The Albert J Castronovo Esprit de Corps Award

The Al Castronovo
Esprit de Corps Award

Awarded for	An 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 award	1978
Most recent	November 2025 Kenai Central High School Kenai, AK
Website	https://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.

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. Starting in 2016, the family of Al Castronovo has been involved in selecting the winning band 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 ]} In 2024, Al Castronovo was inducted into the Bands of America Hall of Fame.

Al Castronovo Esprit de Corps Award winners

Year	School	City	State
2025	Kenai Central High School	Kenai	AK
2024	Broken Arrow High School	Broken Arrow	OK
2023	William Mason High School	Mason	OH
2022	DeWitt High School	DeWitt	MI
2021	Mustang High School	Mustang	OK
2019	Claudia Taylor Johnson High School	San Antonio	TX
2018	Blue Springs High School	Blue Springs	MO
2017	Mililani High School	Mililani	HI
2016	Vista Murrieta High School	Murrieta	CA
2015	Colony High School (Alaska)	Palmer	AK
2014	Marian Catholic High School	Chicago Heights	IL
2013	Marcus High School	Flower Mound	TX
2012 (Tie)	Bridgewater-Raritan High School	Bridgewater	NJ
	Avon High School	Avon	IN
2011	Father Ryan High School [4]	Nashville	TN
2010	Broken Arrow High School	Broken Arrow	OK
2009	American Fork High School	American Fork	UT
2008	Vista Murrieta High School [5]	Murrieta	CA
2007	Marian Catholic High School	Chicago Heights	IL
2006	Plymouth-Canton Educational Park	Canton	MI
2005	Thousand Oaks High School	Thousand Oaks	CA
2004	Stephen F. Austin High School	Sugar Land	TX
2003	Avon High School	Avon	IN
2002	Fort Mill High School	Fort Mill	SC
2001	Bellevue West High School	Bellevue	NE
2000	Ben Davis High School [6]	Indianapolis	IN
1999	Broken Arrow High School	Broken Arrow	OK
1998	Tarpon Springs High School	Tarpon Springs	FL
1997	James F. Byrnes High School	Duncan	SC
1996	Irmo High School	Columbia	SC
1995	American Fork High School	American Fork	UT
1994	Lassiter High School	Marietta	GA
1993 (Tie)	Hazard High School	Hazard	KY
	Centerville High School	Centerville	OH
1992	Owen Valley Community High School	Spencer	IN

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.