, with you.

You'll Never Walk Alone (134.91 KB)

Lewis Kessler - HOF 2023

Lewis KesslerLewis Hanford Kessler (1900-1974), former Navy Bugler and engineering faculty member at the University of Wisconsin, began his service to the Boy Scouts in 1920 and was soon promoted to Assistant Executive of the Four Lakes Council. On December 3, 1920, Kessler would form the original Boy Scout Drum and Bugle Corps of Madison, Wisconsin, and serve as its director through 1925, when the group discontinued operations.

Kessler would remain active within the Four Lakes Council and served on committees with E.J. Hess and C.H. Beebe starting in 1936. In the fall of 1937, Kessler served on the advisory committee that helped restart a Boy Scout Drum & Bugle Corps representing the Four Lakes Council. If CH Beebe is considered the “father” of the Madison Scouts, then Lewis Kessler is the “grandfather.”

Madison Scouts Hall of Fame - Itinerary for Tailgate and Drums on Parade

2023 MSAA Madison Scout Hall of Fame

Midwest Combine Challenge - 2023

We ask for your support in the Midwest Combine Challenge, a one-week fundraising challenge between the Madison Scouts, Phantom Regiment, Blue Stars, Cavaliers, Colts, Colt Cadets, and River City Rhythm.

Donating to the Forward Performing Arts and the Madison Scouts gives the gift of a music education experience to over 500 PROGRAM MEMBERS and more than 3000 STUDENTS we impact each year. For over eight decades, we have been pursuing excellence and developing leadership through music and the arts.

We thank you for making a financial contribution and supporting the Madison Scouts.

Make your contribute grow!

Alumni - the board match is now up to $5K and will match your donation all day today. Let's support the Scouts!
Go to the Scouts Proshop.

MSAA June View from the Chair

Wear Our History, Share Our History

In 2023 the MSAA will continue our yearly tradition of returning a vintage Madison Scouts shirt for sale. Each purchase of a classic shirt buys one shirt for you and one shirt that will be gifted to a current member of the Madison Scouts! The corps members love having a connection to the alumni association, and we love finally being able to replace the version of the shirt in our wardrobe with one that fits and doesn't have holes in it!

This year we let you vote to choose the design to bring back, and we're happy to say that the top choice design was the "Screamin' Skeleton" from the 1997 show, "The Pirates of Lake Mendota." The artwork was wonderfully recreated by alum Aaron Asnicar, and is now available for presale!

MSAA Mad Dash Microthon

The 1^st Annual MSAA Mad Dash Microthon will be held at the Drums on Parade Alumni Tailgate on Saturday, 1 July 2023, in Middleton, Wisconsin.

MSAA Mad Dash Microthon Details

The 1^st Annual MSAA Mad Dash Microthon will be held at the Drums on Parade Alumni Tailgate on Saturday, 1 July 2023, in Middleton, Wisconsin.

MSAA View from the Chair - August 2023

Madison Scouts Alumni Lunch in Indy

Join Madison Scouts Alumni from all eras for drinks and lunch before DCI Semi Finals at Tavern on South in downtown Indianapolis. Tavern on South is a short walk from Lucas Oil Stadium.

We’d love to see you there! Check out the event on Facebook for the most up to date info.

MSAA View from the Chair - July 2023

Let’s Walk Through Your Summer…

The drum corps season happens quickly, and you don’t want to miss a thing! Let this article be your go-to place for everything you need to know about the 2023 DCI season as a Madison Scouts alum or fan. Use the links to learn more about each topic.

MSAA View from the Chair - October 2023

MSAA General Meeting on October 15th

Please plan to join the MSAA at our General Meeting on Sunday, October 15th at 7 PM Central via Zoom! These open meetings give you an overview of what the Madison Scouts Alumni Association is about. At this meeting, we’ll review what the MSAA accomplished over the 2023 season, discuss future plans, go over a proposed bylaws update, give an overview of the Hall of Fame nominations process, and reveal info about the upcoming elections for the MSAA Board of Directors. We’ll end the meeting with a time for questions.

After the meeting, we'll also have time to network and catch up with old friends who wish to stay online for a while.

