The Latest News and Upcoming Events
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Towpath Volunteers, current and past, are special people. Many not only excel at fife and drum, but in other activities as well.
This page is not only dedicated to the Towpath Volunteers as a group, but to these special people, who together make the Towpath
Volunteers Fife and Drum Corps great! |
| 2010 Towpath Marriages |
| Militia member Gordy King was married to Cathy Gange on May 8th. The outside ceremony took place on a path overlooking Windsor Beach and Lake Ontario. The timing was nearly perfect as the couple exchanged vows during a mostly sunny moment between the early morning snow and afternoon rains. The reception was held at the Kusak Lodge at Camp Eastman. Several members of the Towpath Volunteers enetertained with several of the hosts favorite songs in a mid-afternoon break. The day could not have been better, lots of food, good entertainment and a lot of fun for everyone! Gordy and Cathy traveled to Pennsylvania and Ohio for their honeymoon, touring many of the attractions including the Rock-n-Roll hall of fame. They will be living in Rochester. |
| 2010 Gasparilla Parade of Pirates - Tampa, Florida |
| The Towpath Volunteers Fife and Drum Corps marched in the 2010 Gasparilla Parade of Pirates in Tampa,
Florida on Saturday, January 30th. The festival started back in 1904 and is one of the largest festivals
in the southeast. Although the weather was not perfect, with a light rain and occasional gust of wind,
the crowd, expected to be close to 500,000 people, was loud and ready to party. According to Drum Sergeant Adam Chapin, it was so loud that he rarely heard the fifes. "It was so loud that I could only hear the drummer next to me, and I only heard the fifes when we were stopped. It shows the competence of the drum section when we were all playing together without even hearing the fifes". The parade featured over 150 units, only a few marching bands and many elaborate floats sponsored by many of the "Krewes" and businesses. The Volunteers were highly honored to be 5th in the lineup. The crowd’s continuous encouragement made the 3.8 mile parade route feel far shorter. The group flew out of Rochester on Thursday morning and returned Sunday evening. The Volunteers took in several sites and activities to keep them occupied before and after the parade. A trip to the beach in Clearwater and Pirate Cruise filled day 1. Day 2 was a visit to the Tampa Historical Museum and free time at "Channelside". On Sunday, before returning home, the group spent part of the day at the Tampa Aquarium. Included was a private animal showing of a Hawk, Alligator and a Penguin. |
| Honor Guard performs on TV |
| The Towpath Volunteers Honor Guard performed on the local cable television show "The Music Show" in
December. The Music Show airs on several area Community Access Channels and is hosted by Ray Braselton, (former Towpath Bugler), who owns and operates Braselton’s Music in Marion NY. The show was almost entirely about the Towpath Volunteers Fife and Drum Corps. Discussions included some of the history of the group, some of the more memorable and larger performances, and what the corps was currently doing today. Some Towpath Volunteers parade footage was also shown |
| 2009 Towpath Marriages |
| Sarah Willson (Retired Fifer), daughter of Paul (Business Manager) and Debbie Willson (Fifer)
was married to Rick Peters on August 22.Rick is the son of Fredrick and Teri Peters. The outside ceremony took place at the White House in Webster Park. Many current and former members were in attendance for this festive occasion. While the ceremonies and reception diner were enjoyed in brilliant weather, sunny and warm, the dancing portion started off with a front coming through with typhoon style winds and rain. As with any Towpath function, the bride and groom went with the flow and, after a short delay, the dancing continued with the dance floor covered in water and guests dancing in and around the numerous puddles. More than one guest remarked on how memorable and how much fun the reception was! Sarah and Rick traveled to Colorado for their honeymoon, touring many of the area national parks. They live in Webster along with their two dogs, Raleigh and Mesa. |
| 2010 Gasparilla Parade of Pirates - Tampa, Florida |
| The Towpath Volunteers Fife and Drum Corps has recieved and accepted an invitation from the
Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla to march and perform in the 2010 Gasparilla Parade of Pirates in Tampa, Florida
on January 30th. The festival started back in 1904 and is one of the largest festivals in the south east. The name and foundation of Tampa's traditional Gasparilla Carnival come from legendary pirate Jose Gaspar, "last of the Buccaneers," who terrorized the coastal waters of West Florida during the late 18th and early 19th century. Gaspar, given to calling himself "Gasparilla," served as a lieutenant in the Royal Spanish Navy for five years until 1783 when, upon seizing command of a Spanish sloop-of-war, he with his fellow mutineers set sail for the Florida straits. And so the young Spanish aristocrat-turned-pirate began an adventurous life as outlaw of the sea. The number of ships that fell prey to Gasparilla and his buccaneers during later years is not known, but he continued to ravage Florida waters until December 1821. Deciding it was time to retire from pirate life, Gaspar had just convinced his crew to split up their accumulated fortune, disband and live out their lives in peace and luxury. But the sight of a merchant ship sailing northwestwardly toward Orleans was all too inviting