Glassmen Drum and Bugle Corps


The Glassmen Drum and Bugle Corps is a former World Class drum and bugle corps. Based out of Toledo, Ohio, the corps was a member of Drum Corps International and was a sixteen time DCI World Championship Finalist.
The Glassmen were inactive for the 2013 DCI season, and on November 29, 2013, it was announced that the Glassmen Drum and Bugle Corps Board of Directors had filed for bankruptcy protection to try to work out from under a major debt load. The Federal Bankruptcy Court officially dissolved the organization on March 14, 2014. Almost immediately following the bankruptcy announcement, the Board of Directors of the Glassmen Alumni Association announced their intention to assist in resolving the difficulties and returning the corps to the field either as the Glassmen or as a new entity. The Alumni Association took possession of much of the corps' memorabilia and is storing it for the possible future rebirth of the corps. It was announced shortly before the beginning of the 2015 Drum and Bugle Corps season that The Glassmen were going to try and start up again for competition hopefully as soon as the 2016 Drum and Bugle Corps season. On March 1, 2016, it was announced that the corps would compete as a Sound Sports team during the coming summer season.

History

Sources:
In 1961, Richard Ford and Jack Schnapp founded the Maumee Suns under the sponsorship of American Legion Post 320 of Maumee, a suburb abutting the south side of Toledo. For its first three seasons, the unit was strictly a parade corps. In 1964, the corps entered American Legion field competitions, and the name was changed to the Glass City Optimists in 1967, recognizing the co-sponsorship of the local Optimists and honoring Toledo's heritage as a major center of the glass industry. In 1971, the "Glass Capital of the World" was even more fully recognized when the corps' name was changed to the Glassmen.
The Glassmen first entered DCI competitions in 1975, placing 5th of 19 corps in the Class A championships in Philadelphia. The corps then went inactive for four seasons. It returned to the field in 1980 as a Class A corps, but by DCI Finals in Birmingham, Alabama had moved to Open Class, finishing 42nd of 44 corps. In 1982, the Glassmen began competing in Drum Corps Midwest shows, joining the circuit the following year, when they placed 4th of 24 corps at the DCM Championships in DeKalb, Illinois. The corps then went on to place 24th of 51 corps at DCI in Miami, Florida, earning DCI Associate membership. However, the corps dropped to 28th place in 1984 and 39th in 1985. In 1985, Dan Acheson, the current executive director and CEO of DCI, was named executive director of the Glassmen. From 1985 through 1995, the corps moved up in the DCI standings every year, regaining DCI membership in 1988, placing in semifinals for the first time in 1991, and making the DCI Top Twelve Finals for the first time in 1993. The corps had been a Finalist for three years when Acheson was elected chairman of the board of DCI in 1995 and later that year was appointed to his current position.
After Acheson's departure, the Glassmen fell from DCI Finals in 1996, only to return the following six seasons under new Executive Director Brian Hickman, placing as high as 5th in 1998, '99, and 2001. The corps dropped from Finals again in 2003, returned for another seven-year run from 2004 through 2010. During this period, the Glassmen made four appearances with the Toledo Symphony Orchestra, performing Respeghi's "Pines of Rome" in 2004, 2008, and 2012 and Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" in 2006 and 2012. Once more dropping from Finals in 2011, the corps began to fall victim along with many other non-profit organizations to difficult financial times with the national economy faltering. After slipping from 13th in 2011 to 14th in 2012, the organization found itself deep in debt, with no recourse but to sell off its assets to settle some of the debt load, and became defunct as a result of a Federal Bankruptcy Court ruling in 2014.
In June 2015, the Glassmen Alumni Association announced the first step in bringing back the corps with the scheduled return of the Glassmen Winter Guard to WGI competition in 2016. However, they did not compete. As of January 2017, there is no representative unit under the Glassmen flag, and the Glassmen Alumni Association website has been idle for nearly two years.

Sponsorship

The few remaining assets of the Glassmen are held by the Glassmen Alumni Association, Inc., a 501 nonprofit organization based in Fort Wayne, Indiana; the president of the Association's board of directors is Jamison Eige. The association has announced its intention to assist in returning the corps to the field either as the Glassmen or as a new entity.

