SAN ANTONIO – The Crossmen Drum Corps is headed to Houston to take on a super-sized opportunity: to perform at events leading up to the biggest game in the country.
Joel Moody, assistant director of the corps, said the group was invited to perform.
"I think for us, it's an opportunity not only for our performers to get a chance, but to really expose the city of San Antonio, the city of Houston and really the entire state, and say 'Hey, we've got this really great ensemble that's based right here in Texas," Moody said.
The Crossmen Drum Corps, a competitive music group, is based in San Antonio and made up of 150 auditioned high school and college performers from across the country.
Some alums of the group were also invited to play.
Jacqueline Gatez, who plays the cymbals, drove 19 hours from Minnesota with one Super Bowl goal.
"To rock people's socks off," she said.
The Crossmen won't perform during the game but will display their talents at several of the events leading up to it, including the presentation of the Vince Lombardi trophy to the city of Houston next weekend.
"That the Crossmen from San Antonio -- because I'm from San Antonio -- that we get to do this and represent our home and show off who we are and play for them, I think that's really cool," said Jared Delgado, a trumpet player and UTSA senior.
"Our mission is about youth development and training kids to be great people and great citizens, but we use music and performance as the vehicle for doing that," Moody said.
And now the group is set for a super stage.
Originally based in Pennsylvania, this is the Crossmen's 11th season in San Antonio.