To register for this meeting, use the link below. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. You must register using the name and email address listed in your CorpsData.net account for your attendance to be counted.

MSAA View from the Chair - September 23

Welcome, New Alumni!

The Madison Scouts 2023 season is officially over! The Sound Garden has flourished and now the members, staff, and volunteers have dispersed back to their homes.

Immediately after their last performance in Indianapolis, the corps gathered to sing Never Walk one last time together, hear from the staff, and hug each other tightly. While many 2023 Madison Scouts members can look forward to performing next season, 28 age-outs’ careers as marching members are over. For these new ageouts, some Madison Scouts Alumni Association representatives were waiting nearby, ready to welcome them to the other side.

Navigating Life's Rhythm: A Message to New Age Outs After the Drum Corps Summer Tour

Introduction
Greetings, young friend. As the final notes of the Drum Corps summer tour fade into memory, a new chapter unfolds before you—one that leads you back to the so-called "real world." Allow me, an older alumni who has walked this path before, to share insights, advice, and comfort as you transition from the intensity of the tour to the cadence of everyday life.

An Echo of Farewell
As the tour buses pull away, you'll feel mixed emotions that words can hardly capture. The camaraderie you've forged, the challenges you've conquered, and the shared purpose that fueled your journey will resonate within you. Please cherish these connections, for they will form the foundation of your lifelong memories.

Nick Venden - HOF 2023

Nick VendenWithin Madison Scouts circles from the 60’s Nick is best known as writing the first arrangement for Ballet in Brass when he was 18 years old and played as concert during the 1962 season. In 1963 he arranged the Stan Kenton version of Malaguena while still a teenager and we played as concert that year. He wrote most of the show music in ’62,’63, ’65, and ’66.

NIck has conducted multiple film scores at GlenGould Sound, Hollywood; Chicago International film Festival award for the film score, Red;Conducted orchestras all over the world and performed recitals in the USSR,Tokyo,Paris. Rome, Shanghai, and Baden-Baden.

In his words:

“Happily, my last professional gig was conducting the North American and Asian 7 year tour of the broadway show, Les Miserables… I’m currently feeding that new beast in the culture called, Virtual Reality.”

BA Music Composition, University of Wisconsin-Madison
MA Music Composition, Roosevelt University - Chicago
MA Music Composition with Interactive Digital Media, California State University at Long Beach.

Nine Inductees to the Madison Scouts Hall of Fame Class of 2023

The Madison Scouts, Forward Performing Arts, and the Madison Scouts Alumni Association are pleased to announce the 2023 inductees to the Madison Scouts Hall of Fame, including Ray Baumgardt, Scott Boerma, James Elvord, E.J. Hess, Lewis Kessler, Don Marcouiller, Sal Salas, Christos Theo, and Nick Venden.

The induction ceremony will be a part of the 70th anniversary of the Scout's home show, “Drums on Parade,” held on Saturday, July 1, at Middleton High School in Middleton, WI. The induction will occur at the “Brass, Brews, & Brats” pre-show tailgate, with additional recognition at the drum corps competition before the encore.
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October Update from Scouts Director, David Lofy

Greetings Alumni,

As we surpass one month after the season's conclusion, I'd like to provide you with a few reflections on the season.

'Our mission is to provide programs for youth in music and performance training through a positive environment that emphasizes character and social development, leadership, self-discipline, and the pursuit of excellence.'

Chris and I regularly discuss the corps' history, and we often spend the most time considering the work of C.H. Beebe. What led him to get involved in the BSA as a Scoutmaster and eventually the drum corps? What values were demonstrated by the corps and his leadership at that time? What cultural and values-based through-lines connect the 2023 edition to the 1938 corps?

Well...as much as 'things' (a 6,000-mile national tour, a corps representing 27 states and multiple countries, Bb brass) have changed, it doesn't take much investigation to determine that many of the values C.H. Beebe instilled in his young men embedded their way into our organizational DNA. Here are a few that stand out to me:

Ray Baumgardt - HOF 2023

Ray BaumgardtRaymond J Baumgardt (1940-1998) is most remembered for his work with the Madison Scouts as the principal brass arranger from 1969-1978. Still, he was one of the drum corps activity’s most prolific music arrangers. At the head of early “concept shows,” Baumgardt arranged “Alice in Wonderland” for the Madison Scouts as well as the Cavaliers’ groundbreaking 1971 “Circus Show.”

