Mid-Winter / Pacific Northwest Championship Show
This contest was put on by the Seattle Thunderbirds in March or April each year from 1960 thru 1969. This is the original mid-winter show held in the Pacific NW. It preceded the Salem Optirama show by four years.
This show started out as a vehicle for brass and percussion competitions, but quickly evolved to include a full-corps standstill competition and color guard activities.
Competitors came from throughout the Pacific NW region, including Junior & Senior units and non-drum corps units like the Spokane Percussion-Nauts, and drummers from bagpipe bands.
Medals, trophies, and bragging rights were awarded to all the top performers.
Show programs for these events can be found on the “Show Programs” link in the header above.
Check out the show results below.
If anybody has more complete data or photos, please let us know, Thanks.
1960 – PNW Championship Show Results
1961 – PNW Championship Show Results
1962 – PNW Championship Show Results
1963 – PNW Championship Show Results
1964 – PNW Championship Show Results
1965 – PNW Championship Show Results
1966 – PNW Championship Show Results
1967 – PNW Championship Show Results
1969 – PNW Championship Show Results. The Thunderbirds did not field a corps this year. This show was co-sponsored by the Bellevue Sentinels.
1970 – The Thunderbirds returned to field competition, only to disband permanently at the end of this season.
1960 Pacific Northwest Championships – First Year
Seattle Thunderbirds – back rows wearing garrison caps.
Pasco Columbians – front row without hats. The Columbians uniforms burned in a fire two weeks earlier on February 29, 1960, so they are without uniforms in this photo.
See 1960 – PNW Championships Show Results for photo analysis.
1964 Mid-Winter Competition
Seattle Thunderbirds (left) and Seattle Shamrocks (right)
1965 Thunderbirds – Seattle Center Ice Arena
1968 Symphony in Brass – Seattle Center Opera House
Seattle Thunderbirds – Unknown Year. Pre-1969
Mid-Winter Competition, Seattle Center Ice Arena
Seattle Thunderbirds – Unknown Year. Pre-1969
Mid-Winter Competition, Seattle Center Ice Arena
1969 Brazen Brass – Seattle Center Ice Arena
Bellevue Sentinels co-sponsored the show in 1969, as the Thunderbirds did not field a corps that year.
1969 Sentinels drum quartet at Brazen Brass / Mid-Winter Championships
1969 Hawks Tenor Drum Soloist – First Place
March 29, 1969
Portland Hawks Drum Quartet
1969 Cascade Cadets (Seattle Cascades) practicing at the Brazen Brass / Mid-Winter Championships
Note – The photo caption had it all wrong. What else is new?