The Latest News and Upcoming Events
 |
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! |
| Chicken BBQ Fundraiser May 3rd |
| You know when the start of parade season is here when the Towpath Volunteers hold their annual
Chicken BBQ. Not only is it a fundraiser, but it gives the members a chance to bond by working together in preparing the meal,
serving and cleaning up. Not only do we work but also get to play for those waiting in line and those who stay and eat in
the dining area. Performing for an audience helps prepare the new marchers for the marching season. For additional information, please click HERE. |
| 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: September 10, 2007