WGI 2009 Spring FOCUS

spring 2009

focus the official news of wgi sport of the arts

DOUBLE TROUBLE: Dartmouth HS Does It Again!

Get Ready for the Return of

SPINFEST

MISSION Accomplished Mission Viejo HS takes percussion to the next level

Golden Year: Avon HS Wins Big WGI_p1_Cover.indd 1

PICKING THE HITS:

How groups choose the right music for their shows

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Directions

the official news of wgi sport of the arts

SPRING 2009 Volume 23, Issue 2

Winter Guard International Ron Nankervis Chief Executive Officer Bart Woodley Marketing Manager Aaron Jenkins Marketing & Communications Coordinator Arcadia HS at the 2009 World Championships

Published By: In Tune Partners, LLC

A Time to Be Proud Pride. The word means pleasure or satisfaction taken in something done by oneself or believed to reflect credit upon oneself. That’s what you see on the faces of our WGI performers, who give so much of themselves to the principles of teamwork, dedication, and artistry. When you think of all the challenges each individual faces in a season, how can anyone not be proud of them coming together as a group and exemplifying standards to which we all should aspire?

Another source of pride this year was WGI Spins for a Cure. In a time of recession, when groups are worrying about their own fundraising, a challenge was met to raise funds for battling breast cancer. In six weeks, color guards attending the World Championships raised an amazing $22,000, doing us proud by expanding our reach outside our community.

Our volunteers are yet another reason for pride in WGI. They are second to none, the life blood of our organization. These selfless people put in 18-hour days, some for both weeks of championships. We trust them to make over 750 performances happen during 120 hours over six long, long days. They often work behind the scenes without credit. We don’t tell them nearly enough how much we are in their debt.

So there are a lot of reasons for WGI to be proud today. It is my wish that when we think of 2009, we recognize the accomplishments of each individual, each group, and our organization as a whole. At a time when nonprofits are struggling, we should be grateful that the foundation upon which WGI is built is strong. The reason we all come together—the performers—is proof enough of that.

Irwin Kornfeld CEO Will Edwards President Angelo Biasi Publisher Mac Randall Editor-in-Chief Jackie Jordan Creative Director Robin Stein Production Director Joan Ferrara Business Manager Contributing Writers: David G. Hill, Scott Markham, Jose A. Mendoza, Melinda Newman, Michael Reed Photography: Jolesch Photography, Robert Cawthorne, Julia Higbe, Dan Scafidi, Linda Unser, and Sid Unser WGI FOCUS is an educational publication of WGI Sport of the Arts. Its purpose is to broaden communication within the family of color guards and percussion ensembles. FOCUS is published three times per year.

WGI FOCUS is a free publication with a circulation of 14,000 copies. All members of the WGI family may submit articles for consideration. WGI reserves the right to edit all submitted material.

If your address has changed, please notify the WGI office. Failure to do this could result in the loss of your WGI FOCUS subscription. We don’t want to lose touch with you!

For advertising information please contact Aaron Jenkins; phone: 937-247-5919; email: aaron@wgi.org WINTER GUARD INTERNATIONAL 2405 Crosspointe Drive Dayton, OH 45342 937-247-5919 office@wgi.org www.wgi.org

Ron Nankervis Executive Director WGI Sport of the Arts 4 WGI

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www.wgi.org

5/8/09 3:37:29 PM

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Volume 23 Issue 2 Spring 2009

20

Braddock Independent reached the top 10 of the IW Finals.

INSIDE 9 ENSEMBLE

The WGI Drum Circle gets all hands on skins ... WGI lovers plug into the Fan Network ... Mia Michaels returns to Dayton ... Spinning for a breast cancer cure ... This year’s 16 WGI scholarship winners ... and much more!

14 CLOSE-UP

It’s been a magical, medal-filled decade for the Mission Viejo percussion ensemble, whose stylistic innovations have sparked trends throughout the activity.

16 SPOTLIGHT

9

Mark your calendars: Spinfest is coming back this September.

20 2009 COLOR GUARD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Facing an outstanding field of competitors, Santa Clara Vanguard and Avon HS performed with distinction and won their first gold medals.

28 2009 PERCUSSION CHAMPIONSHIPS

Rhythm X and Dartmouth HS both entered the two-timers’ club this year at the end of a thrillingly close contest that rocked the UD Arena’s rafters.

36 CLINIC

28

Music is the main ingredient of many a WGI performance, but choosing just the right tune for any given show can be a serious challenge.

40 SCHOLARSHIP

For Devon Lehman of Countryside HS, being a color guard member has provided invaluable lessons in living life.

42 WHAT’S YOUR WGIQ?

Identify the performers in these snapshots from the 2009 Finals.

Cover photos, clockwise from top left: Dartmouth HS, Mission Viejo HS, Americas Independent, Avon HS.

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40 WGI FOCUS 7

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REMO Congratulates all 2009 WGI winners.

Ensemble NEWS FROM THE FLOOR AND MORE

DRUM CIRCLE CAPS WEEKEND OF PERCUSSION

Inspired by the amazing musical and kinetic feats taking place in the University of Dayton Arena during WGI’s Percussion Championships, spectators and players alike had an unprecedented opportunity to make a little music of their own. Following the Open Class awards ceremony on Saturday, everyone was invited to participate in an exciting new venture: the WGI Drum Circle, with a special appearance by world drumming expert/judge Matt Savage.

Outside the arena, the beautiful weather ensured an excellent crowd for this highly anticipated event. Chairs had been lined up in a circular formation; every row of seats was packed. REMO and Bongo Boy Music provided a varied assortment of drums, ranging from extremely small to the more standard size that people are used to seeing in WGI competition.

“The thing about drum circles is they teach people to

New DVDs on the Way While the $45 price of your 2009 World Championships DVDs is lower than last year, you can expect the same great quality when they roll out in early August. Video producer John Flower has been instrumental in helping WGI make the price change a reality by cutting production costs.

These eight multi-camera edited DVDs will be the highlight of your performance season, and will provide entertainment for years to come. Find DVD volume details and order your copies now on wgi.org/store. www.wgi.org

WGI_p9_Ensemble.indd 1

The WGI Drum Circle drew a big crowd of percussion enthusiasts to the UD Arena parking lot.

work in a group and really get in tune with their sense of rhythm,” Savage said. “You don’t need to be an amazingly proficient percussionist to enjoy this. It’s about having a good time, as well as learning to work in a group to create these really cool moments. For some people it’s a good time, but for others it’s therapeutic. It’s not just about drumming.”

The event was a rousing success, as the participants paid close attention to Savage’s call-and-response sections. He repeatedly commended the players, creating a positive atmosphere that carried over into the rest of the weekend. —Jose A. Mendoza

FAN NETWORK GRANTS FULL ACCESS VIA VIDEO Only a few months have passed since the debut of the WGI Fan Network, but it’s already revolutionized the way WGI fans experience the season. All subscribers have access to video of every prelims performance from World Championships. Fan Network Plus subscribers could watch all the World Championships live with the webcast from all competition venues.

