Crossmen Productions Inc

Wow! What a departure from yesteryear.
Love the defiant attitude and costume to program, guitars add new dimensions to program.
Prelude kicks ass entering field, brass,ensemble and guard are impressive.
Thanks for an entertaining program
Hats off to students and staff

I march with a Crossmen in 1990 to 1993. During the summer tour, it was the best of my life. It’s aunt me confidence, responsibility, and discipline. I wish every young adult could experience this wonderful family. I wish the current 2018 Crossmen the best summer tour ever.

I can say with certainty that my life has changed for the better because of this organization.
I marched with Crossmen in 1990 & 1991. I was a young man who was having trouble finding my way and had been going down the wrong path.
Because of this organization and the amazing people involved, I have become a productive member of society and a much better person.
Most people only look at the obvious aspects of the organization, members become better musicians, they learn how to carry themselves, they learn how to work together for the greater good. They struggle together until it's just right and they ultimately stand together on the field to wild applause.
As I move ahead in years, I have come to appreciate the true teachings of the organization. I learned what service to others means. I learned what true leadership means. More importantly I was surrounded by people who all pushed and supported each other every day.

The Crossmen continue to do this today and I'm certain the current members are experiencing many "life moments" that will be rememebed with fondness as they grow older.

I support this organization financially and by being a guardian to current members. If you are unfamiliar with The Crossmen, please look them up or even better attend a show. Watch the show in the stands to appreciate the performance. Then try to get a chance to see what happens after the show, in the parking lots. You will see young people working hard together all summer and forming bonds that last a lifetime.

The Crossman drive your car or an amazing group that travels the country each summer with talented individuals that love music!

Amazing group positively effecting youth and teaching skills that last a lifetime!

Great youth organization. Can't say enough about the amazing and positive life-skills building program they offer!

This is a great youth activity organization. Having gone through it myself 30 years ago, I still feel welcome by the current staff and administration, and that says a lot. It is an excellent learning environment for musicians and performers to hone their craft.

I marched with Crossmen for five years. They are a top notch youth organization and have grown even stronger since moving to Texas. I support them 100%!

Crossmen Productions is a wonderful, supportive organization for our young people that love the Music & Performing Arts. They give the young musicians & dancers an international competitive opportunity to compete with others from around the Country & World. It teaches a sense of self along with learning to do your best to make the whole Team perform at its best. The Drum $ Bugle Corps travels around the country for approximately six weeks every summer. These six weeks will challenge the bravest. Practicing in the hot weather everyday, competing most nights, sleeping on gym floors & on long night time bus rides. The reward of performing in stadiums filed with fans is their reward.

The crossmen are truly a world class organization; not only a drum corps but, a family. The experience gained from being involved in this organization was more than educational. Rehearsing, traveling, eating and living with this group helped to build character a sense of responsibility, accountability and self worth. The values of teamwork, comeraderie and discipline learned here shaped me as a person and made me a better teacher, father and husband. The lifelong friends that I have accumulated from my years with the corps are invaluable. The crossmen will be part of me forever!

I marched my Rookout year with Crossmen in its first year in Texas in 2007. I have to say that it has been one of the single greatest experiences of my life. Even as I have had a successful career as a Marine for 9 years, I got to say that lessons of hard work, teamwork and dedication to perfection are unmatched by any other activity for young adults. To top it off, the culture of Bones, what it means to be a Crossmen with its traditions and legacy will continue to fill a void in a world where values are becoming more scarce. I wished every young adult would participate in Drum Corps for the values it instills.

Crossmen Productions has provided amazing life experiences for thousands of young musicians and performers!

I was a member of this organization for two years. They helped me grow into an adult and understand responsibilities that go beyond music and skills that I can take into a workplace. They helped shape me to be a better person every day and constantly push my limits of what i can do. I would not be the person i am today without this organization.

Life changing experiences for young musicians and performers!

Life lessons taught and lifetime experiences gained by all who become Crossmen. It is a first class organization that strives to improve the lives of all its members. I would not trade my years of experiences associated with drum corps for all the money in the world.

