Matt Krempasky

Matt Krempasky’s induction into the Crossmen Hall of Fame recognizes his extraordinary influence as an educator, brass instructor, arranger, and musical architect during one of the most important eras in the corps’ history.

Matt came to the Crossmen in 1982 as a soprano technician, working alongside Tony Yaklich and helping develop the brass program during a period when the corps was searching for renewed identity, energy, and competitive momentum. As the Crossmen worked to rise from the challenges of the mid-1980s, Matt became one of the key figures in shaping the musical voice that would help carry the corps back among the elite of Drum Corps International.

From 1987 through 1994, Matt served as the Crossmen brass arranger, a period that included some of the most beloved and defining productions in corps history. His writing helped give the Crossmen a sound and style that was unmistakably their own — bold, emotional, intelligent, and full of life. His arrangements supported a corps identity built on intensity, musicality, and connection with the audience.

Matt’s impact was especially clear during the early 1990s, when the Crossmen developed one of the most memorable creative identities in the activity. His work helped shape the celebrated Songs for Planet Earth productions, including the 1992 program that remains one of the landmark shows in Crossmen history. For that production, Matt composed “The Four Elements,” an original work that helped bring depth, drama, and emotional weight to the corps’ environmental theme.

But Matt’s contribution to the Crossmen was not limited to notes on a page. He was a teacher who understood how to challenge performers, support their growth, and elevate the musical standards of the corps. His work helped young brass players develop confidence, discipline, listening skills, and pride in the sound they created together. Through his teaching and arranging, he helped generations of members understand what it meant to perform with purpose.

The musical identity Matt helped build became part of the foundation for the Crossmen’s resurgence. His tenure as arranger included the corps’ return to DCI Finals and the establishment of a powerful competitive and artistic presence that carried through the late 1980s and early 1990s. His influence remains connected to a period many alumni remember as transformational for the organization.

Beyond the Crossmen, Matt has continued to make a lasting impact as a music educator, arranger, and performer. Public bios note his induction into multiple halls of fame, including the Crossmen, Reading Buccaneers, Pennsylvania Drum Corps, and National Buglers halls of fame, as well as his recognition as a New Jersey Music Educators Association Master Music Teacher.

For his service as a brass instructor, his defining work as brass arranger, his role in shaping the musical identity of the Crossmen from 1987 through 1994, and his lasting influence on generations of performers, we proudly honor Matt Krempasky as a member of the Crossmen Hall of Fame.