CV History

CorpsVets, Inc. is a 501(c)3 not for profit organization and an open class (over 65 members) drum and bugle corps in the state of Georgia performing as Atlanta CV Drum & Bugle Corps. The corps is a musical performance group which consists of over 100 members playing brass and percussion instruments and spinning flags, rifles and sabers to superb achievement levels with high energy, excitement and entertainment. The performance and competitive season is during the summer months where we will perform at approximately six drum and bugle corps competitions and several parades in the South and Northeast, culminating at the championships held on Labor Day weekend. 2021 will mark our 23rd year of continuous operation.

The demographics of the corps include members from ages 14 to 55. Occupations range from high school and college students to lawyers, band directors, engineers, scientists and doctors. Primary membership is from the immediate Atlanta area, but because of the corps’ great reputation for excellence we also draw members from all over the country including the states of Louisiana, Texas, Ohio, Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, Virginia, Louisiana, Texas, North Carolina, South Carolina and Mississippi. We have had members join us from other countries such as Germany and Columbia.

The Atlnata CorpsVets started as a simple idea in the Summer of 1997. The first rehearsal of the corps was in January of 1998 with the very first performance occurring that March at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Atlanta. Summer of 1998 found the corps boasting a membership of 44 performers, and performing exhibitions at a local Drum Corps International (DCI) competition as well as marching in the WSB-TV Salute 2 America Parade on 4th of July in downtown Atlanta. The final performance that inaugural season was at the Drum Corps Associates (DCA) Championship in Allentown , PA where several members represented the corps in the Individual and Ensemble Competition.

Subsequent years have shown steady growth in both the membership and talent of the corps. The corps has participated in the WSB-TV Salute 2 America Parade and the Atlanta St . Patrick’s Day parade. Each year the corps competes at the local DCI competitions in Georgia and Alabama as well as hosts their own drum corps competition each August.

In 1999 the corps grew to 55 members and traveled to the DCA Championships, placing 4th in the mini-corps competition. Continued growth in 2000, featured 56 members , and a second place at the DCA Championships in the Class A division. The CorpsVets had a very exciting year in 2001 when the 65 member corps won the Class A title at the championships with a record score in that division. The following year, 2002, the corps grew to 94 members , advanced to the highly competitive Open Class Division of DCA and tied for 11th place at the championships.

Competing again in the Open Class Division, the corps passed another milestone by earning an 8th place finish at the 2003 DCA Championships in Scranton PA with the production of “The Wild Party”.

For 2004 the CorpsVets fielded a production titled “The Heart of Jazz” entertaining the audience to a 10th place finish at championships. In 2005 the music of Don Ellis was presented including his great “Open Wide” and “Strawberry Soup” and moved up one position from the previous year, 9^th place.

The 2006 season had the corps on “A Trip to Vegas!”. The excitement and anticipation of arriving in Vegas peaks by opening with a screaming arrangement of the classic “Luck Be a Lady”. Followed by Michael Buble’s “Feeling Good”, then the party at the “Copacabanna” with Barry Manilow. The big finale had Elvis in the building with “Viva Las Vegas!” The corps achieved 9^th place at DCA championships and won the heart of many a fan with this fun visual program of pure entertainment!

The 2007 season was the tenth year for performing for the corps and the show was aptly titled “Celebration!” – 9^th place. In 2008 the corps performance looked back on the roots of Appalachian music and performed a show titled “Simple Gifts” – 9^th place. The 2009 season explored more southern jazz music with “Southern Suite” – 10^th place.

The 2010 season saw an influx of new, highly experienced staff, new uniforms, reduced member tuition, the corps largest size to date (102) and show titled “360” using music from Disney’s Millennium Celebration – 8^th place. The 2011 corps journeyed into a full classical genre featuring the music of Shostokovich’s, Jacob De Haan’s and David Holsinger with the production “Dusk to Dawn” – 8^th place.

