June 2, 2026 – Castleton, VT
I am back in Castleton, Vermont, after a long hiatus. Today is the second full day of spring training for the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps at Castleton University. They will be on campus and in town for over three weeks. I make an annual pilgrimage here for the first chance to watch and listen as they get the show together. I arrived today just before dinner. When I opened the car door, I could hear baritones emanating from the stadium nearby. As I sat on the cold aluminum bench at side two, I observed the entire 80-member brass ensemble rehearsing the music on and off the met and on the move under the direction of Gino Cipriani. All I can report is that you will be treated to a sonic highlight at 33-43 in the book. There is work to be done, but WOW!
While the corps went to dinner, I took a good walk along the D&H Rail Trail and came here to The Third Place Pizza for a small pie and a Vermont beverage. This place is legendary for its hospitality to BAC. You might ask, “Why would the best drum corps in the world go to a place called third place?” The First Place is Home, the Second Place is Work, and the Third Place is where you find Community. This is where the early magic happens as the adults hone their designs and coaching skills and establish esprit de corps amongst themselves after members are lights-out. For now, I am having my dinner with Bobby, another ardent BAC fan who traveled from Boston. We watched the brass together, and now we are sharing our chosen single pie with plenty to take with us. I shall return later for a little love with the staff.
I’m back in the stands to watch the evening visual block without horns. Arron is on the mic, working his visual magic, coaching the members through the choreography. Members’ voices mimic the horn part or count out the measures without horns. At 8:30 PM, some members are in sweaters, others wish they were, as the chill Vermont air slips down off the Green Mountains into the valley. This is a nice, mellow moment for me to loosen my fingers as I chronicle the Championship year with BAC. It’s very early in their transformation.
I have visited Castleton annually since 2015, when I realized that they were encamped here just 75 minutes from my humble home along the Mill Brook in Waitsfield, Vermont. This is an early visit for me. Usually, I give the corps a week or two to have enough of the show together to learn the music and get hints about the show’s theme and title. For many reasons, I needed the experience of being here with these kids and adults to bring back my spirit a little earlier this year. Tonight, I am thinking of Tim O’Donnell, a Giant. Tim marched for the Boston Crusaders and Crossmen in the early 1990’s and is from a well-known Boston area drum corps family. Recently, Tim passed away unexpectedly. I met Tim at our local tavern around that time, but did not know him beyond the friendly bartender. One night in late August 2017, I showed up with a Boston Crusaders’ t-shirt emblazoned with GUILTY. Tim immediately recognized it, sparking a ten-year friendship, and each year, new stories to share about my tour. Tim was a Giant in our community, the Mad River Valley, in hospitality, his independent window cleaning service, and in the music scene as a popular drummer. He will be missed by many.
The western sky has turned a dark magenta, with long, thin high clouds. Stadium lights are now needed. Aaron uses his wit, humor, and communication skills to coach these young souls through the book with highly choreographed drills and movements. Between takes, he remarks, offhandedly, “I don’t know how Vermonters can tolerate such foul smog air.” AMTRAK sounds its horn as it pulls into the otherwise sleepy town. No horns from this stadium tonight, so these kids might continue after the no-sound curfew of 9:00 PM. No rest for the weary from here on out.
I am now thinking about the 7th- and 8th-grade bands at our Middle School, for which I have the pleasure of serving as the guest teacher. I have shared a lot of my content and enthusiasm with them. I will be with them again on Thursday to give them a report. They could surely take a lesson in how to behave in rehearsal. These near-adult kids on the field give 100% attention to Aaron and the Drum Major, Maddie.
Reality check: tomorrow is a day of work on the Number Nine Schoolhouse, a local, nonprofit-driven effort to save a historic Vermont two-room schoolhouse. A site visit is planned in Calais, Vermont, to meet with the community stewards who founded and maintain the Calais Community Center in Maple Corners. This will be a nice drive through Vermont bucolic countryside. We are planning our first volunteer work party to clean up the schoolyard and prepare the upper classroom for music rehearsal space on Sunday. I will make an early night of it and head home. My 2026 DCI tour plans are in flux, so I will keep you posted. Burr! Note to self: bring your seat pad next time.
Peace out for now.