Busy summer for Marquis of Granby

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Members of the Marquis of Granby jamming before step off at the Gaspee Days celebration in Warwick, R.I.

The Marquis of Granby Ancient Junior Fyfe and Drum Corps has a very busy summer planned. The kids have already performed in several parades and community events since the arrival of warm weather. On Memorial Day, they marched in the parades in Granby, North Haven, Enfield, Simsbury and New Britain. The annual Gaspee Days celebration in Rhode Island took place on a beautiful June day, and the corps was able to take a trip to the beach after the performance. 

Following another long-standing tradition, the corps will head to East Longmeadow to march in the town’s Independence Day parade on 4th of July.

Exploring new territory this June, the Marquis performed at the events commemorating the 300th anniversary of Sunderland, Mass. Much more locally, a group of the Marquis members is scheduled to appear at the Simsbury Library for its “Summer Kick-off” event, where they plan to share the corps’ history, show their instruments and uniforms and give short demonstrations of music and maneuvers. On  June 29 the corps is delighted to be performing for the community on the lawn at the Granby Public Library. A few of The Marquis members will also be at the Old New-Gate Prison and Copper Mine Grand Opening event on July 14.

Summer is also a time for fife and drum musters, where corps gather (sometimes as many as fifty), jam and take turns performing musical selections and maneuvers. 

The Marquis is scheduled to take part in two musters in July: The Deep River Ancient Muster and the Hale at the Homestead Colonial Encampment and Muster in Coventry on the historic grounds of the Nathan Hale Homestead. In late August, the Marquis of Granby, along with over 40 other corps from across the United States, will attend the Westbrook Drum Corps Muster, which the members have come to love for its energy and fanfare.

Finally, for its summer trip, the corps heads to…(drumroll!)…Scotland! August cannot come soon enough; the excitement among the members is palpable. No less apparent is the gratitude the members of the corps feel towards the outpouring of support offered by the community during the various fundraising events held by the Marquis over the past few months. Many individuals and organizations have contributed to help offset the costs of this trip, expressing support for what will undoubtedly be a rich cultural experience for these dedicated youths.

All members of the Marquis would like to express their thanks to everyone in the community who continues to show their support to the Granby Community Fund and to the First Congregational Church for providing the corps with the opportunity to use its beautiful space for weekly practices.

To learn more about the organization, please check out the corps’ website at marquisofgranby.org.