Truly a wonderful organization full amazing people!! I love you all!! Thank you for giving me an amazing experience and ageout season!!

I've been with this organization for about ten years now and they still continue to amaze me. They have been through major ups and downs, new and old faces, traditions old and new, and have traveled the nation countless times since 1974. I am constantly and profoundly proud and impressed with the leading staff and administration and more importantly, the quality of individuals that come out of the Crossmen organization. I wouldn't be anywhere like I am today without being challenged and pushed as the Crossmen do.

I have volunteered for many years. Crossmen Productions is run by very hardworking people. When you volunteer you can expect to work hard, and have a lot of fun.

Crossmen Productions Inc is not only successful in what they do, but they change lives while doing it. Their commitment to excellence in young adults' lives is incredible. They continuously go above and beyond to ensure the growth of each individual that is associated with the program. Crossmen develops musicians and performers to be great at what they do - on the performance field and in life. I would not be who I am without Crossmen.

Crossmen is a world class organization that truly enrich the lives of everyone involved. I wouldn't trade my experience with them for the world.

I have been a member of this organization for 2 years. They create such a positive and productive atmosphere that I have not found anywhere else. I could never thank them enough for helping me become the performer, student, and person I am today.

Crossmen are run by a dedicated group of individuals who always place the needs of the members first. The current leadership has put the group on sound financial footing and managed the demands of the competitive side of the activity with what is in the members' best physical and mental interests to achieve sustained success. An impressive feat!

I have been proud to be both an alumni and now a volunteer for Crossmen, which has given me the opportunity to see lives impacted in a profoundly positive manner.

This is an amazing organization which fully accomplishes its mission. They not only focus on the musical and performance development of the members, but also work to develop organizational skills, responsibility, and teamwork. The members come out of their experience having acquired skills they will use throughout their lifetime, no matter where their career choice takes them. The corps directors are truly caring people who focus on the individual. They have maintained a family environment - members and volunteers are treated as family and are always welcomed back.

This organization is perfect for young adults to participate in! Not only do they receive top level performance education, they also get an opportunity to entertain thousands of people across the country each summer. The performers in this ensemble learn more about themselves and what they can accomplish as a greater whole. Being a member for four years was life-altering and I still utilize the lessons and tools that I learned from the experience.

As a professional that is a former beneficiary of this great group's work I can't say enough how it helped me grow as an individual and as a professional. As a youth it taught me discipline and team work. As a young professional it gave me a environment that allowed me to grow artistically and as an educator. Most of all I learned to not settle for what was comfortable but to push for excellence.

I have donated to Crossmen Productions for the past 3 years. The experience they provide to young musicians is surpassed by no other organization. They have a reputation for professionalism in their field, and for staffing some of the most talented music educators. Any young musician would be happy to share their summers with the Crossmen.

Crossmen Productions does an amazing job servicing their community of San Antonio. The opportunity they offer music students is top-notch. They love that is put into making their organization run is inspirational.

The struggle to fund this non-profit organization, as with most non-profits, is always a challenge. The work they do to make things happen is never-ending.

Any help would always make a difference!

I have marched with the Crossmen for seven years and we had a great time traveling and competing with a group that I now call my Family. I still follow the Crossmen when they come back East and cheer them on at the shows that I can attend.

As aparent volunteer of a now second year Crossmen I could not be more imptessed! This corps is a family that has already infuenced my son's work ethic, leadership skills, passion for music and COMMITMENT to TEAM! My wife and I coud not be more impressed with our/his "Crossmen Experience!"

I marched with the Crossmen for six years. I had a great time with the Crossmen and my experiences with them made me the person I am today. I have met some of the greatest people in the world and I can't imagine my life without them.

The Crossmen plays a big part in my life right now as this is my 3rd year participating in this organization. The life lessons and the people I have met make me the person I am today. Also in the past two year I have been blessed to have been taught by such great individuals as my dear friends Adam Farley and Aaron Goldberg. Although I am sad that they do not get to join the Crossmen this season, I still honor and cherish every moment I had spent with them and try to stay in contact with them as much as I can. Furthermore, the couple that runs this organization, Fred and Maureen Morrison, are the most kind, caring, passionate people I have ever met and they would do any thing for this organization to keep it afloat along with all of the Alumni and fans, if you (the reader), could witness the things we do in the summer and the fellowship that is created, you would be able to say "There is a lot of love in the Crossmen I want to be a part of this". I hope you feel that way, because we surely do.

