Do you recall when Drum and Bugle Corps were omni-present in parades and as entertainment during halftime at football games? Among those groups the DIPLOMATES de Québec stood out as different from the others.

Following 1st place positions at the 1962 Quebec Drum & Bugle Corps Championship and the 1965 Canadian Drum & Bugle Corps Championship, Les DIPLOMATES were invited to the prestigious Carnegie Hall in New York City.   Les DIPLOMATES ended their activities in 1973, in Rochester N.Y, at the Drum Corps Associates World Championships, with a 4th place position in the overall standings and a gold medal for best percussion.

Les DIPLOMATES are back after thirty four years of inactivity with a show to please today’s crowd and former fans. Les Dips will leave the competition aspect to the younger generation. Following a year and a half of preparation, on September 2nd 2007, the 140 members, consisting of brass, percussion and colour visual units,  made a remarkable come back in Rochester N.Y.

To achieve our goal every member has vested a thousand dollars for the acquisition of instruments, uniforms and other show paraphernalia.   Naturally, hundreds of hours of practice and rehearsal were also invested!

Today the ensemble consists of musicians (men and women) and colour and flag visual units. Our first show was performed in Montreal June 24th 2007.
A large part of our membership is from the Quebec City area, the remaining members residing in the regions of Montreal, Laval, le Saguenay, la Mauricie and Drummondville. 

Today’s DIPLOMATES are projecting a cultural image of music and visual effect that is inspired by the Drum and Bugle Corps idiom, but driven by  the passion for music.

Les DIPLOMATES are capable of presenting concerts, choreographed field playing and parades. For more information:

www.lesdiplomates.org   /   rlimmo@videotron.ca

Les DIPLOMATES, 2070 rue, Yves Thériault, Montreal,   H1A 5J6.
“Les Diplomates for the sheer joy of playing and marching.”