Blue Stars

Other Names:First Federal Blue Stars; merger Blue Stars Color Guard and Apple Arrows; Blue Star Cadets (1983-86)

La Crosse, WI United States
Founded: 1964

Active Junior
World Class

Year	Position	Score	Theme/Songs
1965			Downtown * My Lord and Master (from The King and I)
1966			Brighton Beach * Begin the Beguine * Mary Poppins Medley * When You Wish Upon a Star (from Pinocchio) * The Guns of Navarone * Patriotic Medley * Once In A While
1967	10	74.400	Let Me Entertain You (from Gypsy) * Second Regiment, Connecticut National Guard March * And This is My Beloved * When Your Lover Has Gone * El Cumbanchero * Our Day Will Come
1968	8	78.700	Stouthearted Men (from New Moon) * Black Orpheus * And This is My Beloved * Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah * Hall of the Mountain King (from Peer Gynt Suite #1) * Up, Up And Away
1969	7	82.150	Stouthearted Men (from New Moon) * Red's White and Blue March * Theme from The Odd Couple * Hall of the Mountain King (from Peer Gynt Suite #1) * The Trolley Song (from Meet Me In St. Louis) * Our Day Will Come * Festive Overture
1970	5	84.900	This Could Be the Start of Something Big * Red's White and Blue March * The Trolley Song (from Meet Me In St. Louis) * Malaguena * Latina * Our Day Will Come
1971	9	85.250	Strategic Air Command * Yankee Doodle * Yankee Doodle Dandy * Cute * Norwegian Wood * Latina * Climb Ev'ry Mountain (from The Sound of Music)
1972	2	87.450	Intermezzo (from First Suite in E-Flat) * First Federal March * Bridge Over Troubled Water * Norwegian Wood * Scarborough Fair * South Rampart Street Parade * Green Leaves of Summer
1973	3	85.500	Suite for Band * First Federal March * Battle Hymn of the Republic * Malaga * South Rampart Street Parade * El Cid * Conquest (from Captain From Castile)
1974	12	75.700	Tiger Rag * In the Mood * El Cid * Conquest (from Captain From Castile) * Hall of the Mountain King (from Peer Gynt Suite #1) * Light My Fire
1975	5	87.500	Canzona * (I’ve Been) Searchin’ So Long * Introduction * The Ballad of Billy the Kid * Soulero
1976	9	80.350	Jaws * O Bless The Lord (from Godspell) * Echano * Malaguena * S. W. A. T. * Bellavia * Soulero
1977	6	84.300	Wedding Dance * Shema * Hatikvah (Israeli National Anthem) * Hava Nagila * Selections from The Planets * Backwoods Sideman * If You Believe (from The Wiz) * Soulero
1978	8	84.600	Malaga * Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano (mvts Javanaise and Véloce) * Shema * Hatikvah (Israeli National Anthem) * Hava Nagila * Backwoods Sideman * Come in from the Rain * Tiger of San Pedro
1979	10	83.050	St. Louis Blues March * Birdland * La Fiesta * Strike Up the Band (from Strike Up the Band) * Children of Sanchez
1980	13	77.050	Pontieo * Go Back Home * La Fiesta * Children's Dance (from Merry Mount Suite) * March (from First Suite in E-Flat) * Second Suite in F
1981	16	75.700	Mathis der Maler * Country Road * Charter Jazz Suite * Carnival (from La Fiesta Mexicana) * April in Paris
1982	37	53.100	Canzona * Celebration Suite * Alexander's Ragtime Band * Image of Maria * Tiger Rag
