Wandering With The Waters 6-5-63

By Betty and Joe Waters
Drum Corps News 6-5-63 issue

The Alpine Girls drum and bugle corps is perhaps the largest all-girl unit in the country with over 100 playing members. They were organized in 1958 by Mr. Vincent Bruni and a handful of interested parents who reised the necessary funds to purchase instruments and uniforms to get them started. Uniform design was chosen from sketches submitted by members of the parent group. The name "Alpines" comes from the Swiss style of uniform.

In the beginning 30 girls were enlisted, and their first season saw them become the most crowd-appealing parade corps in Monroe County. By the end of the season, they were invited to appear as exhibition corps in two Class "A" competitions, an honor unheard of for a first-year corps.

Their second season saw them go M&M in six American competitions, and they were invited to appear in the Canadian National Exposition in Toronto, Canada. At this time they were presented a Canadian flag by a Canadian Legion Post and are one of the few American groups who have been extended this honor.

They placed second in the 7th district American Legion Championship contest in the Junior classification and their very active color guard placed high in the State Championships contest in Albany, New York in 1961.

The girls have become known as the Sweethearts of the Drum Corps world and are one of the most colorful and crowd-pleasing corps in the country today. This group is one of the four units which comprise the United Drum Corps of Rochester, New York.

They are directed by Mr. Vincent Bruni. Father Udall is musical arranger, the horns are instructed by Ronald Jacobs and John Damschroder, and drums are under Collin Campbell.

Music for 1963 begins with an off the line fanfare from "Quo Vadis", into "El Cid", a unique arrangement of "Bill Bailey", and a change of pace with "Two Different Worlds". Their three part concert consists of "Flower Drum Song", "You Are Beautiful" and "Begin The Beguine". The military is represented by "El Capitan" and "The Thunderer." Color Presentation is "America" into "Miserlou" and exit with "Beyond The Sea."

(click on pic. for a clearer view)

CORPS PERSONALITY: The picture of the most attractive girl you see here is of Onnie White, a drum corps member since 1959, at which time she became a member of the Alpine Girls as rifle bearer. On September 6th., 1963, Onnie will be 17. She is a junior at Eastridge High School in Irondequoit, N.Y. where she is majoring in business administration. She plans to continue this study at Cobbleskill on the Hudson. Her ambition??? Secretary and/or model.

Her favorite junior corps is the Optimists of Toronto and she favors the Reading Bucs in the senior division. Garfield's King of Kings is her most enjoyable music.

Onnie has recently transfered to the Statesmen color guard, where she is featured rifle bearer. One of the nicest girls we know and a great asset to any color guard we give you Onnie White.

NEWS & VIEWS: We would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank the members of the Geneseeans of Rochester, N.Y. for having been made the first honorary members of this corps. In our estimation this is one of the hardest working outfits in this area. We wish them continued success in all their endeavors.

Doug Saunders of the York Lions tells us they have been invited to the Lions International Convention in Miami Beach June 19th - 22nd. Have fun, Doug.

Received a button from Jim Wolfe of the Albion Grenadiers of Albion, N.Y. commemorating their annual contest which will be on August 10th. This will be an all-junior show with the Optimists from Toronto, the Mighty St. Joe's of Batavia, N.Y., Alpine Girls from Irondequoit, N.Y., the Conqueror from Hamilton, Ontario, and the Magnificent Yankees from Utica, N.Y.

Thanks to Charles Eastland for the wonderful copy of the Mariner's Log. Keep it coming, Chuck, and congratulations on taking second place in junior baritone bugle individuals in the Pacific Northwest Standstill in Seattle.

Something new has come to the world of drum corps in the form of Celebrations Unlimited. This is an outfit run by Jack Barr of Warren Cornplanter fame and Jim Deigan. They have formed a booking agency for contests and parades to work in association with committees interested in promoting drum corps activity.

Celebrations Unlimited have on tap so far a senior contest on Labor Day in Lock Haven, Pa. co-sponsored by the Lockhaven Central Labor Union and the Lockhaven Lancers junior corps. Judges are All-American Pa. Chapter with a total prize money of $1650. A parade and all junior contest have been contracted for Sheffield, Pa. This is a first for the city of Sheffield and will be sponsored by the local Volunteer Fire Company with a prize card of $1000. Any information concerning these events or Celebrations Unlimited should be addressed to Jack Barr at Box 322, Warren, Pa.

Remember --- Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself. --- Hang in there.