ROME, N.Y. -- Eight drum corps from across the country came to Rome Thursday night, to compete in Drums Along the Mohawk. This is the event's 40th year. 

The drum and bugle corps are made up of high school and college students ranging from 16 to 21 years old. 

Organizers say their main mission is to help musicians and color guard members pay for the cost of being in a drum corp. 

"They pretty much have to raise several thousand dollars in order to participate so we offer grant money to musicians from New York State who are marching in a drum corps and that's the bottom line of why we do this," said Claudette Wire, the director of Drums Along the Mohawk.

Eight students were awarded scholarships at this year's event.