The Hawthorne Gold Drum and Bugle Corps was founded in 2005 in Hawthorne, California, by Dr. Donald Flaherty & Juan C. Leguizamon. Dr. Flaherty was the corps' executive director until 2022.
For its first five seasons, the corps competed only within the state of California. In 2010, the corps relocated to Oceanside, in order to be accessible to more of the youth of Southern California and changed its name to Gold Drum and Bugle Corps.
The corps first ventured out of California in 2011, traveling to Salt Lake City for one performance, then on to Loveland and Denver, Colorado for DCI's Drums Along the Rockies regional competitions.
Gold first attended the DCI World Championships in 2007, when DCI traveled west to Pasadena. Since 2012, Gold has traveled to the Midwest to attend the DCI World Championships in Michigan City, Marion, and Indianapolis, Indiana.
In 2013, Gold was joined by students from the Laizhou Martial Arts Institute of Laizhou, China as performers in the corps' show, "East Meets West." The school had been featured performers in the 2008 Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony.
Sponsorship
The Gold Drum and Bugle Corps is sponsored by Gold Youth Arts Organization, Inc., a 501(c)(3) musical organization. The Executive Director is Kevin Valentine.[6]
Light blue background indicates DCI Open Class Finalist
Pale green background indicates DCI World Class Semifinalist
Year
Repertoire
World Championships
Score
Placement
2005
Introductions Original music by the staff of Gold
Did not attend World Championships
2006
The Black Widow Original music by the staff of Gold
2007
Spanish Gold Repertoire unavailable
74.175
9th Place Division III
2008
29,029 ft: EVEREST Repertoire unavailable
Did not attend World Championships
2009
Entomology Original music by Travis Larson
2010
Primary Colors Yellow, Blue & Red Original music by the staff of Gold
2011
Reel to Real Repertoire unavailable
2012
Different Dunkle und Rau, Different & Celebration! Original music by Scott Director
84.300
7th Place Open Class Finalist
66.350
26th Place World Class
2013
East Meets West Pingpang, Mínyáo & Zuìzhong Original music by Scott Director
86.750
6th Place Open Class Finalist
69.960
26th Place World Class
2014
The Journey Every Journey Begins With a Single Step; New Places, New People, New Things & One Journey Ends and Another Begins Original music by Scott Director
74.125
6th Place Open Class Finalist
71.250
28th Place World Class
2015
Pop Star Pop Star by Scott Director, Rich Hinshaw & Joe Millea (Based on Toxic by Cathy Dennis, Christian Karlsson, Pontus Winnberg & Henrik Jonback)
67.725
8th Place Open Class Finalist
60.525
34th Place World Class
2016
El Dia De Los Muertos Processional, The Offering, Celebration & Limbo Original music by Scott Director
68.600
8th Place Open Class Finalist
67.638
30th Place World Class
2017
Grow The Seed, The Sprout, The Sapling & Maturity Original music by Scott Director
72.750
7th Place Open Class Finalist
70.100
29th Place World Class
2018
Through Our Eyes Original music by Scott Director
76.750
3rd Place Open Class Finalist
75.425
23rd Place World Class Semifinalist
2019
The Pursuit of Happiness Rat Race; Love, Love, Love, Love, Love; Money & Happiness Found Original music by Scott Director
79.250
3rd Place Open Class Finalist
77.100
22nd Place World Class Semifinalist
2020
Season canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021
Speakeasy Proud Mary by John Fogerty / Dedicated to the One I Love by Lowman Pauling & Ralph Bass / Big Noise From Winnetka by Ray Baudue & Bob Haggart
