Bandettes

Sault Ste. Marie, ON Canada
Founded: 1963

Inactive All Girl
Division III

Year	Position	Score	Theme/Songs
1977			Swanee * Toot Toot Tootsie Goodbye * Loch Lomond * Amazing Grace * Auld Lang Syne * Ontario
1981	306	47.500	(Repertoire not available)
1982	306	29.650	(Repertoire not available)
1984	217	54.000	(Repertoire not available)
1985	215	53.000	(Repertoire not available)
1986	308	69.000	(Repertoire not available)
1987	309	64.700	(Repertoire not available)
1988	307	77.600	(Repertoire not available)
1989	306	76.200	(Repertoire not available)
1990	308	73.700	Music from the Motown Era - (Repertoire not available)
1991	309	75.900	(Repertoire not available)
1992	309	76.500	(Repertoire not available)
1993	318	58.800	Unforgettable * Avalon * Route 66 * Orange Colored Sky * It's Only a Paper Moon
1994	322	62.000	Forever Plaid - Mr. Sandman * Crazy 'Bout Ya, Baby * Scotland the Brave * Gotta Be This Or That * Undecided
1995	326	60.800	Music from Manhattan Transfer - Wacky Dust * Ray's Rockhouse * Smile Again * Rambo
1996	324	54.600	Gypsy - Overture (from Gypsy) * All I Need is the Girl (from Gypsy) * If Mama Got Married (from Gypsy) * Closing Credits (from Gypsy)
1997	332	52.100	What They Did For Love: A Tribute To The All Girl Corps - What I Did For Love (from A Chorus Line) * One Fine Morning * Scotland the Brave * For All We Know * Fantasy * Big Noise from Winnetka (from Reveille with Beverly) * Farandole (from L'Arlesienne) * The Trolley Song (from Meet Me In St. Louis)
1998	322	65.500	Clearly Canadian - Moventa * The Boat Song * The Briar and the Rose * Winter Games
1999	323	66.000	Music from the film Swing Kids - Music from the film Swing Kids
2000	320	63.800	Take the 'A' Train * Serenade in Blue * New York, New York (from On the Town) * You and the Night and the Music * St. Louis Blues March * I Got Rhythm (from Girl Crazy) * Sing Sing Sing
2001	313	72.550	DRIVE - Thomas Crown Affair * Powerhouse * Tough, Driving from Three City Blocks
2002	317	70.100	Think Outside the Box - Waltz * March * Groove(s)
2003	316	69.750	Selections of Bela Fleck and the Flecktones - A Flecktone Fanfare * Big Country * Intro and Hoedown
2004	313	66.000	Dancing on the Water - Dancing on the Water * Modesty * Altair and Vega * Duo Oto Subito

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

The Bandettes “All Girl” drum and bugle corps was founded in 1963 by Mary Wilson, who continued to serve as executive corps director for their entire existence. She was the original Majorette for the Sault Ste. Marie Legion Band and from there she formed the Band color guard that grew into the drum corps, hence the name Bandettes.

The organization launched as a nine-member flag team affiliated with the Branch 25 Royal Canadian Legion drum and trumpet band in 1963. Four years later, in 1967, it formed its own self-sustaining unit as the flag-bearers were augmented with percussion and rifles. The final piece, the bugles, were added in 1971, and the drum and bugle corps officially received its marching orders in 1972, performing in parades and exhibitions. The corps uniform was instantly recognized throughout the activity with their signature Highlander bonnet, and traditional plaid kilt. It was very distinguishable in a world of pants and shakos.

Because they were closer to Grand Rapids than Toronto, the corps competed often in Midwest circuits, including Drum Corps Midwest and accepted members from the United States. For several years, the corps integrated visiting girl marchers from the Philippines. The corps entered the field of competition in 1973 as members of the Badgerland circuit, returning in 1974. In 1975, the Bandettes performed at their first regional championship, the North Tonawanda Open, placing 11^th in the “Class A” division preliminaries. They also competed at the Girls Corps International (GCI) championships in Brantford, finishing in 10^th place.

The following year saw the corps expand its horizons with appearances at the “All Girls” division of the American International Open (8^th – Prelims), the Key to the Sea Open (7^th – Prelims) and the US Open (9^th– Prelims). They also finished 5^th in the Great Lakes “Class A” circuit preliminaries. The 1977 saw the corps continue to progress with a 4^th place finish at the GCI in Green Bay followed the next two years with appearances at the Canadian Nationals, placing 4^th in the 1978 “All Girls” finals and 5^thin the 1979 “Open Class” finals. In 1980, the Sault Ste. Marie unit competed at the DCI Canada “All Girls” championships with 4^th place finish in the finals.

The Bandettes competed at the DCI championships from 1981 to 2004, excluding the 1983 season, in the “All Girls”, “Division II” and “Division III” classes. In 1981 and 1982, they participated at the DCI “All Girls” prelims in Montréal, placing 6^th both years. This would be the last year for the “All Girls” classification. The 1983 season found the corps enter the Key to the Sea Open and the US Open “Class A” championship preliminaries, where they finished 23^rd and 20^th respectively. Over the next two seasons, the corps remained active in the “Class A” division with 17^th place (1984) and 15^th place (1985) finishes before moving into the “Class A/60” grouping for the balance of their competitive existence.

From 1986 to 1992, the Bandettes would remain in the “Top 10” in the “Class A/60” field, earning a DCI finalist spot in 1989, their highest ranking and arguably most successful year. Between 1993 to 2004, the corps persisted and continued to entertain as the last remaining “All Girl” drum corps, outlasting even the “All Girl” class. They would return annually to the DCI championships as avid “Division III” competitors, ranking from 13^thto 30^th over that span of time.

The Bandettes remained active as a parade and exhibition corps from 2005 to 2010 before disbanding in 2011. Mary Wilson left behind a true legacy and a great sense of pride for her community.

DCW, 1/93, p.6; DCW, 11/88, p.7; http://www.soonet.ca/bandettes/; CW, 4/03, p.5; GLDCA Facebook; Paul Legault (DCX)

Members (15)

Member Name	Section	Years Involved
Denny, Michelle	Drum Line	1999 to 2002
Doher, Jenny	Bassline	2004
Doucet, Jocelyne	Hornline Contra	1998 to 2004
Fedorchak, Cristina	Hornline-Soprano	1998 to 2002
Howe, Sandy	Drum Line	1994 to 2002
Kanuk-MacLean, Sharon	Brass instructor	1980 to 1985
Lanthier, Laura	soprano	1997 to 2002
Lanthier, Lizz	a little of everything	1996 to 1999
Snow III, Bal	Staff	2002 to 2004
Soucie, Miranda	Bass Line	1998 to 1999
Soucie, Miranda	Front Ensemble	2000
Soucie, Miranda	Soprano	2003
Tait, Crystal	Colour Guard	1995; 1999 to 2002
Vega, Angelina	pit	1997 to 1998
cormier, kirsten	horn line	1978 to 1989