spring 2014
f ocus
AIR TIME:
WGI LAUNCHES A WINDS DIVISION
the official news of wgi sport of the arts
APRIL COOL!
ON THE SCENE AT THE 2014 GUARD AND PERCUSSION FINALS
THE 19 OF ‘14 SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS
Rockies Road Warriors
The Story of Opus X
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TURNING TURNING BRONZE BRONZE INTO INTO GOLD GOLD
ZILDJIAN 8 OUT OF 8 GOLD ZILDJIAN 8 OUT OF 8 GOLD CONGRATULATIONS CONGRATULATIONS TO TO ALL ALL THE THE WINNERS WINNERS CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE WINNERS
Dartmouth HS - Gold Medalist - Scholastic World Dartmouth Dartmouth HS HS -- Gold Gold Medalist Medalist -- Scholastic Scholastic World World
Pulse Percussion - Gold Medalist - Independent World Pulse Pulse Percussion Percussion -- Gold Gold Medalist Medalist -- Independent Independent World World
© 2014 ©© 2014 2014 Avedis Avedis Avedis Zildjian Zildjian Zildjian Company Company Company
Cadets Winter Percussion Cadets Percussion Gold Medalist - Independent Cadets Winter Winter Percussion Open Gold Medalist Independent Gold Medalist - Independent Open Open
Clinton HS Clinton HS Gold Medalist - Scholastic Open Clinton HS Gold Medalist Scholastic Gold Medalist - Scholastic Open Open
Lone Star Percussion Lone Gold Medalist Independent A Lone Star Star -Percussion Percussion Gold Medalist Gold Medalist -- Independent Independent A A
Ayala HS Ayala Gold Medalist - Scholastic Ayala HS HS Concert World Gold Medalist Scholastic Gold Medalist - Scholastic Concert Concert World World
To see video highlights from WGI 2014: To see To see video video highlights highlights from from WGI WGI 2014: 2014: ZILDJIAN.COm/VIDEOS/WGI-mARCHING ZILDJIAN.COm/VIDEOS/WGI-mARCHING ZILDJIAN.COm/VIDEOS/WGI-mARCHING
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Victor J. Andrews Victor Gold Medalist - Scholastic A Victor J. J. Andrews Andrews Gold Medalist Gold Medalist -- Scholastic Scholastic A A
Goshen HS HS Gold Medalist - Goshen Scholastic Goshen HS Concert Open Gold Medalist Scholastic Gold Medalist - Scholastic Concert Concert Open Open
SOUND LEGACY SOUND SOUND LEGACY LEGACY
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inside
f ocus
the official news of wgi sport of the arts
SPRING 2014 Volume 27, Issue 2
Winter Guard International RON NANKERVIS Executive Director BART WOODLEY Director of Operations AARON JENKINS Marketing & Communications Manager Published By: In Tune Partners, LLC IRWIN KORNFELD CEO WILL EDWARDS President EMILE MENASCHÉ Editor-in-Chief JACKIE JORDAN Creative Director ROBIN GARBER Production Director BARBARA BOUGHTON Business Manager CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Dianne Spoto Ackerman, Debbie Galante Block, Michael Boo, Jon Chappell, Danny Miles, Michael Reed
GETR YOU FILL
2014 WGI
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
20 COLOR GUARD
PHOTOGRAPHY: Adam Alonzo, Lifetouch Special Events Photography, Dan Scafidi, Linda Unser, Sid Unser
Tarpon Springs (SW) and Lyman (SA) became first-time champs, Onyx (IW) added a third jewel to its crown, Spring (SO) leapt to the top, UFC Pegasus flew highest in Independent Open, and Georgia State (IA) sailed to victory.
WGI FOCUS is an educational publication of WGI Sport of the Arts. It is digitally published three times per year, Fall, Winter, and Spring. The Spring issue is also printed and has a circulation of 16,000 copies. To subscribe, visit wgi.org/focus
Pulse (PIW) showed heart, Dartmouth (PSW) took the cake, Cadets (PIO) earned a salute, Clinton (PSO) was sincerely great, Lone Star Independent (PIA) shifted into 1st, Victor J. Andrews (PSA) reigned, Ayala (PSCW) was timeless, and Goshen HS (PSCO) stood tall.
For advertising information or to submit an article for consideration, please contact Aaron Jenkins; phone: 937-247-5919 x310 email: aaron@wgi.org WINTER GUARD INTERNATIONAL 2405 Crosspointe Drive Dayton, OH 45342 937-247-5919 office@wgi.org www.wgi.org
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34 PERCUSSION
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GET THE SKINNY ON MATRIX AND THE REST OF THE PERFORMANCES AT THE 2014 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS.
7 ENSEMBLE
A very special performance at the Percussion World Championships ... The birth of WGI Winds ... 2014 scholarship winners ... Mia Michaels returns for the Day After ... plus Fans’ Favorites, new gear, and more!
14 CLOSE-UP
As the Denver area’s only Independent World Class color guard, Opus X earns high scores in the local community as well as in the WGI arena.
16 PROFILE
When it comes to drum line excellence, WGI judge supervisor Chris Hestin knows the score.
46 CLINIC
Ensemble leaders and WGI staff members explain what it takes to get a new color guard, percussion group, or wind ensemble off the ground.
50 WHAT’S YOUR WGIQ?
Location, location, location: That’s the theme of this month’s challenge.
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FANTASIA ROSE TO THE OCCASION AT THE COLOR GUARD FINALS. WGI FOCUS 5
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R O F S K T N U A TH CKING O WGI! , E H H T C O O B R U O
LoneStarPercussion.com 866.792.0143 Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and YouTube! Search “Lone Star Percussion” to find us! WHETHER YOU NEED DRUMS, CYMBALS, PRIVATE LESSONS OR WANT TO CHECK OUT A CLINIC, WE’RE THE FULL-SERVICE PERCUSSION STORE FOR YOU! WGI_Temp.indd 1
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NEWS FROM THE FLOOR AND MORE
FREE PLAYERS WOW WGI FANS
DATE SWITCH!
THE FREE PLAYERS PERFORM AT THE 2014 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN DAYTON
ILLUSTRATION: iSTOCK/THINKSTOCK
The FREE Players Drumline & Color Guard made history this past April by becoming the first special needs ensemble to perform at the WGI Percussion World Championships. “It was an incredible experience,” says Brian Calhoun, Music Specialist at Theater Day Habilitation at Family Residences and Essential Enterprises, Inc. (FREE) in Old Bethpage, N.Y. “Before we even played one note, before we made any announcement, there was a standing ovation—and their performance couldn’t have gone better.” Today, the group has over 60 members between ages 20s to 50 plus. The performers have autism, Down syndrome, Cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, and other challenges. But when Calhoun started the drumline in 2010, it had only fi ve members equipped with sticks and pads. “We didn’t have any marching instruments or color guard equipment,” he says. “We had stationary instruments like a drum set and other various percussion instruments.” To accomodate performers with limited musical experience, Calhoun included dancers in the group,
who perform along with the music. Interest grew quickly. Calhoun brought on other staff members, and in 2011, decided to turn the FREE Players into a performing ensemble. By 2012, the group had expanded to about 50 members, and funds had to be raised to purchase marching drums and color guard equipment. After performing throughout 2013, they were invited by WGI CEO Ron Nankervis to perform at the 2014 World Championships. Their show included a snare solo feature, a tenor solo feature, flags fl ying up in the air, a drum set solo and “a whole bunch of drill,” Calhoun says. “With each highlighted moment, the crowd really responded and exploded.” Still on a high a month after the percussion group’s amazing experience in Dayton, Calhoun says they can’t wait to return. He also hopes to have the FREE Players guard perform at a future WGI Color Guard World Championships so they can share the love the percussion unit received from the fans. “All of us,” he says, “were in sheer awe of the audience support at the championships.” —Debbie Galante Block
Please note a change to the schedule for the 2015 World Championships: Due to venue availability, Percussion & Winds will now compete on April 9-11, a week before the Color Guard World Championships on April 16-18. “We wanted to announce this date change a year in advance so that all those participating in WGI will have time to plan,” says Executive Director Ron Nankervis. “WGI is pleased that the amazing growth we have seen will continue despite this change for next year.” For the latest information, visit WGI.org.