The Crossmen are a great organization that fosters development in young people both musically and in life. The members I know who have been in this organization have grown in many aspects that prepare them for life after school. They learn to work with people from all backgrounds and views to put together a production that exhibits a common goal.

Marching drum corps was a wonderful experience. You learn to work with a group of people from different backgrounds to develop a wonderful product. Those who have marched drum corps are richer for the experience.

The Crossmen experience is an esoteric one, if there ever was such a thing. I know of no other organization that combines unique identity and history with a progressive philosophy of adaptation and enrichment. Though it's true that this organization's past is exciting enough to be a part of, it still pales in comparison to the excitement I feel from knowing what kind of history an organization like this has yet to make for itself.

I first encountered the Crossmen in 1978 on the televised DCI Finals telecast from Denver, Co. I was struck by their style, energy and unique appearance incorporating capes and painted drummer's faces. I had the distinct honor and privilege of becoming a member of the Crossmen percussion section for the 1982 and 1984 seasons. I felt part of something special and established. The Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corps are an extended family of members, instructors, directors and volunteers. After one marches with the Crossmen they are included in a family that spans years, generations and geography. Even though the organization has relocated to Texas, there is still a strong tie to the Philadelphia area and the former members and instructors that founded this strong competitive unit. Many of which continue to support and honor the corps still today. I place the years I marched with the Crossmen on the short-list of things of which I am most proud.

The Crossmen are living breathing examples of an organization that has created a culture of personal enrichment for their members channeled through the music arts activity. They have placed the emphasis on personal improvement and teamwork over winning trophies and have a devoted following of past members and fans nationwide. I look forward to their continued success within the Drum Corps arena.

Crossmen change lives for young music, dance and color guard students by providing them with opportunities to become not only better at their passion, but better human beings. This means that the world is made a little better one "bones" at a time and I am personnally proud to know they are a part of it!! Keep rockin!

Awesome music arts program for young people. I had the honor of joining the Crossmen and being a member for 4 years. You join to learn about music or dance, but you learn about life. I was happy to use the skills I learn in the corps to give back to the next generation when I had a chance to instruct.

Drum corps is a major component of my life and my experience in the activity began when I joined the Crossmen hornline as a freshman in high school. I gained many skills and relationships only obtained through marching corps. I went on to march the Blue Devils in 2010, where I will remain for the next 4 years.

An outstanding organization that has helped many students grow as individuals and musicians throughout the years. Many of the members of this organization have gone on to teach and play an important role in the development of other students and the activity of drum corps.

Life-long friends. Memories, I will always cherish. And growing as a person. What else do I need to say? Crossmen changed my life for the better, and I could not imagine myself today had I never joined. Thank you, Crossmen.

This organization changed my life. Cliche? Maybe, but that doesn't make it any less true. I met some of the greatest people in the world (including my wife) at the Crossmen. I developed and grew as a person, and watched those around me do the same. I am a stronger, better, more self -actualized man becuase of the years I spent in this fantastic organization.

Through the years I have witnessed hundreds of students development a work ethic beyond reproach.While they are working to better their performance level they are also developing character, a sense of self-discipline, and people skills. They learn to push themselves further than they they thought possible.Students, staff & volunteers build & develop life long friendships. I wish that I could personally afford to sponsor each & every member; for I know how hard it is to raise the funds needed to participate in this activity. We need to try to gain corporate sponsors to defray the cost of the members. It is difficult to get alumni, parents, & volunteers together to organize and run successful fund raising events.

I marched for two years & meet some great people from all parts of the country. Many of them I'm still in touch with. I all got to see part of the country I would have not seen. It was a lot of work but it has help me in life to know with hard work I can do & learn any thing I set my mind to.

The Crossmen Drum Corps have been affacting the lives of youth in a positive way since 1975!

