Christopher Feist

Chris Feist marched in the Crossmen snare line in 1983 and 1985. Having aged out of the activity, he returned in 1988 and quickly became a key member of the percussion staff through the 1992 season. When Chris returned as an instructor, the Crossmen were in the process of rebuilding after several lean years. His timing could not have been better. The Corps needed an instructor to manage the day to day needs of the percussion section and Chris stepped up to be that person. Chis Feist was a game-changer!

The members who marched under Chris’s tutelage during those years confess to having been a handful. They describe themselves as very strong personalities. But Chris was unwavering. He always kept his cool, and got the most out of the talent in front of him. In the words of Mark Thurston, “Chris brought structure to the corps that every section would eventually benefit from. His relentless determination to make the corps great was the key to the Crossmen turning it around so quickly.”

Others who have been taught by Chris or who have worked with him describe Chris as a model of consistency and professionalism. They learned important traits from him. Discipline. Work ethic. Being respectful and responsible. Attention to detail. And quality of sound. Chris always demanded excellence. These traits would prove to be his legacy when it came time for Chris to move on. Such legacies are the bones of the Crossmen Drum Corps. Those who followed in his footsteps had big shoes to fill but they had the roadmap, the example of how to be.

Chris Feist has been called the unsung hero of the Crossmen Percussion section during his tenure with the Corps. So the voting members of the Crossmen Hall of Fame have decided... it’s finally time... to sing Chris’s song!

Ladies and gentlemen, the Crossmen, the Crossmen Alumni Association, and the Crossmen Hall of Fame Committee are proud to induct into the Crossmen Hall of Fame Class of 2020… Christopher Feist.