Our Mission
The purpose of the White Sabers Drum & Bugle Corps is to promote musicianship, friendship, sociability, and culture among the members of the organization and to promote personal growth and a sense of belonging for all members through the process of learning to work as a team toward the common goal of maintaining a successful drum and bugle corps. We accomplish this by promoting the study of and improvement in the marching arts by engaging in contests, parades, exhibitions, and similar events.
Building Community
The White Sabers is a non-profit, community-based organization that gives back through performance and community outreach. White Sabers strives to communicate effectively, respond to the needs of the membership, and maintain close ties with its alumni. We are an inclusive organization, welcoming members of all ages and backgrounds who seek a place in our organization. Our goal is to entertain, but above all, to have a professional and approachable image in all that we do.
History
White Sabers Drum & Bugle Corps is an all-age competitive drum and bugle corps based in Rochester, New York. Founded in 1928, the corps has a long history as a parade corps. White Sabers is a two-time DCA Class A World Champion (2013, 2014), a perennial DCA Open Class finalist — achieving their highest placement (4th place) in 2019. The Corps joined DCA's newly created World Class in 2022.
The Corps was founded in 1928 by the commander of the American Legion Post #87 in Dansville, New York (later renamed Daniel Goho, Inc. New York Post #87). In 1957, the corps gained independence from the American Legion post, and continued to perform as a concert and parade corps under the name Dansville White Sabers. The corps competed at the Red Carpet Association Championship in 1977 then became inactive.
After multiple years of inactivity, an alumni reunion held in 1994 revived interest in a Dansville-based corps. In 2004, the corps became active again, but did not compete.
In 2005, the White Sabers joined DCA as a Class A corps, and placed sixth against ten other competitors. The corps was a Class A finalist in 2006 and 2012, and Class A champions in 2013 and 2014. White Sabers advanced to Open Class in 2015, and were finalists every year they were a part of Open Class. In 2015, Executive Director Leslie Amico was awarded Open Class "Director of the Year."
In 2022, the Corps officially relocated from Dansville, NY to the Rochester suburb of Gates, NY. Also in 2022, DCA reclassified their competitive structure with the addition of a World Class—the White Sabers elected to compete in World Class, joining the Bushwackers, Reading Buccaneers, and Hawthorne Caballeros. Corps Director Ben Chaffee was awarded World Class "Director of the Year" in 2022. The corps reclassified to DCA Open Class for the 2023 season.
Awards and Achievements
2023 - White Sabers receive Open Class awards for High Brass, High Colorguard, and High Visual
2023 - Corps Director Ben Chaffee is awarded Open Class Director of the Year
2022 - Corps Director Ben Chaffee is awarded World Class Director of the Year
2022 - White Sabers compete in DCA’s World Class
2019 - White Sabers achieve highest DCA Championships placement to date
2017 - White Sabers earn highest score in White Sabers’ history with a 93.38
2015 - Executive Director Leslie Amico is awarded Open Class Director of the Year
2015 - White Sabers join the ranks of DCA’s Open Class, the highest division offered at that time
2014 - A Class Champions White Sabers earn 88.60, which remains untouched as the highest score achieved by an A Class Corps
2013 - White Sabers named A Class Champions
2005 - White Sabers return to DCA competition