Winter Guard International

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The logo of Winter Guard International.
The logo of Winter Guard International.

Spawning from the organization Drum Corps International (DCI), Winter Guard International (WGI) was founded in 1977. WGI is a visual, performing arts organization that hosts regional and national competitions for color guard and indoor percussion ensembles. Contests are held in the U.S. and Canada and WGI headquarters is located in Dayton, Ohio.

Six people were responsible for the birth of this performing arts organization in San Francisco: Don Angelica, Shirlee Whitcomb, Stanley Knaub, Bryan Johnston, Marie Czapinski, and Linda Chambers. Together they created the first division of WGI, the Color guard division. The second division, Indoor percussion, would not be established until 1992.

WGI was created as a competitive vehicle for the performing arts. The organization sets standardized rules and criteria, provides educational clinics and resources, and manages competitions on a regional, national, and international scale.

Contents

[edit] Mission Statement

"WGI Sport of the Arts exists to foster positive experiences for all who participate, by promoting education, creativity and freedom of expression through the unification of pageantry and the performing arts."

[edit] Scholarship Opportunities

As a part of their commitment to education, WGI offers scholarships every year. One member from each color guard or percussion group, performing at the Championships, qualifies to apply. More than $200,000 has been awarded to WGI participants over the years. The scholarship money is collected through raffles, World Champion Program sales, and donations. Recipients are announced at the end of the night at the World Championships.

[edit] Color Guard

The visual art form of color guard incorporates spinning flags, rifles, sabres, and other various pieces of equipment, while performing to a selection of music, classical to contemporary. Dance is also featured and integrated into the spinning. WGI began with only 30 participating color guards. Today, it has grown to over 400 guard and percussion groups.

[edit] Competition

At the conclusion of a competitive season that starts in January, guards and percussion ensembles come together to compete within their respective divisions at the WGI World Championships every April. To qualify for competition, both guard and percussion groups must perform in at least one WGI regional contest during the season. The World Championships are usually held in Dayton, Ohio, however, every few years Chamionships are temporarily relocated (2004 - San Diego, California, 2001 - Milwakuee, Wisconsin, 1997 - Phoenix, Arizona.)

[edit] Competition Classifications

WGI classifies color guards into two divisions: Scholastic and Independent. Scholastic guards are made up of members from the same high school. Independent guards do not associate themselves with any one school and may have members of all ages.

WGI goes on to divide these two divisions even further into classes. There are three classes in each division: Novice, A Class, Open Class, and World Class. Novice is for color guards just starting out and who are new to WGI. A Class is for intermediate level ensembles. Open class is for those better than A Class, World Class is the highest class, reserved for experienced and superior color guards. Independent World class is the only class with no age restrictions. Performers in A and Open class "age-out" at 22 years old, and can no longer compete in those classes after their twenty-third birthday, but may continue performing with the Independent World Class.

  • Scholastic Novice
  • Scholastic A
  • Scholastic Open
  • Scholastic World
  • Independent Novice
  • Independent A
  • Independent Open
  • Independent World

[edit] Indoor Percussion

In 1992, WGI oversaw the development of the second division, Indoor Percussion. Only six groups competed the first year, and that first year Clovis West High School of California won the Championships. Indoor Percussion ensembles perform a musical selection while also featuring marching drill patterns and tying in artistic visual effects.

[edit] Competition Classifications

Like the Color Guard division, Indoor Percussion saw such a rapid growth that there became a need for multiple classes. As of 1999, eight classes have been created to accommodate Indoor Percussion's rising popularity. The concert classes are designed for scholastic percussion ensembles who do not feature marching in their performance.

  • Percussion Scholastic A (PSA)
  • Percussion Scholastic Open (PSO)
  • Percussion Scholastic World (PSW)
  • Percussion Independent A (PIA)
  • Percussion Independent Open (PIO)
  • Percussion Independent World (PIW)
  • Percussion Scholastic Concert Open (PSCO)
  • Percussion Scholastic Concert World (PSCW)

[edit] List of World Class Champions

List of World Class Champions in different classes (* denotes tie)

COLORGUARD:

Scholastic World

Independent World

  • Fantasia of Riverside Community College (2000, 2002, 2004, 2006)
  • Pride of Cincinnati (2001, 2005)
  • San Jose Raiders (1990'*, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2003)
  • Emerald Marquis (1999)
  • Blue Devils (1995, 1996, 1997, 1998)
  • Blessed Sacrament (1990*)
  • State Street Review (1985*, 1986*, 1987, 1988, 1989)
  • Odyssey (1986*)
  • Erte Productions (1985*)
  • Skylarks (1984)
  • Cavaliers (1981, 1982, 1983)
  • Phantom Regiment (1979, 1980)
  • Quasar (1978)


PERCUSSION:

Percussion Scholastic World

  • Center Grove High School (2005, 2006)
  • Centerville High School (2004)
  • Winston Churchill High School (2003)
  • Avon High School (2002)
  • Mission Viejo High School (2001)
  • King Philip High School (2000)
  • Dartmouth High School (1998, 1999)
  • Northglenn High School (1997)
  • John Overton High School (1996)
  • Hatboro Horsham High School (1995)
  • Lincoln Way High School (1994)
  • Clovis West High School (1993)

Percussion Independent World

Percussion Scholastic Concert World

[edit] External links

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