BariPaul

Hi, The Red Knights have been busy with MiniCorps rehearsals. The Red Knights are based out of Pittsfield, MA. We also have members from the Albany, NY and Saratoga, NY area. If anyone is interested in performing with the Red Knights in MiniCorps competition and/or parades for the 2014 season, please contact me. I have just posted some pictures of our current MiniCorps rehearsals on our website. If you are interested, and would like to see what's going on, visit our website at http://www.pittsfieldredknights.com . Click on the PHOTOS button at the top of our front page, then click on the 2014 button. All of our Contact information is on our website. We have just begun learning this year's music, and it is coming along very nicely. I hope to post more pictures with our Drums, Colorguard, and Honorguard, but first things first, and that's the music. We plan on entering competitive shows in Springfield, MA .. Bridgeport, CT, and Rochester, NY. So, if you aren't too busy and would like to perform again, or, if you are with another corps, and would like to stay with them, but help us out, please give us a shout. On another Note, I see where St. Kevins alumni are now playing with Blessed Sac. I never thought I would see the day .. Ha Ha. I competed in the 1963 World Open Finals at Roosevelt Stadium with the Pittsfield Cavaliers of Pittsfield, MA. Sac won that show, and I cant remember if Kevins took 2nd or 3rd. The Chicago Royalaires may have taken 2nd. I really cant' remember. No disrespect to anybody (ALL the corps were Fantastic) .. But, my own personal favorite was St. Kevins .... Oh My ... what a Beautiful Beautiful corps. I saw something happen that I don't know If it was ever repeated in drum corps history. To get to the Starting Line, you had to enter through a gateway into the stadium. From high in the stands I saw St. Kevins " A Squad" come through the gate, leading the corps to the Starting Line. I swear I never saw anything like this, the entire stadium rose to a "Standing Ovation" and Cheered. My God .. That corps hadn't even made it to the Starting Line yet or started playing. To this day I remember this. Sac, you are getting some magnificent drum corps people there ... that's all I can say. By the way, our corps came in 8th that night .. not shabby. Oh well, I rambled on enough. Thanks .. Paul Christopher .. Director .. Red Knights.

The Red Knights Drum & Bugle Corps of Pittsfield, MA marched in the Holyoke, MA St. Patrick's Day Parade last Sunday. I don't have to tell anybody that was there how cold and windy it was. There was one warm spot ... in my heart anyways. As our corps had to move single file from one line-up position to another in the staging area, we had to march in front of the Hurricanes. I'm an Old School drum corps member, who competed on the field against the Hurricanes in the past. In all honesty, the Red Knights are a parade corps trying to survive. I want to thank the members of the Hurricanes who applauded us and motivated us on as we passed by them. As I said, there was one warm spot last Sunday ... Thanks Again Hurricanes ! By the Way, Scotty Williamson is from our home town, every once in awhile I run into him at WalMart or wherever and we talk drum corps ... Lol. Paul Christopher ... Director ... Red Knights Drum & Bugle Corps, Pittsfield, MA.

Keep Plugging away Dennis ... Best to the Standish Guards ... Your friends from Pittsfield, MA ... Red Knights.

Hi Dennis, Best of luck to you and the Standish Gaurds ... Keep plugging away !! Your friends on the western end of MASS ... Paul C. and the Red Knights ... Pittsfield.

Hi, I am happy to announce that the IRS officially sanctioned the Pittsfield Red Knights Drum & Bugle Corps of Pittsfield, MA as a 501©(3) Public Charity. It has been a long process ... that's all I'll say about that. The corps can now except donations, which will be tax deductible for the contributors. I just want to make this information known to the public ... Thanks, Paul Christopher, Director/Business Manager .. Red Knights.

Hi, I was just given news that the June 30th show Thursday night in Pittsfield, MA is FREE.DCI corps Boston Crusaders, Crossmen, and Spirit of Atlanta will give exhibitions.Also, the Pittsfield Red Knights will warm the crowd up."National Anthem" and "God Bless America" opening solos by Red Knights mellophone player Betsy Halla. Show time is 7:00 PM. ADMISSION FREE !!

Hi Grumpy ... took your advice and Posted in DCI World Class Forum ... Thanks ... Paul C.

Hi, This Thursday, 06/30/11, three DCI corps will be in Pittsfield, MA. The corps are: Boston Crusaders, Crossmen, and the Spirit of Atlanta. During their time there, they have graciously agreed to give exhibitions at Wahconah Park in Pittsfield. Show time is 7:00 PM. The "NEW" corps from Pittsfield, the Pittsfield Red Knights will be warming up the crowd. Price of admission is $5.00 So, if you are in the area and want to see some Great drum and bugle corps, stop by Wachonah Park in Pittsfield, MA. Thanks ... Paul Christopher ... Director ... Pittsfield Red Knights ... http://pittsfieldredknights.com . PS, Pittsfield officially got its nickname "Drum Corps City" back in the 1960's when 7 simultaneously competing corps resided there: two ALL female, the Poms Poms and Royal Blue Angels, the Skyhawks, Imperials, Monarchs, Cavaliers, and Interstatesmen. Ahhh ... GREAT memories !!

