INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Drum Corps International returns to Indianapolis this weekend for its World Championships, with 33 groups competing for the title at Lucas Oil Stadium.

This marks the 17th year Indianapolis has hosted the DCI World Championships, an event known for showcasing the pinnacle of marching music performances.

Among the top contenders are the Massachusetts-based Boston Crusaders, featuring Indiana native Brayden Gray, who is also a member of Indiana University’s Marching Hundred.

“It’s always bittersweet coming back to Indiana,” said Gray, a junior at IU and a performer with the Boston Crusaders. “I go through a lot of the summer without seeing any family or friends, so it’s one big party when we come back to Indiana because my family comes to these shows.”

The Crusaders, one of the most decorated corps in Drum Corps International, are from Massachusetts and have been preparing for the preliminaries at Decatur Central High School.

Their performances are known for intricate formations, powerful music, and high-energy visuals.

“The Boston Crusaders attracted me as a performer because I love the kind of shows that we do here,” Gray said.

He plays a significant role in the Boston Crusaders, serving on the leadership team.

“I think the leadership team plays a pretty profound role in the organization. Being able to help support those first years who may be having a harder time or easier time, and being able to help guide them through the summer.”

The Boston Crusaders were among the founding members of Drum Corps International in 1972 and have been a part of its legacy ever since.

“We have 165 performers on the field and we have another 10 who are understudy, alternate status, or what we call ‘rehearsal assistants’,” Chris Holland, executive director of the Boston Crusaders, said. “Everyone has a job to do, everyone is critical, and I always tell them this is the ultimate team sport.”

The competition will feature a blend of classical, jazz, rock, and pop music, with full-scale productions that go beyond just sound. The Boston Crusaders are scheduled to perform at 10:40 p.m. Thursday for the preliminaries.

The DCI World Championships continue through Saturday, promising intense competition and spectacular performances from some of the world’s best drum corps.

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