Hamilton Youth Performing Ensemble

The Conqueror II drum & bugle corps was formed in May of 1982 after a rift developed between the Ridge Raiders management and the sponsor.

With 30 marching members, many of them children of members of the original Conqueror junior unit of the early 1960's, the corps’ name was chosen in honor and extension of their predecessors. In 1983, the Hamilton group entered the field of competition, placing 5^th in the Canadian Nationals “Class C” preliminary round. The following year, the corps was crowned the 1984 Canadian Nationals “Class B’ champions, finishing in 2^nd position the following year and participated in the 1985 DCI Canada “Class A/60” prelims, where they finished in 4^th position. Over the next two years, Conqueror II moved up to the Canadian Nationals “Class A/60” division, placing 3^rd in 1986 finals, 5^th in the 1987 “Class A” division finals, appeared for the first time in the DCI “Class A” championships, finishing 10^th in the preliminaries, before going inactive the following season.

The corps reactivated in 1989, placing 3^rd in the Canadian Nationals “Standstill” division, moving up to the “Class B” category the next year, placing 2^nd in both 1990 & 1991 and advanced to the “Division III” class, placing 2^nd in 1992 & 3^rd in 1993. The corps also participated in the Canadian Open regionals, placing 8^th in the 1991 “Class A/60” finals and 11^th the 1992 “Division III” preliminaries, the 1990 & 1991 DCI Canada regionals, finishing 25^th and 22^nd in the “Open Class” prelims respectively and the DCI “Division III” preliminary championships, placing 12^th in both 1992 & 1993. The corps also toured for the first time with “Division III” preliminary appearances in the US Open (6^th), the Canadian Open (6^th) & DCI East (5^th), before once again going inactive in 1994.

Conqueror II returned to the field of competition in 1995 to 1999, performing in the Canadian Nationals, 5^th (1995 - Division III), 1^st (1996 – Division IV), 5^th (1997 - Division III), 4^th (1998 – Division III), 2^nd (1999 – Division III) & the DCI “Division III” championship preliminaries, 29^th (1995), 27^th (1996), 15^th (1998) & 17^th (1999). They also competed in several “Division III” preliminary regionals including the North American Open, 26^th (1996) & 18^th (1998); the US Coast Guard, 14^th (1996), 10^th (1997) & 13^th (1998); the Canadian Open, 18^th (1996), 14^th (1997), 11^th (1998) & the 1999 Garden State Open, placing 9^th.

In an effort to revitalize the corps, the Conqueror II administration reorganized as the Hamilton Youth Performance Ensemble, nicknamed HYPE, in 2000, and participated in the finals of the US Coast Guard (6^th) and the preliminaries of the Canadian Open (11^th), North American Open (18^th) & DCI “Division III” contest (17^th), culminating the season as the Canadian Nationals “Division III” champions. After performing as a parade and exhibition group the following season, the corps went inactive the next 3 years, before returning to field competition from 2005 to 2007 in the DCI “Division III” circuit, placing 18^th, 10^th & 12^th in the championship prelims.

The corps disbanded in 2008, supporting a competitive winter guard, Legacy, until 2021.

Paul Legault (DCX)

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