James Phillips, a British subscriber, calls the Fan Network’s on-demand feature “brilliant, because often I can’t watch the live streams of the actual event due to the time zone differences.” Ron Baysinger, who tuned into the regionals to watch nephew Eric perform with Center Grove’s winter percussion ensemble, says, “I love watching the guards I’m unable to see except at finals.”

And Norwin High School designer Tommy Allen admits, “I’m truly addicted to Fan Network. I use it purely as a means to stalk and get the dish on our competitors.” For more information, go to wgi.org/fannetwork.

WGI FOCUS 9

5/13/09 4:24:37 PM

Ensemble

NS R U T E R S L E A H IC M IA M TO DAYTON in her relationship with WGI this past April during her second trip to the World Championships. While she enjoyed finals performances on Saturday night, the real excitement for many began Sunday morning, as Michaels and assistant Ryan Ramirez gave a two-hour master class to 500 WGI performers.

Dancers covered the UD Arena floor and followed along as Michaels, employing her signature contemporary style, presented a view into her world through a choreographed piece set to the song “After Afterall” by William Fitzsimmons. In order to give a full-out performance, the group divided into three sections and took turns letting their emotions out; Michaels then instructed everyone to improvise their own movement at the end of her piece.

Following the dance lesson, Michaels stopped to talk about the power each performer holds in being an individual.

Her reminder to put one’s own voice into motion hit home to many of the dancers in the arena.

“There’s even more raw talent in color guard than I see in dance,” Michaels said.

“I love doing [master classes] here because the members give so much back.

As a teacher, that’s really all you can ask for—the mutual give and take. I leave here with a smile on my face. They heard me, they got me, and now that I planted the seed, they can take it and run with it.”

• Ability!

• Aimachi • Alchemy Independent • Americas Independent • Arcadia HS • Aria WG • Art 101 • Aureus Independent • Avon HS • Ayala HS • Bellbrook HS • Ben Davis HS • Black Watch • Blessed Sacrament • Carmel HS

10 WGI FOCUS

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• Carolina Visual Productions • Center Grove HS • Central Carroll HS • Central Regional HS • Chambersburg HS • Cheshire HS • Chippewa Valley HS • Choctawhatchee HS • Collage • Countryside HS • Crestview HS • Crown Guard • Deja Vu • Del Valle HS • Dennis Yarmouth HS

• Diamante • East Central HS • Eastlake HS • Eden Prairie HS • Excel WG • Expressions WG • Firestone HS • Francis Howell • North HS • Freedom HS • Gates Chili HS • Golden Valley HS • Greater Johnstown HS • Green Hope HS • GreenfieldCentral HS • Harrison Central HS

• Hinsdale Central HS • Houston HS • Impact • Independent • In Motion • James Bowie HS • Kickapoo HS - Emulation • Kings HS • Lake Erie • Regiment • Lassiter HS • Laurens Central HS • Lealta • Legacy • Legacy HS

WGI SPINS FOR A CURE

The weekend of color guard finals is a time when attention is fixed on thousands of extremely talented performers. This year, WGI took the opportunity to direct some of that attention to a great cause. Friday, April 3, became WGI Spins for a Cure Day, in partnership with Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the nation’s preeminent organization dedicated to eliminating breast cancer.

Proceeds from Friday’s 50/50 raffle, T-shirt sales, a portion of Friday ticket sales, and a wristband donation drive, fueled by competing guards, all went to benefit breast cancer research. Packages of pink wristbands were sent to each guard, and the group that raised the most money—Greenfield-Central High School from Indiana—earned World Class Finals tickets as well as a meet-and-greet with choreographer Mia Michaels.

See the bottom of this page for a list of all the groups who raised money for the cause.

“I’m thrilled for everyone in this organization who made the decision to make this come to life, especially the performers,” said WGI Executive Director Ron Nankervis.

“In six weeks, color guards attending the World Championships raised an amazing $22,000.” To learn more about Susan G. Komen for the Cure, contact 1-800-I’M-AWARE or go online at www.komen.org.

Mia Michaels took another step

WGI SPINS FOR THE CURE FUNDRAISERS

Greenfield-Central High School

• Leigh HS • Les Eclipses • Light Brigade • Little Elm HS • Loudoun Valley HS • Marian Catholic HS • Mechanicsburg HS • Miamisburg HS • Milagro • Milford HS (OH) • Mineola HS - Red • Mission Viejo HS • MSU • Mt. Juliet HS • Naperville Central HS • Naples HS • National Avenue • Navarre HS

• Newport Independent • North Penn HS • Northeast • Independent • Northview HS • Northwestern HS • Norwalk HS • Norwin HS • Nuance WG • O2 • Oak Ridge HS • Olentangy Liberty HS • Onyx • Pace HS • Pacificaires • Passaic HS • Patriots • Phoenix HS

• Phoenix • Independent • Pope HS • Premonition • Ramona HS • Rampart HS • Rangerettes Sr. Guard • Reeths-Puffer HS • Revolution Independent • San Benito HS • Sensation Performance Ensemble • Shelton HS • Solstice CG • Sonnor • South Brunswick HS • South Lyon HS

• Southgate • Anderson HS • Spanish River HS • Spectrum • St. Brendans - A • Stockdale HS • Synergy • Synergy WG (OH) • The Pride of • Missouri State • Top Hats • Trumbull HS • University of Louisiana • UVU Envision WG • Warren Central HS • Wenatchee HS • West Milford HS • PepWear

www.wgi.org

5/8/09 4:11:03 PM

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Ensemble CHAMPIONSHIPS ARE SWEET FOR SIXTEEN SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

Matthew Regua

Riverside Community College

Ashley Carr

Warren Central HS

Catie Potter

Centerville HS

Cora Larson Live Oak HS

The WGI Scholarship Program contin-

ues to grow by leaps and bounds, and Daniel Danielle Devon Jeni Bouza Watkins Gladeau Lehman this year, 16 deserving young people Flanagan HS Pace HS Miamisburg HS Countryside HS had the pleasure of being announced as scholarship winners during the WGI World Championships in Dayton, Ohio.

All of the 2009 winners are pictured here.

Since its inception, the WGI Scholarship Program has provided over $400,000 to WGI participants. The money for these scholarships comes from the 50/50 raffle Jesse Backes Kassandra at the World Championships, $1 of the purJessica Taylor Jenney Kliesrath Green Thunder Budzik Crown Guard Collins Hill HS chase price of each World Championship Percussion Friendswood HS program, and individual donations. A nine-person committee of judges, instructors, directors, staff, and other active members reviews the applications. The Yamaha/Dennis DeLucia Scholarship and the Bob Wiles Memorial Scholarship were each awarded RaShaun Logan Rebecca Miranda Alvarez Tori Fine Elizabethtown Wiggins Americas to Rebecca Wiggins from Music North Penn HS Independent WG Music City Mystique Independent City Mystique.

