For the past three years (17 – 19), the Boston Crusaders have put on three great shows, each with their own great stories.

Boston has shown that their shows can become fan favorite shows with their easy to follow writing, intelligent arranging, and beautiful visual design.

In 2017, while a bit on the nose with their story – using multiple samples of voiceover that pretty much explain what is happening on the field – The Crusaders still produced a well thought out show, with a concept most audiences would understand.

The show’s chaotic and dissonant brass features, the technically difficult guard and visual design that would soon win them awards, and the percussion writing to match corps like the Blue Devils and Vanguard. All of these elements helped propel the corps to the top 6 of the field, a difficult place to be with so much great competition.

In 2018, the corps would refine their story telling process, with easily their most fluid and clean story of the three.

While using another easy to understand show concept, being stranded on an island (i.e. cast away, survivor, lord of the flies) the concept made it quite easy for an audience to buy into the idea, and immerse themselves into the show.

Once again showing their power, the hornline nailed the rep they were given at a very high level. The visual design easily topped the year previous, and they were rewarded accordingly with a caption award. Lastly, the show was an easy to follow, chapter by chapter program that helped them secure a 5th place spot, one spot higher than the year before.

In 2019, the Crusaders showed that the previous years weren’t a fluke, taking a bit more of a risk with their show concept. A story that might not be so easily recognized, but is still a well known story by many.

With their concept of David and Goliath, the show expertly setup the challenge David would have to face, and setup the reveal of their incredibly creative Goliath character.

This corps would fall one place from the year before in the standings, but I believe that is more due to the penalty the received on the day of Semi’s. Their hornline was solid, their color guard unmatched, and percussion was top notch.

I can’t wait to see what other stories this hornline will present to us in the future.