Show Summary (1972–2012)

Source:
Gold background indicates DCI Championship; Pale shaded background indicates DCI Top 12 Finalist.
YearThemeRepertoireScorePlacement
1972Repertoire not available
1973Enter the Conquering Hero / The Ecstasy of Gold by Ennio Morricone / One Fine Morning by Skip Prokop /
Declaration of Independence by Paul Kantner / Wooden Ships by David Crosby, Paul Kantner, and Stephen Stills /
We May Never Pass This Way by Seals and Crofts
1974Scythian Suite by Sergei Prokofiev / One Fine Morning by Skip Procop / Skybird by Neil Diamond /
In the Mood by Wingy Manone, Joe Garland, and Andy Razaf / We May Never Pass This Way by Seals and Crofts
1975Aristophonic Suite ‘The Wasps’ Overture by Ralph Vaughan Williams / Hill Where the Lord Hides by Chuck Mangione /
March of the Three Oranges by Sergei Prokofiev / In the Mood by WIngy Manone, Joe Garland, and Andy Razaff /
Prelude for an Occasion by Edward Gregson		63.0505th Class A
1976–79Corps inactive
1980Opener / Pictures at an Exhibition by Modest Moussorgsky / Closer 45.55042nd
1981Entrance and March of the Peers by Gilbert and Sullivan / Late in the Evening by Paul Simon /
Captain Marvel by Chick Corea / Piano Concerto No. 1 by Keith Emerson /
The Light is On & Ride Like the Wind by Christopher Cross /		53.60038th
1982The Red Pony by Aaron Copland / Rio by Mack David, Oswaldo Santiago, and Alcyr Pires Vermelho /
Piano Concerto No. 1 by Keith Emerson / El Congo Valiente by Johnny Richards /
The Light is On & Ride Like the Wind by Christopher Cross		55.00034th
1983Wind Machine by Sammy Nestico / Recuerdos by Johnny Richards / Hide & Seek /
Big Noise from Winnetka by Bob Haggart and Ray Bauduc / Time for a Change by Hank Levy		58.25024th
1984Wind Machine by Sammy Nestico / Groovin’ Hard by Don Menza /
Race with the Devil on a Spanish Highway by Al Di Meola / Chain Reaction by Don Ellis		68.90028th
1985Repertoire not available53.90039th
1986This Could be the Start of Something Big by Steve Allen / Coconut Champagne by Denis DiBlasio /
Misty by Erroll Garner / Everything’s Coming Up Roses by Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim		62.90031st
1987This Could be the Start of Something Big by Steve Allen / Sambita by Justo Almario /
As Time Goes By by Herman Hupfeld / The Groove Merchant by Jerome Richardson and Thad Jones		62.40030th
1988South 21st Street Shuffle by Steve Wiest / Caravan by Juan Tizol /
Watch What Happens by Michel Legrand and Jacques Demy, adapted by Norman Gimbel /
Just a Gigolo + I Ain't Got Nobody by Leonello Casucci, Julius Brammer, Irving Caesar, Spencer Williams, and Roger A. Graham		67.50025th
1989Key to Her Fararri by Thomas Dolby / Jive Samba by Nat Adderley /
Caravan by Juan Tizol / Swing Low, Sweet Chariot by Wallis Willis		68.70023rd
1990Suite for Jazz Orchestra by Dmitri Shostakovich / Threshold by Patrick Williams /
In the Eighties by Bob Mintzer / After All by Dean Pitchford and Tom Snow		79.50018th
1991Appalachian Morning by Paul Halley / Escapades of Pan by David Lanz / After All by Dean Pitchford and Tom Snow78.50017th
1992A Childhood RememberedThe North Wind by David Arkenstone / Madre de la Tierra & Escapades of Pan by David Lanz83.90013th
1993A Voyage Through ImaginationOverture, Morning Sun on the Sails, The Lion’s Breath, The North Wind & Sailing
All by David Arkenstone		82.80011th
1994Days of Future PastDawn is a Feeling by Mike Pinder / Another Morning by Ray Thomas / Peak Hour by John Lodge /
Forever Afternoon & Nights in White Satin by Justin Hayward		83.90010th
1995A Joyful CelebrationFugue in G minor & Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring by Johann Sebastian Bach /
Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee by Ludwig van Beethoven / A Mighty Fortress Is Our God by Martin Luther		88.3008th
1996An American RevolutionStars and Stripes Forever by John Philip Sousa / Second Symphony, Fifth Movement by Charles Ives /