Thank You To Our Partners and Sponsors Presenting Sponsors

Corporate Partners

World Championship Sponsors

Strategic Partners

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12 WGI FOCUS

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5/14/09 9:18:02 AM

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Mission Viejo Thinks

Ahead of the Curve

Innovative Techniques Make Percussion Ensemble a Model for Many

By Jose A. Mendoza

F

or the past 10 years, the various incarnations of California’s Mission Viejo Percussion Ensemble have captivated audiences and judges alike with their dynamic programs, bringing home eight WGI World Championship medals (three gold, four silver, and one bronze) for their efforts. Many of the groundbreaking concepts in Mission’s past performances—from the “drum-speak” of “XII” (2001) to the incorporation of singing-based samples in “Home” (2006) and “Indivisible” (2007)—have sparked stylistic trends throughout WGI. That’s something that both battery instructor/arranger Mike Jackson and front ensemble instructor/arranger Jim Wunderlich find humbling and inspiring.

“For us, it’s just a matter of trying to do something to push the activity,” Wunderlich says. “I think it’s great people are taking those ideas and expanding on them. I’ll never sit there and think, ‘Man, that was my idea and they’re just stealing it!’

I’d be guilty of stealing music from Prokofiev if that were the case. Believe me, we’re always learning from our peers as well.”

Wunderlich has been affiliated with Mission for over a decade, Jackson for two decades. During this time, they’ve also lent their talents to other groups such as the Bluecoats, Blue Devils, Santa Clara Vanguard, and RCC— pushing the envelope not only in the indoor realm, but in the drum corps world as well. Yet both men are well aware that most of their present ventures only became possible because of Mission’s success on the national level. And so this year they decided to create a show that

acknowledged this simple fact. The result, “Remember,” is more than just a general series of recollections; it’s a full-fledged production that pays homage to every single performer who’s contributed to Mission’s legacy.

“Not many indoor lines could have a 10-year anniversary with the same staff,” Jackson notes. “We thought it was unique. About a year ago we were talking about our ’99 show [“From Time to Time”] and how even ten years later it’s still popular, on the Fans’ Favorites [DVDs], and how it put Mission on the map, so to speak. At first we were thinking of retooling that show for these kids, but that didn’t turn out as planned,” he says with a laugh. “We decided on a different route instead.”

ying to r t f o r e t t a m a t For us, it’s jus vity. i t c a e h t h s to pu do something Jackson explains that the

14 WGI FOCUS

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idea of making “Remember” the title of the show “came after I was listening to a song by Simple Minds called ‘Don’t You (Forget About Me).’ It’s a great song and it ties back to the vision of the show: ‘Don’t forget about me—remember.’ But there’s something deeper there. It’s about remembering those who have come before you and allowed you to be where you are today, and the drumline dynamic was a perfect example of that. These kids now— 10 years later—are benefiting from all the blood, sweat, and tears back in ’99. It’s a thank-you to every single kid that’s ever come through Mission.”

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Spotlight

Setting the Stage for

Spınfest Intensive Weekend Color Guard Conference Returns to Disney This Fall

By Scott Markham

T

his year, the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida will once again play host to one of WGI’s most highly anticipated events, Spinfest. On September 18 and 19, instructors and performers from all levels of the color guard activity will participate in a weekend full of detailed classes pertaining to the basics of flag, rifle, sabre, movement, and design. Led by many distinguished color guard instructors and designers, Spinfest promises to provide in-depth information on equipment handling and movement choreography, as well as staging and production values. The action-packed weekend also includes a scheduled appearance by acclaimed choreographer Mia Michaels, who will offer her own unique insight into the role that movement plays in winter guard.

Spinfest is yet another tool that WGI Sport of the Arts has developed to provide instructors with education in all facets of performance and design. Bart Woodley, Marketing Manager of WGI, notes that “WGI has recently been focusing on instructor education. Developing new instructors is a crucial portion of WGI’s commitment to being the leader of the winter marching arts activities.”

Realizing that winter guard is an artistic venue, WGI is working to educate instructors on “finding their own voice,” and using that voice to create and design in a way that will be appreciated—and rewarded—in a competitive setting.

In the past, Spinfest has offered sessions dealing with different approaches to the same piece of music and how

choices are recognized in the judging process.

Brandy DuBose, of Arizona’s Academy Independent Winter Guard, is one color guard instructor who has found Spinfest to be a tremendous help. “The most valuable thing I have walked away with,” she says, “is getting to know other instructors, and having some of the most amazing and inspirational moments with new people I’ve met through the sessions.” DuBose also notes that meeting and working with other designers and instructors during the first Spinfest, held in 2007, helped her find a “sounding board in my journey as an educator.”

Michele Dershimer, a former WGI color guard director, calls Spinfest a great opportunity for instructors to come together and communicate. She says that “watching performers present various styles and levels of choreography, dialogue amongst choreographers and adjudicators, and allowing our professionals to share their knowledge and skills with others in a variety of formats encourages growth within this amazing activity.”

Spinfest is a weekend filled with excitement, high energy, motivation, and education, and it will undoubtedly serve as a springboard for next winter’s competitive season. WGI will be releasing more information about Spinfest in the coming months on wgi.org, including clinician announcements, as well as scheduling details and hotel reservation information.

For more information, visit www.wgispinfest.com.

w Getting to kno rs other instructo da helped me fin ard sounding bo

16 WGI FOCUS

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as in my journey an educator.

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WHO MAKES VIC FIRTH NUMBER ONE?

VIC FIRTH WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE THE DIRECTORS, INSTRUCTORS AND PARTICIPATING MEMBERS OF THE FOLLOWING ENSEMBLES FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENTS AT THE 2009 WGI WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS! INDEPENDENT WORLD

INDEPENDENT OPEN

INDEPENDENT A

FINALIST United Percussion FINALIST—United Directors: Chad Moore, Esq., Christine Vanacore, Staff: Mike Nevin, William Woodward, Kelly Howell, Brian Evans, Darick Kelly, Mike Dow, Jesse Cottrell, Mike Russ, Marcel Roos, Joe Palumbo FINALIST—Blue Knights Director: David Killinger, Staff: Corey Brodersen, Dave Marvin, Mike Nevin, Jason Keeling, John Crouch, Tohbias Juniel, Jason Keeling, Jason Reid, Taylor Townsend, Alex Entin, Scott Reno, Joe Vaccarelli, Keith Laubahn FINALIST—Infinity Directors: John Campese, Tom Hurst, David Catogni, Staff: Mike Marino, Ralph Stewart, Lee Hansen, Jared Johnson, Mustafa Sauveur, Josh Peeples, Anish John, Obed Resendez, Justin Robards, Nick Souder, Dale Black, John McCartt, Jason Palmer, Jason Kitchen FINALIST—Eastside Fury Directors: Ralph Biggs, Jason Ihnat, Staff: Sean McElroy, Laura Skok, Nick Matthews, Nick Saputo, Scott Reece, Tom Hinsman, Dan Cenci