The Crossmen is an organization for young people. Not only is it wonderful for making young people excel in the arts it also builds self discipline and promote Scholarship in music and dance. As an organization it prepares the younger generation for the future life's unseen up's and downs

The Crossmen is an enlightening organization for young people. Not only is it wonderful for making young people excel in the arts it also builds self discipline and promotes the realization of self potential.

Crossmen is a wonderful organization for kids to learn more and to become more divulged in the drum corps activity.

The Crossmen are a great organization that have provided valuable education many youths throughout the years. I look forward to seeing what their program puts out for the public every year.

The Crossmen experience provides memories that last a life time. To this day (31 years after my first day) my memories are vivid and irreplacable!! The long days of hard work that end in the thrill of competition and satisfaction of achievement builds character in all participants. The bonds of frienship are everlasting!!!!

The Crossmen has helped me become the best person i could ever have to thought to have become. They guide artists of all kinds of the visual arts to the arts of music and bring us all together to make us a family to move as a unit and become better humans. Without the Crossmen i would have never known how strong i really was mentally or physically. I owe a great deal to the Crossmen for making me who i am today.

I came to the Crossmen very naive. I knew that the activity was very physically demanding, but I really had no idea what I was in for until Spring Training. At first, I was very exhausted and tired all the time, but I soon realized that everyone else was going through the same thing and that another part of this activity was understanding that everybody is hurting, and the fact that we all work together to perform to the best of our ability is far more rewarding than I ever thought possible. I went home after finals feeling very bittersweet. Happy that I would finally be able to go home and see my family and get some rest. But sad because my second family would all be returning to their homes to do the same, and as more time went on in the Fall, I had another realization, that I HAD to go back to the Crossmen. Not because someone made me, but because I live for this activity. I grew up watching drum corp videos thinking I would never be able to get to that level, and now here I am, and I would rather not age out this year anywhere else than the Crossmen.

The Crossmen do a fantastic job nurturing young musicians as well as young adults. A Great Non Profit!

I marched with the Crossmen for 1 year, and it was the best experience of my life. I made lifelong friends and learned lessons that will always be a part of me. Best organization in my opinion.

I marched in 88 & 89, and I will always treasure my time with the Crossmen. The music education was superb, and the life experiences were unmatched.

I marched with The Crossmen from 2004 to 2007. The friendships, connections, and acquaintances that I gained from my experiences with this organization are countless and still continue to manifest themselves all the time! I never could've imagined all that I have gotten from being a member, and now, being an alumni. There is a "Crossmen way" of living your life and for those of us that have had the privilege of being taught how to do so, we are forever grateful. This organization not only shaped my desired profession but also imparted me with invaluable knowledge that I could not have gotten elsewhere.

I have marched with the Crossmen every year since 2007 and I am eligible to march two more seasons until I age out in 2012. This organization has taught me an extraordinary amount about music, marching, and life in general. It has also given me some of my closest and best friends that I have had. The Crossmen has become a family to me. I have gained so much in the way of leadership skills and a great work ethic which is noticeable in my every day life. There is no group I would rather be with than the Crossmen.

I love the Crossmen. They are the only drum and bugle corps I ever really wanted to be in, and I had a chance to march in a few of the most memorable shows in the history of the drum corps.

I fell in love with the Crossmen when I was a middle school student. I would practice with the intention of earning a spot in the Crossmen, spending hours upon hours memorizing everything about the Corps; their history, how they held their instruments, and how they performed on the field.

When I finally had a chance to march with the corps I was 19 years old. I spent three summers marching soprano with the corps, practicing as hard as I could because I knew I was a part of something bigger than me...I was part of a team that's sole purpose was entertaining the audience.

Years later I am a high school band director. I send my students to the Crossmen any chance I get because I know that they will fall in love with the corps just like I did. There is no better drum corps in the activity than the Crossmen!

BOOTS!

