By Jenny Lyons
On the eve of WGI prelims, amid the bustle of Championships weekend, members of the color guard activity took pause for a moment to celebrate three prolific creators, the newest inductees into WGI’s hallowed hall of fame: Michael Shapiro, Peggy Twiggs, and Jon Vanderkolff.
In introducing Michael Shapiro, Fred Feeney says that he “looks at where we are, and shows us where we may be.” It is this pioneering spirit, this drive to elevate the activity beyond itself, that all three of this year’s inductees share. Each has been a gem of their generation, pushing the activity forward in their own time and unique way.
Michael Shapiro, most well-known for captivating audiences through his work with Corona and Tarpon Springs, was honored for his standard-setting equipment writing. His choreography, trend-setting and influential in its exploration of body, time, and space, has pushed boundaries and captured the imagination of generations of performers and audience members alike. Beyond stretching the realm of possibility in equipment work, Michael’s choreography, hallmarked by unique musicality, expressive movement, and seemingly impossible tricks, tells a story. “At the end of a Michael Shapiro show, we all feel like we have lived,” says colleague and friend Feeney. Through his sharp style and creative voice, Shapiro is able to to communicate with and touch those who watch his work in a way that makes an indelible impact. It is clear through those who spoke so highly of Michael, that though his accolades are extensive, his heart lies not in the scores, but in the creation of something new, the feeling that is created by his work, and in his immense compassion for his students.
Jon Vanderkolff, the final inductee into this year’s Hall of Fame, well-known for his work with Emerald Marquis, Blast!, Bluecoats, Northview HS, and the Santa Clara Vanguard, was celebrated for his memorable innovations in design and the dozens of beloved, distinctive shows he has created over the years. Dale Powers hired Jon as a young creator, brimming with ideas but without color guard experience, at Emerald Marquis on the distinct feeling that he would bring great things to the program. His instincts could not have been more correct, as Jon would go on to create some of color guard’s most unparalleled moments, first with Emerald Marquis and later with the Santa Clara Vanguard. Of Jon, he says, you can be sure that his creations are never “going to be something that anyone had seen before.” He embraces risk, and the results of said risks have captivated the hearts and minds of audiences, judges, and performers alike for years. What makes Jon Vanderkolff so special in the activity, Denise Bonfiglio says, is that he “works from the heart.” There is a true honesty that he shares with his staff and members that shines within the programs he creates. It is this honesty that make both Jon’s radiant programs and his students’ experiences so unforgettable.
As we look forward to this year’s edition of WGI’s Championships week, a new year’s worth of passionate performances that will propel the activity onward and upward, moments unlike the ones we have seen before, and shows that we will talk about for years to come, it is important to look back at those who have brought us to this moment. Celebrating three of the most talented creators of our time, now honored within the Hall of Fame, amid the warm reception of the induction ceremony, it is clear that the activity’s future is as bright as ever. Congratulations to Michael Shapiro, Peggy Twiggs, and Jon Vanderkolff on your well-deserved induction into the 2017 WGI Hall of Fame.