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Blue Stars achieve highest DCI World Championships finish since 1977 following Spring Training at UIU; corps will return to Fayette Campus

Fayette, IA (09/09/2026) — Upper Iowa University (UIU) is celebrating a historic season for the Blue Stars Drum & Bugle Corps following the organization's first Spring Training residency at UIU's Fayette Campus and is pleased to announce that the partnership will continue in the years ahead.

The Blue Stars capped their remarkable 2026 season with a sixth-place finish at the Drum Corps International (DCI) World Championships, the corps' highest placement since 1977. The Blue Stars also earned a record-high score of 94.137 in DCI Finals.

Before taking their 2026 production, Collection '26: THE GALLERIES, on the road for a summer of performances and competition, the Blue Stars made Upper Iowa University their home. From May 29 through June 28, members lived on the Fayette Campus and utilized UIU's athletic, campus and rehearsal facilities during the corps' intensive Spring Training.

The residency brought together performers from across the United States and around the world, including members from Japan, the United Kingdom and Germany, and brought a unique energy to UIU and the greater Fayette community.

"It was truly an honor to welcome the Blue Stars to Upper Iowa University and the Fayette community," said Seth Miner, Vice President of Residential Admissions and Student Life at Upper Iowa University. "On behalf of President Kathy Franken and our entire UIU community, I want to congratulate the members, staff and leadership of the Blue Stars on an incredible and historic season. They were an absolute joy to have on campus. Their talent, energy, work ethic and commitment to excellence brought our campus to life, and we are proud that Fayette and UIU could play a small part in helping them prepare for such a memorable season."

For the Blue Stars, the experience at Upper Iowa University proved to be an important part of their successful summer.

"The Blue Stars Drum & Bugle Corps' residency at Upper Iowa University was a game changer for our organization," said Bradley R. Harris, Corps Director of the Blue Stars Drum & Bugle Corps. "The beautiful facilities, welcoming campus community, and tremendous support from the people of Fayette provided an exceptional Spring Training experience for our members, who traveled from across the United States and around the world, including Japan, the United Kingdom, and Germany."

Harris said the support the corps received throughout its stay helped set the stage for the season that followed.

"Members and staff alike felt welcomed and supported from day one," Harris said. "The experience helped establish a strong foundation for a historic 2026 season, which helped the Blue Stars to earn 6th place at the DCI World Championships, the corps' highest placement since 1977, and earned a record high score of 94.137 in DCI Finals."

Throughout the Blue Stars' month in Fayette, the sounds of rehearsals carried across campus and provided the UIU and Fayette communities with an opportunity to experience firsthand the extraordinary preparation, discipline and collaboration required of one of the nation's premier drum and bugle corps.

For UIU, those qualities made the Blue Stars a natural fit for the University and its student-centered mission.

"Watching these talented young people dedicate themselves to a common goal was something special," Miner said. "There are so many similarities between their experience and what we want for our own students at UIU - challenging themselves, developing their talents, building lifelong relationships and being part of a community that supports and celebrates their success."

The partnership also showcased Upper Iowa University's Fayette Campus as a destination capable of supporting large-scale residential programs. The Blue Stars utilized campus housing as well as UIU's athletic, rehearsal and other campus facilities throughout their stay.

But it was the presence of the Blue Stars members and staff themselves that made the experience especially memorable.

"We knew this partnership would be a wonderful opportunity for both organizations, but what stood out most was how quickly the Blue Stars became part of our campus and Fayette communities," Miner said. "There was an excitement surrounding their rehearsals and a genuine interest from community members in what they were doing. We loved having them here, and we are incredibly excited that this relationship is just beginning."

That relationship is now set to continue.

Upper Iowa University and the Blue Stars Drum & Bugle Corps have entered into a two-year agreement that will bring the organization back to the Fayette Campus for future Spring Training residencies. The Blue Stars will return to UIU in 2027, with planning for next summer already underway.

"We could not be more excited to welcome the Blue Stars back to Fayette," Miner said. "President Franken, our UIU community and the greater Fayette community thoroughly enjoyed having them here. We are proud of what they accomplished this season and even more excited about what lies ahead. When the Blue Stars return, they will be returning to a community that is proud to call itself a partner and proud to welcome them back."

Harris echoed that enthusiasm for the future of the partnership.

"We are incredibly grateful to Upper Iowa University and the Fayette community for helping make this season so special," Harris said, "and we look forward to returning to campus and our partnership moving forward!"

Founded in 1964 and based in La Crosse, Wisconsin, the Blue Stars Drum & Bugle Corps provides young performers opportunities to develop their musical and performance abilities while building leadership skills, discipline and lifelong relationships. The organization competes as a World Class member of Drum Corps International and performs for audiences throughout the United States during its annual summer tour.

For more information about Upper Iowa University and its Fayette Campus, visit uiu.edu. To learn more about the Blue Stars Drum & Bugle Corps, visit bluestars.org.

About Upper Iowa University

Founded in 1857, Upper Iowa University is a private, nonprofit university providing undergraduate and graduate degree programs through its residential Fayette Campus and flexible online and self-paced learning options. UIU is committed to providing an accessible, student-centered education that prepares students to succeed in the classroom, their careers and their communities.

For more information, visit www.uiu.edu.

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