Hi, For those who remember, Pittsfield, MA was officially designated "Drum Corps City" by Drum Corps News back in the 1960's. Pittsfield was home to seven simultaneous competing corps, plus their feeder corps. Without going into too much detail, I'll simply name them: Pom Poms and Blue Angels (two ALL female corps), Skyhawks, Imperials, Monarchs, Cavaliers, and Interstatesmen. Just about every major junior and senior corps at that time was asked to compete in the Pittsfield shows these corps sponsored. That was a lot of Great drum corps. Well, this Thursday, June 30th, at 7:00 PM, memebers of the Pittsfield Fourth of July Parade Committee will be hosting a few DCI corps in exhibition at Wachonah Park. The price is $5.00 admission. These corps are on tour, and will be staying in overnight Thursday in Pittsfield. They have graciously agreed to the exhibitions at the park. The corps are: Boston Crusaders, Crossmen, and Spirit of Atlanta. In addition to these corps, the Red Knights of Pittsfield will warm up the crowd for you. I am the Director/Business Manager of the Red Knights. The Red Knights is an up and coming parade corps consisting of very young members thrilled to be part of "The New Corps" in Pittsfield. I too am thrilled that these kids will be able to see, hear, and absorb the Grand Spectable of drum and bugle corps that will be there Thursday night. It will certainly be a learning and motivational experience for us. By the way, the Red Knights mellophone player Betsy Halla has been asked to open the show with solo renditions of the "National Anthem" and "God Bless America". So, if you are in the Pittsfield, MA area and want to see a great show for $5.00 stop by Wachonah Park this Thursday, June 3oth .... show time 7:00 PM. THANKS .. Paul Christopher, Director/Business Manager ... Red Knights Drum & Bugle Corps ... Pittsfield, MA http://pittsfieldredknights.com .

Hi, I want to thank the Conn. Hurricanes for the gift of several boxes of drum heads. Scott (Scotty) Williamson, a Hurricanes Drum Major and Pittsfield resident, delivered the drum heads to our horn rehearsal Sunday night. The Hurricanes bought new drums and donated their current drum heads to the Red Knights. There were all types and sizes and in very good to new condition. What a great act of generosity .... Thank You so much Hurricanes .... I promise you it will not be forgotten .... Paul Christopher .... Director .... Red Knights.

Hi, The Red Knights is a parade corps from Pittsfield, MA. Our goal is to some day enter the competition field as a respected member of the drum & bugle corps community. As a High School or College musician you can play with the Red Knights and earn transferable college credits. Contact Professor of Music Ellen Shanahan at Berkshire Commnunity College. Her phone and email are 1 (413) 236-4703 ... eshanaha@berkshirecc.edu. Tell her you are playing with the Red Knights, and would like to enroll in MUS-151-01 "Instrumental Ensemble". You can enroll for the Fall 2011 term anytime between May 16th and Sept. 12th 2011. Many youth have joined the Red Knights, and some have already taken advantage of our collaboration with Berkshire Community College. For more information please visit our website at http://pittsfieldredknights.com . I am always glad to respond and talk with anybody about the Red Knights and our future plans. Thank You, Paul Christopher Director ... Red Knights.

Hi Dennis, Keep It Going and Best o' Luck to You and the Standish Guards ! ... Paul C., Director Red Knights, Pittsfield, MA ... your friends across the state.

Hi, It was 1971 if I remember right. The corps of Pittsfield, MA had broken up in the late 60's. We were trying to make a comeback, but we needed horns. I got a call from a Bob BellaRosa from New York City. He told me he had some horns to sell, and the price for all would be $900.00. Cheap to today's standards. I told him we had to raise the money, could he hold the horns for us. He said OK. We did raise the money. Bob, then told us to meet him in Brooklyn, NY. We were to call him when we arrived. Well, myself and another corps member traveld by car down to Brooklyn. We went into a corner tavern and called Bob. He said he knew where the tavern was and to meet him on the corner. We went outside to the corner. After a fair amount of time this huge yellow Cadillac pulls up to the curb. Out comes the driver. We looked at each other, said are you so and so, and affirmed that we each were. Bob went to the car trunk which also was huge, opened it up, and there were all of the horns we wanted to buy. I gave Bob the $900.00 cash, and he gave us the horns. We exchanged phone numbers and addresses, shook hands, and departed back to our homes. That was my one and only encounter with Bob BellaRosa, but I have never ever forgotten it to this day. To end this story, Bob BellaRosa was at the time writing and distributing a drum and bugle corps newspaper, sort of like Drum Corps News, only it was called something else. I started receiving these drum corps newspapers in my mailbox. Bob had given me a year's subscription to his paper ... Free. Bob.... you probablly don't remember me or our meeting, but I have never ever forgotten you. I truly hope for your speedy recovery ... THANK YOU !! ........ Paul Christopher, Director, Red Knights Drum & Bugle Corps .... Pittsfield, MA

