The COLTS are a drum and bugle corps from Dubuque, Iowa. Dubuque is the smallest city nationally to host a Drum Corps International Division I drum corps, but we have extensive community support. Founded in 1963, we have had four names and thousands of members. In our most recent history, we have become a championship corps, placing in the Top 12 at DCI Finals seven times. We are also only one of three corps to support a feeder corps, the Colt Cadets, which is open to children ages 11-17 who live primarily in Dubuque and the tri-state area.

The Colts are comprised of 135 members, 30+ staff, and hundreds of volunteers who all care deeply about this activity. Membership comes from all over the nation and overseas. We begin rehearsals and auditions in December, meeting one weekend a month, and twice in April, for a rehearsal “camp” until June, when we go on tour until mid-August.

Anyone between the ages of 15 and 21 with the desire and drive to achieve success without bounds may audition. The average age is 17.5. Anybody from a seasoned musician to a high school woodwind player can find his or her spot in drum and bugle corps. We are limited to three components: brass, percussion, and color guard. Each of these captions is further divided into sections.

-Brass Line

-Percussion Ensemble

-Color Guard

In the Colts, our drum majors are selected by the staff from current membership. It is a position that carries a heavy responsibility within the corps. Not only are they responsible for conducting the show, but also various tasks such as crew assignments and daily wake-up.

Adding these three captions together plus our two drum majors gives us the maximum DCI Division I sanctioned member limit of 135.

In mid-July, the corps tours all over the nation with Drum Corps International. We meet East and West Coast corps and travel extensively. One day we might perform in Colorado, the following in Iowa, and the next in Michigan. DCI tour lasts only four weeks plus Championships Week in mid-August. The corps is in one location for Championships Week, performing 2-3 nights in a row at the same stadium. After Finals on Saturday night, members return home for the summer. Many go back to school within a week or a few days.

The summer is very demanding, but enjoyable. The members you stand and march next to all summer long are there to lend their support and will become some of your best friends. It's not just about the performance, and scores – it’s about discovering who you are, where you can go, and what you are capable of. What you learn on and off the field will shape your personality and lead you to new places.

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