One of the most-played composers in the history of DCI with hundreds of credits to his name, Leonard Bernstein has historically been synonymous with the sound of drum corps.
But except for a handful of recent instances like the Boston Crusaders docking “On the Waterfront” in their 2023 show, The Cadets’ vocally-styled “Mass” in 2017, and the 2011 Madison Scouts taking us into the heart of the Big Apple with “New York, New York,” it’s been a number of years since the Maestro has found widespread usage on the drum corps stage.
But turn back the clock nearly a decade and a half to 2009, and you’ll find one of the last great Bernstein bonanzas in Drum Corps International competition.
Troopers
Western Side Story
12th place, 85.100
The Troopers’ “Western Side Story” brought us Bernstein's “West Side Story” with a twist. Seamlessly blending selections from the musical with more contemporary works for wind ensemble, the Casper, Wyoming corps set their re-imagined love story in the Old West. It was a much-loved production that earned the Troop a spot in the DCI Finals for the first time in 23 years, as they stepped out onto the field at Lucas Oil Stadium to a roaring standing ovation before even playing a note.
Watch the 2009 Troopers
The Cadets
West Side Story: Celebration and Conflict
3rd place, 97.200
Utilizing something from Bernstein’s smash Broadway hit every decade since the 1960s, the Holy Name Cadets marked their 75th anniversary with “West Side Story: Celebration and Conflict.” Featuring their iconic Maroon and Gold look, The Cadets brought back several drill maneuvers from their storied past while also injecting their own modern flair. A running company front that evolved into a series of fast-paced geometric drill formations left corps members and fans alike breathless after every performance.
Watch the 2009 Cadets
Seattle Cascades
Beyond the Forest
22nd place, 74.950
“Beyond the Forest” by the Cascades took audiences on an excursion through the deepest, darkest places on land. After fire ravished the dense foliage destroying everything in its path, the rebirth and renewal of the scorched earth was perfectly portrayed by the Seattle corps with Bernstein’s soaring “Make Our Garden Grow” from “Candide.”
Watch the 2009 Cascades
Carolina Crown
The Grass is Always Greener
2nd place, 97.500
One of the most popular Carolina Crown productions of all-time, “The Grass is Always Greener” featured just a short snippet of Bernstein’s “Somewhere” from “West Side Story” combined with Harold Arlen’s “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” The Bernstein melody, surprisingly untouched by the corps’ award-winning brass section, was instead featured with the music-box-like sound of a celeste. The effect, as DCI Hall of Fame member Michael Boo put it, was “one of the most simple-yet-perfect moments of pure emotion ever brought to the field.”
Watch the 2009 Carolina Crown
Blue Stars
The Factory
8th place, 90.050
The Blue Stars took audiences back to the World War II era with “The Factory,” telling the story of the domestic contributions to the war effort in America. After portraying a rollercoaster of emotions, the La Crosse, Wisconsin corps closed out the production with Bernstein's "Fancy Free," from the ballet that told the story of sailors on leave in New York. The upbeat celebratory mood the corps created was perhaps summed up best with the featured narration by President Harry Truman, declaring, "This is a time for great rejoicing."
Watch the 2009 Blue Stars