Criterions

The Criterions drum and bugle corps was born in 1961 through a merger between the Ambassadors of Newburgh and the Colonial Cavaliers of Port Ewen and was sponsored by the John Kenney VFW Post 973 of Newburgh and the Kingston American Legion  Post 150.

The corps’ colors were red, black and blue and they were perennial members of the Northeastern circuit. In their inaugural season of competition, the Criterions were crowned the 1961 Interstate circuit champions while finishing 4^th in the Northeastern finals. The following year saw the corps place 5^th in the 1962 Northeastern finals but missed out in 1963, placing 11^th in the preliminary round. In 1964, the corps turned their prospects around, participating in the World Open “Senior” championships, placing 11^th in the prelims and climbing to a 3^rd place finish in the Northeastern circuit contest. 

They returned to the 1965 Northeastern where the corps placed in 4th. In late spring of 1966, the Criterions merged with the Interstatesmen of Albany to form the Criterion-Interstatesmen, informally known as the Empire Statesmen. The corps went on to compete regionally before disbanding at the end of that season. The Criterions went on a 14-year hiatus when a group of former members reorganized the unit, re-entered the field of competition and performed in the 1981 DCA championship preliminaries, placing in 16^th position. Over the next 3 seasons, they performed as a summer parade corps when in 1985, the membership split over whether the corps should concentrate on competition or parades.

Ultimately, they disbanded in 1985.

Paul Legault (DCX)