February 8, 1938. The day marks the first rehearsal of the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps. If those first members could see into the future and find over 4300 alumni of the organization eighty-six years later, they would be proud to see the legacy live on.

In a Zoom call with over 70 participants of members, staff, alumni, and families, Executive Director Chris Komnick led a presentation that included a brief history and a look at the current Madison Scouts. 1938 signaled a rebirth of the corps with determination and passion to bring these values back to the community: character development, service to others, and pride in performance. Komnick also noted that the corps has always been inclusive from a racial and socioeconomic standpoint. This element of inclusion is an important element to the foundation of the drum corps, which ultimately led to gender inclusivity.

This page contains all of the 2236 members of alumni listed in CorpsData as of 12-29-2023. The main reason we are posting this information now is that we are missing lots of alumni. If you are not seeing yourself here, please update your information on CorpsData.net. If CorpsData access isn't possible, you can fill out our form online to add your information. We will upload data from this form at least a few times monthly.

You can also download the form if you would prefer to fill it out, print it out, drop it off at the Scouts Souvenir Stand at one of the corps shows this summer, or mail it to the address at the bottom of the form. Add your name to member roster (177.88 KB)

Also, if you see your name twice or more, we must merge your accounts with the correct information. If your Junior/Boy Scouts years are listed here, they must be moved to the Madison Junior Scouts organization. How? Please delete the item in your profile history area. Then, reenter your information by selecting "Madison Junior Scouts" rather than leaving the default Madison Scouts. Please email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you have any questions so we can clean up our records with everyone's correct information.

We will update this page approximately monthly to move toward a complete database. At first, everyone should focus on their information. Once you have confirmed all of your information is up to date on CorpsData, you can help us with departed alumni if they are not listed or incorrect information is listed.

You'll never walk alone! Thank you, MSAA Team

The MSAA is looking for a dry and safe place to store Madison Scout historical items that need long-term protection such as DCI trophies and old sensitive paper records in the historical archives. We don’t need a BIG space, but we would like to get some of the most sensitive items tucked away in a more temperature-friendly place.

If you have extra space for this request, please get in touch with Joe Murray at 608-575-0023 or email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

As summer's warm breeze embraces us again, our hearts are filled with nostalgia and anticipation for the memories that lie ahead. As members of the esteemed Madison Scouts Alumni Association, we carry a wealth of stories and experiences from the beginning of summer and the exhilarating journey of tour. Join me as we delve into the magical moments of donning the "Superman Suit" for the first time, the camaraderie of bus rides, the pre-show hype rituals, and the unwavering pride of rookies sporting their corps jackets throughout the scorching summer months.

As we pass another Memorial Day, my thoughts are drawn to the cherished memories I hold from the annual Memorial Day camp with the Madison Scouts. The experience marked the beginning of the drum corps season and instilled in me a deep sense of camaraderie and dedication. Allow me to take you on a journey through time, where Friday night arrivals, the unmistakable sound of Scott Stewart's whistle from the William Tell morning song, and the anticipation of showcasing our full show on the field melded together to create an unforgettable experience.

The excitement would bubble within me as I packed my bags for the summer and embarked on the journey to the Memorial Day camp. As the sun dipped below the horizon, we arrived at the school, welcomed by the familiar faces of fellow Scouts. The air was filled with palpable energy, a collective anticipation of what would come. Setting up our sleeping bags in our sleep circles, we exchanged stories and caught up with friends, reminiscing about past seasons and the Madison Scouts' impact on our lives.

Initially, this was produced and shown in 1977 as an introduction for those unaware of the drum corps activity. Featuring the Madison Scouts Drum & Bugle Corps, this program was produced by talented people close to the corps with connections to DCI and PBS (Madison) at the time. There are a few quality issues but it still is entertaining to watch.

This page contains 234 members of the Madison Junior Scouts (a.k.a. Madison Boy Scouts before 1973) alumni listed in CorpsData as of 02-11-2024. If you are not seeing yourself here, update your information on CorpsData.net. If CorpsData access isn't possible, you can use this online form to add your information. We will try to upload data from this form monthly.

Part 3, a 35-year look back – reprinted from July 22, 1988, DCW, Volume 17, Number 8

Part 2, a 35-year look back – reprinted from July 22, 1988, DCW, Volume 17, Number 8

[Vickers’ note: I will again insert some additional thoughts that further explain some of the details of the European journey. The tour began in West Germany, two years before East and West became one united country on October 3, 1990.]

This past month, the Madison Scouts set out for their 16-day tour of Europe. The tour would take them across the Rhine River in West Germany, Windmill country in The Netherlands, and finally to Shakespeare country in England.

For the Scouts, what made this tour more successful and interesting than any other was that it took place in foreign countries and that the feelings and emotions of those who participated were intense throughout.

With 85 years of photos, articles, and artifacts, the Madison Scouts have a rich collection of historical content that needed to be captured and preserved. As a sponsor of Drum Corps International (DCI), WeScanFiles was already familiar with and supportive of the drum corps activity.

“We had dozens of plastic tubs filled with content,” said Scouts Executive Director Chris Komnick. “We have had many starts and stops to get it digitized, but we needed a solution to get our history archives professionally scanned and accessible.”

In the spring of 2021, Komnick reached out to Blake Crenshaw of WeScanFiles and discussed the project. Soon thereafter a van-load of bins was delivered to the WeScanFiles warehouse in Fort Worth, Texas to initiate a year-long process.

“I was thrilled to be contacted by the Madison Scouts,” said WeScanFiles’ owner Blake Crenshaw. “As an alumnus of the drum corps activity, I am always seeking ways that I can give back. Helping the Scouts digitize their valuable archives was both a privilege and an exciting historical exploration.”

Read the full article at the MadisonScouts website.

Note: This is part 1, a 35-year look back – reprinted from the June 17, 1988, DCW, Volume 17, Number 5

[Author’s note: I have interjected some additional memories of setting up the logistics for the Scouts’ tour of Europe and my experiences that will provide additional context.]

For an organization or a business to reach such a significant milestone as a 50th anniversary is quite an achievement today! Being a drum and bugle corps and celebrating five decades in existence is certainly rare. The Madison Scouts are about to do just that, most unusually.

This page contains all of the 4524 members of alumni listed in CorpsData as of 02-15-2024. The main reason we are posting this information now is that we are missing lots of alumni. If you are not seeing yourself here, please update your information on CorpsData.net. If CorpsData access isn't possible, you can fill out our form online to add your information. We will upload data from this form at least a few times monthly.

You can also download the form if you would prefer to fill it out, print it out, drop it off at the Scouts Souvenir Stand at one of the corps shows this summer, or mail it to the address at the bottom of the form. Add your name to member roster (177.88 KB)

Also, if you see your name twice or more, we must merge your accounts with the correct information. If your Junior/Boy Scouts years are listed here, they must be moved to the Madison Junior Scouts organization. How? Please delete the item in your profile history area. Then, reenter your information by selecting "Madison Junior Scouts" rather than leaving the default Madison Scouts. Please email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you have any questions so we can clean up our records with everyone's correct information.

We will update this page approximately monthly to move toward a complete database. At first, everyone should focus on their information. Once you have confirmed all of your information is up to date on CorpsData, you can help us with departed alumni if they are not listed or incorrect information is listed.

You'll never walk alone! Thank you, MSAA Team