1986	307	71.700	My Favorite Things (from The Sound of Music) * Day By Day (from Godspell) * God Save the People (from Godspell) * (I’ve Been) Searchin’ So Long * Soulero
1987	36	55.300	Rondo Capriccioso * Perpetual Rondo * At the End of the Day (from Les Miserables) * I Dreamed a Dream (from Les Miserables) * Soulero
1988	303	75.100	The Score * Don't Rain on My Parade (from Funny Girl) * Selections from Les Miserables
1989	29	65.000	Carmina Burana
1990	305	81.600	Rondo Cappricio * The Seventh Seal
1991	303	84.700	For the Beauty of the Earth * Praise Ye the Lord * Come Before Him * Requiem Aeternam * Let There Be Praise
1992	303	82.400	Celebration of Music by John Rutter & GLAD - A Mighty Fortress * Amen * Praise Ye the Lord * The Great Storm is Over * Tag
1993	301	85.400	Selections from Candide - Westphalia Chorale (from Candide) * Battle Music (from Candide) * Oh, Happy We (from Candide) * What A Day (from Candide) * Make Our Garden Grow (from Candide) * Overture to Candide
1994	24	61.800	Pictures at an Exhibition - Promenade (from Pictures at an Exhibition) * Dance of the Unhatched Chickens (from Pictures at an Exhibition) * Hut of Baba-Yaga (from Pictures at an Exhibition) * Market Place at Limoges (from Pictures at an Exhibition) * Great Gate of Kiev (from Pictures at an Exhibition)
1995	305	85.400	Dance Pieces - Armenian Dances * Liturgical Dances
1996	303	87.800	Appalachian Spring - Appalachian Spring
1997	26	67.200	Divine Comedy - The Inferno (from The Divine Comedy) * Paradiso (from The Divine Comedy) * The Ascension (from The Divine Comedy)
1998	305	85.700	The Trials of Spartacus - Spartacus Tone Poem * Love Theme (from Spartacus) * Third Symphony * War of the Elders (from Belkis, Queen of Sheba)
1999	26	70.200	Ivan the Terrible - Overture and Chorus * Song of the Fyodor Bazmanov (from Ivan the Terrible) * Uspensky's Cathedral (from Ivan the Terrible) * The Tartars (from Ivan the Terrible) * To Kazan (from Ivan the Terrible) * Humming Chorus (from Ivan the Terrible) * Dance of the Tsar's Men (from Ivan the Terrible)
2000	205	89.550	Carmina Burana - Were diu werlt alle min * Tanz (from Carmina Burana) * In taberna * Veni, veni, venias * In trutina * Ave formosissima (from Carmina Burana) * O Fortuna Plango Vulnera (from Carmina Burana)
2001	301	88.550	The Legend of Alcobaca - Dom Pedro's Revenge (5th Movement of The Legend of Alcobaca) * Ines (Second Movement of The Legend of Alcobaca) * Coronation of the Dead Queen (mvt 4 of The Legend of Alcobaca)
2002	302	89.850	Three Decades - Jewish Fanfare and Chorale * The Inferno (from The Divine Comedy) * I Dreamed a Dream (from Les Miserables) * Overture to Candide
2003	301	88.600	Visions of Blue - Gavorkna Fanfare * Chorale and Toccata * Follies (from Divertimento) * Lento (from Dance Movements) * Symphony for Brass and Percussion (mvt III)
2004	205	91.500	Reloaded - The Wings of a Boy Who Killed Adolescence (from Gundam Wing) * Tank (from Cowboy Bebop) * The Legend of Ashitaka from Princess Mononoke * Gundam Wing * Searching for Peace's Buried Corpse (from Gundam Wing)
2005	203	93.925	Pixelation: The Music of Final Fantasy - The Man With the Machine Gun (from Final Fantasy) * Liberi Fatali (from Final Fantasy) * Isn't It Beautiful? (from Final Fantasy) * Don't Be Afraid (from Final Fantasy)
