Battalion, The

The Battalion drum and bugle corps was founded in 2014 by a team of local business professionals and educators led by Dallin Hatch, Luke McCollum, and Alyssa McCollum.

The organization's first two years were spent building a solid corporate and educational structure before any thought was given to recruiting members. The group also hosted educational events throughout the state to explain their mission in trying to create Utah’s first Drum Corps International (DCI) corps. In the spring of 2016, the corps applied for membership in DCI. After an evaluation of the organization's resources, staff, and plans, on May 18, 2016, DCI approved the Battalion to enter competition as an “Open Class” corps. 

As with many new corps in recent years, the Battalion chose to begin with only a short tour in its inaugural season, and its 104 charter members marched in only five shows in four states during the first week of July. In 2017, the 142 member corps appeared in six shows in five states in nine days, all with two or three “Open Class” corps competing. In the last two shows, the Battalion was the “Open Class” champion.

The corps elected not to compete on Sundays in order to allow corps members take part in preplanned community outreach and service projects where the corps is housed while on tour." The next season, the Battalion extended their tour to 10 competitions that included stops in California where they faced their stiffest “Open Class” competition to date, gaining invaluable experience in the process. In each of the corps' first four seasons, it did more than in the previous year. While the corps returned to California, its 2019 season ended in Denver two weeks before the DCI Championships.

The 2020 season was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and the corps did not field for the non-competitive 2021 season but returned to the field in 2022. In recognition of the organization's successful development and continuous improvement, at the DCI “Open Class” championships in Indiana, the Battalion's director, Katherine Steinacker was awarded the 2022 David Kampshroer Leadership Award for Director of the Year.

They earned a 7^th place finish in the “Open Class” finals and placed 27^th in the “World Class” prelims. In 2023, the corps enjoyed its best season to date when they place 5^th in the “Open Class” finals and improved to 26^th in the “World Class” prelims.

The Battalion; Drum Corps World; 15 July 2016; Drum Corps International; Paul Legault (DCX)

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