Blue Knights

This page also includes information for the Blue Knights Percussion Ensemble, a World Class WGI Percussion group, Blue Knights Open, a Open Class WGI Percussion group, and the Blue Knights Winds Ensemble, a World Class WGI Winds Group (formerly)

## Blue Knights

Logo more visible in dark mode

https://ascendperformingarts.org/ensembles/bkdbc/

## Socials

### Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/BlueKnightsDrumCorps/

### Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/@BlueKnights

The Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps is an active junior corps competing in DCI World Class.

## Corps History

Fred and Fae Taylor were a pair of vaudeville comedians and musicians who settled in Denver. Fred was an accomplished drummer and a member of the Denver American Legion Grenadiers Senior Drum and Bugle Corps, and believed a junior corps would provide an opportunity for their students to perform before the public

Although the intent was for the corps to be a parade corps, it entered into field competition, and in 1959 the corps travelled to the VFW National Championships in Minnesota. In 1963, the corps joined the Great Plains Drum and Bugle Corps Association and entered into a period extending through the 60's and 70's where they competed in Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Wyoming and Nebraska.

The corps attended its first DCI Championships in 1975 at Philadelphia, finishing at 11th place in A Class prelims. in 1977, 1978 and 2004 the Blue Knights were hosts for the DCI World Championships. In 1979 the corps renamed its home competition, Drums along the Rockies and turned it into a major competition and a fundraising event for the corps

In 1984, George and Lynn Lindstrom became the directors for the corps. The Lindstroms were able to direct the corps with a professional attitude towards competition, the successful bingo operations, in place since the early 80's made it possible for the corps to purchase new equipment necessary for the professional goals the corps now had.

After the 1985 season the Lindstroms departed, and director Mark Arnold was hired, under Arnolds leadership the corps became a major competitor, making finals for the first time in 1991, since then, the corps has been a finalist 24 times across 28 seasons.

In 2014, Mark Arnold, then Blue Knights director was appointed to DCI's Hall of Fame

After acting as director during the 2021 season, Daniel Belcher was promoted to executive Director

## Notable Events/Shows

2019 - The corps highest scoring show with a 92.05

## Caption Awards

The Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps have yet to win a caption award

## Blue Knights Percussion Ensemble

Logo more visible in dark mode

https://ascendperformingarts.org/ensembles/bkpe/

## General Informaton

### Class

BKPEWGI/RMPA Percussion Independent World

BKO

RMPA Percussion Independent Open

## Socials

### Instagram

https://instagram.com/blueknightspercussionensemble

### Youtube

https://www.youtube.com/@blueknightspercussionensem5727/featured

# Blue Knights Percussion Ensemble

The Blue Knights Percussion Ensemble (BKPE) is an active junior ensemble competing in WGI Percussion World Class. The BKPE is a 4-time Winter Guard International World Champion and a 27-time Rocky Mountain Percussion Association State Champion in the Percussion Independent World Class.

The BKPE is the oldest Winter Percussion Ensemble, at 31 years and counting

## Blue Knights Open

The Blue Knights Open Ensemble (BKO) is an active junior ensemble competing in WGI Percussion Open Class

The Ensemble has been on hiatus since 2007, but is returning for the 2024 competitive season

# Blue Knights Wind Ensemble

The Blue Knights Wind Ensemble is formerly a WGI and RMPA Winds Independent Open Group. The Ensemble is currently inactive

## General Informaton

### Class

WGI Winds Independent OpenRMPA Winds Independent Open

 2019
RMPA - WIO Champion
RMPA - 81.55