Donna Borrelli

Donna Borrelli’s induction into the Crossmen Hall of Fame recognizes her groundbreaking role as a performer, leader, instructor, innovator, and mentor during the formative years of the corps.

Donna began her drum corps journey as a young teenager with the 507 Hornets, one of the corps whose merger helped create the Crossmen. When the Crossmen were formed in 1974, Donna became part of the new organization’s earliest history and was selected as the corps’ first Color Guard Captain. It was a significant honor and a reflection of the respect she had already earned through her talent, work ethic, leadership, and dedication.

Donna served as Color Guard Captain for three seasons, from 1975 through 1977, helping establish the standards, identity, and pride of the early Crossmen guard. As one of the first leaders in the new corps, she helped build the foundation for what would become a proud and respected color guard tradition. Her leadership during those early years helped shape not only the guard, but the culture of the corps itself.

In 1978, Donna took on a new challenge when she auditioned for and earned the position of Drum Major for her age-out season. In that role, she once again demonstrated the confidence, poise, and leadership that made her so highly respected by members, staff, and administration alike. Her ability to lead from both within the guard and from the podium made her an important figure in the corps’ early development.

Donna’s impact continued after her marching years. In 1979, she became the first Crossmen alumnus to serve as the lead color guard instructor. At a time when the corps was moving out of the 1970s and into a new decade, Donna brought vision, experience, and fresh ideas to the program. She helped guide the Crossmen color guard into the 1980s, expanding its style, vocabulary, and performance identity.

One of Donna’s most important contributions was her willingness to bring dance and movement into a more traditional color guard setting. She combined her years of drum corps experience with a forward-looking approach that elevated the visual program and pushed the guard toward a new level of expression. Under her influence, the Crossmen guard moved beyond the skirts, boots, and capes of the 1970s and into a striking new black-and-white style for 1980. The look, movement, and performance approach of the guard were forever changed.

Donna was also a meaningful mentor to the members she taught. She understood the Crossmen from the inside because she had helped build it as a performer and leader. That perspective allowed her to teach with both authority and care. She worked alongside many of the great alumni and instructors who helped shape the Crossmen from 1974 through 1983, contributing to a period of growth, experimentation, and identity-building for the corps.

For her role as the Crossmen’s first Color Guard Captain, her leadership as Drum Major, her distinction as the first alumnus to become lead color guard instructor, and her lasting influence on the style, direction, and spirit of the Crossmen color guard, we proudly honor Donna Borrelli as a member of the Crossmen Hall of Fame Class of 2015.