for the greedy adventure-seekers. One last thrill, and they would end their careers in grand style--Gaspar and company could not resist, and so set out to pillage the seemingly unassuming merchantman. Closing in on their prey, the pirates realized, to their chagrin, they had chosen a United States Navy warship in disguise for their final folly. And final it was. A bloody battle ensued, leaving Gasparilla's flagship burning to ruin. As the story goes, just as the commanding officer of the U.S.S. Enterprise was boarding the defeated ship, Gasparilla seized a heavy chain, wrapped it around his waist and neck and leaped into the water, brandishing his sword in a final gesture of defiance as he sank into the sea. The festival is a week long event starting on January 23, 2010 with the Gasparilla Children’s Parade & Piratechnic Extravaganza, and climaxing to the Pirate Invasion, Gasparilla Parade of Pirates, Pirate Fest the next Saturday, January 30, 2010. The Pirate Fest Street Festival features stages with live entertainment, food and the Gasparilla Midway - which will offer thrilling rides, fun games and amusement for all ages. A good comparison might be the state fair. All events are held in downtown Tampa. The parade itself starts at 2 p.m. and will be around 3 1/2 hours long. The route the group will be march is approximatley 3.8 miles long. The Towpath Volunteers will be taking approx 50 members to march and perform. The group is looking into other performances while in the area. |
| 2008 St. Patrick's Day Parade in Savannah, GA |
| On Friday, March 14, in Savannah Georgia, 41 members of the Towpath Volunteers Fife and Drum Corps
based in Macedon performed in the 184th St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The corps was formed in 1978 and is celebrating its
30th anniversary. Towpath was honored being placed as the 4th band in the parade. This 3.5 mile long parade is
2nd largest St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the United States. The parade took place in historic downtown Savannah.
There were over 60 bands, 350 marching units and floats participating. The parade drew close to a million viewers
from around the world. Historic Savannah has a distinctive look much different from other cities in America. The twenty-one squares are named in honor or in memory of a person or historical event. Each square contains monuments, markers, statues and other tributes, along with beautiful scenery and fountains. Leaving the cold and snow behind, the corps left Rochester on Thursday. Upon arrival in Savannah, the Volunteers stopped at historic Fort Jackson for a Civil War Military and Artillery presentation. Upon completion of the tour and demonstration, the corps broke out their fifes and drums, performing an impromptu concert. On Friday, while awaiting the start of the parade, the corps had the opportunity to interact with The Clondalkin Youth Band from Dublin, Ireland. The bands performed for each other, then posed together for pictures. The style of music and the eras the groups represented were quite different, but there was a common bond between members of both bands. The parade was spectacular from the start. Large enthusiastic crowds and temperatures in the mid 70’s made for a great day. The Towpath Volunteers never looked or sounded better. Keeping with Savannah tradition, if the crowd enjoyed a performance, some would kiss and/or put beads on the participants. Needless to say, by the end of the parade, many Towpath members were covered in lipstick and beads. The parade was broadcast live and could also be viewed on Web Cast by 2 television stations, WSAV and WTOC of Savannah. Currently both stations still have the web cast on their sites. At the end of the parade, the corps was presented with the “Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians” Award. The weather for all 4 days of the groups visit was summer like. The corps toured the Historic District on Saturday. Flowers were in bloom and the Spanish moss hanging from the trees was very picturesque. The Pirate House was one of the corps favorite sites. One of the oldest structures in Savannah, it is reported to be haunted, and once served as a roost for pirates. It is now home to a delicious restaurant. The old rooms are dining areas, with a pirate on staff who will give you a tour and tell you the history of the house. Robert Lewis Stevenson wrote the famous “Treasure Island” while staying there. Another attraction the corps enjoyed was the park bench made famous in the movie Forest Gump! The group stayed at Landmark Motel located on Hunter’s Army Base, just south of the city. In the evenings, the corps had fun jamming for the hotel guests. Before returning to Rochester Sunday, the corps was able to take in some of the sites at Tybee Island, including swimming in the cold Atlantic (only the few and the brave), Tybee Light House and Fort Pulaski. The fort has a moat with live alligators living in it. The corps was sad to leave the warm weather behind. Everyone had a great time. The corps is looking forward to participate in this parade again. The Savannah Georgia parade organizers have already contacted Towpath and extended an invitation to the 2009 parade! |
| Great Weekend at the Moodus Muster |
| The Towpath Volunteers fife and drum corps traveled to Moodus Connecticut to attend the annual