2006	14	81.525	The Gift of Freedom - Grover's Corner (from Our Town) * Simple Gifts * O Come Emanuel * Liturgical Dances * America The Beautiful
2007	14	84.350	Power and Grace - Firebird Suite * Swan Lake * The Swan (from Carnival of the Animals)
2008	8	90.425	Le Tour: Every Second Counts - La Vie en Rose * Reverie * Toccata * Pavane * Pagodes * Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun * Clair de Lune (from Suite Bergamasque) * Symphony no. 3 (Organ) * 3 Gymnopedies: No. 1 * The Girl with the Flaxen Hair * Le Tombeau de Couperin
2009	8	90.050	The Factory - Hardin County (from Lincoln) * The Factory * Fancy Free
2010	8	91.900	Houdini - Notes on A Scandal * Morning Passages (from The Hours) * Primacy of Number (from Naqoyqatsi) * The Illusionist * Trapped * Tearing Herself Away (from The Hours) * The Mountain (from The Bucket List) * Nixon in China
2011	11	86.200	ReBourne - Main Titles from the Bourne Identity * Burly Brawl from The Matrix Reloaded * Bourne Gets Well from the Bourne Identity * Trinity Definitely from Matrix Revolutions * Treadstone Assassins from The Bourne Identity * Bullet Time from The Matrix
2012	13	84.600	The Blue World - Fate has Smiled Upon Us * The Explorers from Symphony No. 1, A Sea Symphony * Variations on Symphony No. 9 'New World Symphony' * Original Music
2013	12	85.450	Voodoo: I Put a Spell on You - At Last * Voodoo * I Put a Spell on You * One Speed (from The Chronicles of Riddick)
2014	9	89.600	Where The Heart Is - The Chairman Dances * Homeward Bound * Home * To Build A Home * Original Music
2015	11	85.150	Sideshow - Entrance of the Gladiators * The Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze * I Will Never Leave You from Side Show * Send in the Clowns (from A Little Night Music) * Carnivale Theme * Original Music
2016	9	89.050	Le Reve - Overture (from Le Reve) * Chapel (from Le Reve) * Tristan Und Isolde * The Dream Finale
2017	10	87.938	Star Crossed - Romeo and Juliet * Kissing You * #1 Crush * Young and Beautiful * Nature Boy * Lady Marmalade * Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend
2018	8	90.050	The Once and Future Carpenter - We've Only Just Begun * Skyscrapers * Precious Metals * (They Long To Be) Close to You * Images Oubliees * Rainy Days And Monday * I Won't Last A Day Without You
2019	8	91.225	Call of the Wild - Winter * Symphony No. 1 * Dance Panels * Sora * Avalanche * The Great Thaw (Vuelie Reprise)
2020			Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic.
2021			@ The Top of the World - No Me Diga * Piragua * Breathe * Everything I Know * Blackout * Fireworks * Finale
2022	7	92.775	Of War And Peace - War and Peace Symphonic Suite * Ballad of an Unknown Boy * Variations for Oboe and Military Band * No One Else * Confrontation on Eadu * Dust and Ashes
2023	11	88.625	In ABSINTHEia - Avrio * Green * Let Me Down * Such Letting Go Is Love * In Absinthia
2024	8	91.600	Universal - The Harmony Codex * Inner Universe * Oremus and Adoratio * Noctourne * Stardust * Saturn * All the Stars * I Remember * Yellow
2025			- - (Repertoire not available)

