Minnesota Brass beats 6-time winner, taking national prize

Article by: ERIC ROPER , Star Tribune
Updated: September 5, 2011 - 11:10 PM

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Minnesota Brass competed in the All Ages category Saturday, July 16, 2011.

Photo: Marlin Levison, Star Tribune

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Drumroll, please.

For the first time in their history, the Minnesota Brass Drum and Bugle Corps took home the top prize this weekend at an annual drum corps competition in Rochester, N.Y. It was a major win for the corps, which has been participating in the Drum Corps Associates World Championships for about 30 years but had never finished higher than second place.

They aren't the only Minnesota group celebrating. The St. Peter Govenaires won first place among smaller drum corps competitors.

"It was really emotional," said Joel Matuzak, who arranged the Minnesota Brass program. "It's a really physical program that we put together. And they just worked really, really hard this summer. So elation I guess is probably the best way to say it."

The victory also marked the first time in six years any corps had defeated the Buccaneers, of Reading, Pa.

The 65-year-old Minnesota Brass corps is made up of about 128 performing members, who range from their teens to their late 50s. The performances feature brass, drum and color guard components.

The theme of this weekend's performance was "Valhalla," named after the Viking heaven. Matuzak, incidentally, is also drumline director for the Minnesota Vikings.

Songs included Wagner's "The Ride of the Valkyries" and Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song," as well as John Lennon's "Imagine" and Charles Mingus' "Children's Hour Of Dream."

The color guard was decked out in Viking garb, led by a man dressed as a Viking king. But his reign was shortlived.

"He died after the Mingus tune," Matuzak said.

Eric Roper • 612-673-1732 Twitter: @StribRoper