I marched two years with the crossmen. It was two years that will be forever in my heart. The people I met in the Crossmen are life long friends that I wouldn't do anything for. When I joined the Crossmen in 79 I was a sophomore. I knew what I was getting into because I marched with other corps before the Crossmen. However, 79 was a lesson of humility and toughness. After the 79 season, I became a much more confident and a stronger person because of the adversity we had to endure. The Crossmen taught me the meaning of excellence through hard work. This lesson, has brought me a live time of happiness.

I love the Crossmen. I like the circles they make on the field when they play. My mom was marching with them a long time ago and she says that being a Crossmen is the best thing ever.

Im not sure I realized what I was getting into at first. Being a JR in a high school marching band wasn't quite the same as what I was about to encounter. But I soon learned that if you have the passion to march .. a committment to your new-found "family".. and the willingness to leave everything out on the field every day...then this is where I was meant to be. The summer of '79 turmed out to be a very important time in my life. While touring with the Crossmen.. I learned I was stronger than I thought I was....and these other people on the field with me, were some of the most compassionate people I knew. I also learned it wasn't ALWAYS about the final score...sometimes it was making sure a "rival" corps could just make it to the field to begin with. From Disneyland to Ypsilanti , Michigan....Nebraska to Birmingham, Alabama...when you end the show and you can barely move....you think to yourself..."Can't wait to do this again tomorrow night".

This organization has provided me with tons of great memories I can share for the rest of my life. They have taken me in as one of their own and I feel like everyone who has ever been a part of the organization is a family member. I have gained a great work ethic and many real life skills from the Crossmen. I have learned how to work with people from diverse backgrounds and have learned how to push through when times get rough. I also became a better musician and music educator because of the Crossmen. They truly are a World Class organization.

AL CHEZ trumpet player for THE LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN

I have been involved with THE CROSSMEN drum corps for 12 years now. Never being an alumnist of the corps I sometimes find myself wondering what I am doing helping a corps out of San Antonio Texas. As I live in NJ.
The crossmen are a WORLD CLASS ORGANIZATION that has changed the lives of young performers for many years. The importance of making better human beings seems to be the mission statement of this group. I am very proud to be part of such a giving , helping group.
I receive much more rewards from helping them as I woud rever imagined.

CHEZ

This organization has changed my life for the better, oppening my life to new opportunities, giving me skills to take to the job market, changed me as a person to become a more well rounded person and a leader, and has given me some of my best friends I could ever ask for.

This is a fine organization that provides an incredible experience to its members each year. I had the pleasure of watching the Crossmen rehearse in San Antonio last summer and the work ethic that these kids present is unbelievable. The Crossmen is creating future leaders and helping to shape the lives of 150+ young people each year.

I have been a marching member for 6 years now, and this will be my 7th and final season as a member. This organization is a class act through and through, and nowhere else in the drum corps activity will you find an organization with a stronger sense of family and togetherness. I have met some of my best friends here, and together, we have had a life-changing experience. I'm proud to call the Crossmen "home".

This corps is strong in traditions and puts out great shows that really are a pleasure to watch, and be a part of. I wouldn't have given my first Drum Corps eXperience to any but the Crossmen.

Marching with the Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corps gave me the confidence to no longer be afraid of living my own life, and friendships that I will never be able to replace. Spending 12 hours a day in the hot sun, rehearsing the same show for 2 1/2 months, and dealing with the same group of people for all that time taught me more about dedication than I ever thought it would. I can now pursue anything and everything I want and know that I can achieve excellence in all fields of expertise. Thank you, Crossmen.

The Crossmen organization is well-run. They always put the safety of their members first when they travel.

My husband and I volunteered on tour with them and it was a great experience.

The young members of the corps work so hard to perfect their show and practice in the hot sun sometimes 12 hours a day.

It give kids a chance to travel the country; which most of them wouldn't get to do normally.

After more than 20 years of being an Alum, there are still moments in my life I draw on the life lessons learned while being a member. Commitment, respect and determination are some excellent examples of those lessons. It doesn't hurt I also met my spouse while marching and we have managed to have the same level of dedication to each other after more than 16 years of marriage. I could not imagine my life without the lessons and connections I had made during my years as a Crossmen member!

