WGI Hall of Fame - Class of 2012

WGI is proud to announce the election of Jim Haskell, Scott Johnson, and Jim Wunderlich, into the WGI Hall of Fame. These gentlemen join 46 distinguished fellow honorees.

The Hall of Fame is the highest honor presented to individuals who have influenced WGI history through their achievements and contributions. Each year, outstanding individuals who have made significant contributions to the activity are inducted.

James “Jimmy” Haskell – Indianapolis, IN

Jimmy Haskell ’s main influences to study Music Education were from his high school band director Mr. John Sutton and mother Anna Lee Haskell. He graduated from Greenwood Community HS in 1983 and attended Indiana State University where he earned his B.S. in Music Education. Jimmy student taught at Northview HS, under the tutelage of Bob and Ruth Ann Medworth, whom are no strangers to the WGI Arena.
Jimmy spent most of his later teaching career at Sheridan HS, Sheridan, Indiana. His drum line under the direction of himself, Todd Clevenger, Jason Kercheval and Dave Herrick, competed regionally and nationally with the drum line making WGI World Finals in 1996.

While Jimmy had to give up teaching to assist with the family business, Jimmy stayed very active in the percussion activity. He worked alongside Hall of Fame Member Daniel P. Fyffe and the Franklin Central Percussion Symphony. The Franklin Central Percussion Symphony “set the standard” for not only what Concert Percussion is today but has affected how all front ensembles both in indoor and outdoor lines approach, utilize, and arrange for the front ensemble as well. (WGI World Class Concert Champions; 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004 and silver medalist in 2003). Jimmy has also stayed involved in teaching, arranging, and consulting for marching/concert bands and indoor drum lines around the country.

Jimmy first worked for WGI as a Timing & Penalties Judge in 1985 at the Indy Regional. In 1995, he assisted the running of the first WGI Indy Percussion Regional where he started as T&P and logistics in prelims and by the end of the finals was the announcer. In 1996 Jimmy was one of the Founding Members of the Indiana Percussion Association (IPA) where he served as a Founding Board Member, Treasurer, and Judges Coordinator for the Associations first 10 years of existence. Jimmy started adjudicating competitions in 1997.

Jimmy’s first WGI World Championship assignment was in 2001 in Milwaukee, WI. Jimmy has since been telling people “where to go” since joining the Percussion Administration team as their logician.

Jimmy currently resides in Indianapolis, Indiana with partner Rob and their four dogs. Jimmy’s sister Joanie is also involved in the pageantry arts and announces competitions throughout the Midwest. Jimmy’s father, Jim Sr., resides in Florida with his wife Barb. Jimmy’s mother Anna, his biggest fan, passed away from Cancer in 1996.

Scott Johnson – Pittsburg, CA

Scott Johnson’s musical training began at the age of four when he began taking drum lessons from a local percussion instructor. At the encouragement of this instructor he became involved in the drum and bugle corps activity. Before his fifth birthday, Scott joined the local Red Knights Drum and Bell Corps, and later graduated to the Royalairs Drum and Bugle Corps. Scott remained with the unit until he joined the Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps at age 18. He was a marching member in the Blue Devils snare line from 1976 through 1979. He became a member of the Blue Devil’s staff as a percussion instructor from 1978 through 1989 and later rejoined the organization in 1994 as Director of Percussion and Percussion Arranger.

During his time away from the Blue Devils, Scott was hired as Director of Percussion and Percussion Arranger for the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps from 1991 through 1993, after one year as percussion consultant in 1990. He is also the former Percussion Arranger for Riverside Community College, Holland’s Beatrix Drum Corps, San Francisco Renegades Drum and Bugle Corps, and has arranged for many drum corps and marching bands in the United States and Japan.

Scott attended his first WGI Championship in 1997, and from that point on he was hooked! He brought two scholastic groups to championships that year - Logan HS, which placed 7th in Scholastic World and Clayton Valley HS, the Scholastic A gold medal winner. In 2002 and 2003 Scott brought Riverside Community College to their first WGI Championships, winning gold and silver medals respectively.

Scott’s passion for the indoor activity led him to the other side of the equation – judging – and his assignments have included numerous marching band and percussion competitions around the world, including WGI and PAS championships, South African and Indonesia Championships, and the Bands of America Grand National Championships.

Scott also served on the first WGI steering committee and was a member of the advisory board for several years.

Personal awards include two WGI gold medal championships, fourteen DCI titles, twelve DCI High Percussion titles, three DCA gold medal titles, two DCA High Percussion titles, ten DCEurope championships, nine DCEurope High Percussion titles, nine High Percussion titles in Japan, and 1977 DCI & PAS Individual Snare champion.

Scott is one of the most sought after Marching Percussion clinicians. He has held numerous percussion clinics in the United States, Japan, Canada, Belgium, Germany, Holland, Scotland, South Africa, South Korea, and Indonesia.

Jim Wunderlich – Corona, CA

Jim Wunderlich was born in Washington D.C. in 1970. He was surrounded by music at birth; his father was a French Horn player in the Washington National Symphony Orchestra. This surely must have etched music, especially his father's love for all things classical, into his subconscious.

Jim's musical training started with a brief stint of piano lessons at a young age. Years later, he began playing drum set in junior high school. When he entered high school, he became enthralled with playing marching percussion. He learned from several instructors, including Matt Savage and Michael Ellerby. After high school, Jim felt the desire to teach & arrange music for the activity that he loved so much. At that point his instructing career began with the full support of his loving mother, Rejeanne.

A pivotal moment in Jim's life came after marching with the Suncoast Sound in 1989; He began work with now-longtime friend Mike Jackson at Mission Viejo High School. Jim was still a "battery guy", but tinkered with his piano, synthesizers & sequencer at home. It was decided that HE should write the pit music! Thus beginning his writing career that still continues today.

Jim has helped to churn out 16 years of PSW Finalist ensembles at Mission Viejo, such as the Gold Medalist performances of "XII" in 2001 and "Indivisible" in 2007. He brought his Mission Viejo concert ensemble to WGI, winning medals in 2004 & 2005. Jim has also arranged for Riverside Community College since 2004, capturing WGI Gold Medals in 2005 & 2007. He spent several years at Loara High School helping create what many perceived in WGI as a standard in the PSA class, winning several medals along the way.

Jim credits Steve Yates with his first interest in front ensemble arranging, picking Steve's brain whenever he could. He also credits arrangers such as Ralph Hardimon during his years at SCV for creating a front ensemble sound that, in his mind, was unparalleled. Field-electronic pioneers such as Dave Glyde & Jeff Lee of the Clovis West fame were also strong influences in electronic sound production.

Fast forward, Jim is now currently entering his seventh year with the Concord Blue Devils, where he has gained two Fred Sanford trophies as front ensemble arranger & caption head. Jim also serves in the same position for Tokyo's Soka Renaissance Vanguard, helping win drum titles over the past 2 years.

Jim has served on the WGI Percussion Advisory Board since 1996, and is a founding member of the Southern California Percussion Alliance. He is a highly sought after front ensemble & wind arranger, and actively works on several projects in SoCal while also running his music website, Wunderpit Music.

Jim currently resides in Corona, CA where he spends his extra time with his loving wife Eileen and their dog Henry.

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