THE FANS HAVE SPOKEN (AND TWEETED) With an newly expanded system allowing people to vote online as well as via text at the World Championships, the pool choosing the 2014 WGI Fans’ Favorites Awards was bigger than ever. Percussion favorites included Freedom HS (Scholastic A), Velocity Indoor Percussion (Independent A), Grassfield HS (Scholastic Concert Open), Corona Del Sol HS (Scholastic Concert World), Clover HS (Scholastic Open), River
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City Rhythm (Independent Open), Dartmouth HS (Scholastic World), and Infinity (Independent World). Color Guard winners were Mill Creek HS (Scholastic A), Shenendehowa IA (Independent A), Cypress Bay HS (Scholastic Open), Etude (Independent Open ), West Broward HS (Scholastic World), and USF (Indepndent World). Congratulations to all! twitter.com/WGItweets
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Guard Focus IT’S IN THE BAG!
Band Shoppe’s rugged but stylish new Personal Guard Equipment Bag is designed to make it easy for members to store and transport all the gear they need for rehearsal and performance. The colorful bags— which are available in neon pink, red, royal blue, alien green, and black— are constructed of sturdy 420-denier nylon with metal zippers and hardware, have adjustable padded nylon web straps, and sport luggage tags for easy identification while traveling. A single bag can carry as many as a half-dozen six-foot poles with flags along with one rifle or sabre. There’s also a zippered pocket for personal items. Learn more at bandshoppe.com.
MIA MICHAELS
DAY AFTER MASTER CLASS For the third time, famed choreographer Mia Michaels presented the WGI’s “Day After Master Class” at the University of Dayton Arena, just hours after the conclusion of the 2014 Color Guard World Class Finals. Approximately 500 weary—yet pumped up—guard members participated in the sold-out clinic. Michaels had a special treat in store for the students; she announced that they would learn the audition piece she taught to all the dancers who tried out for the upcoming Broadway production of Finding Neverland, the $10 million Harvey Weinstein adaptation of the 2004 Johnny Depp/Kate Winslet film about J.M. Barrie, the creator of Peter Pan. Her assistant Ricky Ubeda demonstrated each of the choreographed movements to the guard members. Before moving into the instructional phase of the master class, Michaels told the guard members, “I keep coming back because I love everything you guys stand for.” She offered up many of her insights on dance, adding, “When you connect to a dancer/choreographer, you connect to their soul. An artist should put it out there and not be fearful of being judged.” Michaels then encouraged those assembled to go back to when they were 8 or 9 years old, proclaiming, “You put your wings on and flew…anything was possible. When dancing to this, you should be giggling from the inside out, dancing for the joy of movement. Today, it’s about finding that child inside and letting them come out. We’re going to put our wings on and we’re going to fl y higher than you’ve ever flown before.” Upon the conclusion of the clinic master class, Jessie Skinner-Simon of Emanon World summed up the experience. “I’m going to remember her encouragement to express my inner child,” she said. “We’re so focused on being perfect that we forget to let loose and enjoy being free.” “I realized today,” Jacob Brown of Aria added, “why I keep coming back to guard.” —By Michael Boo
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Percussion Focus NEW DRUMS A HIT
Calling it “one of the most significant changes” to the company’s line of marching percussion instruments, Yamaha introduced its new 8300 marching toms and bass drums, and 9300 marching snare drums earlier this year. The two series are designed to work together in an ensemble, and feature maple shells designed to project without overpowering the rest of the group. For enhanced durability, chrome hardware is standard. New snare models include the MS-9300 14" x 12" and MSS-9300 14" x 9" SFZ (which stands for Sforzando). Both are structurally designed to accomodate high-tension heads. MQ-8300 Field-Corps toms come in sizes ranging from 6" x 6½" to 14" x 12½" and are available in trio, quad, quint, and sextet configurations. 8300-series Field Corps bass drums have a consistent depth of 14" and come in 10 diameters ranging from 14" to 32". Learn more at usa.yamaha.com/products/ musical-instruments/marching.
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Making Memories For over 40 years
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e n s emb l e WGI SALUTES SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS FOR 2014 Congratulations to the 19 young performers who received awards at the 2014 World Championships through the WGI Scholarship Program. Since 1985, WGI scholarships have provided over $500,000 to assist the creative studies of young guard and percussion members though a variety of awards ranging from $1,000 to $3,000. The money comes from private funding as well as WGI sponsors including the Zildjian/Mark Thurston Scholarship (won by Justin Blanchard from Conestoga Valley High School), the Yamaha/Dennis DeLucia Scholarship (Nicholas Chase of Infinity), and Fred J Miller (John Donham Jr. of InMotion Performance Ensemble and Nicholas Weedin of Kickapoo High School). The Bob Wiles Memorial Scholarship went to Kelly Mitchell of Onyx Winter Guard. Each ensemble registered to compete in the World Championships may nominate one member for scholarships, which are chosen by a nine-person committee made up of WGI judges, instructors, directors, staff members, and other members. If you wish to donate to the WGI Scholarship Fund, either go online or send your donation to WGI Scholarship Donation, 2405 Crosspointe Drive, Dayton, OH 45342. Learn more at wgi.org/contents/Scholarship.html.
JUSTIN BLANCHARD Conestoga Valley HS
HANNAH BOGGS O2
NICHOLAS CHASE Infinity
EMILY CRANDALL Avon HS
JOHN DONJAM JR InMotion Performance Ensemble
ADRIENNE FONTAN Flushing HS
MEGAN GANLEY Thomas Jefferson HS
PAIGE HAMERKA Wakefield HS Maroon
BETHANY HANSON MBI
RACHEAL HERR Gateway Indoor Percussion
CHRISTINAL KING Diamante Winterguard
SARAH KORT Omaha Burke HS
KELLY MITCHELL Onyx
KAYTELYN NAGLICH Red Land HS
ERIC PUJARI Rhythm X
SHANNON ROBERTS Carmel HS
RANDY VILLEGAS Bakersfield College
NICHOLAS WEEDIN Kickapoo HS
KATHERINE ZUCKER James Bowie HS
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www.wgi.org
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Indoor PercussIon & color Guard educatIonal dVds movement series
Join Carol Abohatab, choreographer for the Santa Clara Vanguard World Guard and a modern dance teacher for more than 20 years, in this three part series.
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^ The fundamenTals Learn the basics on flag, rifle, and sabre. Build your color guard’s skills with the most current techniques used by top WGI groups.
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percussion design
Take notes from Andrew Markworth, John Mapes, Ian Grom, Tim Fairbanks, and Shane Gwaltney as they show you how to Select a Program, Storyboard a Show, and Orchestrate for Indoor Percussion.