FINALIST STRYKE Percussion Ensemble FINALIST—STRYKE Directors: Scott Hughes, Cisco Hance, Staff: Ray Donato, Rudy Flores, Jon Kersten, Jason Nunes, Christopher Infante, Tony Del Rivero, Alain Brodeur Sr., Gabriel Urbay, Paul Melcer, David Karpinksi, David Yunis FINALIST—Palmetto Percussion Directors: Erik Crook, AJ Pace, Staff: Alex Mowery, Ryan Johnson, Joel Gardner, Mike Leitzke, Luis Rivera, Steve Wolff FINALIST—George Mason University Director: Dr. Michael Nickens, Staff: Chris Martin, Chris Garay, Paul Fadoul, Brett Garrett, Steve Ballard, Patch Moss, Alan Johnson, Joey Rivera, Nate Tyler

SILVER MEDALIST—Farmington MEDALIST Farmington United Director: Joseph Kuerzi, Staff: Mike Yoskovich, Paul Williams, Gary McCombs, Jim Rebbeck, Rob Simko, Rich Hogan, Tom Machowski, Tim Leach BRONZE MEDALIST—Boston University Directors: Chris Parks, Mike Wasielewski, Staff: Ian Flint, Chris Daum, Matt Ramey, Phil Perry, Michael Barsano FINALIST—Spirit of America Directors: Richard Pugsley, Br. Andrew Smith, Sr. Brigid Minor, Staff: Colin McNutt, Ian Hale, Colby Kuzontkoski, James Sparling, Laura McKendree, Peter Shannon, Cori Shannon, Stephanie Snure, Heather Catlin FINALIST—Genesis Director: Scott Uzarski, Staff: Will Gordillo, Rick Gordillo, Tricia Schoenborn, Zach Vanderlaan, Greg Sperlbaum, Jordan Denton FINALIST—Huron Valley Percussion Director: Nick Saputo

SCHOLASTIC OPEN

GOLD MEDALIST—Dartmouth HS Director: Tom Aungst, Staff: Neil Larrivee, Darcie Aungst, Jeff Sacktig, Mike Moore, Jason Medeiros, Jen O’Neill, Ian Flint, Cam Siegal BRONZE MEDALIST—Chino Hills HS Director: John Mapes, Staff: Jeremy Riley, Brian Dinkel, Ryan Anderson, Bryan Horan, John Lee, Ian Grom FINALIST—Mission Viejo HS Director: Mike Jackson, Staff: Jared Andrews, Jenny Jackson FINALIST—Arcadia HS Director: Kevin Sherrill, Staff: Tony Nunez, Kevin Shah, Jeff Doolittle, Daniel Lai, Chris Boatman FINALIST—Avon HS Director: Jay Webb, Staff: Jay Webb, Jeff Queen, Drew Schnieders, Nate Wilkerson, Emily Jones FINALIST—Upland HS Director: Mike Jackson, Staff: Tony Nunez, Kevin Shah, Fernando Miller FINALIST—Plymouth Canton HS Instructor: Sean McElroy

GOLD MEDALIST—Pacifica HS Directors: John Mapes, Ian Grom, Staff: Paul Nesbit, Yumi Tamashiro SILVER MEDALIST—Trumbull HS Director: Tom Whitmoyer, Staff: Chris Rivera, Dave Dumont, CJ Barrett, Bryan Crawford, Scott Abanto, Austin Avery, Dan Ebert BRONZE MEDALIST— King Philip Regional HS Director: Peter Tileston, Staff: Zach Schlicher, Olin Johannessen, Chuck Moulton, Scott Quintana, Ryan Loud, Tim Sepe, Nick Ferzoco, Andrew Markworth FINALIST— Fountain Valley HS Directors: Ian Grom, John Mapes, Staff: Jeremy Riley, Tiffany Lam FINALIST—Kings HS Director: Mike Maegly, Staff: Mike Folz, Joe Davis, David Wyrick, Samantha Cope, Sarah Cornett, James Sparling FINALIST—Stamford HS Directors: Tim Holcomb, Chase Bronstein, Staff: Jim Zulick, Tom Gassperini, Dave Brush, Dave Reyes, Sal Flores FINALIST—Beyer HS Director: Blair Williams, Staff: Nate Bourg, Kohei Mizushima, Oliver Bullock, Tom Gierke, Chris Arriola, Dale Pauly, Henry Berona, Justin Berona, Jesse Perez, Nithin Kumar, Corey Jones, Hannah Boyer, David Flores, Shekhar Khedekar FINALIST—North Penn HS Director: Bryan Clayton, Staff: Rich Hammond, Chris Arnold, Mike Zellers, Mike Lalli, Niki Eash, Travis Simpson, Amanda West, Gary Cuzzcrea, Aaron Barnes, Eric Kitchenman

CONCERT WORLD

CONCERT OPEN

SILVER MEDALIST—Mansfield HS Director: Peter Conti, Staff: Matt McGuire, David Cavanaugh, Laurie Sklar, Mike Stankiewicz BRONZE MEDALIST—Tunstall HS Directors: Tim and Debra Bray, Staff: Alicia Bray, Kristen Bray, Joel Finney, Zack Scott, Ryan Stowe FINALIST—Goshen HS Director: Tom Cox, Staff: David Heroux, Chris Smith

GOLD MEDALIST—Muscle Shoals HS Director: David Waters, Staff: Mandy Quinn, Iain Moyer SILVER MEDALIST—Portsmouth HS Director: Steve Cirillo BRONZE MEDALIST—Clayton HS Director: John Pearson, Staff: Mike Worley FINALIST—James A Garfield HS Director: Joe Enriquez, Staff: Sean Gordon

SCHOLASTIC WORLD

SCHOLASTIC A GOLD MEDALIST—Los Alamitos HS Directors: John Mapes, Ian Grom, Staff: Jeremy Riley, Amanda Buda, Paul Nesbit SILVER MEDALIST—Thomas Worthington HS Directors: James Fantine, Brian Vogt, Staff: Justin McGruder, Andrew Hensel, Jackie Forman, Aaron Friedman, Emma Tarai, Janine Joseph FINALIST—Basha HS Directors: Matt Kozacek, Brandon Kiesgen, Staff: Jimmy Madonia, John McClean, Roberto Paz, Dustin Roa, Thien Pham FINALIST—Carlsbad HS Director: Greg Anderson, Staff: Mike Chavez FINALIST—Timber Creek HS Director: Daniel O’Neill, Staff: Scott Daley, Chris Talvacchio, Mike Coppala, Ron Latham, Dave Britten, Daniel Montanez, Patricia Jeffers FINALIST—Bassett HS Director: Trey Harris, Staff: Teddy Holcomb, Scott Allred, Trey Harris, Philip Morgan, Anna Holcomb FINALIST—Southgate Anderson HS Director: Joseph Kuerzi, Staff: Tom McNally, Steve Shupic, Mike Harrison, John Dusik, Stephanie Heggie, Sarah Harrison

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TOP OF THE

NS AT IG E R E C N E L EL ARTISTIC EXCI WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS THE 2009 WG

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D L R O W

Every April, hundreds of color guard and percussion groups meet in Dayton, Ohio, for the Winter Guard International World Championships—two weekends of ambitious performances, close competition, and high excitement that show the Sport of the Arts at its finest. This year, the fun began on April 2, as color guards from around the world gathered to compete on the UD Arena floor.