Being a Part of The Crossmen has improved my life by showing me how to be more responsible and to take ownership of my responsibilities. Ive also learned great time managment skills that have helped me in college. Along with those skills I have made so many new friends that I would have never met without the Crossmen. I love this oragnization and will miss it after I ageout.

I spent 4 years with the Crossmen as a marching member and additional numerous as a volunteer. In addition to learning skills to take me through life, I met my husband (of 28 years and still going) and numerous lifelong friends that I can always count on.

I spent three wonderful summers marching for the Crossmen Organization in the late 70s/early 80s. They honestly were some of the best times of my life. I grew up a Crossmen; learned "survival" skills, and made life-long relationships. Today, it warms my heart to see that these relationships have flourished. The Productions of the Crossmen are professional to say the least.

I spent four summers with the Crossmen and i have to say that they are one of the best organizations that i have had the pleasure of being a part of. I have put so much time and energy into marching with the corps and it has been probably the most profitably experience in my life. My time with the Crossmen is invaluable as are the relationships and lessons I've learned from both the staff and the administration.

simply put, caring. After being with Crossmen [aged out in 1984] some 20 and 7 years ago, I've been able to reconnect with fellow members and rekindle my friendships. Where else will you find something like this? We are FAMILY.

Simply put, the Crossmen organization helped me become a better person. My time spent with the corps has taught me valuable life lessons that I still carry with me to this day. The experience was overwhelmingly positive and I have made many new friends along the way. The Crossmen need all the support they can get to ensure the next generation of members is offered the same experience.

Marching with the Crossmen taught me that I was stronger than I ever thought. It taught me the value of teamwork and perseverance and attention to detail. I would not trade my time with the Crossmen for the world and hope that one day my children will count themselves as alumni along next to their mom.

I have marched with the Crossmen starting in the summer of 2009 up to the present day. Through the rigorous rehearsal perfection our show over the summer, I've learned to account for the little details and learned that if I want something, I have to work for it.

The Crossmen have a friendly family atmosphere, from the staff, members, or the numerous volunteers that make sure the summer goes smoothly.

"As a member of this organization I have felt a sense of belonging. I made stronger friendships than I've made in my whole life. I learned more about myself during my time that summer than I have in any other organization I have ever been a part of. I have not and probably will not ever find a sense of family stronger than that which I found at the Crossmen. "

I spent 5 summers of my life as a marching member of the Crossmen. It was the greatest experience I have ever had and would not trade it for the world. The people with in the organization are family to me now, and forever.

This organization brings together a combination rarely found today for any member who has the privilege to join this corps. First the members have a unique experience to learn music, performance and teamwork from a very talented staff. Second, they learn that discipline and hard work are necessary to achieve their ultimate goals. Thirdly, they establish bonds for life - they become a part of a family forever - those who came before them and those who march with them. In addition, the volunteers who give their time and talents to help the corps also become a part of this extended family. They are always welcome no matter where the corps go. For the past two years, I have given time to support the corps on the road. The staff is supportive and open to areas where they can improve. They ask no less of themselves than they ask of their members.

This organization teaches children how to play music, march as an ensemble, team building and lots of self disipline. I marched with the Crossmen 3decades ago and it taught me a great deal about my self and about how to disipline myself while reaching as far as possible for my goals.

I was a marching member of this organization from the 2010 season. To say it was life changing is an understatement. I felt like I was welcomed into a family and I have never been closer to a group of people in my life. Half way through the season I broke my arm and had to leave but a week before finals I was allowed back in to perform. I don't know of any other group that would let in a member that late in the season and I pretty much owe my entire life to this group. The Crossmen have been and will always be World Class.

I have been a member of the Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corps for the past 8 years of my life. Before that, my mother marched in the color guard in the late 1970's. When I first began as a member in 2004, I was very young. Being a member forced me to grow up and forge ahead as a young adult. Because of the Crossmen, I am now much more confident and able to approach life differently. I know that because of the hard work that I've put in with the Crossmen, there is nothing that I can't accomplish by myself in life. I have made friends at the Crossmen who I consider integral parts of my family. It is here that I have met the people who have molded me into a better human being.

