The Albert J Castronovo Esprit de Corp Award

Last updated
The Al Castronovo
Esprit de Corps Award
Awarded forAn award given to the one band that most exhibits pride, spirit, enthusiasm, friendliness, camaraderie, and unity of purpose for the marching band activity. It is awarded during the Bands of America National Championships
Location Lucas Oil Stadium,
Indianapolis, Indiana
Presented by Bands of America (1978–current)
History
First award1978
Most recentNovember 2023
William Mason High School
Mason, OH
Website http://www.musicforall.org/

The Albert J. Castronovo Esprit de Corps Award is a special award presented at the Bands of America Grand National Competition. All bands participating in the Grand Nationals are eligible to receive the award regardless of their scores in the competition. The group that most exhibits pride, spirit, enthusiasm, friendliness, camaraderie, and unity of purpose for the marching band activity is selected to receive the award.

Contents

History

The Esprit de Corps Award was first awarded in 1978. It was later renamed the "Al Castronovo Esprit de Corps Award" in 1987 after his death. Since then, one band has received the award at each year's Grand National Championship competition except for 1993 and 2012, when two groups tied and both were presented with the award. The BOA staff, Grand National event staff, and volunteers are asked to nominate a band to receive the award. The BOA executive staff reviews nominees and makes the final selection. In 2016, the family of Al Castronovo was also involved in selecting the winning group, Vista Murrieta, and presenting the award.

Albert J. Castronovo

Albert J. Castronovo (1937 - 1986) was a nationally acclaimed bandleader, choreographer, educator and administrator. He was recognized as a pioneer in using amplification and special effects for marching bands. [1] He was also considered an authority in the use of computers for music education, being one of the first to design marching band shows using a computer and plotter. During a teaching career of 25 years, his bands, choirs, orchestras, and jazz bands received 25 consecutive superior ratings at Indiana State Competitions. His marching band at Chesterton High School won seven state championships, four national competitions including the 1981 Marching Bands of America Grand National Championship, [2] and was selected as one of 10 bands to march in President Ronald Reagan’s 1981 Inaugural Parade. [3] He sat on the Bands of America advisory board and was a well-loved teacher by his colleagues and students, alike. He was an inspirational teacher whose ideals embodied the spirit of the Bands of America’s mission to create and provide positive, life-changing experiences through music. The award was named in his honor after his death in 1986.[ citation needed ]

Al Castronovo Esprit de Corps Award winners

YearSchoolCityState
2023 William Mason High School MasonOH
2022 DeWitt High School DeWittMI
2021 Mustang High School MustangOK
2019Claudia Taylor Johnson High SchoolSan AntonioTX
2018 Blue Springs High School Blue SpringsMO
2017 Mililani High School MililaniHI
2016 Vista Murrieta High School MurrietaCA
2015 Colony High School (Alaska) PalmerAK
2014 Marian Catholic High School Chicago HeightsIL
2013 Marcus High School Flower MoundTX
2012 (Tie) Bridgewater-Raritan High School BridgewaterNJ
Avon High School AvonIN
2011 Father Ryan High School [4] NashvilleTN
2010 Broken Arrow High School Broken ArrowOK
2009 American Fork High School American ForkUT
2008Vista Murrieta High School [5] MurrietaCA
2007Marian Catholic High SchoolChicago HeightsIL
2006 Plymouth-Canton Educational Park CantonMI
2005 Thousand Oaks High School Thousand OaksCA
2004 Stephen F. Austin High School Sugar LandTX
2003Avon High SchoolAvonIN
2002 Fort Mill High School Fort MillSC
2001 Bellevue West High School BellevueNE
2000 Ben Davis High School [6] IndianapolisIN
1999Broken Arrow High SchoolBroken ArrowOK
1998 Tarpon Springs High School Tarpon SpringsFL
1997 James F. Byrnes High School DuncanSC
1996 Irmo High School ColumbiaSC
1995 American Fork High School American ForkUT
1994 Lassiter High School MariettaGA
1993 (Tie) Hazard High School HazardKY
Centerville High School CentervilleOH
1992 Owen Valley Community High School SpencerIN

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bands of America</span>

Bands of America (BOA) is a music education advocacy organization and promoter of high school marching band competitions in the United States, such as the annual Grand National Championships. Established in 1975 as Marching Bands of America (MBA), founder Larry McCormick's goal was to provide educational opportunities for music students nationwide. McCormick organized the first annual Summer Workshop and Festival in 1976. Renamed Bands of America in 1984, the organization became an independent, tax-exempt entity in 1988. In 2006, Bands of America merged with the Music for All Foundation, a music education advocacy organization, becoming the flagship program of the combined organization. Bands of America has received numerous awards from IFEA.

