By MJ Johnson
WGI Sport of the Arts is pleased to announce the appointment of Denise Bonfiglio as the Color Guard Chief Judge.
A lifelong leader in the pageantry arts, Bonfiglio has been involved with WGI since its earliest years and has contributed at multiple levels of the organization. She played an important role in the development of the current adjudication system and has spent decades supporting excellence in performance, education, and evaluation.
Bonfiglio is recognized as a member of the Hall of Fame for WGI Sport of the Arts, Drum Corps International, the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame, and the Massachusetts Drum Corps and Music Hall of Fame. She has served as a WGI adjudicator since 2002, the Education Coordinator for the Massachusetts Judges Association since 2021, and has completed multiple terms on the WGI Steering Committee. Throughout her career, she has been dedicated to preserving WGI’s adjudication philosophy while fostering a collaborative and educational environment for performers, designers, instructors, and adjudicators.
Having spent decades on both sides of the sheets as an instructor and adjudicator, Bonfiglio brings a unique perspective to the position.
“I’ve had the opportunity to experience this activity from many viewpoints,” she says. “I understand the tremendous amount of training, preparation, and artistry that goes into every performance. Our responsibility as judges is to understand the designers’ intent, recognize the performers’ achievement, and evaluate it fairly and consistently. Most of us were performers ourselves, and our goal is always to get it right.”
As Chief Judge, Bonfiglio’s priorities center on consistency, communication, and growth.
“One of my primary goals is to ensure consistency throughout the activity, regardless of class or location,” she explains. “As WGI continues to grow, our adjudication system must evolve with it. I also want to strengthen communication between member units and the Chief Judge role so that we can better serve the needs of the activity.”
Bonfiglio is equally committed to developing the next generation of adjudicators.
Reflecting on her appointment, Bonfiglio adds:
“As I begin this new role, I do so with great respect for the responsibilities it carries. I look forward to working alongside the Color Guard judging community, our instructors, performers, and member organizations as we continue to strengthen and advance the activity together.”
WGI extends its congratulations to Bonfiglio on her appointment and looks forward to her successful tenure!
About the author:
Madison Johnson graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a BA in English Language and Digital Technologies with a concentration in Technical Writing. She currently works as a copywriter for a Software as a Service company in Charlotte, NC. She was a member of Étude Winter guard for five years from 2015-2019.
