Alliance

The Alliance drum and bugle corps was formed in the fall of 2004 by Terry Reilley, Shirley Smith and Andy Ritchie. The corps was incorporated in the State of Georgia in August 2004 and was granted non-profit, 501 status in September. A board of directors was formed and incorporation, articles and by-laws created and approved within a month.

The Corps was organized with the intent to further music education while providing performers of all ages with an affordable drum corps experience. Non community-funded, the direction of the Alliance was guided by volunteer parents and a professional teaching staff, who worked closely with the young members. Alliance held its first full rehearsal in January 2005, with an attendance of nearly 75 people. The corps’ first public appearance was July 16th, 2005, at the DCA South "DCA Rocks the South" event held in Rockmart, where they placed 1st in “Class A” competition.

The corps performed in their first competitive field show only seven months later and captured the first place “Class A” titles at both the DCA South and DCA championships. From 2005 to 2010, the corps was undefeated in DCA South, having won four consecutive “Class A” titles and two “Open Class” titles in 2009 and 2010. In 2007, Alliance collaborated with Atlanta Quest, a WGI indoor percussion ensemble based in Marietta.

They were crowned the 2008 DCA “Class A” World champions and competed as an “Open Class” finalists from 2009 to 2011. The corps went inactive for the next two seasons to refocus their efforts on building a stronger program. They returned to the field of competition in 2014, finishing once again as an “Open Class” finalist at the DCA championships, placing 10th. In 2014, they also partnered with the Screamin' Eagle Marching Band from Reinhardt University in 2014. In 2015, the corps contended for the “Class A” crown, finishing 2^nd, reinstating their competitive scene by returning to DCA “Open Class” in 2016, finishing 12^th in the preliminaries.

They disbanded in 2017.

Paul Legault (DCX)