After a year without a season, no one would have faulted the Santa Clara Vanguard for failing to make the finals at the DCI World Championships. After all, it was a return to competition after a trying year and a half. The organization was working through financial issues and trying to maintain nonprofit status. Simply competing was a triumph.
However, for Santa Clara Vanguard, showing up was not enough.
“The most important thing to know about the last year and a half of the Santa Clara Vanguard is that the core team of designers and educators came back, as did a number of our members from 2022,” said Russell Gavin, who took over as Vanguard’s CEO about a year ago. “There was definitely a fire burning from everyone to come back strong, and I believe you could feel that in our performances.”
During the DCI World Championships on Aug. 10, Vanguard finished sixth in the competition’s finals, claiming a score of 93.925 out of 100. It was the culmination of a week of competition that saw Vanguard first make the cut in the quarterfinals and then the semifinals.
Better yet, the feather in Vanguard’s cap was receiving the 2024 Caption Award for Best Percussion.
“To be the best percussion section in Drum Corps International is to be the best percussion section in the world,” said Gavin. “This recognition is about excellence, and this year, it also represents the commitment of our staff and members to return to Vanguard and pick up right where we left off.”
While the triumph is sweet. Gavin agreed that this is just the first step on a long journey.
“This [is] the first step in lifting this organization back to the healthy, thriving nonprofit performing arts organization we aspire to be,” said Gavin. “One of the best parts about taking a first step is the hunger you then have to take steps two through two million. How are we feeling? Our team woke up today with wind in our sails and a plan to succeed. We are feeling happy, not satisfied.”
Gavin isn’t ready to commit to a full comeback. The Cadet season was also canceled in 2023, but at this point, there’s no set plan to bring them back.
However, Vanguard is still pushing forward and trying to come back stronger than ever.
“We will continue working to make sure we are first and foremost a well-run business,” said Gavin. “Our bingo operation and fundraising efforts will continue to evolve to ensure we are successful for decades to come.
“We aspire to be the best, and that includes the things going on off the field as well,” continued Gavin. “Of particular importance, I hope we can work to make our organization more accessible by raising more scholarship funds for potential members.”
Vanguard accepts donations for scholarships and its marching program at scvanguard.org. It is already accepting applications for participants in its 2025 season.