I am someone that got sucked in the Crossmen through my spouse. The Crossmen was a great part of her youth for many, many years growing up. I never really understood the depth of her love for the corps and how much of a bond that many of her friends still have after so many years. I was somewhat jealous you could say, because it's very rare today to find so many people that have the bond they have. Not just in their local communities but whereever we go, we know someone that either marched with her or someone that knows a friend of hers from the corps. I realized that through volunteering with the corps they have made me feel like part of the family even though I have never spent one day on the field with them.

I spent a long weekend back in 2006 driving one of the equipment trucks from Virginia to Maryland. The convoy of vehicles driving down the road in the pouring down rain and everyone communicating on the CB radio was great. I remember pulling into the school where the corps was staying at three in the morning and everyone dragging there feet to find a spot in the school to sleep.

However, my first experience volunteering for the corps is the one that will last for years. My friends' own a catering company and the Crossmen Alumni Association took up a collection of money to buy a dinner for the corps and give the regular volunteers a much needed break for the day. My wife and our friends cooked a great Roast Beef dinner with all of the sides, drinking fountains of punch and real silverware! The kids were so excited and appreciative that I realized why my wife dedicates so much of her free time to the corps.

Being part of the Crossmen is an experience you can't find anywhere else. The people you meet become family and the journey you take is a 3 month dream that you never want to wake up to. Last summer was the best summer I ever had. It has built the person who I am today. I would never replace the experience that I had with Crossmen with anything else in the world. When all else is gone...

The Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps is much more than simply a professional marching band touring around the country. We are a family, learning about ourselves, testing our limits. Every day, through discipline, we enhance our minds, bodies, and spirits. I will never forget the time and experiences I have had, and continue to have with them.

I was a "Founding Member" back in 1975 and marched for 5 more years. Passion, Pride and Performance. Still holding to all of those ideals today as well the friendship of all those I marched with. I still follow the corps today and look forward to every performance I can catch. I also value every opportunity to visit with the corps and speak to its members about Crossmen History. Bones!

I marched with the Crossmen for two seasons 02-03. It was a life changing experience that I will never forget. I learned the value of hard work, persistence, and experiences the thrill of performing in front of thousands. What a great organization to go on an incredible journey with!

Class Act All The Way!
I loved my time spent marching with the Crossmen.
The corps. is dedicated to the respect and experience of the members; something that can not be said by all.
You will learn to master performance while with the Crossmen.

The Crossmen are an outstanding drum and bugle corps from San Antonio, TX (formerly Allentown , PA). For over 30 years, they have provided opportunities for musicians and dancers (aged 14-22) to perform in competitions around the US. I was a high brass performer from 2000-2003. Thanks to my experiences with the Crossmen, I have a family of brothers and sisters that spans the globe. The training was rigorous but it was worth listening to the cheering audience after a well-performed show. The Crossmen are one of the few remaining corps to specialize in jazz music and are always appreciated as a fan favorite. Being with them helped develop me into the person I am today. While we competed for national placement, the values of teamwork, brotherhood, and professionalism were what we got out of the experience. From them I learned to strive for perfection and to settle for excellence.

The Crossmen DBC was the first organization that I marched with in DCI. Through the instruction that I received by the staff, I have become a better musician and instructor myself. This group helped foster my love for marching music and allowed me to move on to bigger and better things.

I credit the Crossmen with the success I've had in life. It tought me self-discipline and how to give 100% to achieve a goal.

I'll never forget.

After unfortunate circumstances in 2007 I decided to leave the corps I worked with during the winter and audition at Crossmen at the beginning of the summer. Fortunately I was accepted as a member. I marched 1 corps prior to Crossmen, and 1 after, but Crossmen was the most challenging. It was difficult to juggle learning the music everyone else already knew, catching up with the drill (I was an entire movement behind) and trying to meet people. However, looking back, Crossmen was one of the best experiences of my life. It has helped me a lot with college and juggling school, work, and friends, as well as many other aspects of life in general. One of the major changes for me from before Crossmen to now is my "outgoingness". When I first started marching at Crossmen I was very reserved and didn't talk to many people, I learned a lot about myself and how to approach others and that it "takes 2 to tango" and sometimes initiating the conversation is the only way to make connections with people. Since 2007, I have become a lot more confident in myself. The history and trandition at Crossmen is like no other corps in DCI. If I could march my ageout, I would definitely go back to Crossmen.

