For the second year, alumni of the Madison Scouts will be participating in the Krewe of Orpheus parade founded by Harry Connick Jr in 1993, as part of the 2020 Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans, LA.
Organized by two Scotts – Pearson and Stewart – the journey involves spending up to a week traveling to, preparing for, marching in and returning from this prestigious event. It’s not only an opportunity to again don the famous historical Explorer Scout uniform but a chance to connect or reconnect with fellow alumni who marched in the corps during a variety of eras, from the 1950s to the 2000s!
This most recent sojourn by past members began in 2018 when 157 alumni marched through the French Quarter playing specially-arranged musical selections that included a medley consisting of South Rampart March, Bill Bailey, and Saints Go Marching In, and another piece titled Little Liza Jane . . . all quite appropriate for this well-known series of parades held in historic New Orleans since the 1700s.
A little history of the Mardi Gras . . . By the 1730s, Mardi Gras was celebrated openly in New Orleans, but not with the parades we know today. In the early 1740s, Louisiana's governor, the Marquis de Vaudreuil, established elegant society balls, which became the model for the New Orleans Mardi Gras balls of today.
The earliest reference to Mardi Gras "Carnival" appears in a 1781 report to the Spanish colonial governing body. That year, the Perseverance Benevolent & Mutual Aid Association was the first of hundreds of clubs and carnival organizations formed in New Orleans. Learn more here -- https://www.mardigrasneworleans.com/history/.
Details about the specific parade the Scouts will be in can be found here – www.kreweoforpheus.com.
For 2020 the Madison Scouts can be seen on Monday, February 24, beginning at 6:00 PM (Central Standard Time). A total of 123 alumni are signed up this year, including 86 brass, 22 percussion, 11 in the honor guard and rifles, plus four drum majors – Craig Mason, John and Bill Schrack, and Doug Tholo.
Details about bus transportation, departure, and return, plus the official hotel where members will stay, the schedule of rehearsals in New Orleans, the practice site and parade route are included on the official Web site – www.msarp.com.
The teaching staff involved in the 2020 project includes Craig Mason and Shaun Owens (brass), Jeff Moore, Tim Healey, and Scott Pearson (percussion), Kurt Wouters (guard), as well as Chris Jacobson, and Dave Koelz. Musical arrangements have been provided by Craig Mason, John Georgeson, Christos Theo, and Jeff Moore. The rifle work provided by Kurt Wouters. This year one additional tune has been added to the repertoire – Joe Avery Blues.
The traditional day celebrated around the country, Fat Tuesday, is certainly part of the festivities during Mardi Gras. It will be a free day for the alumni members.
A bus for performing members, provided by Pioneer in Milwaukee, will depart Madison for the 18-hour trip to New Orleans, returning to Madison early morning on Thursday, February 27. The Govenaires are once again providing their equipment truck to help transport equipment to the New Orleans.
For additional information, please contact Scott Stewart by calling 608-842-0217 or e-mail