BREAKING: Vanguard Cadets To Go On Hiatus

Vanguard Music and Performing Arts have just announced that the Vanguard Cadets will go on an indefinite hiatus. The reasons cited for doing so are financial, as the costs of running a drum corps continue to increase, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic. Specific areas of financial burden for the corps include national vehicle and equipment shortages and the lack of affordable housing for the corps.

The Vanguard Cadets were established as a feeder corps into the Santa Clara Vanguard in 1971, a year before Drum Corps International was founded. They were initially just a parade corps but transitioned to being a field corps by the end of the 70s, competing in Class A. Their first time competing at championship events was in 1991, when they placed 4th in Class A/A60 finals. They would continue to compete through 2005, going to championships on a biennial basis, including their first DCI Title in 2000 (Division II). Starting in 2006, Vanguard Cadets started going to championships on an annual basis (with the exceptions of 2010 and 2019), and every year they attended from 2008 onwards, the corps finishing in the top three. This included championship titles in 2008, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2018, and 2022 (all Open Class).

This is a developing story.