After a tumultuous 2001 season that ended in almost complete staff turnover, Pioneer Drum and Bugle Corps is building new momentum for 2002 that could bring the organization unprecedented success.

"We're keeping our entire drum staff from last year," said Roman Blenski, Pioneer Executive Director. "But the visual, color guard and brass staff are all new. That's going to generate a new look for the corps."

Dave Campbell, formerly of the General Butler Vagabonds, is the new show coordinator. Scott Boerma, the famed Madison Scouts brass arranger, penned the Pioneer book this winter. Tom Acheson, formerly of the Glassmen, is charting the corps' drill and Joe Stultz will work with the color guard.

"The idea was to put more emphasis on audience appeal," Blenski said. "Dave has had tremendous success with General Butler. He had some very entertaining shows with some pretty small corps. We're giving him more members, more resources, more time.

"In Scott's case, how can you argue audience appeal? He knows how to write music with a recognizable melody, audience appeal and plenty of goosebumps."

The corps is tackling music from the Broadway hit "Oliver." The show opens with a medley of Where is Love, Oliver!, Be Back Soon and Consider Yourself.

"If you listen to the opener, it sounds like what the Scouts would play," Campbell said. Next is the ballad, As Long As He Needs Me and the drum solo, The Robbery. The closer is the high-energy Who Will Buy? "It will be a 'louder-faster-higher' type of piece," Campbell said. For free MIDI recordings of the 2002 repertoire, click here.

The corps isn't doing a strict Irish theme, as it has done in the past. "But don't let your readers think we won't be Irish," Blenski said. "They'll see it." Still, Campbell and company are nudging the corps in a new direction.

"We're going to try some different things -- stage props, uniform accessories, back drops," Campbell said. "The whole show is based on Where Is Love. The theme is 'love.' The beginning starts kinda subtle, with some solos." Also watch for a uniform change mid-season. The guard will have new uniforms from the start.

"We'll be out (performing) the first week of drum corps (in June)," Campbell said.

The number of performers auditioning for the corps was meager for a division I corps during the winter, but Campbell said membership is picking up. The drum line is set, he said, with nine snares, four tenors, five basses and five cymbals, plus 12 to 15 members in the front ensemble. The organization is hoping to have 50 horns and 25 in the guard, although those numbers aren't there yet.

The corps also has a new manager, John Hines. Former corps director Bill Strube resigned at the end of last summer.

"John's a good man," Blenski said. "He'll do well. We are simply trying not to throw him into the fire too quickly."

The corps will rehearse this weekend and will travel to Chicago for the St. Patrick's Day Parade. They are also penciled in for the Madison Scouts' "Open House" concert in April.

Blenski said the members and the new staff are fired up.

"I'm really excited," he said. "I think it will be a good season."