In a reemergence from COVID-related shutdowns, musical ensembles from across the European Union will face off this weekend as part of the 2022 European Drum Corps Championships in Dordrecht, The Netherlands.

After the Drum Corps Europe organization discontinued activities in 2020, fellow Euro marching music organizations including the Dutch Music Games, Drum Corps United Kingdom, Irish Marching Band Association, Rasteder Musiktage, and German Open in collaboration with the European Drum Corps Judges Association, banded together to plan this championship event, which will mark the first since 2019 prior to COVID shutdowns.

“COVID-19 has taken its toll in a great many disciplines, unfortunately also in the European drum corps scene,” said Hans Kloppert, event host of the 2022 European Drum Corps Championships. “Originally Drum Corps Europe had major plans for another championship in September of 2020, which for obvious reasons were never organized.

A total of 14 corps from five different nations will take the field in competition at the Saturday, September 24 event hosted at FC Dordrecht - Stadion Krommedijk/Riwal Hoogwerkers Stadion. Also a new introduction to the event, Drum Corps International’s DrumLine Battle will play a role in European championship festivities.

This Saturday’s event follows the conclusion of championship events last weekend in Ireland (Irish Marching Bands Association) and England (Drum Corps United Kingdom).

While two familiar faces from the DCUK circuit won’t appear at this year’s DCE championship event, its 2022 champion, Beeches Performance Ensemble, will represent England in Dordrecht. Irish best-of-show winner Inbhear Mor Performance Ensemble will also make the trip across the English Channel for Saturday’s event.

“We’re disappointed to be without a pair of leading British corps, Kidsgrove Scouts and The Company, who stopped their activities indefinitely earlier this year,” Kloppert said. “However, we’re excited to have many other units back in action.”

Participating units will perform in three different competing classes to accommodate a diverse array of performance styles.

Premier Class

Jubal (Netherlands)
Jong Holland (Netherlands)
Beeches (England)
Inbhear Mor (Ireland)
Blue Diamonds (Germany)

Concert Class

Spirit of 52 (Germany)
Drum & Brass Corps Kriftel (Germany)
Stormarn Magic (Germany)
Beatrix (Netherlands)
Blue Océane (France)

Junior Class

Youngstars (Germany)
Jong Jubal (Netherlands)
Jong Beatrix (Netherlands)

“This year’s Championships can be seen as a bridge between the COVID shutdown, and hopefully an even fuller and bigger season in 2023,” Kloppert said.

Tickets for the 2022 European Drum Corps Championships are now on sale online. Event organizers are also assessing the feasibility of livestreaming the competition online. Additional information will be posted on the event website on the day of the event.

Learn more about the European Drum Corps Championships