The Crossmen provided me with the experience and knowledge of music that I could not find in any other musical experience. Being a member of the Crossmen helped me discover my passion for music and teaching, which opened a new world of career opportunities that I would not have found had I not spent a summer with them. Now that I am teaching in this organization, I hope to share the same legacy of The Crossmen with new members, teach them what I now know as a musician, and help them apply that knowledge to their everyday lives.

Being a part of the Crossmen is one of the most life changing experiences that a young musician can ever submit themselves to.

Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps is an organization that shows people the true meaning of selflessness. You all get together for one goal, one common experience. Crossmen shows all different facets of chances for emotional growth. Responsibility, maturity, and character is what the Crossmen stands for, and it's what it provides for every member who joins. The strength of the alumni is vital for the growth of the corps, and as we all now, money is tight. However, it's something worth investing in. Being asked to describe details or specific events doesn't do this experience justice. There are high times and low times, periods of extreme happiness and devastating blows. In the three months that this organization grows during their time on tour, it surpasses any imaginable description that any one person can offer. It's something that shouldn't be looked over or tossed away. The Crossmen deserve the chance to grow stronger every season and be provided with amazing educational and networking opportunities, just like any other activity.

Crossmen was the greatest experience of my life and is a memory I will cherish and carry with me for the rest of my life. I grew musically, mentally, physically, and socially during my time with the corp and I am eternally grateful to the wonderful members, staff, and volunteers.

Joining the Crossmen was the best decision I have ever made in my life. It helped me refine my social skills, teamwork skills, time management, and discipline. I almost feel like if I hadn't joined the Crossmen, I wouldn't have been as successful as I have been in college or my career.

As a previous member of the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps I can honestly say that this was one of the best experiences of some of my young high school and college summer days. The people that I met from all of the country and even a few members from over seas all show true dedication to music, movement, and pagentry. My best of luck to this summers 2011 members.

-Wendy Capra
Crossmen Alumni 90-93

Drum Corps has been a part of my life since 1969. I was a part of the Lady's Auxillary at the American Legion Post 507 when I got my children involved in drum corps. We were a modest family living in the inner city and there wasn't a lot for children to do there. When I saw an ad in the local newspaper about drum corps, my husband and I thought it would a great thing for our kids to get involved in.

When our drum corps merged with another local corps and became the Crossmen, it was only natural that our children stayed. At that point, we couldn't pull them away from it anyway.

I still follow the Crossmen to this day.

Since 1975, the Crossmen has given young people the chance to learn and experience something most youth in our country only dream about.

I am a 1975 charter member of the Crossmen. Even today, the corps is a huge part of my life. I've been volunteering my time to help the corps by acting as the co-chair of the Crossmen Alumni Association since 1998. The Alumni Association helps preserve the history of the corps as well as raises funds to sponsor their marching members.

The administration and staff of the Crossmen are wonderful people who are putting their heart and soul into this drum corps. The corps members travel and eat well thanks to these great people, and the donations they receive.

I hope that the Crossmen are around for many years to come. It's a good thing.

Crossmen is more than musicians marching on a field. It is a family that never stops growing. No matter when you marched or for how long you were actively involved once you've been part of the Crossmen you will always be considered as part of the family. I marched for only one year with the Crossmen in 1982 but the organization is so welcoming and the bonds formed are so strong that I kept contact with more people from my Crossmen family than I have with the members of the other corps I marched with for 7 years. In my heart, that says a lot ...

Crossmen have years of bringing their own style and always a magnificent presentation to their long standing audience. As a young girl, I will never forget the first time I saw "Bones", I must have looked like a deer in the headlights . . . still to this day 30 years later . . . I am a fan. And, I would want the whole world to know that the alumni here on the east coast, the real home of "Bones", is something to witness, passionate is too light a word to use. Looking forward to witnessing some "toss the baby" moments again this season. xo Rusty