By Megan Doyle
WGI’s Independent A Class contains dozens of ensembles with some of the most talented young performers in the world. Many of these groups are relatively new and have made it to the finals floor in Dayton, Ohio within just a few years of being founded. One of these groups is RGV Winterguard based out of Edinburg in the Rio Grande Valley area of Texas, under the direction of Ashley Ledezma and Jessica Savino. Established in 2022, RGV was a World Championships Independent A Class finalist in 2025 and the winner of WGI Independent A Class Fan Favorite.
RGV’s 2025 program “Experience in Green” was a jazzy, fun, and upbeat show with a monochromatic color palette. According to director Ashley Ledezma, the show concept came from countless brainstorming sessions with her small team of staff. Ledezma states that the music was chosen first, and inspiration struck when a friend told her, “you can always do a show about a color.” Ledezma decided that this idea could be something special and stand out from the competitors. From there, “Experience in Green” was born, as the directors were intrigued by the idea of combining shades of green with jazz music and funky choreography.
Something that made this program stand out in Independent A Class was not only the unique and eye-catching concept, but also the wide range of technical ability and mature understanding of movement quality all the performers possessed. When asked about the process behind uniting students from various schools and experience levels to achieve a shared standard of excellence, Ledezma explained that all the performers were from the area and many of them competed against each other in a scholastic setting. No student was further than 40 minutes from the program, making it easier for Ledezma to encourage cooperation amongst members, with veterans helping rookies of the program get on the same page.
One of RGV’s main values as a program is accessibility. RGV Winterguard is “committed to making color guard accessible to all, regardless of financial circumstances.” Ledezma mentioned that, prior to establishing RGV, there were no independent programs available in the area for students seeking a color guard education. According to a 2023 report from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, Hidalgo County, Texas, where RGV is located, is one of the lowest-income counties in the country, so it was even more difficult for students to receive affordable and quality instruction. Ledezma believes that there is “too much talent for no opportunity.” With this in mind, RGV was born with a goal of making color guard accessible for students in one of the poorest counties in the state. Marching can be a pricey endeavor, but RGV keeps fees low with fully volunteer staff, payment plans, alumni support, and lots of fundraisers. Ledezma mentioned that she had lots of sponsors and resources when she marched, so her goal is to return the favor to color guard students in her area.
Every year, hundreds of ensembles travel from all over the country to compete in WGI World Championships in Dayton. RGV is one of the many groups that must make a long (and sometimes arduous) trip across the country to take the floor in the University of Dayton Arena. Ledezma mentioned that it was the ensemble’s first time traveling to Dayton for WGI, so they were all extremely eager to see where the trip took them. When discussing how traveling such a long distance with young performers can be a challenge, Ledezma mentioned how they were in Dayton the week that a tornado struck the area. The students and staff had to stay in a storm shelter the night before their preliminary performance and got little rest. Ledezma said that very careful planning of the itinerary and emphasizing rest time for the students is crucial, and this sudden turn of events made that point even stronger. While the journey to Dayton can be intimidating for directors and performers who have never gone, it is possible to be highly successful with careful planning and consideration.
RGV’s age as a program makes their climb to success even more impressive. In under three years, the program went from an idea to a renowned ensemble within WGI, placing 11th in Color Guard World Championships Finals. When asked what advice that Ledezma would give to new directors, she noted that having a good support system of mentors to give you honest feedback is crucial. For Ledezma, these people were Stephanie Furniss of Juxtaposition and Tim Newburn of Cypress Independent. People with years of experience and wisdom can be an amazing resource.
“It’s also important to be aware that it is a process when you have a younger group,” she says. Ledezma said that during their first year competing, they did not have any goal when it came to how they placed competitively. In the second year, their goal was to attend a WGI Regional. And most recently, year three was their first year attending World Championships. “Younger directors should be okay with finals being years away,” she said, and to take pride in what you can do for your program.
RGV Winterguard is a group of extremely talented and versatile performers. With affordable and quality education available in the program, young performers from the Rio Grande Valley area can achieve their dreams in the marching arts.
About the author:
Megan Doyle is a freelance feature writer for WGI Sport of the Arts, telling stories that highlight the people, passion, and performance behind the activity. Based in Dayton, Ohio, she focuses on thoughtful pieces that capture the heart of the marching arts community.