Hi Larry ... Best wishes to you and ALL the Centurions !! ... like your website and idea for uniforms ... Keep it going people Paul Christopher Director RED KNIGHTS Pittsfield, MA

The Red Knights Drum & Bugle Corps, Pittsfield, MA is in agreement with Berkshire Community College to award college credit to members of the corps who enroll in Music Ensemble Courses. Each of a series of Music Ensemble courses awards one credit. The first course for the upcoming Spring Semester at BCC is "Music Ensemble - 1 ..... MUS-151-01". All credits earned are transferable to other schools. Course Registration starts today, Nov. 29th, 2010, and ends Dec. 23rd, 2010. Contact Ellen Shanahan, Professor of Music at BCC. Her phone at her office is 1 (413) 236-4703. Her email at BCC is eshanaha@berkshirecc.edu. Ellen is a very friendly and easy person to talk with. Tell her you are playing with, or will be playing with the Red Knights, and want to enroll in Music Ensemble, MUS-151-01. This program is open to High School students also, so if you have any relatives or friends in this age bracket who are interested, please pass the word on to them. You DO NOT have to be a resident of Massachusetts to participate. You can reside out-of-state and still earn these transferable credits from BCC. If you still have any questions, please contact me at any time ... Paul Christopher ... Director ... Red Knights Drum & Bugle Corps, Pittsfield, MA ... Cell: 1 (413) 281-1216 ... above info is on our website: http://www.pittsfieldredknights.com .

Thanks for the feedback Mike, Keeping the Faith ... LOL .... Paul C. Red Knights

Hi Dennis, Keep plugging away out there in Plymouth ... Best O Luck to you and Standish Guard ... Paul C., Director Red Knights .... Pittsfield, MA.

WOW ! Fantastic !! .... Hope to see and hear you .... Best of Luck !! ... Paul C. Red Knights ... Pittsfield, MA

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Hi, I was officially informed today by Head of the Music Department, Music Professor Ellen Shanahan of Berkshire Community College, Pittsfield, MA, that the Red Knights Drum & Bugle Corps is now part of the school's Music Program. A series of music ensemble courses to earn college credits for corps members who participate is being implemented. This includes members who are in the High School age bracket. Briefly, a person can play with the corps and have their progress evaluated in order to earn credits. The first course will be offered during the coming Spring semester, beginning January 24, 2011 and ending May 19, 2011. The course is MUSIC-151-01 "Introduction To Music Ensemble and Technique", and earns 1 credit for the semester. The next course would be MUSIC-151-02. The school is considering adding a MUSIC-151-03 and 04. Anyone who is interested can contact Professor of Music Ellen Shanahan at Berkshire Community College in Pittsfield, MA. Ellen is a great person and very easy to talk to. She would be happy to give you the information you need and point you in the right direction. Just tell her you are with the Red Knights or are considering playing for the Red Knights, and would like to participate in the program for college credits. She can be reached at 1 (413) 236-4703 or eshanaha@berkshirecc.edu . If you have any High School aged children, or know of any High School aged musicians who would like to earn college credits in Music Ensemble, please pass this along to them. I can also be contacted. my cell number and email follow. Thank You, Paul Christopher, Director Red Knights Drum & Bugle Corps, Pittsfield, MA 1 (413) 281-1216 .. paulchris0214@verizon.net .. http://pittsfieldredknights.com .

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Hi, This Sunday, Oct. 10th, 2010 is the first anniversary of the Red Knights Drum & Bugle Corps from Pittsfield, MA. Yes, we are only a parade - exhibition corps at the moment, but I stilll want to say THANK YOU to all of the members who stuck it out through our beginning until now. You know who you are ... and I know who you are ... people who have marched with some of the finest corps in the past, but now willingly humble themselves to try to bring drum and bugle corps back to an area that was once rich in this activity. Thank You so much ... as any baby that is in its first year, you will someday walk then run. Happy First Birthday Red Knights .... Paul Christopher ... Director .... Red Knights. http://www.pittsfieldredknights.com