Dartmouth alumni named world champions with Boston Crusaders

Aug 20, 2025

Jaeda Walker and Jesse Walker, siblings and Dartmouth High alums, were named world champions as a part of the Boston Crusaders in the Drum Corps International. Source: Suzanne Souza

The group also received the George Zingali award for best colorguard, the Fred Sanford Best Percussion Performance Award and Jim Ott Best Brass Performance Award.

Jaeda Walker and Jesse Walker, siblings and Dartmouth High alums, were named world champions as a part of the Boston Crusaders in the Drum Corps International. Source: Suzanne Souza

The group also received the George Zingali award for best colorguard, the Fred Sanford Best Percussion Performance Award and Jim Ott Best Brass Performance Award.

Dartmouth High School alumni Jaeda Walker and Jesse Walker captured gold medals in the Drum Corps International as a part of the Boston Crusaders Aug. 9.

The Crusaders taking to Facebook said, “A chapter 85 years in the making, the Boston Crusaders are DCI World Champions. From our humble beginnings in Most Precious Blood, name changes and lean years, to our first finals night in 1999 and all the accolades since, this corps stood the test of time thanks to the generations of Giants who believed.”

The group also received the George Zingali award for best colorguard, the Fred Sanford Best Percussion Performance Award and Jim Ott Best Brass Performance Award.

It was a memorable season for the siblings as the two aged out of the Crusaders this year.

Though the two could not be reached for comment, on Facebook, Jesse said, “A summer filled with memories that will last a lifetime. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to fully express how special it is to spend three months doing what I love most with my best friends. Forever wishing I could go back and relive this season.

He added, “Thank you for providing me the space to grow as an individual/performer and for showing me that there are and will always be people in my corner who remind me that I am loved, supported, and valued.”