Band History

1845 - The Holy Cross Band was formed.

1911 - November 10 - The Holy Cross Crusader Marching Band made its first appearance at a Holy Cross football game versus Worcester Polytechnic Institute. The band was known as the "College Brass Band."

1921 - J. Edward Bouvier came to Holy Cross as director of all of the College's music clubs. He remained at the College in this capacity from 1920 to 1951.

1924 - The Band was reorganized and played for the first time under the new name of the "purple Band."

1928 - Bouvier wrote the music for "Hoiah, Holy Cross!" and the words were written by Augustine P. Conniff class of 1902.

1930 - November - Frederick S. Mirliani '32 was named Band Master. Rev. J. D. Lalhearn, S.J., moderator of musical clubs, announced that the Band would prepare concert music after the
end of the football season.

December -The Crusader Band was given praise and top honors at a round robin charity tourney in New Haven with Daniel Deedy '35 as Drum Major. It was said that the "strikingly clad Crusaders" were the "best appearing of the four bands on the field ..."

1933 - The Band played at Ebbets Field. They performed "East Side, West Side" for Alfred Smith (former governor of New York). This was one of our most successful seasons. The sports writers praised the Band's music, and appearances the band made were also compared favorably to two of the best mid-western college bands.

1939 - Holy Cross Marching Band of 1939 was the largest in the history of Holy Cross, and boasted a large brass section. Rev. Shea, S.J. became faculty moderator of music.

1949 - Frederick S. "Doc" Mirliani '32 became assistant to Bouvier for two years.

1951 - J. Edward Bouvier retired and Fred Mirliani became Director of the Band.

1955 - Rev. Scannell, S.J., Became moderator of the Band. In the early 1950s, the Band performed in the New York St. Patrick's Day Parade.

1966 - September - Ernest J. Reopel was appointed Director of Instrumental Music and Band Director of Holy Cross. Recruiting at area high schools was given the O.K. by College and high school officials.

1971 - The Band was given the Fenwick Chapel for its rehearsals. Rehearsals were later moved to the Hogan Campus Center through the efforts of Bruce I. Miller.

1979 - Bruce I. Miller was named interim Director of the Band. During this time, Miller worked to establish a foundation for the positive development of the Band.

1981 - Robert A. Principe was named Director of the Marching Band. Principe emphasized a more positive attitude and introduced more musical themes to the Band's performances.

Parents' Weekend - New Band uniforms, in a more traditional Marching Band style, were unveiled, and the rugby shirts and painter's pants were discarded.

1983 - November 30 - The Crusader Band performed at the Holy Cross vs. Boston College game at Sullivan Stadium.

1984 - October 6 - The first "Band Alumni Day" was celebrated on Homecoming Weekend. Interested alumni came back to Holy Cross and performed with the Band in the stands and at half
time.

September 29 - The Band performed for the first time at Faneuil Hall in Boston.

1986 - March - The Band won first prize in the Worcester St. Patrick's Day Parade.

1987 - November 14 - The Holy Cross Crusader Band sponsored the United Way Massachusetts Band Day. With much behind the scenes work by Bob Principe and Dave Guzzi '88, there were 14 high school marching bands from around the state that performed a gala half time show with
the Crusader Band. The day was part of a celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the United Way.

1988 - Mary P. Curtin '89 became the first female Drum Major in the one hundred forty-three year history of Band leadership.

After a long absence, the College song "Linden Lane" returned to the Band's repertoire with a new
arrangement by Robert G. Ouellette '90.

1989 - March - The Band once again won first prize in the Worcester St. Patrick's Day Parade.

Fall - Positive budgetary changes provided the Crusader Band with new uniforms and the end of the "floor sleeping era." The Band's two road trips came complete with real hotel accommodations.

1991 - Extensive fund raising and alumni donations allow the Band to travel to Limerick, Ireland, where Holy Cross defeated Fordham in the Wild Geese Classic.

1992 - Spring - The Band makes a recording of College Songs and some of its own favorites in preparation for the 150th anniversary of the College.

1993 - Winter - As the Holy Cross Men's Basketball Team makes it to the NCAA tournament, so does the Crusader Band! They traveled to North Carolina to support the purple and white.

Fall - "Thy Voices One in Song" is released, a CD showcasing the best of music at Holy Cross, featuring many Band selections.

1994 - Spring - The Band yet again captures 1st prize in the Worcester St. Patrick's Day Parade.

1995 - Fall - The Band goes international once again with a trip to Bermuda for the Third
Annual Bowl.

Winter - Crusader Band Members spread holiday cheer playing carols at various events during the Yuletide season.

Spring - The Band accompanies the Holy Cross Women's Basketball Team as they travel to the NCAAs for the second year in a row.

1996 - Fall – The Band welcomes the newly-formed Color Guard, leading to a new era in visually stimulating halftime shows.

Winter – The ‘Sader Band once again venture out onto the cold hills of Worcester to spread some holiday cheer to nursing home residents.

Spring – The Band braves an unusually cold St. Patrick’s Day to march in the Worcester parade. Later in the season, the band records some of its greatest hits of the year.

1997 - Fall – The Band performs its halftime show in either rain or snow for FIVE straight
weekends. Also, the band performs an outreach at Grafton High School for the second year in a row.

Winter – The good-intentioned Crusader Band makes a few wrong turns and winds up LOST on its way to local nursing homes for the annual holiday outreach. Fortunately, the Band oriented itself and the outreach went on as scheduled.

2000 - Spring – The men’s basketball team travels to New Jersey (with the Band, of course!)
for the NCAA tournament.

2001 - Spring – The men’s basketball team and the Band travel to Long Island for the “Big
Dance”

2002 - Spring – The Band, in an effort to break the monotony, decides to take the men’s
basketball team to St. Louis, Missouri, for the NCAA tournament.

2002 - Fall – Mr. Robert G. Hammerton is named the new director of the Holy Cross Crusader Band.

2003 - Spring – In a shocking season, both the men’s and women’s basketball teams make it to the NCAA tournament. Due to the game schedule, the Band travels to Indianapolis, Indiana, for the men’s game and, later that week, to University Park, Pennsylvania, for the women’s game. All in all, the entire trip would last five straight days, leading to some very tired Band members.

2005 - The Women's Basketball team unanimously selected the Crusader Pep Band as the recipient of their 2004-2005 Sixth Man Award, with Coach Gibbons calling us "the best pep band in the country, with the best shakedown [the tone dance] in the country!" The Lady Saders made it all the way to the Big Dance, playing Ohio State in College Park, Maryland.

2006 - Fall - The Band welcomes Mr. Eric Schedin as the new director.

2007 - Spring - It was another stellar season for HC basketball! The men's team dominated the Patriot League, finishing undefeated at the Hart Center and capturing the Patriot League crown. The women's team showed their strength and heart by taking the league by storm, wining the tournament as the third seed. As a result, the band traveled to the NCAA tournament with both teams, following the men to Columbus, OH and then a few days later flying to Raleigh, NC for the women's game. It was certainly a trip for the books!

2008 - Spring - The band welcomes Mr. Matt Glenn as the new director.

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