Independent World After finishing sixth last season, Paramount (Ga.) took top honors with “Describe You.” Afterward, director Andria Foerch credited the performers’ commitment for the group’s success. “The 22 veteran members started the season by recruiting for the group. From the very first rehearsal, they took any opportunity to try new things and explore the possibilities. They really dug in to work together to make the show come to life.” With “To Bare My Soul,” 2017 champ Pride of Cincinnati (Ohio) was less than half a point behind, another strong performance by a group with an expanding reach. “This year we had our first member who was living in Canada, Roxanne Roy,” says Pride’s Charlie Gumbert. “She would drive back and forth every week. Hearing her say it was worth every second of driving she put in to be a member of Pride of Cincinnati made my entire weekend.”
“the love for our activity stands above the need to win.” Pride of Cincinnati (IW)
Blessed Sacrament’s (Mass.) Beethoven inspired “Furious Elise” earned bronze in a tight podium battle with CGT Dallas (Texas), whose “Dust and Ashes” earned the Fan Favorite award. “What made ‘Dust and Ashes’ work was the commitment by the performers to bring their characters to life every time they performed,” Rummell says. “Our goal was to try and blend the theatricality of a Broadway musical and the excitement of a World Class color guard.“ Imbue celebrated its 10th anniversary by rounding out the top 5. The rest of the IW finalists included Californians Diamante with “Don’t Blink,” UCF Pegasus World (Fla.) with “Guernica,” Onyx (Ohio) with “A Year From Monday,” Fantasia (Calif.) with ”Judy,” Etude (S.C.) with “Apple,” AMP Winterguard (N.J.) with “La Famigla,” Bluecoats Indoor (Ind.) with “Soundcheck,” Cypress Independent (Texas) with “Passengers,” Black Gold (Texas) with “Chasing Time,” and in the group’s first-ever World Class Finals appearance, Interplay (Mich.) with “From Pieces to Peace.”
Scholastic World Avon HS (Ind.) staged the memorable “Forgotten Circus” to earn the Gold Medal, delivering a performance that balanced emotion and athleticism. “What made the show work this season was our ability to control mood throughout the program,” says Avon’s Daniel Wiles. “These high school performers took the audience on an emotional journey that had them on the edge of their seats through each act.”
CGT Dallas (IW)
FAN Fav
18 wgi focus 18
Blessed Sacrament (IW)
wgi.org