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e n s emb l e SPOTLIGHT BY DIANNE SPOTO ACKERMAN
WGI WELCOMES WINDS TO THE ARENA AIMACHI
After more than 37 years of presenting the world’s most exciting indoor color guard and percussion competition, WGI is expanding into the next step for the marching arts. Beginning in 2015, the organization will begin offering a new type of competition to select regional competitions: Presenting WGI Winds! "We had been considering events for indoor marching music ensembles for a number of years," says WGI Executive Director Ron Nankervis. "With the explosion of color guards and NORTHGLENN percussion ensembles that keep growing each year, Winds seems like a natural extension of the WGI organization. Last summer, the WGI board of directors considered the creation of a third division, and Winds was overwhelming approved to begin contests in 2015 culminating in the first WGI Winds World Championships to held in conjunction with our Percussion World Championships next April." Though it will continue the Sport of the Arts tradition of performance and competition, WGI Winds will be a unique form of the marching arts. In fact, Winds doesn’t mean “winds only.” Groups can include AIMACHI anything found in a concert band or orchestra. So in addition to brass and woodwinds, you may also see strings (marching cello, anyone?), keyboards, electric guitars, synthesizers, and other instruments. “The program should offer an opportunity for musicians to perform in a competitive arena during the winter months,” says George Lindstrom, who was instrumental in getting Winds off 12 WGI FOCUS
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the ground. “The creative potential is wide open— and that is very exciting.” In November, an advisory committee was established to set the parameters for the inaugural Winds division season. Rules and a scoring system were developed over the winter and announced in April. Initially, WGI Winds will be open to scholastic and All-Age (alumni) groups, with more divisions possible in the future. “The minimum group size is ten people,” Lindstrom says. “But most will have between 15 and 50 members. There’s no maximum size limit." As with color guard and percussion groups, an advisory board comprised of participating ensembles will govern the division and oversee artistic and judging policies after the first season. But for now, the rules and policies are very broad so that the new division can flourish and create something totally new to students. “If the early response from our demonstrations at the World Championships are any indication, WGI Winds will prove to be a fantastic opportunity for more students to make music and perform,” Nankervis concludes. “In addition, many countries have already contacted us about bringing this new form of marching music to their existing events or create new contests for their performers. It really has struck a nerve that appeals on many levels to groups wanting the WGI experience.”
“The creative potential is wide open— and that is very exciting.”
WINDING UP With wind ensembles becoming an offical part of the WGI calendar next season, fans got a sampling of what’s in store through exhibitions at the World Championships. Performances included Northglenn Performance Theatre (from Northglenn, Colorado), and Aimachi (who came all the way from Nagoya, Japan). Learn more about the program by clicking the Winds tab at WGI.org.
www.wgi.org
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close-up
Tackling Logistics in the Rockies Colorado Color Guard Opus X Exhibits a Mountain of Heart, Talent, and Creativity By Michael Boo
“It’s safe to say that many Colorado guards benefit from the existence of Opus X.”
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When Opus X was founded in 1997, director and designer Rob Billings probably never imagined that the group would someday define World Class color guard in the Denver, Colorado, area. Originally known as Oracle, the group started with just 13 members—mostly soonto-be age-outs from the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps. In fact, it was only after two of those members brought others into the group that Billings learned that this new winter guard even existed—and that he would be running it. Despite its modest beginnings, the group developed quickly: In 2002, Oracle won WGI’s Independent Open Class title and was promoted to World Class. Five years later, the group celebrated its 10th anniversary by changing its name to Opus X (as in the Roman numeral). By then, however, the organization had spawned a successful dance ensemble, which siphoned away so many members that Opus X had to take the 2008 season off.
Undaunted, the group returned to WGI’s Open Class the following year and earned a Silver Medal. In 2010, Opus X rejoined the World Class—where it remains to this day. “Open Class was fun, with no pressure,” Billings says. “World Class is different. Every World Class guard is so amazing. The pressure to measure up is extreme. There’s less time to just enjoy the season and the show.” According to Billings—who works with a staff of five volunteers—being the only WGI Independent World Class guard within 600 miles of Denver presents some challenges, but also brings some benefits. “Denver isn’t a place you can commute to in the winter, so members can’t drive in from neighboring states,” he says. “Other than the Rocky Mountain Regional, the nearest WGI Regional is a 15-hour drive over mountains in the dead of winter—a travel expense the same as our Dayton trip” to the World Championships. Despite the expense, the group tries to attend at least one out-of-state regional every year. Closer to home, members and alumni work with nearby scholastic and independent guards. “Without those other guards, there would be no Opus X,” he says. “But because of the same geographic handicap, it’s safe to say that many Colorado guards benefit from the existence of Opus X. We’re a geographic ‘island,’ which allows us to keep our heads down and work without distraction. Still, it’s always a surprise to find out where we really are when we finally see another World Class Guard.” Isolated or not, the group knows how to turn adversity into an asset—a mindset that led to one of the more memorable sights at the 2014 World Championships, where Opus X performed atop strips that were interlaced during the pre-show. “This season, our one-year-old floor was literally falling apart at the seams,” Billings explains. “We didn’t have the budget for a new floor until 2015, so we cut the floor into strips and said, ‘we’ll just weave it together like a tapestry.’” www.wgi.org
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profile
Sound Judgement Rating the performance of WGI groups is as much an art as it is a science. By Jon Chappell
Chris Hestin
WGI Percussion Judge Administrator
Chris Hestin has been judging WGI events for nine years, and currently serves as the organization’s Percussion Judge Administrator. He holds similar positions with the Mid-East Judges Association, Indiana Percussion Association, Rocky Mountain Percussion Association, and Three Rivers Winter Ensemble Association. After taking up the drums in fourth grade, he played in as many ensembles as possible through middle and high school. But as Hestin explained just after the 2014 WGI World Championships, he almost ended up judging on profits and losses instead of percussion scores.
season. The criteria are laid out on the sheet, and I filter all my reactions through that. But it’s not about hitting a checklist; What’s important is the program itself and how well the performers communicate it. I look for the expressive qualities of the performers, the range of effects and how well they engage the audience , [some of whom happen to be judges]. The audience isn’t a measuring stick, but ultimately [the ensembles] are there to perform for the audience and not the judges. ➧ What’s hardest about judging WGI groups? Just because of the number of groups these days, the most challenging part is having to make tough decisions among three or four or five groups that are all very similar. We appreciate everything that happens, but we are still accountable to a number system and scoring process. You go through that checklist
➧ Did you always plan to become a percussion judge? Actually, my first college degree is not in percussion but in finance. But I marched with the Drum Corps International group Phantom Regiment for four years after high school, and that’s when I became aware of all the other influences in the drum corps community. I was influenced by many styles of music, really gravitating toward classical. I later went back and got degrees in composition and percussion, then became a teacher both privately and in the public school system. I got into more of the design and cinematic aspects of Chris Heston (left) talking the pageant arts when I was studying with WGI Director of Percussion, for my master’s at Duquesne UniversiMark Thurston, During the World ty in Pittsburgh. Class Prelims at the UD Arena.
