Drum and Bugle Corps

(cadets.org)

With extreme sadness, we announce that Cadets Arts & Entertainment has filed for bankruptcy, bringing our corps’ competitive future to an end. We know this comes as a shock to many, and our Board deeply empathizes with all of the alumni, staff, donors, parents, and volunteers whose hearts are broken by this news.

On April 2, 2024, Cadets Arts & Entertainment (CAE) filed for voluntary chapter 7 bankruptcy protection in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. This action was unfortunately taken as a result of, among other factors, a sexual abuse lawsuit that was filed in September 2020, six months after CAE was formed. The lawsuit names, among other defendants, CAE and alleges that an incident occurred on December 31, 1982, at an unofficial event of the Garfield Cadets. CAE is compassionate to anyone who has experienced assault of any form. CAE has also vigorously defended the case. In response to motions to dismiss, the court found that plaintiff-stated causes of action require CAE and all successor organizations to defend this suit.

Despite good faith efforts to resolve the case, CAE was unable to do so, and CAE’s insurance carrier rejected CAE’s request to provide coverage to fund defense costs or a judgment from an alleged incident over 40 years ago. Importantly, member fees and charitable donations made to CAE were not used to pay for legal fees as CAE vigorously defended itself. It has become financially impossible to continue defending the case given the unknown and crippling financial strain the case has created and the impact of any potential judgment levied on CAE.

This situation has led to the heartbreaking and tragic decision by the CAE Board of Directors to end CAE and The Cadets program. Unfortunately, the necessity of chapter 7 bankruptcy means that The Cadets will never return to the marching arts competition field again or risk arriving back where CAE is today. Surely, this outcome is not the forward path hoped for by this Board when decisions were made to move to the incredibly supportive community of Erie, Pa., and the Erie Sports Center.

CAE will continue to exist as a legal entity throughout the duration of the bankruptcy process, though it will no longer have active operations. Alumni volunteers will continue to coordinate alumni social activities. The Cadets Hall of Fame process will resume in 2025 after a pause in 2024, allowing for the current circumstances. A formal agreement has been reached to place all legacy and historical items with Bill Ives and the Marching Pageantry Arts Museum in Upper Darby, Pa., pending any disposition by the bankruptcy Trustee.

The CAE Board would like to thank the management, staff, donors, volunteers, alumni, and members that supported CAE since its formation as a new organization in 2020. This tragic ending to all Cadets programs does not in any way take away from the accomplishments and success achieved since 2020, reestablishing The Cadets and charting a solid, upward competitive and organizational trajectory to the future. We also would like to thank our corporate sponsors and organizational supporters who were critical to CAE’s foundation of competitive and organizational growth and success, including but not limited to:

• Yamaha
• Stanbury
• Apolla
• BD Performing Arts
• Vic Firth
• Zildjian
• Remo
• DSI
• CrownStore
• Drum Corps International
• Field and Floor FX
• Warburton
• Marching Health
• Ultimate Drill Book
• Lincoln Property Company
• Giles Communications
• SmartMusic

A special thank you must be made to the Erie Thunderbirds, the Erie Sports Center, Erie Bank, The City of Erie Mayor and City Council, all local Pennsylvania VFWs, the Erie YMCA, the Erie Police Athletic League, the Erie American Legion Posts and the entire Erie community. CAE cannot thank you enough for your kindness, support, and encouragement as we laid a new, 10-year foundation in our relocation to Erie. The future as your community partner was truly bright.

The Cadets’ memory will live on in our hearts and in our minds.

– The Cadets Arts & Entertainment Board of Directors

Highlights: 2024 Drum Corps International Tour Schedule

June
26 Midwest Premiere - Rockford, MI
28 DCI Central Indiana - Muncie, IN
   TBD San Diego - San Diego Area, CA
29 Barnum Festival: Champions on Parade - Bridgeport, CT
   Drums on Parade - Madison, WI
   TBD Los Angeles - Los Angeles Area, CA
30 Cavalcade of Brass - Lisle, IL
   Western Corps Connection - San Bernardino, CA

