MEDINA — A beat is played on a snare drum, a low sound is blown from the horn section as flags are twirled through the air. Each year, thousands of young people from across the world compete to be a part of one of country’s most prestigious world class drum and bugle corps. Each with a passion for music, 150 are chosen to be apart of each team.

Founded in 1940, the Boston Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps is one of the Drum Corps International world class corps and is the third-oldest in the United States.

As the tour season comes to an end, the band’s next stop will be Medina. Performing in the 14th annual Drums Along the Waterfront Sunday at Ralph Wilson Stadium, the group will be practicing and staying at Medina High School Sunday and Monday.

The corps will practice throughout the day Sunday before their performance and all day Monday. Practices are open to the public, to come and watch what the Crusaders can do.

Made up of brass players, percussionists and color guard members under the age of 22, the corps travels the country every summer performing in various competitions and exhibitions.

The summer tour begins in mid-June and lasts until mid-August each year. The group travels by tour bus, stays in gymnasiums and performs almost every day during the six-week tour.

 “I love touring,” said color guard member Michelle Teevan of Harrison, N.Y. “It’s my favorite part of the summer. I love waking up at a new location each day.”

For the past several years, the group has made Medina its resting stop for the Drums Along the Waterfront competition. Color guard captain head and designer Matt Winans said that this stop is one of his favorites.

Winans, a 2001 MHS graduate, was instrumental in coordinating with the school to allow the band to stay on its grounds. Winans said that he was a member of the Medina Mustang Band for seven years while in school and wanted the students to get an opportunity to see what community support can do for a person.

Winans was has been a part of the Rochester Patriots Independent World Guard and the Cadets Drum Corps, along with the Empire Statesmen Senior Drum Corps before landing the job with the Boston Crusaders.

Winans said that growing up, he always had a lot of community support, and by bringing the corps here, he can show what a person can accomplish when their community is behind them.

Medina is also close to home for Rochester native Camaryn Speranza. She has been a member of color guard with the Crusaders for three years. Marching band always played a big part in her life, she said, watching shows since the age of 5.

“I always knew it was something I wanted to do,” she said. “The activity is really great to bring people together. A common bond that brings people together that normally wouldn’t.”

Though she has enjoyed traveling the country and meeting new people, she is looking forward to being back in New York where the weather is cooler.

“I’m looking forward to the New York weather compared to the humidity in the South,” she said. “I can’t wait to be in the North and see my family and be somewhere I recognize.”

Like Speranza, drum line member Andrew Fortuna, of New Hartford, N.Y., is also looking forward to being close to home and getting to see his family.

“Traveling is fun,” he said. “It’s fun getting to know the different kinds of people that do this activity. I’m glad we can be close to where I’m from and my family can go.”

Speranza has admired the Boston Crusaders since he first learned what drum corps was about. He said he was a big fan and liked their traditions and what the organization stood for. This is Fortuna’s first year in the corps.

Teevan said being back in her home state is bittersweet. She said that they are at the point in the tour where they miss home and miss their family, but they know that the season is almost over and they won’t get to be with their new friends and teammates for much longer.

Both Teevan and drum major Thompson Vou of Seattle said that they have enjoyed traveling around and seeing the different landscapes of the Midwest and Southwest. Though they only get to see the gyms, stadiums and fields, they said that they have gotten a feel for their surroundings, and the community members they have met along the way have given them a feel for the different areas across the country.

Sunday’s DATW performance will feature seven Drum Corps International world class corps. Also, five will perform in exhibition, including the Mighty St. Joe’s Alumni Corps of LeRoy.

“This year’s event is going to be a show-stopper, featuring the best drum corps in the world competing in what has become one of the favorite stops on the Drum Corp International competitive tour,” said Drums Along the Waterfront, Inc. president Jack Gaylord Jr. “Besides having the world famous Blue Devils returning this year to defend their 2009 DATW title, for the first time the U.S. Marine Drum and Bugle Corps will take part in the show and excite the crowd with their flawless performance and fill the stadium with pride and patriotism as they salute U.S. veterans for their sacrifices.”

Tickets for DATW are currently on sale and can be purchased at the Ralph Wilson Stadium Box Office or at any Ticketmaster.com location.

If purchased in advance, ticket are $22 for adults, $10 for children 12 and under and $20 for students, military veterans and those 65 and older. Tickets are $25 for adults when purchased the day of the event. Parking is free.

Contact reporter Rikki Cason at 798-1400, ext. 8227.