“The most rewarding thing is just seeing the performers’ faces as they play.” 16 wgi focus
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➧ When did you begin judging? When I was living in Pittsburgh, the nearest circuit was in Ohio. There were some local judges in Pittsburgh who were judging there, and invited me to give it a try. That opened up opportunities to judge several other states. I realized how much I loved the craft. I started judging for WGI in 2005. ➧ What do you look for? That depends on the caption that I’m responsible for that day. By and large I’m a general effect judge—which means looking at the big picture based on what’s expected of the marching band or indoor line. It’s a little different from season to
as quickly as possible in your head and profile the strengths and weaknesses of each to come up with appropriate scores that give the groups an accurate understanding of how they stack up relative to one another. ➧ What’s the best part of being a judge? By far the most rewarding thing is just seeing the performers’ faces as they play and being in the same arena with all of that effort. As judges, we see six minutes of what, for them is a 14-hour day—after they’ve spent four months getting the program out onto the floor. It’s really a privilege to witness their experience. www.wgi.org
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DEADLINE APPROACHING—REGISTER AT PASIC.ORG 5/19/14 3:33 PM
2014 WGI COLOR GUARD W Onyx (IW)
Tarpon Springs HS (SW)
Spring HS (SO) 20 WGI FOCUS
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d World Championships Georgia State (IA)
Movers& UCF Pegasus (IO)
shakers Onyx and Tarpon Springs heat up a chilly Dayton weekend to capture World Class Color Guard Championships. by Michael Reed Lyman HS (SA)
Over 300 of the finest color guards from the United States, Canada, and Europe converged on an unseasonably cool and wet Dayton, Ohio, for the 37th edition of the WGI Sport of the Arts World Championships. The sizzling hot performances inside the jam-packed UD Arena more than made up for the brisk early April weather outside. Emerging trends for 2014 included smaller and more monochrome tarps, increased use of modern poetry in the soundtracks, and a much wider array of show topics, running the gamut from flora and fauna (especially the kind with feathers) to romance, current social issues such as bullying, and even abstract productions with no discernible theme at all.
Independent World
Game changer. Paradigm shift. Onyx (Ohio) raised the bar in the activity to win their third Gold Medal with “Moving Still.” The brilliantly choreographed program blended music, silence, movement, motionlessness, and faultless equipment work in a tour-de-force that will be remembered for years to come. Santa Clara Vanguard (Calif.) presented a trio of visual vignettes with “Triptych.” Bursting with frenetic energy, the fast-paced production was like viewing a cluster of comets zipping among the stars— thanks to brilliantly bright flag and set design. In their third World Class Finals appearance, members of Imbue (Calif.) lined up to receive Bronze medals after the scores were announced. “Amid Nexus” featured members connected to each other, to chairs, and to their equipment with elastic strands. wgi.org 21
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2014 WGI COLOR GUARD WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS Santa Clara Vanguard (IW)
West Broward HS (SW)
Imbue (IW)
USF Winterguard (IW)
Zydeco (IW)
FAN FAV Blessed Sacrament (IW)
In their record-setting 35th consecutive Finals appearance, Blessed Sacrament (Mass.) utilized nothing but sabres to the accompaniment of a live flutist in “Composition in Red.” Zydeco Colorguard (Ohio) used 1930s Dust Bowl-era imagery to explore facets of heartbreak in “When the Dust Settles,” set to Willie Nelson’s classic “Always on My Mind,” while Cypress Independent (Texas) explored the concept of vulnerability with “(w)hole-hearted,” inspired by Charles Bukowski’s poem “Bluebird.” Fantasia (Calif.) was inspired by a different type of bird, ascending from ashes like a phoenix with “And Still I Rise.” Change was the only constant for Emanon (N.J.), evolving through a dizzying array of musical styles and visual textures with “Metamorphosis.” Clad in Greek togas for “Anaxagoras,” Braddock Independent (Fla.) was inspired by cosmic theories of the eponymous pre-Socratic philosopher. A lattice patchwork of differently colored tarps helped Opus X (Colo.) create “An American Tapestry” performed to Aaron Copland’s “Appalachian Spring,” while Alter Ego (Conn.) performed a poignant and moving show full of deep emotional resonances with “Adagio.” A woman sat waiting on a park bench as cold winter winds swirled for “The Last Snow,” presented by O2 (Ohio).
FeniX Independent (Ariz.) illuminated the arena with a plethora of 25-foot tall lamps in “A Summer’s Evening on My Grandfather’s Porch.” A lonely dancehall janitor found love for USF Winterguard (Fla.) in “Just One More Dance,” and Diamante (Calif.) depicted the horror of a multiple homicide in the heartland with Truman Capote’s “In Cold Blood.”
Scholastic World
Tarpon Springs HS (Fla.) took a massive step as a group by winning their first title with “The Farmer.” With hay bales, corn stalks, and pieces of agricultural equipment, the heartwarming program brought to life the words of Paul Harvey’s “So God Made a Farmer” speech. Defending champion Carmel HS (Ind.) did not go down without a fight. “Gunslinger,” as the name suggests, was set in the Old West and featured almost every sort of trick rifle catch imaginable. James Logan HS (Calif.) returned after a year’s absence, applying “Pressure” to the competition. Long metallic tubes were incorporated into the program to give the show a unique look. After leaving 14 tents behind at the base camp, Flanagan HS (Fla.) climbed a mountain peak and reached “The Summit.” Avon HS (Ind.) reminisced about youthful innocence with Shane Koyczan’s poem “Remember How We Forgot,”
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FAN FAV
TOP RANKING GROUPS FOR COLOR GUARD
Carmel HS (SW)
James Logan HS (SW)
Avon HS (SW)
INDEPENDENT WORLD
SCHOLASTIC WORLD
1st Onyx Moving Still
1st Tarpon Springs HS The Farmer
2nd Santa Clara Vanguard Triptych
2nd Carmel HS Gunslinger
3rd Imbue Amid Nexus
3rd James Logan HS Pressure
INDEPENDENT OPEN
SCHOLASTIC OPEN
1st UCF Pegasus Open Take a Bow
1st Spring HS Malala
2nd Avidity Independant Timelapse
2nd West Orange HS I Will Lay Down My Heart
3rd Lexis Charlotte’s Magnum Opus
3rd Stoneman Douglas HS The Invisible War
INDEPENDENT A
SCHOLASTIC A
1st Georgia State Universtiy Before My Time
1st Lyman HS The Big White Room
2nd Brenham Independent Looking for Joy
2nd Lakota West HS Tuesdays with Morrie
3rd Shenendehowa IA Better World
3rd Little Elm HS Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow
Flanagan HS (SW)
while in “Sticks and Stones,” Warren Central HS (Ind.) used the same poet’s “To This Day” to draw attention to the power of hurtful words. In “Forgiving Autumn,” a 25-foot tall abstract tree shed its leaves—which became the flags spun by Arcadia HS (Calif.). Every moment was precious for Nease HS (Fla.), whose “Stealing Time” featured clock faces and gears on both floor and silk design. In “Swan Song,” Norwin HS (Pa.) featured a gaggle of feathered friends diving through a stage into a lake. An envelope-shaped tarp opened up to reveal a snowy wonderland for Trumbull HS (Conn.) in “One Winter,” and 2013 Scholastic Open Champion Mechanicsburg HS (Pa.) splashed in the waters of the Fountain of Youth in “Forever Young.” Miamisburg HS (Ohio) found a bit of redemption, returning to the finals with “Revolution of Shame,” based on the iconic novel The Scarlet Letter. Choctawhatchee HS (Fla.) presented the WGI version of American Idol, as “FANation” explored the idolization of celebrity in modern society.
Timber Creek HS (Fla.) displayed some elegant sophistication with “Never Dreamed…,” while West Broward HS (Fla.)
brought a touch of loneliness and despair with “Irrelevant.”
