Our Organization

For the past 25 years, the Empire Statesmen organization has touched hundreds of thousands of individuals with music and entertainmesnt both locally and throughout the world with award-winning performances in over a dozen countries and on three continents.

Founded by the late Vincent Bruni, the Empire Statesmen Drum & Bugle Corps and the Empire Cadets (formerly known as The Little Americans) continues to provide an environment that educates and promotes the talents and skills of its members.

To date, the Empire Statesmen organization has served a membership numbering well into the thousands. Many of these performers are from the Greater Rochester Area, located within the State of New York, and throughout the United States and Canada.

As a former Rochester city school teacher and veteran of the United States Navy, “Mr B.” instilled his family values and strong principals into each of its members. With a focus on discipline, dedication, and determination, he shared the qualities that supported his lifelong dedication to the pursuit of excellence.

In large part to his vision, the Empire Statesmen continues to grow beyond the boundaries of a drum and bugle corps and into an organization that serves the Greater Rochester community and promotes the performing arts both locally and throughout the world.

The Empire Statesmen are a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation based in Rochester, NY.

Our Vision

To prepare people for life through education, participation, and performance.

Our Mission

The Empire Statesmen organization is focused on providing opportunities to educate, participate, and grow its members in the areas of performing arts.

All programs are designed to encourage and teach civic pride, self-esteem, teamwork, discipline, dedication, and self-reliance. By teaming music education and performance with community awareness, members learn to become positive and contributing citizens.