The 2012 corps blended the sounds of Shostakovich, Walton and Elgar with the music of the classic rock group QUEEN to create a show that entertained the crowds – ‘Royalty’ like had seen before with “God Save the Queen”.

2013 saw CV take a celestial trip with “Carpe Caelum – Seize the Heavens” playing Interstellar Suite with Dream Theater and some Elton John. A record-breaking season, both in membership (largest corps to date 111) and competition: the corps broke 90 for the first time, achieved a record score and placement – 6^th place, higher than any other southern DCA corps.

2014 had CV slip into the dark side with a magical, mystical endeavor titled “HEX” – 6^th place with another record score and record corps size (122).

The 2015 edition of Atlanta CV took an iconic view of drum corps with “EyeConic” – 5^th place, breaking the top 5 for the first time at DCA Championships with another record score.

In 2016, Atlanta CV took a look into the rhythm of life with “Rhythmos – Motion of Life” – 6^th place.

Our 2017 performance “Through the Glass Looking” took Atlanta CV to new highs with a 2^nd place finish at the DCA World Championship with High Color Guard Award.

The 2018 production took a visual look into how chaotic life is with “Chaos Theory” coming with a 3^rd place finish.

2019’s show, a look into ancient Greek mythology “Of Gods and Goddesses” concluded with another 2^nd place finish and another High Color Guard Award.

In 2020, Atlanta CV was well on it’s way to another top show, when unfortunately the COVID global pandemic forced an early end to all the performing arts season.

We are working hard in getting our 2021 show under way, and hope to see all of our families, friends and fans back in the stadium!

In addition to competitive performances, the corps has also hosted educational clinics for local high school music students, performed at Mercedes Benz Stadium for the DCI Southeastern Championships, performed at the 4th of July stage show in Centennial Olympic Park, opened the Southeastern Emmy Awards show, performed the National Anthem for the Rome Braves Minor League baseball team, marched in the Old Soldier’s Day Parade in Alpharetta, GA, the 4th of July Parade in Decatur, GA and the Georgia Mountain Fair Parade in Hiawassee, GA.

1998 parade & exhibition corps; DCA I&E participants; DCI exhibition corps
1999 parade & exhibition corps; 4th in DCA “mini-corps”; DCI exhibition corps
2000 2^nd place DCA Class A; DCI exhibition corps
2001 1^st place DCA Class A; DCI exhibition corps
2002 11th place DCA Open Class; DCI exhibition corps; DCI Atlantic member
2003 8th place DCA Open Class, DCA South region champions; DCI Atlantic member
2004 10^th place DCA Open Class, DCA South region champions; DCI Atlantic member
2005 9^th place DCA Open Class, DCA South region champions; DCI Atlantic member
2006 9^th place DCA Open Class, DCA South region champions; DCI Atlantic member
2007 9^th place DCA Open Class, DCA South region champions; DCI Atlantic member
2008 9^th place DCA Open Class, DCA South region champions; DCI Atlantic member
2009 10^th place DCA Open Class, DCI Atlantic member
2010 8^th place DCA Open Class, DCI Atlantic member
2011 8^th place DCA Open Class, DCI Atlantic member
2012 8^th place DCA Open Class, DCA South region champions; DCI Atlantic member
2013 6^th place DCA Open Class, DCA South region champions; DCI Atlantic member
2014 6th place DCA Open Class, DCA South region champions; DCI Atlantic member
2015 5th place DCA Open Class, DCA South region champions; DCI Atlantic member
2016 6th place DCA Open Class, DCA South region champions; DCI Atlantic member
2017 2nd place DCA Open Class, DCA High Color Guard champions; DCA South region champions; DCI Atlantic member
2018 3rd place DCA Open Class, DCA South region champions; DCI Atlantic member
2019 2nd place DCA Open Class, DCA High Color Guard champions; DCA South region champions; DCI Atlantic member
2020 Performing Arts Season canceled due to COVID-19 Global Pandemic