COLOR GUARD

Santa Clara and Avon win first-time gold BY DAVID G. HILL

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fter fall football season … after try-outs … after you heard of “the concept” for the first time … after the sound, tarp, and costume design made it all make sense … after blocking, staging, and timing … after rehearsal … after layering on movement and equipment work … after the first run-through … after more rehearsals … after the dress rehearsal … after the first competition and critique … after the restaging and additional layering … after those lousy rehearsals … after that crucial Power Regional … after the perfect rehearsal … after that one crew member got sick on the flight to Dayton … after the big emotional group hug … came these words: “You may enter the floor in World Championship competition.”

Two hundred and eighty-six color guards, independent and scholastic, did just that … after it all. Here are the

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results from Winter Guard International’s 2009 Color Guard World Championships.

INDEPENDENT WORLD

It will likely always be those groups that began indoor color guard competition to which we look for creative groundswells. This year’s top class of independent guards displayed a standard-setting interweaving of color guard and dance, thematic invention, and unprecedented talent.

Historic pageantry met the reality of the new competitive world, as California’s Santa Clara Vanguard and Corona won Independent World gold and silver and Nagoya, Japan’s Aimachi garnered its second bronze.

Vanguard ramped up the emotional drama—and dance—to “The Kiss” its first WGI title, only four years after first entering competition. Corona catapulted into www.wgi.org

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the runner-up spot with spectacular acrobatics in “A Case of You.” Aimachi’s richly drawn parable “Beloved” had East meet West in a twirl-off between feuding brothers.

Last year’s bronze medalist, Northeast Independent (Fla.), captured fourth with some of the year’s most attractive “atmospherics.” At fifth, former World Champion Blessed Sacrament (Mass.) made its 30th consecutive finalist appearance, and Dayton guards Onyx and Zydeco Colorguard registered their best placements ever—sixth and seventh, respectively—with “At Arm’s Length” and “An Evening Stillness.” Braddock Independent’s (Fla.) “We Do It to Ourselves,” Crown Guard’s (Ga.) “Let There Be Light,” and “Underneath It All” by New Jersey’s Black Watch rounded out the top ten.

Remaining finalists were Florida’s The Knights with the civil rights-themed “Stand Up for Something, or Fall for Anything”; new World Class competitors Alter Ego (N.J.)

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with “Finding My Direction” and Diamante (Ca.) with “Inside the Ink”; first-time finalist Premonition (Fla.) with “Illusion”; and Sacred Heart (Mass.) with “Private Dancer.”

SCHOLASTIC WORLD

After being runner-up for five out of the past six years, Avon HS from Indiana won the gold. Their classic, line-inthe-sand program, “Release,” presented textbook tensionrelease sequences to stunning effect. Ten-time champion James Logan High School (Calif.) returned to competition with the costumed tribal ritual “Dreamtime” and garnered a silver medal. Last year’s class champion, Flanagan High School (Fla.), brought home the bronze with “Hopelandic,” based on music by Iceland’s Sigur Rós.

Indiana’s Carmel High School had “Good Luck” on its side in a sumptuous fourth-place outing, followed by an electrifying “Chaos Theory” from Warren Central High

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School (Ind.). Long-time finalists, medalists, and former class champions rounded out the top ten with, in order, Choctawhatchee High School’s (Fla.) multi-visioned “Valentine,” Arcadia High School (Calif.) and the exacting “Geometry of Art and Life,” Center Grove High School’s (Ind.) languid “Here Comes the Flood,” Miamisburg (Ohio) High School’s visceral “All Roads Lead to Rome,” and Rancho Bernardo High School (Calif.) offering the fetching “Catch a Star in a Jar.” Remaining finalists included Trumbull High School (Conn.) with “Aurora,” Centerville High School (Ohio) with “The Poison Tree,” Freedom High School (Fla.) with “Just Rights,” Cheshire High School (Conn.) with “Reaching Out,” and Seminole High School (Fla.) with “Shiver.”

INDEPENDENT OPEN

Seattle’s Rhapsody won the Independent Open Class gold by bringing together “Soul Mates,” with its memorable pairs

fl ag-lifting sequence. Denver’s Opus 10 grabbed silver for its light dance touch on Bach variations, while Westerville, Ohio’s Juxtaposition played it straight “Between the Lines” for the bronze.

Texas’ Ars Nova enjoyed its highest class placement with “These Are the Days” in fourth, followed by First Flight’s (N.C.) “Generation Y” in fifth. The remainder of the top ten was a varietal mixture of units, from Interplay’s (Mich.) holiday inversion “Wonderful Time” to the deliciously outrageous and “Suspense”-filled North by Northwest (Wash.). USF Winterguard (Fla.) performed “The Way I See It,” Wind (N.C.) paid homage to the history of winter guard in its “Street Light People,” and Holland’s Beatrix was the international competitor in an intriguing “Chess” match.

Moving into the remaining finalist spots were Capella Winterguard (Tenn.), Spectrum (N.Y.), Northgate Independent (Ga.), Patriots (N.Y.), and Top Hats (Pa.).

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Chicago Heights’ Marian Catholic High School moved heaven and earth to win the Scholastic Open gold medal with its celestial “Fallen,” while Broomfield, Colorado’s Legacy High School earned silver with its dance-card “Emergence.”

Pope High School from Marietta, Georgia, was a delicate bronze medalist with its instructive “The Three of Life.”

A massive tree-trunk-and-ramp setting belied the melancholy of Mechanicsburg High School’s (Penn.) evocative “Autumn’s End” for fourth. South Brunswick High School (N.J.) found the source in the fifth-place “Luminaria— Reaching for the Light.” The top ten also included Gates Chili High School’s (N.Y.) chant-filled “Seraphim Sky,” the tied Valencia (Calif.) and West Johnston (N.C.) High Schools with Logan’s Run-inspired “The Carousel” and “Gravity,” Walled Lake Central High School (Mich.) with “Falling Slowly,” featuring a live guitarist and singing, and Crest-

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O2 A SPONTANEOUS COMPOSITION BASED ON JOY

view High School (Fla.) with the jazz-piano “Swing Shift.”

Class finalists were completed with Mission Viejo High School (Calif.), Lake Central High School (Ind.), Ayala High School (Calif.), Cooper City High School (Fla.), and Orchard Park High School (N.Y.).

INDEPENDENT A

State of Art carried the Michigan State University Final Four banner to become Independent A champions with the bluetinged “Follow the Lead.” Salem Blue (N.H.) used Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” in its silver medal performance, while Dayton’s O2 displayed spontaneous joy in its jazzy bronze medal finish.

“If I Laid Here” lifted FIU Performance Ensemble (Fla.) to the fourth spot, while Americas Independent (Texas) was fifth with “Everyone’s Life Is a Picture.” Fellow Texas guard Identity took sixth by using “Home on the Range” as

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a tone poem, Usurpation (Ind.) was seventh with the fully integrated dance/guard program “The Chagall Duet,” and Kentucky’s Elizabethtown Independent finished eighth with the watery “Immerse.” The top ten was completed with Georgia’s Aureus Independent’s “Wonderland” and Florida’s River City Independent’s “Between the Bars.”