Moodus Fife and Drum Corps Muster. The event was held on a beautiful fall day October 20, 2007. A Muster is a gathering of fife and drum corps and the Moodus Muster has become the 3rd largest one in Connecticut. 24 other fife and drum corps was represented from as far away as West Virginia. The Towpath Volunteers were the largest group with 35 members attending the event. The Volunteers marched out number 13 in the short parade from the school to the “Old Grange Hall”. At the muster site next to the old Grange Hall, each group took turns holding a concert. Towpath performed a medley of songs prepared by fife leader Patricia Roland and Drum Sergeant Adam Chapin. The music was well received and many comments heard on the excellent performance. After the last group played there concert, members from many of the groups stayed and jammed into the evening. For several of the Towpath members who were attending a muster for the first time as well as the more seasoned marchers, the muster was a reward experience. |
| Volunteers to attend Savannah 2008 St. Patrick's Day Parade |
| This year's Parade, the 184th edition, will take place on Friday March 14th. It is expected
that over 400,000 people will visit Savannah to help celebrate the second largest St. Patrick's
Day Parade in the United States. This parade has previously won the Turner South Network for "best
of the best parades for the entire southeast region. The 3.2 mile parade begins downtown at 10:15 a.m. with as many as 500,000 visitors arrive to this city adding to the nearly 200,000 residents. The parade will have close to 300 units including over fifty bands. The festival draws only the best of the local, national and international bands. Recent attendees include: the Virginia Tech military band "The Highty Tighties", the 250 member Second Time Arounders band from St. Petersburg, Florida, the First Company Governors Foot Guard band from Hartford, Connecticut and 14 bagpipe bands coming from as far away as Canada and Ireland. The Towpath Volunteers Fife and Drum Corps has previously performed in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade back in 2004. One of the first requirements a large parade looks for is size and the Volunteers are proud to be able to put 50 plus members in the street. With the St Patrick's Day Parade only a few months away, the groups is working hard on preparing it's equipment, polishing it's marching and music and tailoring the uniforms. Looking good at event like this or a Macy's will open the door for future opportunities. |
| 2007 Donna Johnson Scholarship Award Winners Named |
| For the first time in history, the Towpath Volunteers have presented the
Donna Johnson-Towpath Volunteers Fife and Drum Corps. Scholarship to multiple winners.
Receiving the awards were Frank Barbero (Snare Drummer), Kevin Chapin (Snare Drummer)
and Rachel Dunn (Fifer) The Awards were presented July 4th prior to the Fairport 4th of July Parade. Presenters were Becky Johnson, daughter of Donna Johnson for whom the award is named for and Paul Willson, founder of the corps. Donna Johnson was a Bass Drummer in the Senior Corps in the later 90's. She marched along with her daughter Becky (Fifer) and son Andy (Snare Drummer). She was the first active member to pass away in 1996. The winning members were selected as most deserving graduating high school seniors from all the area school districts. The selection process was performed by the Towpath Volunteers Fife and Drum Corps Inc Board of Directors. Considerations included number of years in the corps, number of parades attended, efforts in making themselves and the members they march with the best they could be and field of study the member is going into. All three members were at the top in each category. It was decided that each deserved and each would receive the award. Rachel, a delightful 18 year old that plays the fife has been in Towpath for 7 years. Her parents are Kathy (Bass Drum) and Mike (Fifer) Dunn of Palmyra. Her 2 brothers Morgan (Color Guard) and Sean (Snare Drum) also march in the group making this a family effort. Rachel enjoys the Historic aspect of what the Volunteer portray. One of her favorite Towpath memories is attending her first muster in Moodus, Connecticut. She will be attending SUNY Oswego to study Global and International Studies and plans on working in government, perhaps eventually as President of the United States. Kevin (Snare Drum) is the 19 year old son of Steve (Militia) and Kathy (Fife) Chapin of Macedon. He has been playing Snare Drum in the corps for 7 years. His older brother Adam (Snare Drum) was a previous Donna Johnson Scholarship award winner in 2003. Kevin feels what makes Towpath has given music to so many people that may have never have played an instrument before in their lives or have buy never had any way to apply it. It draws such a variety of unique people together to make music. One of his favorite memories is attending the Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps first Junior Camp (2005) and having the opportunity to jam with many excellent fifers and drummers. Kevin will be attending Chicago School of Violin Making in Skokie, IL. Frank (Snare drum) is the 19 year old son of Mary and Michael Barbero of Macedon. He has been playing drums in Towpath for 6 years. Frank, as assistant to the Drum Sargent, has been instrumental in teaching and working with the Towpath Drum Line. Frank's biggest favorite memory is performing in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (2004) in New York City. He is currently attending Monroe Community College and is working towards a degree in music. The Towpath Volunteers wish the best to all our graduating members and hope those who have left the area for college will stop in and see us on their breaks! |
| Congratulations to all our graduates! |
Performance Calendar | Joining | Alumni
In Memory of Our Fallen Heroes
Contacting the Corps.
Last modified on: May 13, 2010