Bandettes

Sault Ste. Marie, ON Canada
Founded: 1963

Inactive All Girl
Division III

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Results from final championship competition of the year Position: 320 Position 200+ indicates Division II, DCA Class A or DCI Open Class as appropriate to the year, Position 300+ indicates Division III, Position 400+ indicates Mini Corps, Position 500+ indicates International Division, and Position 999 indicates position unknown Score: 63.800
Repertoire for 2000
Take the 'A' Train by Billy Strayhorn Duke Ellington 2 CD Set - LRC Ltd (CDC 9066)
Serenade in Blue by Glenn Miller Stan Getz West Coast Jazz
New York, New York (from On the Town) by Leonard Bernstein On the Town - Original Cast Members - MCA MCAD-10280
You and the Night and the Music by Arthur Schwartz \| Howard Dietz Band Wagon (1953) Soundtrack
St. Louis Blues March by William C. Handy \| adapted by Glenn Miller Glenn Miller Chatanooga Choo Choo (adapted by Glenn Miller from St. Louis Blues by Handy)
I Got Rhythm (from Girl Crazy) by George Gershwin \| Ira Gershwin Rhapsody in Russia - A Gershwin Celebration - Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra - Sheffield Lab CD-28
Sing Sing Sing by Louis Prima Benny Goodman

The Bandettes “All Girl” drum and bugle corps was founded in 1963 by Mary Wilson, who continued to serve as executive corps director for their entire existence. She was the original Majorette for the Sault Ste. Marie Legion Band and from there she formed the Band color guard that grew into the drum corps, hence the name Bandettes.

The organization launched as a nine-member flag team affiliated with the Branch 25 Royal Canadian Legion drum and trumpet band in 1963. Four years later, in 1967, it formed its own self-sustaining unit as the flag-bearers were augmented with percussion and rifles. The final piece, the bugles, were added in 1971, and the drum and bugle corps officially received its marching orders in 1972, performing in parades and exhibitions. The corps uniform was instantly recognized throughout the activity with their signature Highlander bonnet, and traditional plaid kilt. It was very distinguishable in a world of pants and shakos.

Because they were closer to Grand Rapids than Toronto, the corps competed often in Midwest circuits, including Drum Corps Midwest and accepted members from the United States. For several years, the corps integrated visiting girl marchers from the Philippines. The corps entered the field of competition in 1973 as members of the Badgerland circuit, returning in 1974. In 1975, the Bandettes performed at their first regional championship, the North Tonawanda Open, placing 11^th in the “Class A” division preliminaries. They also competed at the Girls Corps International (GCI) championships in Brantford, finishing in 10^th place.

The following year saw the corps expand its horizons with appearances at the “All Girls” division of the American International Open (8^th – Prelims), the Key to the Sea Open (7^th – Prelims) and the US Open (9^th– Prelims). They also finished 5^th in the Great Lakes “Class A” circuit preliminaries. The 1977 saw the corps continue to progress with a 4^th place finish at the GCI in Green Bay followed the next two years with appearances at the Canadian Nationals, placing 4^th in the 1978 “All Girls” finals and 5^thin the 1979 “Open Class” finals. In 1980, the Sault Ste. Marie unit competed at the DCI Canada “All Girls” championships with 4^th place finish in the finals.

The Bandettes competed at the DCI championships from 1981 to 2004, excluding the 1983 season, in the “All Girls”, “Division II” and “Division III” classes. In 1981 and 1982, they participated at the DCI “All Girls” prelims in Montréal, placing 6^th both years. This would be the last year for the “All Girls” classification. The 1983 season found the corps enter the Key to the Sea Open and the US Open “Class A” championship preliminaries, where they finished 23^rd and 20^th respectively. Over the next two seasons, the corps remained active in the “Class A” division with 17^th place (1984) and 15^th place (1985) finishes before moving into the “Class A/60” grouping for the balance of their competitive existence.

From 1986 to 1992, the Bandettes would remain in the “Top 10” in the “Class A/60” field, earning a DCI finalist spot in 1989, their highest ranking and arguably most successful year. Between 1993 to 2004, the corps persisted and continued to entertain as the last remaining “All Girl” drum corps, outlasting even the “All Girl” class. They would return annually to the DCI championships as avid “Division III” competitors, ranking from 13^thto 30^th over that span of time.

The Bandettes remained active as a parade and exhibition corps from 2005 to 2010 before disbanding in 2011. Mary Wilson left behind a true legacy and a great sense of pride for her community.

DCW, 1/93, p.6; DCW, 11/88, p.7; http://www.soonet.ca/bandettes/; CW, 4/03, p.5; GLDCA Facebook; Paul Legault (DCX)

Members (15)

Member Name	Section	Years Involved
Denny, Michelle	Drum Line	1999 to 2002
Doher, Jenny	Bassline	2004
Doucet, Jocelyne	Hornline Contra	1998 to 2004
Fedorchak, Cristina	Hornline-Soprano	1998 to 2002
Howe, Sandy	Drum Line	1994 to 2002
Kanuk-MacLean, Sharon	Brass instructor	1980 to 1985
Lanthier, Laura	soprano	1997 to 2002
Lanthier, Lizz	a little of everything	1996 to 1999
Snow III, Bal	Staff	2002 to 2004
Soucie, Miranda	Bass Line	1998 to 1999
Soucie, Miranda	Front Ensemble	2000
Soucie, Miranda	Soprano	2003
Tait, Crystal	Colour Guard	1995; 1999 to 2002
Vega, Angelina	pit	1997 to 1998
cormier, kirsten	horn line	1978 to 1989