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Spartans Drum and Bugle Corps

Marching band in Nashua, New Hampshire, US From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Spartans Drum and Bugle Corps
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The Spartans Drum and Bugle Corps is a World Class competitive junior drum and bugle corps. Based in Nashua, New Hampshire, the Spartans performs in Drum Corps International (DCI) competitions.[1] The Spartans won the DCI Division II World Championship in 1997, 1998, 2004, 2005, 2007, and in 2019, 2023, 2024, and 2025 won the DCI Open Class Championship that replaced Divisions II and III (a change made to the divisions in 2008).[2]

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History

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Source:[2][3]

The Spartans Drum and Bugle Corps was founded in 1955 by Albert LaFlamme. LaFlamme was succeeded as corps director by his son, Peter. Today, the corps is run by Albert's grandson, Paul LaFlamme.[4]

A fire in 1999 destroyed nearly everything the corps owned: instruments, uniforms, equipment, vehicles. The dedication of the corps' members, staff, and supporters, as well as the greater drum corps community, kept the corps in operation and in competition, with the corps placing second that year at DCI Division II Finals in Madison, Wisconsin.

Despite being DCI Division II Champions five times, in 2009 the economic downturn forced the Spartans into bankruptcy. Bingo revenues had dropped off to a point where the corps discontinued that fundraising activity. Efforts to sell the corps hall had not been successful.[5][6] The corps went through a year of inactivity and reorganized, including a change of management and sale of the corps hall.[7][8] The corps then successfully returned to competition in 2010.[9]

Since returning to the DCI competition field in 2010, the Spartans have never placed outside the top 5 in the Open Class championship. The corps has also qualified for World Class semi finals consecutively since 2012, regularly finishing above a number of World Class corps.

In 2019, ten years after the corps went inactive, the Spartans were crowned the champions of the 2019 DCI Open Class World Championship with a score of 81.050. They were also the only corps to go undefeated throughout the regular season before world finals week. This was repeated in 2023 and 2024 when the Spartans were consecutively crowned undefeated Open Class World Champions.[10]

In 2025, after two undefeated seasons in a row, the Spartans announced their intent to transition to DCI's World Class for the 2026 season and beyond. They will undergo a hybrid classification structure for the 2025 season, and will compete in eight World Class shows, where they will perform alongside other World Class groups. An official vote at DCI's postseason membership meeting will determine their status for the 2026 season. [11][12]

The Spartans were selected to march in the 99th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade taking place on November 27th, 2025.[13]


On September 26th, 2025, the Spartans were approved by the board of DCI for World Class membership. [14]

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Sponsorship

The Spartans Drum and Bugle Corps is a registered non-profit 501(c)(3) musical organization. The president of the organization is Paul "PG" LaFlamme Jr. and the corps director is Anthony Montesion.

Show summary (1972–2025)

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Source:[2]

Key
Light blue background indicates DCI Open Class Finalist[a]
Goldenrod background indicates DCI Open Class Champion[a]
Pale green background indicates DCI World Class Semifinalist[b]
  1. [a]
    From 1986–1991, the Spartans competed in Class A, from 1992–2007 in Division II, and have competed since 2008 in Open Class. These are the same tier, just renamed.
  2. [b]
    From 1997–2001, the Spartans also competed at the Division I championships, and since 2011 at the World Class championships. These are the same competition, just renamed.
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