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About the Reading Buccaneers

The Reading Buccaneers Drum and Bugle Corps is a not-for-profit, education oriented, musical organization dedicated to providing its members with a unique performing experience. The Buccaneers are a charter member of the Drum Corps Associates (DCA) and compete annually for the DCA Championship in 2024 DCA Merged with Drum Corps international (DCI) to form what is now know as DCI All-Age. Additionally, the Bucs perform in various venues including, parades, exhibitions, concerts, and field shows.

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The Reading Buccaneers is an organization rich in history and tradition. The corps was organized in 1957, as a parade corps by “age-outs” of various local junior corps and veterans of WWII and Korea. The corps soon embarked upon field competitions in the 1958 season. The Buccaneers rose to the top quickly, winning three consecutive VFW Championships in 1960, 1961, and 1962. When Drum Corps Associates (DCA) was formed, the Bucs continued their success, becoming the first DCA Champions in 1965. Since that time, the Buccaneers have won the DCA title 19 more times to become the most decorated corps in DCA history. In the last several years the Buccaneers enjoyed unprecedented competitive success, completing 6 consecutive undefeated championship seasons from 2005 through 2010 and taking the DCA/DCI championship 17 out of the last 20 years. The final season of DCA in 2023 resulted in a Buccaneer championship, bringing the circuit full circle as it moved into the future. In 2024 DCA and DCI (Drum Corps International) merged to form the DCI All-Age division, breathing new life into the activity as a whole. The Buccaneers took this opportunity and ran with it, becoming the inaugural DCI All-Age Champions in 2024 with an undefeated season.

While it is true that the Buccaneers have had their share of glory in competition over the years, we are most proud of the thousands of people who have shared in the drum and bugle corps experience as part of the Buccaneer family. Many members have gone on to rewarding careers in music as educators, teachers, performers, and composers. Most have gone on with their lives and careers remembering fondly and speaking proudly of their days as a member of the Reading Buccaneers.

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Membership extends far beyond the Reading and Berks County areas. Members travel from throughout Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, New Jersey, New York, Minnesota and Massachusetts to be a part of the Reading Buccaneers. As an all-age corps, the Buccaneers rehearse primarily on the weekends with the summer months being the busiest for competitions and performances. This schedule allows members to maintain family, work and school commitments while still being involved in a world-class competitive musical organization. Performing well in this activity requires many hours of dedicated practice, however the feeling of accomplishment at the end a season-long journey is well worth the effort.

Tremendous effort and the support of many is required to assemble a world-class competitive drum and bugle corps. The Reading Buccaneers wish to thank the thousands of devoted fans and supporters who continue to follow us thought the years and of course, the support of our members, past and present, and their families remains our greatest resource. Without these people, we would not be the family known as the Reading Buccaneers.​

Photos by Megan Fox and Ben Mair
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