The finalist list also included Central Independent (Okla.), Southeast Independent (Tenn.), Art 101 (Ohio), Pacificaires (Canada), and Ars Nova (Texas).

SCHOLASTIC A

New York’s gold-winning North Syracuse Central High School erased any question of “Why?” in this huge Scholastic A Class championship show, with both overwhelming effect and understated beauty. Spanish River High School (Fla.) parlayed its Southern wiles in the silver medal show “Sunday at the Park.” Fellow Florida high school Lyman was a powerful bronze medalist in the Indian-inspired “Cit-

izen of the Planet.”

Kokomo High School (Ind.) melded dance ensemble with color guard in the operatic “Sposa son Disprezzata” for fourth. Byrnes High School (S.C.) used one of the year’s most popular songs, Adele’s “Hometown,” to illustrate its color guard season for fifth, and California’s Homestead High School plugged in for sixth place with “Vector Blue.”

Desoto High School (Texas) scored a strong seventh with its homage to “Amazing Women,” Greenfield-Central High School (Ind.) was eighth with life lessons in “The Dash Between,” and a tie for ninth was between Francis Howell North (Mo.) and Plymouth-Canton (Mich.) High Schools.

Francis Howell illustrated the mysterious tale of a woman peering out a window “While She Waits”; Plymouth-Canton sailed through “Waiting for My Real Life to Begin.”

Remaining finalists were Croatan High School (N.C.), Passaic High School (N.J.), and a trio from Texas: Friendswood, Americas, and Mansfield.

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5/11/09 11:12:43 AM

Page

TOP OF THE

WORLD!

After an 11-day break, WGI reconvened in Dayton for the second half of the World Championships on Thursday, April 16. This time, it was the percussion ensembles’ turn to shine. Old favorites returned to the arena floor and young upstarts showed their stuff. In the end, eight groups brought home the gold—one, the Independent World winner, prevailed by mere tenths of a point—but many more were left feeling both satisfaction for a job well done and anticipation for next year.

PERCUSSION

Rhythm X and Dartmouth HS earn repeat titles BY MICHAEL REED

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he 17th WGI Percussion World Championships have come and gone, but the memories will remain etched in our hearts for years to come. From the first Thursday morning prelim performances at UD Arena and the Nutter Center to the packed-to-the-rafters final PIW shows on Saturday night, fans were treated to three days of intense performances by 179 drumlines competing in eight action-filled classes.

PERCUSSION INDEPENDENT WORLD

The spectators knew they were in for a special treat when the top three groups came out of prelims separated by one point. After the dust had settled, all three were still within a point of each other, as the captions divided in a three-way split in what turned out to be one of the most intense finales in WGI history.

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Rhythm X (Ohio) took their second consecutive crown with “Touch,” exploring almost every imaginable variation on physical contact with supreme sensitivity. A large black obelisk served as an object of adoration and tribal worship in Riverside Community College (Calif.)’s silver medal-winning “Totem.” Bronze winner Music City Mystique (Tenn.) dealt with the swirl of emotions one feels when facing impending death in “Requiem.”

Pulse Percussion (Calif.) continued their climb up the PIW ranks with “Breathe,” an artistic show about the dynamics of respiration that left the audience (pardon the pun) breathless. Augmented by 16 dancers who struck very realistic poses, Redline (Mich.) became living statues with “Sculpted.” United Percussion (N.J.) reminded us how far our nation has come in the area of civil rights with “One.” North Coast Academy (Mich.) used fantastic www.wgi.org

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sound effects along with transparent screens that created visual reverberations in their program “Echo.”

Gateway (Mo.) brought a pack of jamming drum machines to life with “Robot Rock.” A spark that grew into a raging inferno kept the Blue Knights (Colo.) burning bright in “The Metaforest.” Remaining finalists were Matrix (Ohio) with “Left Out,” Infinity (Fla.) with “Bomb Shelter,” East Side Fury (Mich.) with “From the Heart,” Surround Sound (Texas) with “S2,” Timber Creek Independent (Fla.) with “Videotape,” and Odyssey (Ga.) with “The Four Horsemen.”

PERCUSSION SCHOLASTIC WORLD

Dartmouth (Mass.) took their second consecutive gold with a spectacle that would have been at home on a Broadway stage. “The Garden,” performed on an elaborate set containing lush trees, took place in Eden as Adam and Eve ate forbidden fruit and then had to evade the wrath of angry

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plants. Center Grove (Ind.) used well-known adages to encourage us to express our thoughts and feelings with “Say,” while Chino Hills (Calif.) urged us to make a positive difference in our world through the inspirational words of Martin Luther King and President Obama in “Motivate.”

Ayala (Calif.) explored the sadness of saying farewell to people we care about in “Goodbye.” Mission Viejo (Calif.) paid tribute to the Blue Angels, and also presented a portion of their WGI debut 1999 show, with “Remember.” Arcadia (Calif.) pondered the feelings of loss that occur when leaving home to attend college in “Missing You.” The members of James Logan (Calif.) told stories of their heritage and demonstrated their pride in being Americans with “Amber Waves,” which earned a heartfelt standing ovation.

Fred J. Page (Tenn.) challenged us to follow our heart’s desire with “Seize the Dream,” while Forsyth Central (Ga.) looked inside to discover what drives “The Heart of a War-

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rior.” Remaining finalists were Avon (Ind.) with “My Masterpiece,” Upland (Calif.) with “Loss and Recovery,” Walled Lake (Mich.) with “Phobia,” Plymouth-Canton (Mich.) with “In Any Language,” Choctawhatchee (Fla.) with “Shattered,” and Centerville (Ohio) with “Point of View.”

metto Percussion (S.C.) showed us both the glamour and vulgarity of “Money.”

Remaining finalists were George Mason University (Va.), Atlanta Quest (Ga.), Tyler Jr. College (Texas), Minnesota Brass Indoor (Minn.), and Alternative Percussion (Calif.).

PERCUSSION INDEPENDENT OPEN

PERCUSSION SCHOLASTIC OPEN

Pariah (Ga.) won gold with “Mystro,” a symphony of percussion played by members wearing formal concert dress and all manner of hats, representing individual tastes in music.

Perennial PSW finalist Father Ryan (Tenn.) moved over to the independent ranks and held a battle royale with the pro wrestling-themed “WWGI.” Combining the best elements of man and machine, Tates Creek Indoor (Ky.) performed with the heart of the former and the precision of the latter.

STRYKE (Fla.) mastered the art of musical deception with “Illusion,” while Penn State (Pa.) conquered the stubborn aversion to change with “The Only Constant.” Pal-

Winning their fourth PSO title in a row, Pacifica (Calif.) presented (mostly) famous 20th-century quotes, leaving the audience to “Fill in the Blank” to complete the phrase. The kids from SoCal can once again hold their heads high and sing, “We are the_________!” Trumbull (Conn.) delved into one of mankind’s most primal emotions with “Fear,” concluding that while necessary, it shouldn’t rule our lives.

