Esperanza

Founded in the fall of 1997, the Esperanza Drum and Bugle Corps is the second competitive program supported by the Esperanza Performing Arts Association, Inc., of San Diego, California. The group has its roots in the San Diego Brass and Percussion Ensemble, formed a few years earlier.

The Esperanza organization is dedicated to the growth and education of performing arts and pageantry in San Diego County. Its mission is to ensure that performing arts continue to flourish in the community.

Current programs that the Esperanza organization supports include the two Esperanza de Luz winter guards, the San Diego Brass and Percussion Ensemble (a community band), and the Esperanza Scholarship Foundation. The San Diego Brass performs at local band and drum corps shows. The purpose of the ensemble is to provide an opportunity for young and old alike to share in the musical experience only available through performance.

The support and instructional staff involved with Esperanza comprises concerned individuals who support the mission of the Esperanza organization, and strive to provide the youth of San Diego a quality drum corps experience.

The corps competed in DCI Pacific contests in 2000, adding DCI regional competitions in 2001.

In 2002, Esperanza finished sixth in DCI Division II competition, but the 2003 version of the corps won the Division II/III Finals championship in Orlando. The corps was allowed to compete in Division I in 2004, but faced the additional hurdle of the theft of much of their percussion equipment and most of their contras late in 2003.

The 2004 show, entitled 'Five,' was built around an original composition of that name by percussion caption head John Mapes, developing visual ideas based on groupings of five performers. About 105 members marched in 2004, and they finished 21st in their first DCI Division I Quarterfinals.

[http://esperanzaarts.org/corps/history.php; DCW, 3/04, p.3; DCW, 6/11/04, p.22; Dave Strickler]

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