Position 200+ indicates Division II, Position 300+ indicates Division III, Position 400+ indicates Mini Corps.

CORPS Photos

2023 237 Photos

The Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps is a World Class competitive junior drum and bugle corps based in LaCrosse, Wisconsin.

Founded in LaCrosse in 1964 by Frank Van Voorhis and David Dummer, the Blue Stars Color Guard merged with the Apple Arrows Drum and Bugle Corps of La Crescent, Minnesota in 1965 and became the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps. The new corps began entering field competitions in 1966 and found a sponsor in the local First Federal Savings and Loan, which sold stock certificates in the corps as a fundraiser. The group was then billed as the First Federal Blue Stars. Dr. David Kampschroer started instructing the corps in that 1966 season and became corps director in 1968, remaining in that position until 1988.

The corps' early years were unusually successful. They appeared in the finals of every national contest they entered between 1966 and 1979. 1970, however, was the year the corps surprised everyone, as they defeated the Cavaliers and the Kilties, and finished in fifth place at VFW Nationals in Miami.

The Blue Stars were urged by Cavaliers founder Don Warren and Troopers founder Jim Jones to join in starting a new organization run by the drum corps and free from the rigid, inflexible rules of the American Legion and VFW. The corps felt that not only were they having their creative potential as artistic performing groups stifled, but they were being financially starved. During the 1971 season, the "Midwest Combine," composed of the Blue Stars, Cavaliers, Madison Scouts, Santa Clara Vanguard, and the Troopers were not only booked into a number of shows together, but they found a host for a show of their own, which was a spectacular success. A simiar group called the United Organization of Junior Corps (also known as the "Alliance") was made up of five top-tier Eastern corps. In 1972, the ten corps from the Combine and the Alliance joined with three other top corps to form Drum Corps International (DCI), which remains as the sanctioning body for junior corps in North America. Blue Stars director Dr. David Kampschroer also served as DCI's first executive director.

DCI's initial season of 1972 was the corps' finest year as a member of what was then called "open class." The Blue Stars had traded wins with Santa Clara Vanguard and were one of the favorites to win it all going into the inaugural DCI World Championships. In semifinals, the corps placed second behind Santa Clara. Although they beat SCV in Finals, the surging Anaheim Kingsmen passed them both to become the first DCI World Champion..

The corps remained a consistent powerhouse throughout the 1970s. They made DCI finals every year through 1979, and became the 1973 CYO National Champions and the 1977 VFW National Champions. The Blue Stars still hold the distinction of making the biggest drop in Top 12 standings in one year, from third in 1973 to 12th in 1974; and the biggest gain in standings in the Top 12, from 12th in 1974 to fifth in1975.

Then came the 1980s; membership recruitment fell off, and the Blue Stars finished 13th in 1980, 16th in '81, and dropped out of contention in 37th place in 1982. After the 1982 season, with no sponsor and being saddled with staggering debt, the corps ceased operations.

However, some staff members and alumni of the corps refused to see it die. They organized as LBS Cadets, Inc. and entered a corps in 1983, competing in the Cadet Corps International circuit under the name Blue Star Cadets, because the Blue Stars name was still encumbered with debt. For 1984 and '85, the corps restricted its competition to Drum Corps Midwest shows and worked at paying off the old corps' debts. In 1986, the debt had been sufficiently paid down that the new group was able to reclaim the name and legacy of the Blue Stars.

The rejuvenated Blue Stars became one of the most consistently successful small corps in DCI. They won the DCI Class A60 World Championship in 1989 and the renamed Division III title in 1993, 2001, and 2003.

As the corps approached its 4th DCI Championship in 2003, its fundraising bingo game suddenly was not only not making money, but it was losing so much that it had to be shut down, leaving the corps once more in dire financial straits. A plea to the drum corps community for assistance brought in enough money to save the corps.

After the 2003 season, Greg Struve was named the new corps director. He set about reorganizing operations, expanded recruiting into Minnesota and Iowa, and inaugurated a new capital fund drive called, "Return to Glory," As a result, the corps grew from 53 members in 2003 to more than 100 in 2004 and moved up to Division II. After continued growth and Division II placements of 5th in 2004 and 3rd in 2005, in 2006, Blue Stars returned to the highest level of DCI competition, Division I (now World Class),

After two 14th place finishes, in 2008 the Blue Stars returned to DCI World Championship Finals for the first time since 1979. With the exception of a 13th place finish in 2012, the corps has been in DCI Finals every year since, through 2019.

The 2020 season was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The corps returned to the field for the non-competitive 2021 season.

