Today in 1981 - The DCI Class A Finals

August 20, 1981 – Okay, this entry’s more personal.  Today in 1981, the Louisiana Southernaires won the Drum Corps International Class A Championship at McGill Stadium in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. 

Here are the results:

1. Louisiana Southernaires 65.85
2. Fantasia III 63.10
3. Pioneer 60.55
4. Dutch Boy 57.65
5. Les Etoiles Dorion Vaudreuil 52.35

Here is how the All-Girl corps placed:

1. Les Chatelaines de Laval 68.15
2. Arbella 58.80
3. St. Ignatius 58.05
4. Ventures 53.00
5. St. John's 42.85

The Southernaires formed in April 1981 by the second and final merger between the Bleu Raeders and Stardusters.  I was a lead baritone player for the corps that year.  This is the fastest time I’m aware of that a corps formed and won a DCI championship in Open Class or Class A.  Today, Open Class and Class A are called World Class and Open Class respectively.  Also, the Louisiana Southernaires is the only drum and bugle corps from Louisiana to ever win a DCI Championship on any level. 

There was some controversy involving the Southernaires.  Golden Garrison, who placed 6^th and missed Class A Finals, filed a complaint to disqualify the Louisiana Southernaires after we won Class A Prelims.  They complained the Southernaires illegally performed in the Bleu Raeders’ place and should be disqualified.  The management of the Southernaires had to prove the corps was part of the Bleu Raeders and had 24 hours to do it…and they did.  The corps got to compete in and win DCI Class A Finals the next night.

I’m proud to have been part of this special group of people.  Every member of the 1981 corps who tried out for corps like the Garfield Cadets, Crossmen, Phantom Regiment, Madison Scouts, and Blue Devils, made it and did well in their new corps, myself included (Phantom Regiment).  In fact, Louisiana Southernaires alumni consistently placed in the top 5 with their new corps, including the 1983 DCI Champion Garfield Cadets.  This shows the level of talent the 1981 Louisiana Southernaires had.

Notables

• The quick success the Louisiana Southernaires enjoyed didn’t last long.  They went Open Class in 1982 and placed 45^th.  They never competed again after that season.
• Like the Southernaires, Fantasia III competed for the last time in 1982, placing 39^th.
• Of the 1981 DCI Class A Finalists, only Pioneer is still competing today.  They placed 27^th in World Class in 2011.
• Dutch Boy went on to win DCI Class A in 1982 and made the big show, DCI Finals for the first time in 1990, placing 12^th.  They last competed in 2009.
• Les Chatelaines went on the win DCI All-Girls in 1982 and when Class A and All-Girls were combined in 1983, they won the Class A Championship.
• All of the All-Girl finalists, except for St. Johns, were current or past DCI Class A or All-Girl Champions.
• None of the All-Girls finalists from 1981 compete today.

To see the results of this and more from the 1981 season, including the caption winners, go to www.corpsreps.com or directly to the page at 1981 DCI Class A/All Girls Finals.

If you want to learn more about the drum and bugle corps activity, go to www.dci.org and www.dcacorps.org.  If you’re interested in learning more about one of the corps featured in today’s blog, click the corps name in the standings.