Lawrence Central High School (LCHS) is a public high school with more than 2,300 students, in northeast Marion County, Indiana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Davis High School</span> Public high school in Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, United States

Ben Davis High School (BDHS) is a three-year high school in Indianapolis, Indiana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Westminster Senior High School</span> Public school in Westminster, Maryland, United States

Westminster Senior High School is a high school located in Westminster, Maryland, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carmel High School (Indiana)</span> Public high school in Carmel, Indiana, United States

Carmel High School (CHS) is a public high school in Carmel, Indiana, United States, and part of the Carmel Clay Schools District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">L. D. Bell High School</span> Co-educational, public, secondary school in Hurst, Tarrant County, Texas, United States

Lawrence Dale Bell High School is an American high school located in the cities of Hurst and Bedford, Texas and part of the Hurst-Euless-Bedford Independent School District. The school is named for Lawrence Dale Bell, the founder of nearby Bell Helicopter Textron, and was recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School for 1994–96.

Ralph Hardimon is a percussionist, teacher, composer, and clinician. He is best known for his work in the areas of marching percussion, rudimental drumming, drum & bugle corps, and marching band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Round Rock High School</span> High school in the United States

Round Rock High School is a public high school located in Round Rock, Texas, a suburb of North Austin. Founded in 1867, it is the oldest high school in the Round Rock Independent School District. As of 2021, it is the largest high school in the Greater Austin area by student enrollment.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lincoln High School (South Dakota)</span> Secondary school in the United States

Lincoln High School is a high school in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Enrollment is currently at 1,966 students. Lincoln was included in the list of the top 1200 public schools in the US by Newsweek in their May 8, 2006 issue, ranking at 1,027.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hebron High School (Texas)</span> High school in Carrollton, Texas

Munford High School is a public high school located in Munford, Tennessee. The school educates about 1,300 students in grades 9 to 12 in the Tipton County School District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fishers High School</span> Public high school in Fishers, Indiana, United States

Fishers High School (FHS) is one of two high schools in Hamilton Southeastern Schools in Fishers, Indiana, United States.

University High School is a public high school in Orlando, Florida opened in 1990. The school is a part of Orange County Public Schools and is located about a mile from the University of Central Florida. University High School serves the East Orlando neighborhoods of Union Park, Alafaya, University, Cypress Springs, and other unincorporated parts of East Orange County.

North Clayton High School is a four-year public high school located in College Park, Georgia, United States. It is part of the Clayton County Public Schools. The school was created in 1937 as Flat Rock School, serving 44 students in grades 8–10 with eight teachers. Grades 11 and 12 were added the following year, and the school was given its current name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plymouth-Canton Marching Band</span> Marching band

The Plymouth-Canton Marching Band (PCMB) is a nationally recognized marching band program located on the campus of the Plymouth-Canton Educational Park in Canton, Michigan, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Johnston High School</span> School in Benson, North Carolina, United States

West Johnston High School or WJHS is located in Benson, North Carolina. It is part of Johnston County School district and was established in the 2002-2003 school year to address crowding problems in other local high schools.

Ronald Reagan High School is a public high school located in the North East Independent School District in San Antonio, Texas, United States, and named after U.S. President Ronald Reagan. The school serves a portion of Timberwood Park.

American Fork High School is a public high school in American Fork, Utah, United States. Its mascot is the Caveman, chosen as a tribute to Timpanogos Cave. The school is perhaps best known for its award-winning marching band and cross country teams. The boys cross country team has consistently dominated in Utah and throughout the nation since their first state championship in 2009. American Fork High school is one of the oldest high schools in Utah. In 2017 they became one of the first schools to participate in the 6A division.

Muscle Shoals High School (MSHS),is the sole public secondary education institution in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. MSHS has been awarded the Blue Ribbon Lighthouse Award for Excellence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Western Carolina University Pride of the Mountains Marching Band</span>

The Pride of the Mountains is the marching band of Western Carolina University. The band performs pre-game, halftime, and post-game shows at all Catamount Football home games and provides exhibition performances throughout the Carolinas. Unlike most college marching bands, the Pride of the Mountains designs, creates, and performs one perfected halftime show other than doing different performances every week.

References

  1. Castronovo, Albert (September 1980). "New Marching Sounds of the '80s". The School Musician, Director & Teacher. 52 (1): 8–9.
  2. "Trojan Guard Wins National Championship". Chesterton Tribune. 9 November 1981.
  3. Basse, Craig (17 June 1986). "Festival of States director dies in Indianapolis of injuries". St. Petersburg Times.
  4. Laurence, Teresa (26 November 2012). "After Macy's parade, Catholic school band entertains Sandy victims". Catholic News Service. Retrieved 13 November 2017.[ dead link ]
  5. "Band says thank you". Valley News. 8 November 2008. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  6. "Ben Davis High School". Ben Davis Band History. Ben Davis High School. Retrieved 13 November 2017.