[Blue Stars; Drum Corps International; Drum Corps World, various issues; Gary Cuzzocrea, RAMD, 3/9/99]

Members (127)

Member Name	Section	Years Involved
Albitz, Mike	Drumline	1984 to 1990
Ammerman, Michael	hornline-baritone	1982
Anderson, Steve	Front Line	1994 to 1996
Anthony, Nicole	Colorguard	2003 to 2006
Appel, Jeff	Hornline & Brass Instructor	1998; 2002
Ashcraft, Zach	Trumpet	2007 to 2010
Athanon, Tyler	Baritone	2004 to 2006
Barber, JT	Percussion	2004
Barchenger, Mikal	Brass ContraBass	1977 to 1978
Belanger, Carrie	Color Guard	2004
Bishop, Mike	Percussion Faculty	2009
Blakeney, Sharon	guard	1978
Blakeney, Sharon	guard	1978
Brody, Robyn	Mellophone	2002 to 2004
Brown, Shari	Guard	1979
Bubenyak, Megan	Pit	2003 to 2004
Castor, Patrick	Horn Line	1965 to 1970
Conlin, Sarah	Colorguard; flag, rifle, sabre, dance	2005
Conniff, Richard	Contra	1991 to 1998
Cook, Ryland	Baritone	2020 to 2022
Crandell, Steve	F - Horn	1982
Cuthbert, Scott	Snare	1981
Dannen, Cody	Baritone	2004
Deal, Jennie	Color Guard	1996 to 1999; 2002
Doucet, Jocelyne	Hornline Tuba	2007
Duesterbeck, Wayne	drum	1966
Farrell, Chris	Colorguard	2003
Feuerborn, David	tuba	2006
Flash, Anoka	Soprano	1980
Flynn, Daniel	Baritone/Euphonium	2012
Fredrickson, Alana	soprano	1997 to 2002; 2004
Frost, Aaron	Hornline: Lead Baritone	2000 to 2002
Gearrin, Jake	Trumpet	2019
Glasscock, Valerie	Mellophone	2004 to 2005
Graves, Mark	Trumpet	2008
Green, Chris	Brass Caption Head	1999
Guns, Pam	Guard	1971 to 1974
Hall, Mark	horn line	1982
Hauer, Brent	Baritone	2005
Hefle, Scott	Baritone	1980
Herder, Jason	Snare LIne	2002
House, Ryan	pit	2002
Howes, Red	Soprano	1978
Johnston, Jason	Baritone	2005 to 2006
Jones, Tyler	Trumpet	2018
Jordan, Mark	Baritone	1979 to 1981
Kelley, Justin	Trumpet	2006 to 2007
Keys, Corkie	Color Guard	1979
King, Brian	Tenors	1993
Kirk, Tahle	Percussion Caption Head	2004
Larson, Alex	Soprano	2005
Larson, Alex	Trumpet	2006
Larson, Alex	Intern	2007
Lorenz, Elizabeth	Battery (bass 1)	2004
Machel, Guy	Baritone	1979 to 1981
McCune, Julia	Colorguard	2003
McGill, Lauren	Baritone	2004
McGill, Lauren	Bari / Euph Line	2004 to 2007
Melkowski, Kevin	Baritone	2005
Mielke, Dave	Baritone	1981
Miller, Justin	Backfield Conductor	2002 to 2009
Moore, Eddie	Euphonium	2012 to 2015
Nash, Sarah	Soprano	2004
Nichols, Jacob	Mellophone	2005 to 2006
Novak, Heather	Frontline	2004 to 2005
Oelschlager, Joni	colorguard	2001 to 2004
Papineau, Clem	Brass	1977
Pataska, Dawn	guard	1972 to 1975; 1979
Payne, Ryan	Bass Line	2002 to 2003
Pease, Ariel	colorguard	2005
Petroff, Judy	Color Guard	1980 to 1981
Pfister, Kelly	Front Ensemble	2005 to 2006
Phillips, Justin	Mello, Bari	2002; 2004
