Chordaliers

The Chordaliers drum and bugle corps was formed in the fall of 1958 as the Wagner Chordaliers. They were sponsored by the Theodore Wagner Catholic War Veterans (CWV) Post 572 and the St. Annes’ Catholic church. Other sponsors included the Gross Yaksh VFW Post 6498 and the Harley-Davidson American Legion (AL) Post 400. They were under the leadership of George Mann Jr.

In 1958, the group started out with 7 brass, 5 percussionists and a drum major and their first public appearance was in the spring of 1959 at the CWV convention in Fond du Lac.  In the spring of 1962, the management decided to make the change to a marching unit. Used bugles were obtained from a disbanded group and the corps proceeded to learn a six-minute exhibition drill to perform at corps events. A girl color guard was also organized.

In 1963, the Chordaliers entered the field of competition in the Badgerland “Class C” circuit. The following year, the corps moved up to the “Class B” division, competing at the 1964 “Spectacle of Music” finishing 8^th in the prelims and they were crowned the 1965 WI VFW state “Class B” champions and the VFW Nationals, where they finished 51^st  in the prelims.

The next year saw the Wagner group continue to compete in the 1966 Badgerland “Class B” circuit but a sharp decrease in membership in 1967 forced the corps to limit its field competition, participating at the  WI VFW state convention, where they finished 2^nd in the “Class B” division.  The corps was renamed the Chordaliers, returning to the 1968 VFW Nationals’ preliminary contest, where they placed 41^st, followed by their first and only appearance at the 1969 AL Nationals, finishing in 17^th position in the prelims.

The corps’ distinctive uniform was comprised of white satin blouses, accented by a cross-band of gold and black and gold collar, cuffs and dickie, black tailored pants with gold stripe, gold and black cummerbund and sash, white shoes and a black pearlized shako, accented by an emblem and topped with a high white plume. In 1970, they competed at the US Open championships, placing 24^th in the prelims of the “Open Class” division and after, once again, losing many of its members, remained a regional competitor for the 1971 season.

In 1972, the Chordaliers merged with the Rebels of Milwaukee and formed the Chordalier Rebels.

Members (9)