In the fall of 1974, two area drum corps, Saratoga Springs’ Bethesda Emerald Knights and Speigletown’s Speigleaires, merged to form the Avant Garde Drum & Bugle Corps led by directors George “Jeff” Perkins and Ron Ghetti. 

That first year, Avant Garde marched in their black wool uniforms, baking in brutal heat, in nearly 30 parades to raise the capital needed to compete. For the decade to follow, the traveling corps of more than 100 performers, mostly between the ages of 15-21, staff, and volunteers, spent their summers competing in battles of artistic expression, forging lifelong friendships, and making life-changing memories.

In 1975, Avant Garde was undefeated in the Northeast drum corps circuit. They won the Class B World Open Championship, and rocketed onto the national stage, earning the coveted spot of 25th at the prestigious Drum Corps International (DCI) Championships, granting them DCI membership.

Drum Corps International, deemed Marching Music’s Major League™, is comprised of the world’s most elite marching ensembles of student musicians and performers. Their youth-focused competitive drum corps events attract tens of thousands to stadiums across North America.

The Road to Glory

In 1977, Ron Ghetti resigned as co-director, while Jeff Perkins, who began playing bugle with the Saratoga NY Ambassador Drum Corps in 1953 at the age of 11, remained sole Director of Avant Garde until they disbanded in 1985.

Each summer, a caravan of three buses, two vans, a truck, and a trailer traveled 10,000 miles for six-week tours across the country.  The entourage slept shoulder-to-shoulder in school gymnasiums and prepared more than 20,000 meals in their kitchens. Avant Garde held instructional clinics and practiced in football fields for performances at large high school, college, and major professional stadiums in the US and Canada.

With Everyone in Step

In addition to traveling from across New York, members came from eight states, Canada, and England to compete with the world class Avant Garde Drum & Bugle Corps. Rehearsals were held weekly at the Saratoga Springs Armory and full corps practices took place in the old Pyramid Mall parking lot.

Avant Garde won the New York State Championship for five consecutive years and performed for monumental celebrations including during the Empire State Winter Games’ opening ceremony, and at the grand opening of the Saratoga City Center.

To fund their activities, Avant Garde raised more than a million dollars over the course of their 11-year lifespan. Major local supporters included Charlie Dake, co-founder of the Stewart’s Shops Corporation, and Joe Dalton, Executive Director of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce from 1970-2009.

Avant Garde was supported by two dedicated Booster Clubs, one in Saratoga and one in Rome, NY. Satellite recruiting offices were set up in Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia. The generous gift of two tour buses from a pleased North Carolina parent kept the corps rolling.

Marching On

After more than a decade, Avant Garde hit a high note in 1984, rising to achieve 15th place at the DCI World Championships.

After the conclusion of their 1985 season, Avant Garde stopped competing and founded the Avant Garde annual scholarship, an award presented by DCI to deserving youth pursuing a career in music.

Among Avant Garde’s more than 1,000 alumni have been those who went on to build successful careers in music, including Saratoga Springs High School Music Department Head and Conductor of Skidmore College’s Concert Band, Milton Lee; former Dolly Parton set drummer, Mark Mauceri; and Tony Gambaco, director of the powerhouse local wedding and corporate band, Ten Most Wanted. Introducing the next generation of buglers to the tradition, Tony and his son, Carson, also play a riveting “Call to Post” at the Saratoga Race Course during the summer season.

AVANT GARDEA

World Class DCI Drum & Bugle Corps 1975-1985

from Saratoga Springs, NY

by Jeff Perkins - Corps Director

Scan here for Jeff Perkins’ Full Un-Edited Article from the 50^th Anniversary Book!

Avant Garde Alumni Corps playing at the 2019 Flag Day parade on Broadway in Saratoga.