Independent Open
UCF Pegasus Open (Fla.) eked out a narrow 0.2-point win
with a dystopian vision of America’s future in “Take a Bow,” set on a Dr. Seuss-meets-Dr. Frankenstein set. Avidity Independent of McKendree University (Mo.) imaginatively depicted the concept of visual progression in movement with “Timelapse.” Leaving behind an army of little crawlers, Lexis (Ky.) captured the artistry of “Charlotte’s Magnum Opus,” while Les Eclipses (Que.) felt the intense sorrow of a romantic breakup with “The Leaving Song.” Oregon Crusaders Independent (Ore.) incorporated a reading of numbers underneath the musical texture of “Signals.” Meanwhile, the members of Pacificaires (B.C.)— with an average age of 14—made us fall in love with them in wgi.org 23
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2014 WGI COLOR GUARD WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS “If My Heart Could Talk.” St. Brendan (Mass.) utilized what seemed like the world’s longest balance beam in “A Delicate Balance.” Eclectix Independent (Okla.) fell under the corruptive influence of the “Black Swan,” as their color palette morphed from white to dark, and Ancora (Mich.) went from confinement to freedom with “Some Birds Aren’t Meant To Be Caged.” Brigadiers Winter Guard (N.Y.) exhorted us to aspire to better things with “Be the Change You Wish to See,” and University of Alabama Alta Marea (Ala.) turned up the heat with their seductively pleasing “Hot Legs.” With “Let’s Play,”
Interplay (Mich.) lined up a giant set of dominos, then pushed them all over at the end, while Etude (S.C.) gathered around for dinner with “At the Table.” Stonewall Independent (Va.) stylishly trekked from one end of the floor to the other for “A Journey,” and the Pride of the Netherlands creat-
ed a giant globe on the floor in “The World You Live(d) In.”
Scholastic Open
Spring HS (Texas) brought the title to the Lone Star State with “Malala,” featuring inspiring words of Pakistani-born education activist Malala Yousafzai. West Orange HS (N.J.) Lexis (IO)
FAN FAV
Etude (IO)
Pacificares (IO)
Oregon Crusaders Independent (IO)
Avidity Independent of McKendree University (IO)
Les Eclipses (IO)
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2014 WGI COLOR GUARD WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS West Orange HS (SO)
FAN FAV Cyrress Bay HS (SO)
Somerville HS (SO)
Stoneman Douglas HS (SO)
experienced the sad endings of romantic relationships with “I Will Lay Down My Heart.” Stoneman Douglas HS (Fla.) brought attention to women who suffer abuse while serving in the military with “The Invisible War,” while Somerville HS (N.J.) explored the angst of memories of love lost after a breakup with “My Immortal.” Round Rock HS (Texas) brought the colorful beauty and wonder of deep space to UD Arena with “En Nebulum.” The brave life and martyrdom of Joan of Arc inspired Marian Catholic HS (Ill.) in “Matron Saint.” Cape Fear HS (N.C.) transformed from blood red crimson to the darkest of shadows in “Paint It Black.” All work and no play propelled Bellbrook HS (Ohio) into the Finals with a tribute to the famous writer in “By Steven King,” and Francis Howell North HS (Mo.) made us weep with their emotional performance of “Unrequited.” South Brunswick HS (N.J.) utilized an array of large multicolored rings in “Jumping Through Hoops.” A sheer fabric cloud enveloped James Bowie HS (Texas) as an
Round Rock HS (SO)
evening thundershower passed in “Noche de Lluvia.” Mission Viejo HS (Calif.) encapsulated the emptiness felt after losing a loved one in “When the Light’s Gone Dim,” while Greenfield-Central HS (Ind.) sought to feel anything but numbness in “Hurt.” Ben Davis HS (Ind.) were a flock of angry birds tormenting humanity in “What Were the Crows After,” and Cypress Bay HS (Fla.) took us to the bayou where voodoo is in vogue with “Which Is Witch.”
Independent A
Georgia State University (Ga.) took the Gold with “Before My
Time,” as the guard became flowing sand on an hourglass floor. Brenham Independent (Texas) moved with exuberance in “LOOKING FOR JOY,” spun to music of Aaron Copland. Shenendehowa IA (N.Y.) crashed through the glass ceiling with “Better World,” championing the cause of workplace fairness for women, while University of South Florida A (Fla.) used building blocks to add dimensions of height in “Someone to Watch Over.”
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FAN FAV
First Flight (IA)
Shenendehowa IA (IA) University of South Florida A (IA)
Brenham Independent (IA) First Flight (N.C.) used tall wood poles to construct the frame of a house in “To Build a Home,” while O3 (Ohio) saw the world through a green filter while only utilizing flags in “Beyond the Rainbow.” Delazure (Del.) spilled canteens of colored sand on the floor in “Painted Desert: A Mirage.” St. Anns (Mass.) portrayed the theory of an infinite cosmic cycle with “Eternal Recurrence,” and In Motion Performance Ensemble (Calif.) tugged on our heartstrings with “As Time Goes By.” ATX Winterguard (Texas) fought the good fight against bullying in “#silence,” while Emanon A (N.J.) showed what happens when a lady is just not that into her suitor in “Unrequited Love.” Ventures (Ont.) took us on a magical hot-air balloon ride in “Up!” and Q (Pa.) took us to Broadway with the thrilling “I’m Here,” based on music from The Color
Purple. Allegoria Winterguard (Ohio) set sail for new horizons in “Never Coming Back,” while Purdue University (Ind.) showed what mannequins do when the store closes in “After Hours,” and Interplay (Mich.) featured a bevy of arcs in the geometry-inspired “Pi-R-Squared.”
Scholastic A
A stir-crazy woman finally finds her way out of the confines of “The Big White Room” as Lyman HS (Fla.) earned their first WGI title. Lakota West HS (Ohio) brought us to tears with the moving “Tuesdays With Morrie,” based on Mitch Albom’s best-selling book. Little Elm HS (Texas) portrayed the ill-fated romance of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet to life in “Parting Is Such Sweet Sorrow,” while fellow Texans Klein Collins HS searched for meaning after suffering loss with wgi.org 27
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2014 WGI COLOR GUARD WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS “When There’s Nothing Left to Burn.” Pace HS (Fla.) went ’round and ’round in circles with “It Never Ends,” while all the world was a stage for Hart HS (Calif.), performing to words of “Shakespeare.” Irondale HS (Minn.) took us to the bone-chilling tundra with “Iced Over,” and Red Land HS (Pa.) used discarded rag dolls as a metaphor for neglected people in “I’m More Than That.” The floor became a blackboard for Harrison HS (Ga.), as members wrote messages with chalk in “Say Something.” Gateway HS (Pa.) created moments of blissful serenity
with “The Face,” while Greater Johnstown HS (N.Y.) jolted us with the uncomfortable existence of “The Neglected Ones.” Dartmouth HS (Mass.) proved the grass is not always greener “On the Other Side,” and Washington HS (Mo.) added layer after layer of complexity with “Minimalism MAXIMIZED.” Lampeter-Strasburg HS (Pa.) showed their fortitude “Behind the Glass,” while Mill Creek HS (Ga.) found hope in troubled times with “Brother Can You Spare a Dime.” For a complete list of scores and more coverage from the 2014 World Championships, go to wgi.org.
