Gil Silva, who led Drum Corps Associates (DCA) for nearly a quarter-century and paved the way for the historic merger with Drum Corps International (DCI), died Friday, March 20, at age 83.
His passing was shared with the drum corps community by longtime friend and DCI contest director Tony DiCarlo.
Silva served as DCA vice president from 1991 to 2003 before assuming the presidency from 2004 to 2015. He is credited with leading the all-age marching music organization through a seminal era of modernization. Colleagues remember him as a forward-thinking leader who prioritized both the organization’s financial stability and the health of its member corps. Under his watch, DCA expanded beyond its Northeastern roots, established the Class A division for smaller corps, and implemented pivotal rule changes.
“I’ll never forget being in the room when the (DCA) corps agreed to allow electronics. You would have thought that the world was going to come to an end,” said David Hobart, Sunrisers director and former DCA marketing director. “Sometimes there was disagreement, sometimes we argued in those rooms or on the phone, but one thing was for certain, Gil was here to build us stronger as a group. He always had the future of the activity in mind while doing his best to preserve our past.”
Silva’s career in drum corps started as a tenor drum and bass baritone bugler with Providence, Rhode Island’s Holy Rosary Caballeros in 1957. Another Rhode Island corps, the Matadors, set the stage for his future leadership roles, as he served in a multitude of positions from section leader to visual staff member to assistant corps director and business manager. At the Matadors, Silva met a lifelong mentor in Michael “Red” Corso. Silva referred to Corso as “the biggest influence in my drum corps life. Red was a father figure to me as he taught me by example on how to be a gentleman and a leader.”
After becoming president of DCA in 2004 following the death of Michael “Mickey” Petrone, Silva focused on a long-term collaboration with DCI CEO Dan Acheson. The two sought ways for their respective organizations to work together for the benefit of the entire activity.
“One of the biggest things that I’m proud of is the relationship that we have with DCI,” Silva said upon his retirement from DCA. “Dan Acheson and his team are absolutely tremendous to work with. We get the big picture. We’re all in drum corps.”
Acheson recalls their first major partnership as part of the 2005 DCI World Championships in Foxboro, Massachusetts, which included the all-age Ocean State Classic, an event hosted the Sunday after the DCI Finals. “While not the greatest experience at the time due to oppressive weather, it was the start of a relationship that formed a deep connection between our organizations,” he said.
This paved the way for additional all-age organizations to perform as part of the DCI Summer Tour in the coming years, like the 2015 event in Lynn, Massachusetts which allowed the two organizations to work together and host a mixed lineup of DCI World Class and DCA All-Age corps. The two organizations officially combined under one umbrella beginning with the 2024 DCI Tour and World Championships.
“Gil was a huge proponent of bringing DCA and DCI together and continued to be supportive well after his retirement from DCA,” Acheson said. “He was an incredible example of how to lead an organization. Gil was always willing to think forward.”
Silva was inducted into the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame in 1996, honoring his lifetime of service as a performer, instructor, administrator, and judge. While the induction was a fitting tribute to his career, Silva always maintained that the most significant part of the experience was the human element.
“The thing that I’ve taken out of drum corps is the friendships that you make and the family aspect of it,” he said. “You’ll be sitting in an airport waiting for your plane, and somebody comes over and says, ‘Are you with drum corps?’ and you can do an hour of talking with this person like you knew them all your life.”
Silva is survived by his wife of more than 40 years, Joyce, who is often credited as being the person most responsible for him taking on the role of DCA president. Together, they shared a large and loving family of five children and many grandchildren.
A celebration of life is being planned to be held prior to the start of the summer drum corps season. The Silva family suggests that those wishing to honor Gil’s memory consider a contribution in support of the DCI All-Age Class. Memorial donations can be made through Drum Corps International. Please designate gifts “in memory of Gil Silva.”
Remembering Gil Silva
On his steady presence and guidance
“Gil's passion, influence and leadership was truly instrumental in shaping the drum corps activity that he cared so much about. Knowing that Gil was always a phone call away, offered me his steady presence and his voice of reason and guidance with whatever challenge I was facing as president of DCA.”
On his belief in the next generation
“Gil Silva; kind, smart, funny, passionate. I'll remember a conversation forever when Gil was really pushing for me to be the future leader of DCA. He said, ‘Allen, drum corps is going to struggle, and it's going to be a long road, and you are the person for the job.’ I was just flabbergasted and overwhelmed, and I wasn't ready, but he assured me that I was, and the rest is history.”
On his encouragement of corps’ growth
“Gil did so much for DCA and I remember him supporting us in a big way when we won our first Class A championship back in 2013. I’ll never forget that show in Downingtown when he gave (former corps director) Leslie Amico a sign of approval and encouragement that we were on the right track. He took the time to recognize the jump we made, and I’ll never forget that.”
On his honesty and personal mentorship
“Gil was someone I could bounce ideas with and he would always come back with an honest opinion. Something that I’ll always remember was that call when he found out the Sunrisers put a cello into our 2024 production. He gave me his sincere thoughts! He was a motivator who helped push me to continue to do what we do for this activity. We talked about so many things. He was a steady ear, a mentor and a friend. I'll miss our monthly calls.”
On his passion for music
“Gil had a love and passion for music. He was happiest when he was surrounded by it.”
On his leadership and impact on DCA
“When Gil Silva assumed the role of president of DCA following the death of Mickey Petrone in 2003, he had big shoes to fill — and fill them he did. In those days, sitting around the DCA table, Gil brought steady leadership and a clear vision during a pivotal time for the activity.”
On his leadership style and character
“Most of the stories you hear about the ‘colorful, larger than life’ individuals who made up DCA at that time are true. As president, Gil Silva was able to navigate the chaos, motivate the membership, and through his leadership, move the organization professionally forward. I had the pleasure of serving on his executive board for more than 10 years. He was someone you just wanted to work for. He was a class act.”
On his influence and growth of the drum corps activity
“As a leader within DCA, Gil helped promote the drum corps activity from a regional organization into one that encompassed drum corps on a much broader scale.”
On his instructional style and presence
“He was a task master. We went through the same set eight to 10 times and didn’t stop until someone fell over or the sun went down. We grumbled, but he had our respect. He got what he demanded and made us better because of it.”
On his life and what mattered most
“The only thing Gil loved more than drum corps was me. It was his life. He never held a grudge and was always thinking of others.”
