During Labor Day Weekend, Drum Corps Associates (DCA) Open Class corps compete to earn the title of DCA Open Class World Champion. The championships consist of 2 rounds (Prelims and Finals) held on 2 consecutive nights (the Saturday and Sunday nights of Labor Day weekend). All corps compete at Prelims, with the top 10 Open Class and top 4 Class A corps competing at Finals. The champion is determined by the overall high score in the Finals competition. There are also a number of caption awards (high brass, high percussion, high visual, etc.), though the process of determination for those awards has changed from year to year.
Only eleven corps have won at least one DCA title (including 2 ties): Reading Buccaneers – 17 titles Hawthorne Caballeros – 10 titles Bushwackers – 6 titles (1 tie) Long Island Sunrisers – 6 titles (1 tie) Empire Statesmen – 5 titles (1 tie) Syracuse Brigadiers – 5 titles (1 tie) Connecticut Hurricanes – 3 titles Skyliners – 3 titles Minnesota Brass – 1 title Westshoremen – 1 title Cadets2 – 1 title
As of the conclusion of the 2019 competitive season, the Buccaneers, Bushwackers, Caballeros, Hurricanes, Skyliners, and Sunrisers remain in active Open Class competition. The Cadets2, Minnesota Brass, Brigadiers, Empire Statesmen, and Westshoremen are inactive.
1965
Champion: Reading Buccaneers of Reading, Pennsylvania
Repertoire: Burke's Law From This Moment On Portrait of My Love Maria This Had Better Be The Night El Cid After You've Gone Beyond the Sea Score: 84.50 Location: Milford, Connecticut Venue: Jonathan Law Field Date: September 11
1966
Champion: New York Skyliners of New York, NY
Repertoire: Charlie Welch (from Mr. Wonderful) Columbia the Gem of the Ocean (from Thousands Cheer) That Old Black Magic (from Bus Stop) Flight of the Bumblebee Once in Love with Amy (from Where's Charley?) Hava Nagila Oklahoma (from Oklahoma!) Score: 84.53 Location: Bridgeport, Connecticut Venue: JFK Stadium Date: September 4
1967
Champion: Connecticut Hurricanes of Derby, Connecticut
Repertoire: You Gotta Start Off Each Day With A Song Just One Of Those Songs Under the Double Eagle National Emblem March America I Love You Rhapsody in Blue Fiddler On the Roof Return Of The Magnificent Seven Score: 85.583 Location: Bridgeport, Connecticut Venue: JFK Stadium Date: September 3
1968
Champion: Reading Buccaneers of Reading, Pennsylvania
Repertoire: Unavailable
Score: 82.15
Location: Rochester, New York
Venue: Aquinas Stadium
Date: September 1
1969
Champion: Connecticut Hurricanes of Derby, Connecticut
Repertoire: Queen of Sheba March Hallelujah Chorus Rhapsody in Blue Walk on the Wild Side Hang 'Em High Magnificent Seven Also Sprach Zarathustra (from 2001: A Space Odyssey) Score: 79.745 Location: Rochester, New York Venue: Aquinas Stadium Date: August 31
1970
Champion: Hawthorne Caballeros of Hawthorne, New Jersey
Repertoire: Captain From Castile Ted Meets Johnny Sabre Dance 1812 Overture Samba de Orpheo Score: 82.775 Location: Rochester, New York Venue: Aquinas Stadium Date: September 6
1971
Champion: New York Skyliners of New York, NY
Repertoire: NY Montage Little Old New York (from Tenderloin) Longest Day Alabama Jubilee Lucretia McEvil Comes Love Slaughter on 10th Avenue (from On Your Toes) Little Old New York (from Tenderloin) East Side-West Side Fanfare Score: 91.5 Location: Rochester, New York Venue: Aquinas Stadium Date: September 5
1972
Champion: Hawthorne Caballeros of Hawthorne, New Jersey
Repertoire: El Gato Montes Captain From Castile Theme from Patton Everybody's Everything Sabre Dance Flamenco Cha-Cha Samba de Orpheo Score: 90.6 Location: Jersey City, New Jersey Venue: Roosevelt Stadium Date: September 3
1973
Champion: Hawthorne Caballeros of Hawthorne, New Jersey
Repertoire: Man of La Mancha South Rampart Street Parade Everybody's Everything Sabre Dance Flamenco Cha-Cha Harmonica Man Score: 89.85 Location: Rochester, New York Venue: Aquinas Stadium Date: September 2
1974
Champion: Hawthorne Caballeros of Hawthorne, New Jersey
Repertoire: Man of La Mancha Sweet Gypsy Rose Soul Train Mac Arthur Park Flamenco Cha-Cha Harmonica Man Score: 83.5 Location: Rochester, New York Venue: Aquinas Stadium Date: September 1