Lakota West HS (SA)
Klein Collins HS (SA)
Pace HS (SA) Mill Creek HS (SA)
FAN FAV
Little Elm HS (SA) 28 WGI FOCUS
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2014 WGI Color Guard World Championships
Unguarded Joy
It’s the event after the event: The Finale following the WGI Color Guard Championships is always a colorful celebration of the season—and of the bonds that all guard members share. It’s a chance for sponsors, staff, and members to mingle, recognize scholarship winners, and, most off all, cut loose after the intensity of the preceding Finals. Confetti flies as each class gathers together, while the party atmosphere is illuminated (literally!) when the members come down to the area floor wearing lights.
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2014 WGI percussion W Clinton HS (SO)
Heavy
Hitters
Cadets Winter Percussion (PIO)
Pulse and Dartmouth take Percussion World Class titles in a World Championship weekend packed with innovation and emotion. by Michael Boo
A record 220 indoor percussion lines arrived in Dayton on April 10 through 12 to compete for the 2014 WGI Percussion World Championships. Stepping onto a bold new black performing surface (which replaced tan of old), they encountered plenty of intense competition from all over North America and beyond—and even more intense love from the fans in the stands.
Percussion Independent World
Pulse Percussion (Calif.) won the Gold Medal with “That Which Confines Us,” based
Ayala HS (PSCW)
on music as disparate as the theme from Beetlejuice, “Little Boxes” and “Moonlight Sonata.” Bass drummers dangled from overhead racks and snare drummers played while hanging upside-down. Music City Mystique (Tenn.) centered “Windows to the Soul” on the flickering eyes of a statue that appeared to be carved out of granite, earning the Silver Medal. The Bronze went to Rhythm X (Ohio) for “The Razor’s Edge,” inspired by the dramatic tightrope antics of Philippe Petit. Riverside City College (Calif.) explored the evolution of humanity and history in “So, this is Earth…?” as witnessed by an intergalactic species observing television signals sent into space. Gateway Indoor (Mo.) offered a provocative look at the Vietnam War era with “Oh Say Can You See,” with names of Dayton soldiers killed in action scrolling across a video screen. The members of Matrix (Ohio) were costumed as rock artists in the high-energy production of “Rockstar.” Infinity (Fla.) won the Fans’ Favorite Award for “All Hail,” a show inspired by regal music of the British Empire and the rock group Queen. Atlanta Quest (Ga.) paid tribute to the bad guys in “Villain,” from the perspective of the miscreants. “The Train Ride Home” stopped in Dayton before pulling away from the station for the ride to the Santa Clara hometown of Vanguard (Calif.). The grim, dystopian future of Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 provided the title and mood to POW Percussion (Calif.). “Fearless,” a poem by Marianne Williamson, offered affirmation to weakened souls in the United Percussion (N.J.) production—which happened to have the same name. STRYKE Percussion Ensemble (Fla.) explored the contrasts between the creative and analytical sides of the human mind in “The Fine Line.”
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N WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS Lone Star Independent Percussion (PIA)
FAN FAV Dartmouth HS (PSW)
Pulse Percussion (PIW)
Victor J. Andrew HS (PSA)
Goshen HS (PSCO) wgi.org 35
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2014 WGI PERCUSSION WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS Rhythm X (PIW)
Infinity (PIW)
Music City Mystique (PIW)
FAN FAV
Riverside City College (PIW)
Gateway Indoor (PIW)
“A Show of Hands” by NorthCoast Academy (Mich.) was all about human hands and what those hands could accomplish. Orange County Independent Percussion (Calif.) explored “The World In You,” largely based on the music of pop singer Alicia Keys. OC Indoor (Ore.) based “RELENTLESS” on a simple idea that gives rise to multitudes of great things.
Percussion Scholastic World
Dartmouth HS (Mass.) won both the Gold Medal and the
Fans’ Favorite Award with “Let Them Eat Cake: Marie Antoinette’s Scandalous Life.” An elaborate Parisian ballroom set was the scene of the 18th Century French queen’s extravagant parties—and of her downfall at the hands of an angry mob, which eventually headed her off to the guillotine. Chino Hills HS (Calif.) took the Silver Medal with “I Was Here,” built upon the idea of leaving one’s footprints in the sands of time. Ayala HS (Calif.) earned the Bronze for a disquieting look at the life of Lee Harvey Oswald in “Que Sera-Sera.” “Genocide” was the theme of North Shore HS (Texas), set in countries where political mass killings have occurred, ending with the line being swallowed up by a graveyard. Avon HS (Ind.) employed Imagine Dragons’ song “Radioactive” for its show, “Quarantine,” complete with quasi hazmat suits and
gas masks. Arcadia HS (Calif.) buried the negative elements of the past in “Find My Way.” “Dreaming Beethoven” by Homestead HS (Calif.) alternated between moments of beautiful serenity and dissonant rage as the composer dealt with his increasingly severe deafness. Center Grove HS (Ind.) based “The Heart of a Warrior” on the army of underground terracotta soldiers discovered in China. A tall gilded birdcage was prominent in “Painted Like a Warrior” of Rowland HS (Calif.), inspired by Charles Bukowski’s poem, “Bluebird.” Upper Darby HS (Pa.), promoted to World Class after its final WGI Regional, told the story of a returning soldier in “The Long Walk Home.” In “The Game,” Centerville HS (Ohio) led the audience through a variety of board, video, and computer games. Based on the Book of Genesis, “The Fall of Eve” of Petal HS (Miss.) explored original sin. “Bending Reality” of Walled Lake Central HS (Mich.) included an awesome mallet feature where alternating players executed every other note in a series of 16th-note runs. Mental breakdowns caused by the pressures of contemporary society were the theme of “Fr(agile) Minds” by Eden Prairie HS (Minn.). Ben Davis HS (Ind.) based “The Factory” on the busy commercial studio of pop artist Andy Warhol.
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TOP RANKING GROUPS FOR PERCUSSION PERCUSSION INDEPENDENT WORLD
PERCUSSION SCHOLASTIC WORLD
PERCUSSION INDEPENDENT OPEN
PERCUSSION SCHOLASTIC OPEN
1st Pulse That Which Confines us
1st Dartmouth HS Let Them Eat Cake: Marie Antoinette’s Scandalous Life
1st Cadets Winter Percussion Copy of a...
