Drum and Bugle Corps looking for new members

It's been a tradition of pride for nearly six decades. The Williston Cowboys Drum and Bugle Corps is seeking new recruits to revive its numbers.

Virgil Syverson formed the group in 1951. Its founder continued to direct the group until his retirement in 2005.

The Corps has been a source of patriotism, ambassadorship, rhythmic precision and musical entertainment since. Its founder continued to direct the group until his retirement in 2005.

Members don the colors of red, white and blue.

"We are always looking to recruit more playing members," said Dan Anderson, current director. "We have a good Corps right now, but we have some goals for the future. Part of that includes bringing in some new blood, getting in people from each section of the group."

Anderson said there are several openings, especially in percussion.

"We need sopranos which would be comparable to trumpet players, mellows which would be comparable to trumpet or French horn players and we have what's called the baritone, and that would be comparable to concert band baritone or trombone. Then we have the contra which is like the tuba, and then our percussion section," he said.

All instruments for the drum and bugle corps are pitched to the key of G.

The Williston Drum and Bugle Corps provides the instruments for members.

Percussionists are urged to perform keyboard, snare drums and tom-tom.

At one time, the group was closely associated with veterans groups in town, and these organizations would help sponsor trips for parades, the North Dakota Drum and Bugle Corps Convention

Its members also performed in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, and the National Convention of the Drum and Bugle Corps.

"Our aim is to serve the community, perform music, to keep patriotism in the public eye through music. It would be nice if we had a few new members, especially young ones to be able to attend a competition again, and go to some national conventions," Anderson said.

The Williston Drum and Bugle Corps currently consists of about 20 members. In the 1980s, it had between 40 and 50 members. At that time, they performed in Hawaii.

"What we would like to do is recruit some new people, and get new instruments for everybody. We've kept our instruments in good repair, but we'd like to upgrade," Anderson said. "We'd like to keep it alive and take a new group of folks into the next level of drum and bugle corps life. We have high school kids in the group now."

Among them are percussionist Ethan Cayko, 17, of Fairview, Mont. He credited his private music instructor and fellow Williston Cowboys Drum and Bugle Corps member Chad Askim for recruiting him. Cayko plays the snare drum.

"This gives me a lot more opportunity to move around and play in parades. It's a lot of fun," Cayko said. "It's a lot of marches and patriotic music to play during parades. We do a lot of drum corps style music. It's a lot more precise than some other music. I find that kind of fun - to keep everything nice and even and being really precise with all your movements."

He said all the people on the snare line have to be synchronized as to make one sound together.

Cayko said marching in the same pattern also is important. He encourages other young people his age to give the drum and bugle corps a try.

Askim said in its effort to recruit, the drum and bugle corps program is being offered as a course credit at Williston State College in the spring semester.

"If there are brass players or percussionists who want to join, this can help them earn a college credit," Askim said. "We might be able to use woodwind instrument skills as well."

Member Jean Lindivig said she likes how the group serves as an ambassador of Williston. She is among the second generation members to perform with the Williston Cowboys Drum and Bugle Corps.

"We go out to neighboring towns for parade activities and get support for Williston," she said. "It's long-standing. People look for us and wait for us to perform."