Polcher, Megan	Pit	2003 to 2005
Post, Mike	Tuba	2008
Quiram, Lea	Soprano	1997 to 2002
Randall, Kathryn	Colorguard	2009
Rensberger, Jaynee	colorguard	2004
Ritacco, Dan	brass instructor / mello & trumpet tech	2004 to 2006
Rivera, Cisco	Lead Sop (Soloist)	1971 to 1973
Rivera, Robert (Cisco)	1st Soprano	1971 to 1973
Saputo, Joseph	Mellophone	2009
Schlossman, Nick	baritone, euphonium	2005 to 2006
Schmidt, Jason	Baritone	2010 to 2012
Schmidt, Jason	Admin	2013
Seip, Cameron	Soprano	2002 to 2007
Seip, Dave	Hornline - contrabass	2000 to 2003
Seip, Dave	Brass staff	2004
Sensel, Geoffrey	Front lin	2002 to 2003
Severance, Jonathan	Front Line	2000 to 2001; 2003 to 2007
Severance, Steve	Soprano	1974 to 1981
Shockley, Richie	Mello/Trumpet	2004 to 2008
Simon, Natan	soprano	2000 to 2001
Skoubis, Zach	Color Guard	2004 to 2005
Soenksen, Justin	bass drum	2003 to 2004
Soucie, Miranda	Mellophone	2004 to 2005
Sterner, Christopher	Trumpet	2007 to 2008
Stoecker, Greg	Mellophone	2006
Stoleson, David	Drumline	1986 to 1990
Stoltman, Peter	Hornline	1998 to 1999
Talbot, Jesse	Soprano	2004 to 2006
Tayir, Henner	Drumline	1982
Thomas, Jeff	Snare	1997 to 2000
Todd, Chase	Contra	2009
Todd, Chase	Contra	2009
Toppin, Andy	Hornline	2005 to 2006
Traczyk, Rachel	Mellophone	2004
Traczyk, Rachel	Drum Major	2005 to 2006
Trader, Kyle	Trumpet	2006
Tryba, Mark	Soprano	1976
Turley, Melody	Hornline: Mellophone	2002; 2004
Turley, Melody	Drum Major	2003
Vaillette, Lois	Brass	1979
Vasquez, Ramon	Brass Caption Head	2002 to 2003
Villano, Mike	Baritone	2010 to 2013
Volkman, Dave	Snare	1976
Waggoner, Rachael	guard	2002 to 2005
Wagner, Robert	Soprano	1977 to 1980
Wallingford, David	french horn	1979
Watson, Aaron	Mellophones	1999 to 2000
Werlein, Mark Werlein	Percussion	1971 to 1973; 1975 to 1977; 1981
Werner, Andy	Tenors	1992 to 1994
White, Conrad	mellophone	2003 to 2005
Wolff, Erin	Colorguard	2000 to 2001
Young, Shaylee	Baritone	2003 to 2004
coon, jake	Snareline	2002 to 2004
mercure, oniel	percussion	1982

CORPS 38 items

Blue Stars

0 1 Photos

1964 1 Photos

1965 3 Photos

1966 2 Photos

1967 2 Photos

1970 1 Photos

1971 2 Photos

1972 3 Photos

1973 2 Photos

1975 2 Photos

1976 1 Photos

1978 3 Photos

1979 7 Photos

1980 23 Photos

1981 5 Photos

1982 8 Photos

1999 4 Photos

2000 6 Photos

2001 13 Photos

2002 43 Photos

2003 23 Photos

2004 28 Photos

2006 29 Photos

2007 47 Photos

2008 32 Photos

2009 73 Photos

2010 118 Photos

2011 137 Photos

2012 159 Photos

2013 49 Photos

2014 110 Photos

2015 97 Photos

2016 98 Photos

2017 90 Photos

2018 98 Photos

2021 133 Photos

2022 313 Photos

2023 237 Photos

Members (127)