Alumni Spotlight: Ricky Grasso

What is your name: Ricky Grasso

What year(s) did you march in the Blue Knights?

2014: Trumpet, Rookout

2015: Administrative Staff

2016, 2017, 2018: Tour Director

Present – Administrative Consultant 

 

What section?

Trumpet, then administrative 🙂 

 

Where did you attend high school?

Newtown High School – Sandy Hook, CT

 

Education beyond high school?

University of Bridgeport (Bridgeport, CT) B.A. Mass Communications, concentration: Advertising & Public Relations

University of Bridgeport (Bridgeport, CT) MBA in Marketing

*Semester Abroad, Fall 2013 – John Cabot University (Rome, Italy)

 

What is your current occupation?

Marketing Manager for Reed Exhibitions (Norwalk, CT) – PGA Golf Shows & National Hardware Show 

On the side, I am the Head of Visual & Overall Design for the Newtown High School Band Program (Sandy Hook, CT) and direct the Newtown Open Percussion in the Winter Season

 

Why did you choose to march with the Blue Knights?

Honestly, it was a coincidence! I had every intention to skip my age out and DCI experience altogether. I had a failed attempt back in 2012 upon trying to enter the DCI activity, it was, in fact, my weight. In those two years, I dropped 100 pounds and explored Europe for a few months! Coming home I auditioned one more time at a different organization, got cut, and Ken Adams reached out to see if I wanted to March the Blue Knights! It was May, a week before Spring Training and I said YES!

 

What is your favorite drum corps memory?

It would have to be July 4, 2014. The corps was parked just outside of Seattle at a beautiful school surrounded by the beauty of the Pacific Northwest. That day was also the day we finished the show for the first time. During the end of our first full run-through fireworks started to go off behind the field, it’s like it was planned for that exact moment. I get chills thinking about it. Hugging your sweaty friends, after working so hard to complete the product and to just look towards the mountains and see fireworks popping off – indescribable.

 

How have the Blue Knights impacted your life?

It’s a loaded question because quite frankly the Blue Knights are a part of me. Being with the corps for five consecutive years as both a member and someone at the helm of leading a national tour, the best word to describe my experience is confidence. As a member, it was losing all the weight, and knowing that I am good enough, I am worthy enough to be here. As a Tour Director, I learned that I can handle more than I think I can, in the most incredibly stressful moments of my life I turn back to situations on the road, and how I had to be quick and decide the fate of the other 200 people that were looking at me for the answer.

 

What are some of the Blue Knights’ core values/principles that have resonated with you in life?

Kindness. It’s funny, our activity sometimes isn’t so nice – people have egos and make you feel uncomfortable in the activity you love the most. As a member, every staff member treated me with love and respect, and above all else gave me a quality education in my marching years. As a director, I always made sure everyone was treated with respect and kindness. In real life – it’s so hard to find people who are just genuinely kind and have no secret agenda, and I really learned about kindness being on the road with the Blue Knights, I take it with me every day. 

 

What advice would you tell someone considering trying out for the Blue Knights?

When you are auditioning, don’t focus on just the music, playing, spinning, beats, etc – focus on your attitude, your outlook, your perspective – things that aren’t in the packet, you will go farther than you think.
 
 
How would you like to see other Blue Knight alumni get involved in the organization?

Volunteer on tour!!!!! If you can take a long weekend off, hop on the road and drive a van, cook a meal. If you can take a week, even better! Every volunteer HELPS!

 

 
∴ Want to be featured in a future Alumni Spotlight? Fill out the  Alumni Update form here or email: [email protected]

Share This Post

BKX25 staff annc guard wp

Jessica Glasgow & Brandy DuBose Join Staff

The Blue Knights is excited to announce Jessica Glasgow as Visual Coordinator & Guard Designer and thrilled to welcome back Brandy DuBose in the role ...
Read More →
BKPE staff annc wp

BKPE Welcomes Shane Gwaltney & Tanner Leonardo

The Blue Knights Percussion Ensemble is thrilled to announce the addition of Shane Gwaltney and Tanner Leonardo to the 2025 Design Team! Shane Gwaltney joins ...
Read More →
BKPE staff annc wp

Sean McElroy Returns to BKPE

Sean McElroy returns to the Blue Knights Percussion Ensemble as Visual Designer for the 2025 season. Sean McElroy grew up in southwest Denver, Colorado in ...
Read More →
BKX25 PERC staff annc wp

Welcome 2025 BKDBC Percussion Staff

                                   The Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps is ...
Read More →
BKX25 staff annc wp

Felix Cruz III and Ronnie Pruitt Join 2025 BK Staff

The Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps is excited to announce two additions to the 2025 staff. “We are very excited to bring on board ...
Read More →
Scholarship Winners

BKDBC 2024 Scholarship Winners

Ascend Performing Arts is proud to announce 2024’s Scholarship Recipients Ascend Performing Arts is committed to making life-changing performing arts experiences available to all. While ...
Read More →
Scroll to Top

Subscribe

* indicates required
/( mm / dd )
Country Code
Ascend Performing Arts - By providing your phone number, you agree to receive promotional and marketing messages, notifications, and customer service communications from Ascend Performing Arts. Message and data rates may apply. Consent is not a condition of purchase. Message frequency varies. Text HELP for help. Text STOP to cancel.See terms.
Events & Happenings
Fundraisers
Alumni
Newsletter
Volunteering

Intuit Mailchimp

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.