Marking the end of an era for one of the few remaining cymbal lines in drum corps, the Crossmen Drum & Bugle Corps have decided not to field marching cymbals in 2019.

Crossmen Executive Director Fred Morrison broke the news in an email to performers planning to audition on cymbals for the 2019 season. "The Crossmen design team has decided not to field a marching cymbal line for the 2019 season," it reads.

Also included in the email is a statement from recently promoted Percussion Caption Head Lane Summerlin, who previously acted as the assistant caption head.

"The drum and bugle corps activity has evolved immensely since its beginnings after World War I... Every year the Crossmen make changes as we strive to provide students with the best education possible and to put the best show on the field we can. The decision not to field a cymbal line for the 2019 Crossmen season was not taken lightly," he explains.

The email goes on to explain that cymbal auditionees will receive a refund for their registration and camp fee.