King Philip Regional (Mass.) drummed like a line possessed with “Against the Grain,” which used tall, angled poles to create a unique look. “Backwards” by yellaV niatnuoF, more commonly known as Fountain Valley (Calif.), was a spirited

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production full of retrogrades, reversals, and rewinds.

With a drill featuring single performers moving in different directions from the rest of the group, Pace (Fla.) reminded us of the importance of individuality with “One,” while Kings (Ohio) served a warning of the dangers of overindulging in video games and TV with “Mind Set.” Remaining finalists were Stamford (Conn.), Beyer (Calif.), North Penn (Pa.), Dorman (S.C.), Andrew (Ill.), and Harpeth (Tenn.).

PERCUSSION SCHOLASTIC CONCERT WORLD

The kids of Ayala (Calif.) pulled double duty, making finals in the PSW division and earning their third PSCW title in four years. “Legacy” was a moving celebration of the Amercian experience of the past hundred years. If we closed our eyes, we’d swear Mansfield (Mass.) was a professional jazz group; their performance of music from Chick Corea’s My Spanish Heart album was phenomenal. Tunstall (Va.) cap-

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tured the bronze medal with “Supernova,” featuring creative music scoring that made us feel as if we were outside on a clear night watching shooting stars, while an amazing “did-I-just-see-what-I-thought-I-saw?” xylophone duet drew roars from the crowd for Goshen (Ind.) in “Same Shirt, Different Day.”

PERCUSSION SCHOLASTIC CONCERT OPEN

A diverse group of PSCO units made for a most interesting class, with the medalists performing a mix of classical music. Muscle Shoals (Ala.) combined dazzling execution with a mastery of musical nuance, playing excerpts from one of the world’s most beloved operas, Bizet’s Carmen.

Meanwhile, Portsmouth (N.H.) put the “e” in “ensemble,” giving a clinic in balance and blend with “Selections from Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4,” and Clayton (N.C.) had mallets flying at warp speed in faster passages of Bartok’s

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Concerto for Orchestra. Remaining finalists were James Garfield (Calif.), Hickory (N.C.), and Daphne (Ala.).

PERCUSSION INDEPENDENT A

That loud rumble we felt in UD Arena on Friday was OC Indoor (Ore.). “Aftershock” rocked our world, pounding us into submission with a barrage of high-impact drumming.

Farmington United (Mich.) got the crowd involved with “You Are Here,” featuring an entertaining clap-along segment.

Voyager Intrepid (Mo.) came from the deep reaches of outer space to find a place to drum in “Percussion Encounters.”

Boston University (Mass.) was seemingly everywhere on the floor with the hyperactive “Crossfade,” while Chattanooga Independent (Tenn.) underscored the meaning behind the words we use with “Setting the Tone.” Remaining finalists were Spirit of America (Mass.), eNVision (Nev.), Genesis (Mich.), Green Thunder (Ill.), Twin Cities Area Independent (Minn.), and Huron Valley Percussion (Mich.).

PERCUSSION SCHOLASTIC A

The first gold medals of Championships week were handed out in Friday evening’s PSA division. Los Alamitos (Calif.) swept all captions with “Fade,” as their combination of squeaky-clean playing and near-fl awless movement did anything but. Thomas Worthington (Ohio) developed the concept of a three-bladed windmill-type contraption from blueprint to finished product in “Structural Evolution.”

Many-time finalist Franklin Central (Ind.) explored the many different possible sounds that wooden instruments can produce in “Timber Timbre.”

University (Fla.) heightened our awareness of the way we perceive our world with “Your Senses,” while Plainfield (Ind.) heightened our awareness of each person’s unique abilities with “Something Different.” Remaining finalists were Basha (Ariz.), Carlsbad (Calif.), Greenfield-Central (Ind.), Timber Creek (N.J.), Harrison Central (Miss.), Bassett (Va.), and Southgate Anderson (Mich.).

n Percussio ti s Schola c A

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FARMINGTON UNITED 93.725 YOU ARE HERE

LOS ALAMITOS HS 97.275 FADE

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VOYAGER INTREPID PERCUSSION 90.713 ENCOUNTERS

THOMAS WORTHINGTON HS STRUCTURAL 94.425 EVOLUTION

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VALUE

.

SUPPORT

.

PROFESSIONALISM

PULSE PERCUSSION DEPENDS ON YAMAHA. “We rely on Yamaha to make our music come to life. Whatever the situation, our answer is always the same: Yamaha. From the consistency of the instrument right out of the box, to the customer support, to the value for your dollar, there is no other product or company like it on the market!”

- John Mapes, Battery Arranger/Visual Designer - Ian Grom, Front Ensemble Caption Head/Composer

©2009 Yamaha Corporation of America. All rights reserved • www.yamaha.com • Photo courtesy of Jolesch Photography.

QUALITY

Clinic

The Blue Knights employ composers to write music specifically for their shows.

Calling the Tune Music Choices Are at the Heart of Every WGI Program

By Melinda Newman

S

ilence is rarely golden for color guard or percussion units. Indeed, music is a vital character in every WGI program, and the musical choices groups make are as distinctive and individual as the programs themselves. “Music selection is the most important ingredient in the production process,” declares Brian Greenleaf, director of the Americas High School and Americas Independent color guards. So how do ensembles find the right music for their shows?

About half of WGI’s percussion groups answer this question by writing their own music. “We have an amazing group of designers who compose original works to flow and fit with the themes and ideas we brainstorm in the beginning,” says David Killinger, director of the Blue Knights percussion ensemble.

“The original composition sets us apart. No one will be playing the same music we are, as it is written for us by us.”

Other groups license source material, while some use a combination of both original and licensed compositions.

Music choices, which are usually made collectively by an ensemble’s creative team, can range from Nine Inch Nails to Stevie Wonder, Stravinsky to Barber. It all depends on the personality of the piece and the performers.

“I truly believe that it’s wide open,” says Keith Potter, design consultant for the Carmel High School color guard.

“For me, it’s most important to have five to seven minutes of something to ‘visually describe.’ The soundtrack is merely one tool of many. When using a musical selection as the inspiration, rhythmic variety and changes in meter can aid in all captions’ and audiences’ interest.”

Online sources like iTunes and Rhapsody are popular choices for finding music. “We definitely use iTunes, Amazon, and [National] Public Radio. The library is also a great source and it’s free,” Greenleaf says.

To use source material in a public performance, groups have to get proper clearance from publishing and sound recording copyright holders. These permissions and licenses vary depending on the type of usage; even when a work falls into the public domain, there may be some administration fees. WGI can walk groups through these often murky waters by providing online instruction and further guidance if needed. “Percussion lines are required to prove permission to arrange,” says WGI Marketing Manager Bart Woodley, “and WGI takes care of blanket performance, synchronization, and streaming video licensing and royalty payments for all performances.”