July
 1 Drums Across the Desert - Mesa, AZ
 2 Summer Music Games in Cincinnati - Mason, OH
 3 Rotary Music Festival - Cedarburg, WI
 5 Brass at the Beach - TBD, SC
   MidCal Champions Showcase - Central, CA
   Northwest Youth Music Games Portland - Portland, OR
   Show of Shows - Rockford, IL
 6 CrownBEAT - Lexington, SC
   DCI West - Stanford, CA
   Northwest Youth Music Games Seattle - Seattle, WA
   Whitewater Classic - Whitewater, WI
 7 DCI Capital Classic - Sacramento, CA
   River City Rhapsody - La Crosse - La Crosse, WI
 8 Drums Across the Smokies - Sevierville, TN
   Drums Along the Columbia - Pasco, WA
   Resound -Bakersfield, CA
 9 Drums Across America - Atlanta Metro Area, GA
   Northwest Youth Music Games Boise - Boise, ID
   The Kiwanis Thunder of Drums - Mankato, MN
10 Corps Encore - TBD, UT
11 DCI Tupelo - Tupelo, MS
   Music on the March - Dubuque, IA
12 Drums Along the Rockies - Cheyenne Edition - Cheyenne, WY
   Riverside Open - Riverside, CA
13 DCI Little Rock - Little Rock, AR
   Drum Corps Grand Prix - Clifton, NJ
   Drums Along the Rockies - Fort Collins, CO
   Gold Showcase - Vista, CA
   Midwest Classic - Northern, IL
14 Celebration in Brass - Ankeny, IA
   So Cal Classic - TBD, CA
15 Brass Impact - Olathe, KS
   West Texas Drums - Canyon, TX
16 DCI Abilene - Abilene, TX
   DCI Broken Arrow - Broken Arrow, OK
   DCI Hutchinson - Hutchinson, KS
18 DCI Central Texas - Central, TX
   DCI Denton - Denton, TX
19 Beats in the Brook - Bellbrook, OH
   DCI Houston - Houston, TX
20 DCI Southwestern Championship - San Antonio, TX
   Shoremen Brass Classic - Avon Lake, OH
   The Buccaneer Classic - Landisville, PA
22 DCI Mesquite - Mesquite, TX
23 Brigadier's Pageant of Drums - Syracuse, NY
   DCI McKinney - McKinney, TX
24 DCI Monroe - Monroe, LA
   DCI Southern Mississippi - Hattiesburg, MS
26 DCI Birmingham - Birmingham, AL
   The Masters of the Summer Music Games - Murfreesboro, TN
   White Rose Classic - Dover, PA
27 Bushwackers Invitational - Mt. Olive, NJ
   DCI Southeastern Championship - Atlanta, GA
   Music on the Mountain - Sheffield, PA
28 Drums in the Heartland - Orrville, OH
   NightBEAT - Winston-Salem, NC
30 DCI Annapolis - Annapolis, MD
   Soaring Sounds - Centerville, OH
   Summer Music Games of Southwest Virginia - Salem, VA
31 DCI Cincinnati - Cincinnati, OH
   DCI Glassboro - Glassboro, NJ
   DCI Huntington - Huntington, WV
   March On! - Apple Valley, MN

August
 1 DCI East Coast Showcase - Annapolis, MD
 2 DCI Eastern Classic - Allentown, PA
   Tournament of Drums - Cedar Rapids, IA
 3 DCI Eastern Classic - Allentown, PA
   DCI Eastern Illinois - Mattoon, IL
   DCI Rochester - Rochester, NY
   Drums on the Ohio - Evansville, IN
 4 Big Sounds in Motion - Reading, PA
 5 DCI Open Class World Championship Prelims - Marion, IN
   DCI Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh, PA
   Innovations In Brass - Canton, OH
   TBD Erie - Edinboro, PA
 6 DCI Open Class World Championship Finals - Marion, IN
 8 DCI World Championship Prelims - Indianapolis, IN
 9 DCI World Championship Semifinals - Indianapolis, IN
   Shining a Light on Music Education - Indianapolis, IN
10 DCI All-Age World Championships - Indianapolis, IN
   DCI World Championship Finals - Indianapolis, IN

(cadets.org)

Erie, Pennsylvania (October 13, 2023) — Cadets Arts & Entertainment (CAE), the non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that oversees The Cadets Drum Corps, has announced the suspension of The Cadets 2024 competitive season.

This decision follows a thorough CAE Board review of the organization’s current financial condition. The board concluded that, while overall planned expenses for the 2023 season were managed within expectations, the organization fell short of its fundraising goals for the year.

“This was a difficult decision to make, one that will inevitably be met with great disappointment and sorrow,” said CAE Board Chair John Broschak. “Simply put, budgeted fundraising amounts did not materialize as anticipated, which has led to an unsustainable financial situation and concerns about providing a quality Cadets experience for 2024. For these reasons, the CAE Board has no other choice but to suspend The Cadets’ 2024 competitive season.”

CAE also announced that Vicki Ferrence Ray has resigned as Executive Director. Brian Murphy continues as Cadets Corps Director.

Broschak noted that, since CAE’s fiscal year ends on October 31, the organization is determined to do the responsible thing by suspending before the new season begins in earnest.

“The care and concern for our students remains our top priority,” Broschak said. “We would only have moved forward with the competitive season if we had the ability to provide a quality experience for our members, staff and volunteers. The CAE Board will continue to evaluate our path forward in the coming weeks.”

Despite recent financial challenges, The Cadets had an admirable year, achieving fifth place and ending the season with the corps’ highest Finals score since 2015. Earlier this year, CAE successfully relocated The Cadets Drum Corps and the organization’s operations from Allentown, Pa., to the Erie Sports Center in Erie, Pa.

“On behalf of the entire CAE Board, I want to express our heartfelt gratitude to all members and supporters who contributed to this past year’s success and that of years prior. I also want to recognize the tireless efforts of our staff and volunteers who donated countless hours to help provide an extraordinary experience for our members,” Broschak said.

Established in 1934, The Cadets is the oldest corps of its kind, and one of the most decorated drum corps in history, having won 10 American Legion National Championships and 10 Drum Corps International World Championships.