Drum Corps Europe (DCE) will host its annual championship events this Saturday, Sepember 24 at Parkstad Limburg Stadium in Kerkrade, Netherlands.
With more than 20 corps representing seven countries in two different divisions, study up on this "who's who" of DCE's Premier Class that will compete for the championship title this weekend.
Kidsgrove Scouts
Kidsgrove, United Kingdom
Kidsgrove Scouts
The Kidsgrove Scouts come into Kerkrade on Saturday as the reigning Drum Corps Europe Champions. Pulling off a come-from-behind victory last year, 2015’s win for the corps marked its first DCE title since 2010. The corps will have its work cut out for it this weekend, however, as it has been trailing fellow UK rival, the Company, so far this season. The Scouts will look for any advantage they can to reclaim the top spot, even flying Blue Devils staff members from the United States to work with the corps during its final week of the season.
The Company
Derbyshire, England
The Company
Founded in the fall of 2009, the Company is one of the newer groups on the European drum corps scene and also one of the most successful. Since its first trip to the DCE Championship, the corps has never placed lower than second and holds multiple DCE and Drum Corps United Kingdom titles most recently in 2014 and 2015 respectively. With the Company running away with the 2016 Drum Corps United Kingdom Championship title last weekend in England by more than two points over the Kidsgrove Scouts, the corps is currently atop the European leader board and a favorite to win it all in Kerkrade on Saturday.
Jubal
Dordrecht, Netherlands
Jubal
Making frequent appearances in the United States as part of the Drum Corps International Tour (most recently in 2015), Jubal may be among the most recognizable European corps to U.S. marching music fans. The DCE Champion in 2003, 2006, 2009 and 2013, Jubal is among the winningest corps to represent the Netherlands each year. The corps is having another strong season in 2016, dominating the competition and taking the top spot at the Drum Corps Netherlands Championship on September 10 by more than four points. Jubal’s secondary corps, Jong Jubal, also won two weekends ago and is projected to be among the top corps in DCE’s Junior Class on Saturday.
Starriders
Bad Münder, Germany
Starriders
Recently taking the bronze medal at the Drum Corps Netherlands Championship, the Starriders will head to Dodrecht this Saturday as the top-ranking German corps in the lineup. Earlier this summer the corps was able to pick up a win during the Rasteder Musiktage competition in July, finishing more than a point ahead of its nearest German counterparts.
Unity
Mosson-Besana, Italy
Unity
After a year-long break from competition in 2014, Unity came together as a combination of the Mosson and Besana Secutores drum corps the following year. Unity took first place at the Italia Marching Show Bands Championship in Lecco this July, and will be one of just two corps representing Italy at the DCE Championship in 2016.
Other DCE Premier Class Corps
The Netherlands
• Juliana (Middleburg)
Germany
• Spirit of 52 (Rastede)
• Wölper Löwen (Neustadt am Rübenberge)
• Blue Diamonds (Nienhagen)
United Kingdom
• Cadence (Guildford, Surrey)
• Revolution (Queensbury)
• Beeches (Great Barr)
Italy
• MillenniuM (Verdello)
Belgium
• Calypso (Zwevegem)
Ireland
• Vikings (Tallaght, Co. Dublin)
With more than 20 corps representing seven countries in two different divisions, study up on this "who's who" of DCE's Premier Class that will compete for the championship title this weekend.
Kidsgrove Scouts
Kidsgrove, United Kingdom
Kidsgrove Scouts
The Kidsgrove Scouts come into Kerkrade on Saturday as the reigning Drum Corps Europe Champions. Pulling off a come-from-behind victory last year, 2015’s win for the corps marked its first DCE title since 2010. The corps will have its work cut out for it this weekend, however, as it has been trailing fellow UK rival, the Company, so far this season. The Scouts will look for any advantage they can to reclaim the top spot, even flying Blue Devils staff members from the United States to work with the corps during its final week of the season.
The Company
Derbyshire, England
The Company
Founded in the fall of 2009, the Company is one of the newer groups on the European drum corps scene and also one of the most successful. Since its first trip to the DCE Championship, the corps has never placed lower than second and holds multiple DCE and Drum Corps United Kingdom titles most recently in 2014 and 2015 respectively. With the Company running away with the 2016 Drum Corps United Kingdom Championship title last weekend in England by more than two points over the Kidsgrove Scouts, the corps is currently atop the European leader board and a favorite to win it all in Kerkrade on Saturday.
Jubal
Dordrecht, Netherlands
Jubal
Making frequent appearances in the United States as part of the Drum Corps International Tour (most recently in 2015), Jubal may be among the most recognizable European corps to U.S. marching music fans. The DCE Champion in 2003, 2006, 2009 and 2013, Jubal is among the winningest corps to represent the Netherlands each year. The corps is having another strong season in 2016, dominating the competition and taking the top spot at the Drum Corps Netherlands Championship on September 10 by more than four points. Jubal’s secondary corps, Jong Jubal, also won two weekends ago and is projected to be among the top corps in DCE’s Junior Class on Saturday.
Starriders
Bad Münder, Germany
Starriders
Recently taking the bronze medal at the Drum Corps Netherlands Championship, the Starriders will head to Dodrecht this Saturday as the top-ranking German corps in the lineup. Earlier this summer the corps was able to pick up a win during the Rasteder Musiktage competition in July, finishing more than a point ahead of its nearest German counterparts.
Unity
Mosson-Besana, Italy
Unity
After a year-long break from competition in 2014, Unity came together as a combination of the Mosson and Besana Secutores drum corps the following year. Unity took first place at the Italia Marching Show Bands Championship in Lecco this July, and will be one of just two corps representing Italy at the DCE Championship in 2016.
Other DCE Premier Class Corps
The Netherlands
• Juliana (Middleburg)
Germany
• Spirit of 52 (Rastede)
• Wölper Löwen (Neustadt am Rübenberge)
• Blue Diamonds (Nienhagen)
United Kingdom
• Cadence (Guildford, Surrey)
• Revolution (Queensbury)
• Beeches (Great Barr)
Italy
• MillenniuM (Verdello)
Belgium
• Calypso (Zwevegem)
Ireland
• Vikings (Tallaght, Co. Dublin)