I Got Rhythm by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin / Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin /
Strike up the Band by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin / An American in Paris by George Gershwin		82.70013th
1997The Age of Gold:
Music of Georges Bizet		Scene and Variations, Changing of the Guard, Intermezzo: The Mountain Pass & Farandole
All by Georges Bizet		90.0008th
1998Dreams of Gold:
Music of Alexander Borodin		Asia Fantasia, Prince Igor Overture, Notturo: String Quartet No. 2 in D Major, Kismet Suite, Polovetsian Dances
All by Alexander Borodin		92.8005th
1999Empire of GoldSymphony No. 1, Variations of a Hungarian Folk Song,
Entrance of the Emperor and His Court
All by Zoltán Kodály		93.7005th
2000Music of George GershwinPiano Concerto in F by George Gershwin90.3508th
2001IMAGOPanambi Invocation to the Powerful Spirits & Pameana No. 3 Impetuosamente by Alberto Ginastera /
Concertino for Oboe and Strings by Brenno Blauth / Panambi Dance of the Warriors by Alberto Ginastera /
Pavana by Julián Orbón		94.3005th
2002OdysseyJavelin by Michael Torke / Millennium Symphony by Michael Kamen91.0008th
2003The Elements:
Air, Earth, Fire & Water		Air: Danza de los Duendes by Nancy Galbraith / Earth: October by Eric Whitacre / Fire: Drum feature /
Water: Original music by Bruce McConnell and Chris Hestin		84.50014th
2004Voice of OnePrologue /
Diversions: Serenade for Orchestra & The Saint by Norman Dello Joio /
The Cave / Finale for Martha 		85.95012th
2005A New WorldSymphony No. 9 in E minor, "From the New World" by Antonín Dvořák87.70011th
2006Beethoven:
Mastery & Madness		Selections from Symphonies 1 thru 8 / Moonlight Sonata / Diabelli Variations / Ode to Joy
All by Ludwig van Beethoven		86.0011th
2007GitanoAlborada – La Noche – Danzas – Fandango
Capriccio Espagnol by Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov / Rhapsody Espagnole by Maurice Ravel		85.75011th
2008Kar-ne-velCarnival is Over by Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry /
The Breakfast Machine & Overture by Danny Elfman /
Watermark by Enya / Beirut Taxi by Alexandre Desplat		87.20011th
2009The Journey of ONEMultiples of One by Joseph Curiale / You Are Wherever Your Thoughts Are by Steve Reich /
The Heart Asks Pleasure First by Michael Nyman / Tristan & Yvaine by Ilan Eshkeri /
Joy by Joseph Curiale / One by Harry Nilsson		87.75010th
2010The Prayer CycleMercy by Jonathan Elias / Primacy of Number by Philip Glass /
Terminal by James Dooley / Hope by Johnathan Elias /
Epiphanies by Ron Nelson / We're Jungle Creatures by John Barry		85.80012th
2011My Mortal BelovedOriginal music by Don Hill / Moonlight Sonata by Ludwig van Beethoven /
Can't Help Falling In Love by Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore, and George David Weiss /
Romeo & Juliet by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky / Requiem by Giuseppe Verdi		83.40013th
2012GlassworksMishima by Philip Glass / One by Key Poulan and Rob Ferguson / Ethiopia III by James Horner,
Symphony No. 3 by Camille Saint-Saëns,		82.25014th

In addition to their regular show music, the corps maintained a selection of encore tunes that were used for non-competitive events such as parades and stand-still concerts, including:
The Glassmen had a variety of traditional elements that reappeared often in their programs. Chief among these is the modern corps symbol, a triangular shield. Most shows had at least one occurrence of the shield in the drill, even if it appeared for only a couple of seconds. Triangular forms were also prevalent in drill design. In addition to this, the color gold had been a traditional element, most notably in the successful seasons of 1997 through 1999. Another annual tradition was to modify the shield that goes on the left breast of the Glassmen uniform. Each year had a different variation on the corps symbol that corresponded to the show and added individuality to each season without changing the simplistic, clean-cut look of the overall uniform.