The Sunnyside Drum Corps, established in 1977 by local resident Tony Lana, is celebrating its 47th anniversary and is actively seeking new members to join its ranks. The marching band, which practices every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at All Saints Episcopal Church (43-12 46th St.), offers a free program for children aged 9 to 19. Younger children can also participate if they have an older sibling in the Corps.
Currently, the Corps has about 25 children enrolled, a significant drop from its pre-pandemic membership of 85. Lana hopes to rebuild the group to its former size and is calling for recruits not just for drummers but also for baton twirlers and flag carriers. He expressed a desire to restore the non-drum components of the marching band, such as a formal Color Guard and flag unit.
“In the past, we had a Color Guard and a flag unit with 12 girls, as well as baton twirlers,” Lana said. “Now it’s only drums. Our main goal is to bring back the flag line. When a marching band comes toward you with a group of flags, it’s a real sight to see. Currently, we have some parents carrying American flags in front of us during parades to make us appear larger.”
The Drum Corps participates in about 12 parades annually, and Lana continues to enjoy seeing new members experience their first parade.
“It’s always wonderful when a new child joins, and seeing their excitement during their first parade is priceless. The pride in the parents’ faces is also something special,” he added.
The mission of the Drum Corps is to provide children with a fun social environment where they can meet local peers while learning a new skill. Many former members remain connected to the Corps, either volunteering or enrolling their own children in the program. Lana noted that it’s not uncommon for entire families to take part in the Corps, with multiple siblings and even future generations joining.
“We’ve had families with four or five siblings join, and when they grew up, their children joined too,” Lana shared.
Lana, originally from Woodside and now living in Garden City, founded the Corps following a community call, led by Joe Sabba of the Woodside Herald, to create a local marching band in celebration of the nation’s bicentennial. As the 50th anniversary of the Drum Corps approaches, Lana is already beginning to reflect on their major milestones, including the Corps’ memorable 25th anniversary in 2002.
“We had a huge celebration for our 25th anniversary, with about 80 members and 40 alumni joining us. We borrowed extra drums, and everyone had something to play. We marched down the boulevard with 110 pieces, and it was incredible,” Lana recalled.
As the Sunnyside Drum Corps looks to its future, Lana hopes to attract new members and continue the tradition of providing a meaningful experience for young musicians in the community.
