News

CADRE Competes in the Connecticut Fifers and Drummers Association North-eastern Quartet Championships

This year, CADRE joined the Ct. F&DA (Connecticut Fifers & Drummers Association - started in 1885). On August 7, 2004, the CADRE (Toronto Club) I&E Rope Drum Quartet travelled to Prospect, CT and competed for the first time in the Connecticut Fifers & Drummers Association annual meet. We played well, but the 2004 Quartet Champions are the Connecticut Patriots. Superb job, fellows! You are truly deserving Champions!

We were made welcome by association President Art Hutchinson (to whom we presented a CADRE hat as a gesture of international friendship), Amanda Hutchinson, Ct. F&DA Administrator and Don Mason, Past President - plus past and current Sr. Bass Drum Champion (Don also played in the Champion Patriots Quartet). We heard comments from several people that the Ct. F&DA were delighted to have CADRE as a new “international” member and that we provided a new, different drumming presence.

We met some terrific Connecticut rudimental drummers, writers and instructors:

• Jim Clark - Director of CT. Valley Field Music – and past Sr. Snare Champion; instructor of several corps and many competitive drummers; currently completing his PhD in music).
• Cliff Barrows – CT. Blues Snare Drummer - past Sr. Snare Champion (2nd place this year).
• The entire Mason family – who are all wonderful drummers (including Mrs Mason).
• Brendan Mason is this year’s Sr. Snare champion.
• Dick Carbonell - Lancraft; competing snare drummer.
• Paul Cormier – Lancraft - a Bob Redican student.
• Bill Rotella – drum merchandise purveyor and author – who gave us a copy of his new composition: “Back to Basel!” We will link the CADRE site to Bill’s and vice-versa.

We will definitely return in 2005 to renew friendships and compete in the North-eastern Championships.