Palm Desert: Building a Middle School Program
By Trudy Horsting
José Alejandro Peña is the program director of Palm Desert Charter Middle school. In this piece, he shares how he built the program, how working with a middle school program differs from working with older groups, and his advice for those aspiring to begin or grow a younger color guard team.
5 Reasons to Volunteer for World Championships
WGI World Championships is the pinnacle of the indoor marching arts activity. Thousands of performers spend months rehearsing their productions and perfecting their technique to display it over the course of one final competition weekend. Running an event this large would never be possible without the many moving arms of our volunteers. From the moment […]
Clover HS 2022 Feature: Medusa
By Kellie Finch Clover High School’s indoor percussion ensemble is a prime example of how hard work leads to success. Led by Director of Percussion Ryan Hall , the program brought Ancient Greece to Dayton, Ohio, with their 2022 production, “Medusa.” The attention to detail and dedication from performers led Clover to a gold medal with […]
Caleb Brown: Ending the Stigma
Caleb Brown’s connection to the marching arts activity spans the course of the past 18 years, and his commitment to educating future generations both on and off the floor is an admirable feat. In addition to his lengthy resume within the activity, Brown is also making strides in the field of HIV advocacy and education. […]
WGI Mourns the passing of Mickey Kelly
With heavy hearts, WGI announces the passing of Mickey Kelly, a member of the WGI Hall of Fame and passionate advocate of the indoor marching arts. Mickey was a former Color Guard chief judge and a current adjudicator for the Percussion division of WGI. Responsible for setting new standards in program concepts, Mickey Kelly was […]
Program Costuming: Process and Advice
By Emily Ward Crafting a marching arts show involves many different creative aspects. One key component is finding the perfect uniform that will elevate the impact of a team’s show. Many companies within the marching arts industry create those one-of-a-kind uniforms for teams, and each has its own unique process for establishing its costumes. One […]
The First Indoor Winds groups: Pioneers of WGI’s Newest Division
By: Christine Ngeo Katzman As WGI Sport of the Arts celebrated its 45th anniversary in 2022, the Winds division entered its eighth season. Many groups have established themselves as front runners of WGI’s newest competitive division throughout this time. Why, and what can other groups learn? At the same time, how have these winning groups […]
Six Wives: Interview with the 2020 CGT Captains
By: Christine Ngeo Katzman Co-captains of CGT Dallas’ 2020 show remember the beauty, strength, and unity portrayed by its all-female cast. Henry VIII had six wives, and CGT Dallas had 40 female guard members to tell their powerful story in its 2020 program. Using music from the theatrical show “Six,” CGT Dallas created a set […]
World Championships
Jolesch Enterprises World Champs Photography
Make sure you stop by the Jolesch booth on the concourse at World Championships to order your 2019 World Championships action photos! Or you can order them online after the event at: Jolesch Enterprises WGI World Championships Photography
PROGRAM BOOKS
2022 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Join WGI on Wednesday April 20 as we honor three individuals whose efforts have shaped the activity with their contributions and achievements. The Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony for Tim Bray, Shane Gwaltney, and Caleb Rothe will take place at the Marriott at 9:00 PM on the evening prior to the start of the 2022 […]
Community Spotlight: Sara Solomonson
In celebration of Women’s History Month, we are honoring keystone individuals who are educating and inspiring the next generation of WGI. As we embark on our 45th anniversary season, we must acknowledge the importance of all women in the indoor activity and their roles in our success. Sara Solomonson My name is Sara Solomonson, Owner and […]
2022 Emerging Voices Award Recipients Announced
WGI is proud to announce the 2022 winners of the I AM WGI: Emerging Voices Award! James Salmond is a Camden, South Carolina native and color guard instructor at a local area high school. As a fierce advocate for the performing arts, James wishes to extend the activity into low-income areas and afford the opportunity […]
Jeleesa Levy: Claiming Your Space
In celebration of Women’s History Month, we are honoring keystone individuals who are educating and inspiring the next generation of WGI. As we embark on our 45th anniversary season, we must acknowledge the importance of all women in the indoor activity and their roles in our success. Jeleesa is a designer, choreographer, dance program coordinator, educator, […]
Liz Bannon: Team Culture and Character Education
In celebration of Women’s History Month, we are honoring keystone individuals who are educating and inspiring the next generation of WGI. As we embark on our 45th anniversary season, we must acknowledge the importance of all women in the indoor activity and their roles in our success. Liz has been involved for over 20 years in […]
The Birth of WGI
By Nebai Chavez This year marks Winter Guard International’s 45th Anniversary, and it seems fitting to recount the tale of its birth. Students of history may know all about the six visionaries who met in San Francisco, how the three regions came together in 1978, and of course, that infamous smoke machine at the first […]
2022 Class of Future Leaders Program Announced
WGI and the WGI Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee are excited to announce the 2022 class of the I AM WGI: Future Leaders Program, a mentorship and leadership opportunity for WGI performers across all regions and divisions. Color Guard Thomas Fitzpatrick Fort Mill, South Carolina Erika Plez Dover, DE Erin Whipple Shortsville, NY James […]
Cichele: Putting Your Experience to Work
In celebration of Women’s History Month, we are honoring keystone individuals who are educating and inspiring the next generation of WGI. As we embark on our 45th anniversary season, we must acknowledge the importance of all women in the indoor activity and their roles in our success. Cichele has been involved in the marching arts […]
William Martin: Diversifying the Student Experience
In honor of Black History Month, WGI is proud to feature strong African-American voices in the WGI community who are making significant contributions both in and out of the indoor marching arts. William Martin has been involved with the performing arts all his life. He started his career in pageantry with The Cavaliers Drum and […]
