In celebration of the corps’ anniversary and a nod to forty-five years of history, innovation and excellence, six-time DCI world champion Santa Clara Vanguard stepped into one of the greatest paintings in modern art history with its 2012 program, Music of The Starry Night…
Using Vincent van Gogh’s masterpiece The Starry Night (1889) as both visual source material and musical inspiration, SCV painted a celestial composition with the music of Eric Whitacre, John Mackey and Gustav Holst. With an emphasis on ear-friendly music for drum corps fans, Santa Clara presented the beauty, power, and magnificence of van Gogh’s masterpiece: a night sky filled with swirling clouds, blazing stars, and a bright crescent moon.
The show oozed Vanguard tradition, featuring drill formations in the shape of “SCV” and the classic Vanguard star. This was the final season for many Vanguard traditions. It marks the last season we would see a green feather in the ageouts’ aussies on finals night and the last time we would see the Vanguard in a traditional tunic and sash.
The show was a fan favorite amongst Vanguard Alumni and DCI enthusiasts. Vanguard was championed for returning to their roots and honoring shows of the past. The alumni and the current members of Vanguard bonded over their love of Vanguard tradition and the memorable and meaningful music featured in the show. The current members loved honoring past SCV members throughout this production and the show was beloved by SCV members across the generations. To this day, it remains one of the most nostalgic Vanguard productions of the 2000s.
