36 Units Set For CYO Competition At Arena Sunday-This Day in Norwood History-June 2, 1949

Three Norwood Corps Will Vie For Honors

20,000 Expected as Norwood Hosts 18th Annual CYO Fife, Drum & Bugle Corps Competition at Norwood Arena

With only the cooperation of the weatherman still uncertain, Norwood today completed extensive preparations for what promises to be one of the largest youth musical events ever held in the community—the 18th annual Catholic Youth Organization Fife, Drum, and Bugle Corps Competition, set for next Sunday afternoon at the Norwood Arena on Route 1.

A total of 36 competing units from parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Boston are scheduled to participate, and officials estimate that as many as 20,000 spectators will fill the spacious arena to witness the colorful spectacle of marching, music, and precision drill.

St. Catherine’s Units Prepare to Host the Archdiocese

While boys and girls in nearly every parish have spent weeks perfecting their routines, the pressure is especially high for the three units representing St. Catherine’s Parish of Norwood, who will serve as hosts for the event. Determined to set the pace on their home field, the Norwood groups have been drilling with exceptional intensity.

Rev. Richard F. Walsh, director of the St. Catherine’s corps, announced that the parish will field:

• Junior Boys Corps
• Senior Girls Corps
• Senior Boys Corps

Competition begins at 2:00 p.m. and will be divided into six divisions:

1. Drum & Bugle Corps
2. Fife, Drum & Bugle Corps
3. Fife & Drum Corps
4. Drum & Bugle Corps (second classification)
5. All‑Girls Corps
6. Girls’ Drill Team

Junior Boys: A New 80‑Member Unit Makes Its Debut

The Junior Boys Corps, a brand‑new fife, drum, and bugle unit, is composed of more than 80 boys from grades 4 through 9. They made their first public appearance in Norwood’s Memorial Day parade earlier this week, drawing admiration for their sharp drill and striking uniforms—Shako hats, blue satin shirts, gold ties, blue‑and‑gold sashes, and white trousers.

Under the leadership of Drum Major Ronald Meuhlberger, the Junior Boys are scheduled to take the field at 3:00 p.m.

Senior Girls: A New Corps in Familiar Colors

The Senior Girls Corps, numbering 25 members from ninth grade through high school, is also a newly formed group. Although new, they will wear the familiar blue‑and‑gold uniforms long associated with St. Catherine’s award‑winning musical tradition.

Led by Drum Majorette Margaret Frates, the Senior Girls will perform at approximately 3:50 p.m.

Senior Boys: Veterans of the Fr. MacAleer Corps

The Senior Boys Corps, a fife, drum, and bugle unit, will consist of members of the renowned Fr. MacAleer Corps who are under 19, the age limit for this competition. With “Deacon” Lynch serving as drum major, the Senior Boys are slated to appear at 4:27 p.m.

Archbishop Cushing Trophies for Division Winners

Winners in each of the six divisions will receive an Archbishop Cushing Trophy and will be invited to perform in a special exhibition at the CYO Music Festival at Boston College Alumni Field the following Sunday.

For the first time, the Archdiocese has separated the musical events—featuring CYO bands and choral groups—from the drill competition, allowing each to stand as its own major attraction.

First Time in Norwood

This marks the first year the Diocesan Competition has been held in Norwood. Previous venues include:

• St. John’s Seminary, Brighton
• Boston College
• Manning Bowl, Lynn
• Quincy Stadium, Quincy

The move to Norwood Arena reflects both the event’s growth and the town’s increasing prominence as a host for large‑scale youth activities.

Public Invited — Special Bus Service Arranged

The public is warmly invited to attend. Admission is sixty cents, with children under 12 admitted free.

In case of rain, the competition will be postponed to Sunday, June 12, and the CYO Music Festival at Boston College will be moved to June 19.

To accommodate the anticipated crowds, special bus service has been arranged:

• Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway buses will run every 20 minutes from Forest Hills to Norwood
• These will connect with Norwood Motor Tours buses providing direct service to the Norwood Arena

With excitement building across the Archdiocese and final rehearsals underway, Norwood is poised to welcome thousands for an afternoon of pageantry, precision, and youthful musical excellence.

Norwood Freee Press

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