1st Clinton HS Sincerely
2nd Music City Mystique Windows to the Soul 3rd Rhythm X The Razors Edge
Avon HS (PSW) Chino Hills HS (PSW)
2nd Chino Hills I Was Here 3rd Ayala HS Que Sera-Sera
PERCUSSION INDEPENDENT A
PERCUSSION SCHOLASTIC A
1st Lone Star Independent Shifted
1st Victor J. Andrew HS Let it Rain
2nd Chattanooga Independent Balanced
2nd Kamiak HS Our Finest Hour
3rd Liberty University Indoor Drumline Storm
3rd Edwardsville HS The Classics
2nd Pioneer Indoor Spiritum Ipsum (spirit game)
2nd Norwalk HS Glass 3rd Chantilly HS Into the Wild
3rd Valley Independent Let Go
PERCUSSION SCHOLASTIC CONCERT WORLD 1st Ayala HS A Timeless World 2nd Rowland HS Scenes from Swan Lake 3rd Muscle Shoals The Palace of Nine Perfections
PERCUSSION SCHOLASTIC CONCERT OPEN 1st Goshen HS Rainforest 2nd Mansfield HS The Way Up 3rd Kiski Area HS As They Watch Over Us
Flanagan HS (SW)
North Shore HS (PSW)
Percussion Independent Open
Cadets Winter Percussion (Pa.) won the class with “Copy of
a…”. Two of the songs, “Copy of a…” and “A Warm Place,” were by Nine-Inch Nails, the show concluding with Karl Jenkins’ “Palladio.” Pioneer Indoor (Ill.) took the Silver Medal for “Spiritum Ipsum (spirit game)” set in a graveyard and ending with members running from zombies. Valley Independent Percussion (Calif.) took the Bronze Medal for “Let Go,” encouraging all to release themselves from their fears. River City Rhythm (Minn.) won the Fans’ Favorite Award for “Run Before You Walk.” Demonstrations of instrumental
Ayala HS (PSW)
basics led to acrobatic stunts over the keyboard percussion. Spirit of America (Mass.) took us to Asia in “Hero: The Dragon & Tigers Within,” highlighted by taiko drums. Vigilantes Indoor Percussion (Texas) performed Metallica’s “Ride the Lightning,” leading to an electric-chair execution that dimmed the lights. “Soldiers of Innocence” by Dojo Percussion (Neb.) touched on how war affects child soldiers. Red sand on the feet of the members of Tyler Junior College (Texas) eventually covered the floor in “It All Runs Out,” with 12 digital timers acting as a reminder that time waits for no one. DrumSpirit wgi.org 37
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2014 WGI PERCUSSION WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS (Belgium) explored the poem “In Flanders Field,” about the World War I battle site in the line’s home country. “2001” of Legends (Mich.) was inspired by HAL 9000 from the famous Stanley Kubrick film. Ancient City Ensemble (Fla.) performed atop an optical illusion of various colored dots in “Clarity.” In “Coming Home,” Bakersfield College (Calif.) explored one’s hope of making it back to familiar ground.
Percussion Scholastic Open
Clinton HS (Miss.) took the Gold Medal with “Sincerely,” about the power of the written word when read in the form of a letter. Norwalk HS (Conn.) figuratively shattered “Glass” as the line broke through barriers of personal darkness, capturing the Silver Medal. Chantilly HS (Va.) entered a Valley Independent Percussion (PIO)
rainforest in “Into the Wild,” earning the Bronze Medal while characterizing traits of indigenous animals. Old Bridge HS (N.J.) took charge of its underdog position in “No White Flags,” valiantly refusing to surrender to overwhelming odds. Cy-Fair HS (Texas) filled the floor with greening shrubbery in “The Arbor Effect.” Los Alamitos HS (Calif.) explored the exuberance of youth in “Skip,” with members performing while skipping rope. “Turning Heads” of Great Oak HS (Calif.) effectively directed the heads of the audience to various parts of the floor. Flamenco music filled “Don Juan Sevilla” by Hilton HS (N.Y.), the snare line matadors impressing the female dancers. Clover HS (S.C.) took the Fans’ Favorite Award with “Pop,” exploring Pop Art, pop music, the sound of popping
Spirit of America (PIO)
Pioneer Indoor (PIO)
River City Rhythm (PIO)
Clover HS (PSO)
Old Bridge HS (PSO)
FAN FAV FAN FAV Norwalk HS (PSO)
Cy-Fair HS (PSO)
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2014 WGI PERCUSSION WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS Liberty University Indoor Drumline (PIA)
Velocity Indoor Percussion (PIA) Civitas Independent (PIA)
FAN FAV
eNVision (PIA)
Chattanooga Independent Percussion (PIA)
corks, and ending with someone drinking a can of soda pop. Lebanon HS (Ohio) utilized LED lights as stars in “What Dreams May Come,” proceeding from sleep, passing through nightmares, and ending with tender dreams. A graphic of desert dunes enhanced “Mirage” by Trumbull HS (Conn.), blue LED lights seen as water by a thirsty man. BCC Drumline (Thailand) became the first international line to perform in a Scholastic Finals with “Believe,” stressing faith in one’s passion, imagination, and dreams.
Percussion Independent A
Lone Star Independent Percussion (Texas) won the class with
“Shifted,” full of metallic machine sounds that went on until the members were “turned off ” at the end. Chattanooga Independent Percussion (Tenn.) performed acrobatic feats of dexterity in “Balanced,” taking the Silver Medal. Liberty University Indoor Drumline (Va.) secured the Bronze while fighting off the increasingly threatening weather of “Storm.”
Civitas Independent (S.C.) sampled Nelly’s “Hot in Here” during “Bring the Heat.” eNVision (Nev.) explored the “Chemistry” of science as well as two people in love. Paradigm Percussion (N.C.) provided examples of apples found in history and folklore in “Apple.” Farmington United Percussion Ensemble (Mich.) gradually replaced their black floor with a variety of colors in “Linear Projection.” Velocity Indoor Percussion (Fla.) captured the Fans’ Favorite Award with “The Greatest of All Time,” following the life of Muhammad Ali, with cymbal players practicing left hooks with their instruments. Railmen Indoor Perc. (Neb.) led us through the first moon landing with “One Small Step,” featuring Van Morrison’s “Moon Dance” and Debussy’s “Clare de Lune.” Clarksville Audio Theater (Tenn.) viewed a romantic breakup in “Burning Bridges,” seen from the woman’s point of view. The cymbal line of REEF Independent (Fla.) couldn’t make it through “Change of Heart” without experiencing a cardiac
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Freedom HS (PSA)
FAN FAV
Kamiak HS (PSA)
Bellbrook HS (PSA)
Gilbert HS (PSA)
Edwardsville HS (PSA)
event. Anything that could be associated with a circus clown made its way into the “Clown Couture” production of PureFusion Percussion (Mass.).
Percussion Scholastic A
Victor J. Andrew HS (Ill.) won the class with “Let It Rain.”
Members were dressed in faux raingear and were surrounded by the sounds of an ongoing downpour. Kamiak HS (Wash.) won the Silver Medal with “Our Finest Hour,” based on inspirational speeches regarding stepping up to adversity. Edwardsville HS (Ill.) took the Bronze with “The Classics,” a sort of classical music version of “Name That Tune.” Gilbert HS (Ariz.) started out blindfolded in “Open Your Eyes,” metaphorically urging the audience to not go through life unaware of its surroundings. Bellbrook HS (Ohio) gradually filled in a giant jigsaw puzzle in “Peace by Piece,”
with each section being a famous classical music motif.
Sparkman HS (Ala.) explored primal aggression in “untamed,” which featured a variety of jungle sounds. Freedom HS (Va.)
won the Fans’ Favorite Award for “Look Within,” an introspective quest to know oneself, based on the writings of Khalil Gibran. Decatur Central HS (Ind.) utilized chess pieces, dice, and a Monopoly board in “Every Game Is Life.” La Cañada HS (Calif.) braved a snow emergency in “The Journey Home,” eventualy making it safely back to comfort and warmth. Fort Mill HS (S.C.) fought oppression and tyranny in the Big Brother-tinged “Project Human.” Greenfield-Central HS (Ind.) explored and obliterated a substantial variety of irrational beliefs in “Superstition.” The members of Eagan HS (Minn.) played on silhouetted drums through illuminated fabric in “Shadows.”
