Calgary Stampede Showband

The Calgary Stampede Showband is a youth marching show band. Based in Calgary, Alberta, they currently hold 7 World Association of Marching Show Bands (WAMSB) World Champion titles and have participated in many other international marching band competitions.

## Calgary Stampede Showband

### Division

Active International Class & Soundsport Group

## **History**

In 1970, a group of individuals, led by Captain Ray McLeod and Robert Eklund started the Calgary Stampede Showband. It wasn't until 1971, that the band began performing tunes such as "Wagon Wheels" and "Don't Bury Me Not on the Old People Texas" for a crowd, the group only consistent of 54 performers ages 14-18. In May of 2023, John Meehan, a 2019 DCI Hall of Fame member and a longtime arranger and brass caption head of the Blue Devils, became the new Director of the Calgary Stampede Showband. Today, the Calgary Stampede Showband features over 140 performers between the ages of 16-21 and they are apart of the Calgary Stampede's youth programs. They have a strong connection and influence of Drum Corps International. They have consistently represented Canada through musical excellence and professionalism. Their main focus of their performance year (September-August) is the Calgary Stampede - an annual fair that celebrates Calgary's western heritage. The Showband performs around 50 times through the 10-day event, doing stage shows, standstills, small ensemble performances, and a choreographed 45-minute "Steps Show" that they perform twice every day.

## **Notable Performances/Awards**

* The Calgary Stampede Showband appeared in the 1983 movie, Superman 3, sporting their iconic westerns as the Smallville Town Band. As Smallville welcomes Superman.
* In 1988, the Calgary Stampede Showband performed at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, Alberta, at Mcmahon Stadium.
* In 2014, the Showband received the distinguished Sudler Shield from the John Philip Sousa Foundation, one of the highest forms of recognition for marching band programs.
* In 2017, the Stampede Showband represented Calgary and Canada as they competed at the prestigious World Music Contest in Kerkrade, Holland for the 150th anniversary of Canada, where they earned a Gold Medal with Distinction.
* In 2019, the Showband performed the national anthem at the 107th Grey Cup accompanied by Young Canadians singer, Lindsey Kelly.

## **WAMSB History**

1996 - The Showband won it's first World Championship in Calgary, Alberta. With of score of 95.1

2000 - The Showband won it's second World Championship in Calgary, Alberta. With of score of 95.0

2009 - The Showband got second place in WAMSB in Kerkrade, Holland. With of score of 92.10

2012 - The Showband won it's third World Championship in Calgary, Alberta. With of score of 94.9

2013 - The Showband won it's fourth World Championship in Chiba, Japan. With of score of 94.9

2014 - The Showband won it's fifth World Championship in Braganca Paulista, Brazil. With of score of 95.1

2019 - The Showband won it's sixth World Championship in Calgary, Alberta. With of score of 94.8333

2023 - The Showband won it's seventh World Championship in Buckhannon, West Virginia. With of score of 96.944

## **DCI History**

2015 - The Showband performed at DCI Soundsport, winning "Best Of Show" and a Gold for the all-age class.

2018 - The Showband returned to Drum Corps International’s SoundSport and Drumline Battle competitions in 2018 and swept their categories with awards for Best in Class, Drumline Battle Champion, Outstanding Performance, and Best of Show.

2020 - Showband was intended to make an appearance for their 50th anniversary- unable to as a result of the COVID Pandemic.

2022 - The Showband returned to DCI, intending to make waves. For the first time in their history, they participated in the Open Class competition with their field show "Life Finds A Way" - as an international corps. Although they were not ranked among the other corps, their OC finals score placed them 6th in OC and their DCI prelims performance placed them 26th overall - just shy of making DCI semifinals. They also performed in the Soundsport competition with a separate 10 minute show, in which they were awarded Gold for all-age class and 2nd in Soundsport's Drumline Battle.

2023 - The Showband only attended 2 circuit shows after attending WAMSB in Buckhannon, West Virginia, DCI New Hampshire in Manchester, NH, and Brigadier's Pageant of Drums in Syracuse, NY. The first Show in New Hampshire scored the Showband, 75.650, overall placement in 3rd place, and their last show in Syracuse, scored them 75.400, overall placement in 4th place.