Conquest began in November 2018 with the intention of having a drum and bugle corps based in the Quad Cities region for the first time in over 20 years. The goal was to give Quad City area students another summer performance opportunity beyond their school music program. We were excited to join SoundSport, a program of Drum Corps International, which prides itself on being a cost effective option to help grow and build new drum corps organizations as well as provide an avenue for other music ensembles to perform. Members include high school and college age students from 14 to 21, although we can be flexible with membership age in SoundSport. Positions include brass, percussion, and color guard.Â
Conquest is a great option for exceptional performance opportunities on a small budget. It's what we call "drum corps lite". Most DCI corps cost anywhere from $1500-$5000 to participate (and more if you include travel to camps). Conquest is currently one of the most affordable corps in the United States, with dues around $500. As we continue to build our organization, dues will shift based on economic climate and the opportunities for performance we receive. However, we will ALWAYS make affordability a top priority. We don't believe students should lose the opportunity to perform just because of money. We also offer a flexible summer schedule built around limited evening rehearsals and weekend performances to accommodate for working students.
We perform for the community by participating in parades, athletic events, and more. We also prepare a corps-style show in preparation for a competitive season where we perform exhibitions at DCI shows and compete in SoundSport sanctioned events, including virtual competitions with international exposure. Finally, we culminate the season at the SoundSport International Food and Music Festival, held in Indianapolis as part of DCI's Finals Week festivities.
It's a new beginning. Come be part of it!