Throughout his drum corps career, Baumgardt created some of the most memorable drum corps arrangements of all time, including “Slaughter on Tenth Avenue,” “McArthur Park,” “The Way We Were,” “Rhapsody in Blue,” “Ballet in Brass” and “Brian’s Song.” Ray was selected to the DCI Hall of Fame in 2010. Ray’s arrangement of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” is still played by the Madison Scouts today. He was a former member and executive director of the Central States Judges Association.

Sal Salas - HOF 2023

Sal SalasSal came to the Madison Scouts in 1975. He previously was a percussionist with the DCI Finalist Stockton Commodores where he picked up his rifle skills by watching and interacting with the Commodores spectacular rifle line. Sal has been the only person to join the Scouts as a marching member and be instantly promoted to instructor as a marching member. The Scouts finished with an undefeated season in 1975 as DCI Champions.

Sal built a rifle dynasty with the Scouts. Most notable was the 1977 production of West Side Story, where the rifles were prominently featured on the PBS telecast during New York, New York, and Officer Krupke.

In 1978, Sal made his mark in the color guard world, where traditional uniforms and military bearing were the norm. Sal had a vision; he took the men from the Madison Scouts and the women from the Capitalaires to create a spectacle the color guard world was unprepared for. White painter paints, rainbow suspenders, striped socks, and t-shirts bearing the name of Madison’s most famous street - he brought us the disco storm of State Street Review. Sal brought the choreography from indoor to outdoor in the summer of 1978 with the Scouts. In the spring of 1978, Sal married LuAnn Russell and instantly had a family of rifle members from Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, and Pennsylvania living with them for the summer. Sal and LouAnn continued to open their home for members throughout the coming years.

Schedule for DOP Tailgate at Firemen’s Park

Schedule for DOP Tailgate at Firemen’s Park (adjacent to Middleton High School) on July 1 from 3:30 to 7:00 p.m.

• 3:30 pm - Tailgate begins
• 4:00-4:30 pm - Music by Brass Knuckles
• 4:30-5:00 pm – 2023 Madison Scouts Hall of Fame Inductions
• 5:00 pm – Alumni & Current Scouts Sing “You'll Never Walk Alone”
• 5:15-6:00 pm – Music by Brass Knuckles
• 7:00 pm - Tailgate ends

Scott Boerma - HOF 2023

Scott BoermaScott Boerma (b. 1964) played lead baritone as a member of the Madison Scouts in 1984 and 1985 and was the music arranger for the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps from 1989-2006 and 2015-2018, and now again in 2023. As an alumnus of the corps and long-time staff member and arranger, few have contributed to the Madison Scouts, the marching arts activity, concert band literature, and college band profession as much as Scott. He is an inspiring educator, prolific composer, and arranger, epitomizing someone who took the teachings of the Madison Scouts to heart.

Scott Boerma embodies what it means to be a Madison Scout. His work ethic in composing and arranging is recognized as one of the greatest in the activity. His music has inspired countless students as a conductor, composer, and arranger and wowed crowds for decades. His inspirational teaching style, care for the art, and tireless contributions to many aspects of music education are a model of excellence.

We need your help at Drums On Parade

This summer, the Madison Scouts will host two great drum corps shows, Drums On Parade on July 1st and The Whitewater Classic on July 8th. Lineups include Phantom Regiment, Boston Crusaders, Blue Stars, Genesis, Troopers, Colts, Cavaliers, and our very own Madison Scouts!

Running a drum corps show takes a small army of volunteers, and I could use your help. I am short on a little of everything this year, including stadium prep, ushers, and gatekeepers. The work is easy and fun, and you'll be helping our great organization! For your efforts, I can provide you with two complimentary tickets to either show and food and drink while you are working. Don't hesitate to contact me if you are interested in volunteering.