Academie Musicale

Académie Musicale drum and bugle corps was formed in the fall of 1982 and was built from a staff of professional musicians right from the start. The organization’s major focus was on achieving high quality musical standards that quickly allowed the organization to grow into a strong drum corps contender.

They also founded a “Lobster Festival” as a major fundraiser that would solidify their financial future. Having been dismissed as an aberration in their inaugural competitive season as “Class C” FAMQ member, they wore a red t-shirt over black pants as a uniform and played arrangements of classical music.

The following year, Académie Musicale was crowned the FAMQ “Class C” champions and quickly learned that its unique drum corps brand led to better competitive success. The 1985 FAMQ summer featured a season long fight for "Class A" with Académie always playing poor cousin by placing three to five points behind the leaders. At the Drum Corps East “Class A/60” contest, the corps defeated both corps while finishing 3^rd, missing out in the finals by one spot. 

The following season, they continued their surge to the top of the FAMQ circuit with a 2^nd place finish in the “Class A” division championships and followed up as the 1987 “Class A” FAMQ champions. In 1988, the corps appeared at their first DCI “Class A/60” championship, earning a finalist spot with a 5^th place finish, repeating the same feat in 1989.

Anyone who attended the 1990 DCI championships had four opportunities to witness eleven minutes of pure magic. A relatively obscure class A/60 corps, Académie Musicale stormed the event out of nowhere, not only capturing the DCI Class A/60 title, but also making a splash in the quarterfinals by placing 22nd. The tiny unit’s 23 member horn line even defeated DCI finalist Spirit of Atlanta in the brass caption.

The corps’ classical repertoire was performed to near perfection. Never before had any class A/60 corps dared to tackle such a difficult musical book. Arrangements were full of intricate brass articulations and continuous tempo changes. They never forced the volume levels, choosing instead to dazzle the crowd with magical interpretative qualities.

The corps, even though much too small to achieve significant field coverage, delighted the crowd with brilliantly designed body moves performed by all musicians. The show ended with brass members switching from playing their instruments to singing softly one after another.

The resulting delicate finish turned out to be one of the most amazing sound displays ever heard at a DCI Championships. The culminating hum haunted the memories of all in attendance. They also added their 2^nd FAMQ “Class A” championship and were voted Drum Corps East corps of the year.

In 1991, Académie moved up to the “Class A” division at the DCI championships with a 6^th place finish before going back to the “Division III” class the next season, finishing in 4^th place at the finals. The next two seasons saw the corps return to DCI “Division II” competition with 10^th and 11th finishes, the latter year opting not to participate at FAMQ sponsored events.

The 1995 season was a very successful year for Académie as they bounced back with another DCI “Division III” championship title and finished 19^th at the quarterfinals. They also captured the FAMQ “Class A” division trophy. The corps moved up to the “Division I” class in 1996 and finished 18^th at the DCI quarterfinals and a 2^nd place finish at the FAMQ “Division I” championships.

1997 proved to be the corps’ highest ranking in their history when they qualified for the DCI “Division I” semifinals with a 16^th place finish as well as winning the FAMQ “Division I” title. Although taking 1998 off to regroup financially, the group returned to the field of competition the following year with an 18^th place showing at the DCI “Division III” championships, culminating that year with a 3^rd place finish in the FAMQ “Division II” group.

Due to a lack of membership, the corps disbanded in 2000.

Paul Legault (DCX)

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