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2014 WGI PERCUSSION WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS Percussion Scholastic Concert World
Percussion Scholastic Concert Open
(Calif.) earned the Silver Medal with Tchaikovsky’s “Scenes from Swan Lake.” The Bronze Medal went to Muscle Shoals HS (Ala.) for “The Palace of Nine Perfections,” infused with Japanese taiko drumming. Corona del Sol HS (Ariz.) captured the Fans’ Favorite Award with the whimsical “OMG”—in this case, short for “Orange Man Group.”
captured the Silver Medal with “The Way Up,” followed by the Kiski Area HS (Pa.), whose Bronze-medal winning show was called “As They Watch Over Us.” Among the other finalists were New Philadelphia HS (Ohio) for “Piped In,” New Palestine HS (Ind.) for “Red, Hot, and Righteous,” Pine Creek HS (Colo.) for “Supernova,” the Fans’ Favorite Award-winning Grassfield HS (Va.) for “Scenes from Swan Lake,” Golden HS (Colo.) for “Mendoza,” and Scottsburg HS (Ind.) for “Piano Concerto No. 2.” For a complete list of scores and more coverage from the 2014 World Championships, go to wgi.org.
Ayala HS (Calif.) won the title with “A Timeless World,” featuring marimbists on castanet machines. Rowland HS
Goshen HS (Ind.) won its class with “Rainforest” while evoking exotic environmental sounds. Mansfield HS (Mass.)
Mansfield HS (PSC0)
Muscle Shoals HS (PSCW)
New Philadelphia HS (PSC0)
Rowland HS (PSCW)
Grassfield HS (PSC0)
FAN FAV Corona Del Sol HS (PSCW) New Palestine HS (PSC0)
FAN FAV
Kiski Area HS (PSC0) 42 WGI FOCUS
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2014 WGI percussion World Championships
Sticking Together
With the thunderous boom-crack of the World Championships still echoing in the minds of all in attendance, the Finale gives members a chance to share a well-earned “ahhh� moment and recognize their accomplishments as individuals, as ensembles, and as one big group united in rhythm. Competitive rivalry gives way to the shared appreciation of all the rudiment drills, rehearsals, and shows that carried each and every one of them to Dayton.
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We began as an ensemble. We finished as a family. We are BANDED. Scan to hear the Orange County Independent BANDED Story.
#GetBanded
Visit Facebook to read read more BANDED stories and to share yours. /Jupiter Band Instruments -
/Mapex & Majestic Marching Percussion
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/Jupiter Band Instruments -
/Mapex & Majestic Marching Percussion
5/14/14 12:18 PM
clinic
Starting a WGI Ensemble Percussion and color guard leaders share their experiences in launching a successful group. By Michael Boo
Imbue
WGI has always been a welcoming place for new ensembles that can provide members with an experience that meets organization’s rules and standards. And with a new Winds division debuting next season, there will be more fresh faces in United Percussion WGI events than ever. What does it take to launch a new group? “It’s a long process, requiring a vision for the long haul,” adds Shavon Garcia Stack, director of Imbue Winterguard. After premiering in 2009, Imbue first made the IW Finals in 2012 and finished third in 2014. “It is imperative that you are familiar with WGI rules before you begin your new program.” Perhaps the best place to start is by studying the educational materials that WGI provides for new groups. “‘Creating a Competitive Winter Guard’ [PDF] is the absolute starting point,” says Shirlee Whitcomb, WGI’s Director of Color Guard Development. “It’s free on WGI.org. Just click on Color Guard>Educational Articles>Creating a Winter Guard.” A similar guide for percussion can be found at WGI.org>Percussion>Educational Articles>Creating an Indoor Percussion Ensemble. Whether you’re talking guard or percussion, it can take a year or more to plan a group’s first season, assemble a staff, recruit members, design a show, and train performers. Your plan must account for rehearsal facilities, equipment, transportation, insurance, a payment schedule for members, fundraising, and more. “Figure out everything that doesn’t involve spinning or drumming, so that you can spin and drum,” says Chad Moore, who has been with perennial World Class Percussion finalists United Percussion since the
group began as an Independent Open Class line in 2003. “As part of the funding plan,” he adds, “I would take the time to make sure your group is registered as a 501(c)(3).” If all that seems daunting, it’s important to know that new ensembles never have to go it alone. Both Stack and Moore point out that WGI is full of more experienced leaders who are ready to help. “To this day, I am always blown away by how willing people are to share their knowledge,” Moore says. “I have asked ‘big names’ on both the percussion and the color guard side, and they always help and give advice. Everyone seems to ‘pay it forward.’” Reaching out to the local community is also important. Social media can help get the word out, but new groups should also establish a rapport with local band directors, who can literally open doors at school facilities (for practice) and help recruit members. Scholastic groups may have an easier time finding rehearsal space, but for independent ensembles, finding a place to practice can be challenging and expensive. Sometimes, rehearsal (and even storage) space can be secured in exchange for helping to train the school’s ensembles. Speaking of training, when launching a new group, Stack says it’s important to set realistic goals for staff and members. Focus early rehearsals on developing technique and try not to write a show that’s beyond your members’ abilities. “Be patient: Your training program can take several years to develop,” she explains. “It will always be growing and adapting, especially when you’ve got performers with a wide variety of backgrounds and technical abilities.”
“It’s a long process, requiring a vision for the long haul.”
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www.wgi.org
5/15/14 4:34 PM
PERC6368 WGI Congrats Ad_Layout 1 5/1/14 1:06 PM Page 1
Champions Depend on Yamaha.
Yamaha congratulates Pulse Percussion, which just brought home its second WGI World Championship. Pulse plays the new Yamaha 9300 Series Marching Snare Drums and new 8300 Series Multi-Toms and Bass Drums. Like all Yamaha marching percussion instruments, they deliver superior hardware performance, increased tone projection and exemplary articulation. These features are the result of ten years of Yamaha research with the world’s top performing ensembles. So it's no surprise that these instruments — placed in the hands of an indoor percussion group with the talent and ingenuity of Pulse — build champions!
“Just when we thought things couldn't get better, they did! We were fortunate to debut the brand new line of marching percussion from Yamaha this season and were exited for everyone to have
the chance to hear these great instruments in action. Years of testing has paid off to create an even better line of battery instruments with the same great qualities you expect with even better upgrades all around!” – John Mapes Program Coordinator, Battery and Visual Designer
www.4wrd.it/wgifocus
QUALITY
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SUPPORT
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PROFESSIONALISM
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VA L U E
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Official WG WGi Merchandise
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The Difference Between
Good and Great
Whether it’s a touring act or a marching competition, the real world is a harsh, brutal place for drum equipment. That’s why, after four decades, Tama continues to develop its gear side-by-side with the artists who play our drums. Not only are our many innovations pretty clever, they’ve been proven to work “in the trenches.” Our snares and carriers are great examples of ingenious solutions to age-old problems that have been winning the attention of marching drummers everywhere. Get the whole story at tamamarching.com
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WGIQ Images The 2014 World Championships featured ensembles from 36 states and ďŹ ve countries. Can you name the state (or province) and country of origin for the groups pictured here? ATX Winterguard
1
Capital City
2
Rowland HS
7 Mechanicsburg HS
11
4
5
Jamestown HS
Sparkman HS
8
9
Empire 10
Trumbull HS
12
Ben Davis HS
16
Interplay
Dojo
Legacy
6
3
Nease HS
Eclectix
13
Upland HS 14
Paramount
17
Hilton HS 15 Washington HS
18
Decatur Central HS 19
Field of View
20 Vigilantes Indoor
Farmington 23
St. Brendan 24
PureFusion
Hart HS
21
22
1
6
11
16
21
2
7
12
17
22
3
8
13
18
23
4
9
14
19
24
5
10
15
20
25
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Answers at wgi.org/wgiq
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www.wgi.org
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every performance * avilable Now! individual prelims & semi-finals
DOWNLOADS
FINALS DOWNLOADS Bundles
individual prelims & semi-finals
DVDs
FINALS DVDs* *Ships in July
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