Vanguard Blog

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History of The Bottle Dance, In Honor of Pat Pierson

Sep 5, 2021 | Alumni, Blog Post, Santa Clara Vanguard

Imagine a long row of dancers, hands interlocked and arms held at an unshakeable ninety-degree angle. As the unmistakable strains of the “Wedding Dance” from Fiddler on the Roof swell, the line moves forward as one. Step. Drag. Step. With the lock of each passing...

In Memoriam

Aug 28, 2021 | Blog Post, Santa Clara Vanguard

This past year, we lost two important pillars of the Vanguard organization and its history. Don and Ginny Koester passed peacefully on June 27th and February 1st of 2021 respectively. Together they served the Vanguard organization from 1970-1999 and briefly from...

Vanguard Voices: Episode 8

Jun 27, 2021 | Alumni, Blog Post, Santa Clara Vanguard

Celebrate Pride Month with our latest episode of Vanguard Voices! Three of our alumni, each of whom proudly represent SCV and the LGBTQ+ community, openly share how the activity played a part in their coming out experience, the progress they've witnessed in each of...

Vanguard Voices: Episode 6

Apr 3, 2021 | Alumni, Blog Post, Santa Clara Vanguard, Uncategorized

Episode 6: In memory of charter member, Mel Canales Featuring: Keiko Kelly, Mike Munoz and Scott Pierson Through this conversation with some of our earliest members, we learn about “Milk it Mel’s” legacy and what Vanguard was like in the early days. Mel being...

Vanguard Voices: Episode 7

May 10, 2021 | Alumni, Blog Post, Santa Clara Vanguard

Featuring: Peter Ohno, Kim Wong and Ken Nakamoto To honor Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we talked to three of our proud AAPI SCV Alumni about their family support growing up, why Vanguard was their dream corps and what their favorite traditions were...

Women’s History Month Spotlight: Mary Shiffer creates the Vanguard image

Mar 26, 2021 | Blog Post, Santa Clara Vanguard

When drum corps fans think of the Santa Clara Vanguard there are a multitude of iconic images that usually come to mind. The eight-pointed star with the red V in the middle. The Aussie with the delicate feather sticking up. But for many, the image of the red tunic...