Units should also be aware that adding voiceovers to the music in their programs may require additional permission from the publisher. “We had secured publishing from G. Schirmer for Samuel Barber’s ‘Adagio for Strings’ and were including a [portion] of a Bobby Kennedy speech,” recalls Tom Hurst, program coordinator for the Infinity percussion ensemble. “The main concern was checking with Schirmer to make sure they were okay with the overlay.”

Hurst adds that standing out in competition is not the only consideration here. “Ultimately, the music selection is all about being an educational experience for our members,” he says. “Do they feel like they were better for the experience?”

And that’s something no adjudicator can judge.

“Ultimately, the music selection is all about being

an educational experience

for our members.”

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The Blue Devils

Secret Weapon

“Roland’s top-of-the-line electronic music products and experience will help to lead us forward, and provide our performers with the very best equipment in the world.”

- David Gibbs, Executive Director - Blue Devils “RMP-12 Rhythm Coach is an incredible rehearsal and performance tool that allows us to practice anywhere at any time. This instrument is so sensitive, you have no choice but to improve your sound quality.”

- Scott Johnson, Percussion Director - Blue Devils ®

The new RMP-12

electronic marching instrument is a great add-on for any electronic or acoustic set with its mesh head, explosive new sounds and unique Rhythm Coach® functions.

www.RolandUS.com

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2009 WGI

World Championships Congratulations!

I nnovative Percussion Inc. would like to extend our congratulations to all of this year's WGI Championships participants and give a special thank you to the following finalists who chose IP as their implement of choice!

PIW

PIA

PSO

Rhythm X - Gold Medal

Voyager Intrepid Percussion - Bronze Medal

Pace High School

Music City Mystique - Bronze Medal

Chattanooga Independent

Dorman High School

Redline Percussion

eNVision PercussionTheathre

Victor J. Andrew High School

NorthCoast Academy

Green Thunder Percussion

Harpeth High School

Gateway Indoor

Twin Cities Area Independent

M atrix Indoor Percussion Ensemble

PSW

PSA

Odyssey Percussion Theater

Center Grove High School - Silver Medal

Greenfield-Central High School

PIO

James Logan High School

Harrison Central High School

Pariah - Gold Medal

Fred J Page High School

PSCO

Father Ryan High School - Silver Medal

Forsyth Central High School

Hickory High School

Tates Creek Indoor - Bronze Medal

Walled Lake High School

Daphne High School

Penn State University

Plymouth-Canton High School

Atlanta Quest

Choct Choctawhatchee High School

Tyler Junior College

Centerville High School

Minnesota Brass Indoor Alternative Percussion

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Plainfield High School Plain

visit www.innovativepercussion.com for media from championships 5/11/09 2:18:42 PM

Performance photo by Jolesch Photography www.jolesch.com

YOUR GUARD’S SUCCESS IS WITHIN YOUR REACH…

AND AS YOU REACH FOR THE STARS, WE’RE WITH YOU ALL THE WAY! From the time you place your order until your flags and costumes are delivered, McCormick’s makes sure you’re never in the dark.

Not sure exactly which direction your group should take? Our friendly, free design service can provide you with just the right colors and costumes to give your guard the perfect look.

No question is frowned upon. No concern is overlooked. From our quality designers to our experienced sewing staff, we’re with you every step of the way.

Innovative design… Competitive color selection… Quickest delivery in the activity.

Call McCormick’s. YOUR GUARD WILL SHINE!

MORE FOR THE BAND, GUARD AND MUSIC TECH!

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Scholarship

A Part of Something

Bigger Lessons Learned in Color Guard Give Guidance for the Future

By Devon Lehman

Countryside High School Clearwater, Florida

D

uring the past four years, I have learned more about life skills and myself than I could have ever imagined. Outsiders often view color guard as an easy pastime full of “pretty flags” but once involved, you learn that it takes a tremendous combination of individual skill, practice, teamwork, and dedication. Being part of a product that is greater than an individual effort has had a profound impact on my life.

Most of my friends have never experienced a sensation like the passion I have for color guard. I constantly talk about guard to my friends, telling them how much I love it and updating them on my favorite guards (even though they have no clue what I’m talking about). I’m sure I annoy them from time to time, but I cannot imagine my life without weekends packed with competitions, and practices during the week. I’ve learned the most about the love for the sport from my instructors. Seeing their dedication as they work, teach, or march themselves has truly inspired me to be my best. They are my role models—my muses, I suppose. Whenever I get tired or think that I can’t handle it all anymore, I look to them for guidance and support. I know

that I wouldn’t be the person I am today without them.

The most important experience that I’ve gained from color guard is that feeling I get as I walk off the floor with my teammates after a show. That adrenaline, the realization that I have had an impact on someone’s life, that the family I have formed with the other guard members will never leave me—it is that which I will carry with me forever. It doesn’t matter about our placement; what matters is knowing that we have performed to the best of our ability. There’s one quote that I always think of when I reflect over my years in guard: “I still believe in paradise. But now at least I know it’s not some place you can look for, ’cause it’s not where you go. It’s how you feel for a moment in your life when you’re a part of something, and if you find that moment ... it lasts forever.” I know that color guard is my moment.

In the time I’ve spent with my team, I definitely feel that I’ve become more ready for college and the real world.

Because of color guard, I know what it means to make a commitment and not let one task tower over the rest. As a captain this year, I had to learn to juggle practice along with my AP classes while not letting my grades slip or forgetting to spin on my own time. Next year as I enter college, I know I will be able to handle the stress of new environments, friends, and classes because I learned Since its inception, the WGI Scholarship Program has provided over $400,000 those skills while in color guard. Guard to young people who participate in color guard and percussion activities. The has taught me about dedication, pasmoney for these scholarships comes from the 50/50 raffle at the World Chamsion, and what it means to be part of a pionships, $1 of the purchase price of each World Championship program, and team—to be a member of a family. individual donations. If you are interested in donating to the WGI Scholarship Fund, you can do so online or send your donation to WGI Scholarship Donation, Devon Lehman is one of 16 young people 2405 Crosspointe Drive, Dayton, OH 45342. For more information about the WGI who received WGI Scholarships in 2009; Scholarship Program, visit www.wgi.org/about/scholarship.php. see page 12 for a list of the others.

THE WGI SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

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What’s Your

WGIQ? 2

The WGI World Championships are a thrilling experience for both color guard and percussion performers—and the big medal winners are only a small part of that experience. On this page, we’ve pictured just a few of the many other talented ensembles who performed in Dayton this year. Do you know who they are? To find out, go to wgi.org/wgiq.

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11 8 8 WORLD

& 1 99 ,, 22 00 00 99 & 1 RESORT | ORLANDO, FLORIDA

H I LTO N I N T H E WA LT D I S N E Y W O R L D R E S O R T

Scheduled to appear

|

ORLANDO, FLORIDA

Mia Michels

WGI Sport of the Arts presents a gathering of the best creative and technical color guard minds for an intensive two day instructor educational event.

This is your opportunity to meet and learn from the industries top designers and gain hands-on training that will enhance your teaching and designing skills.

Don’t Miss it! www.wgispinfest.com

from “So You Think You Can Dance”