A Timeless Experience
Apr 20, 2009
By Alex Mendoza
WGI World Championships is an emotionally-charged event, with a vast spectrum of emotions ranging from sadness to happiness and the tears that tend to fall in-between. Yet, for some there are those unique instances that tend to last beyond the span of a season, if not a lifetime. One of those involves the Pacifica Percussion Ensemble, who yet again earned their unprecented fourth victory in the Scholastic Open Class. While most ensembles tend to enjoy one to two consistent years of success at the highest level, this group and their hard-earned victory signals a consistency in excellence and the ability to captive the audience and judges alike; something this activity has never seen in terms of the consecutive wins and the ability to create an award-winning product year after year.
“With that comes an added pressure of sorts because when people know Pacifica is coming out to the big dance they’re expecting it to be slamming,” John Mapes – the battery instructor/arranger – describes. “I mean when we first won it was like, ‘Ok, cool. This is happening.’ But then year after year we’re always confronted with some difficult obstacles and we work really, really, really hard. We feel fortunate enough to even be around groups of this caliber and then be rewarded for our efforts. But we know nothing is ever guaranteed. It’s always a toss-up in a way, but as long as the kids feel they’re doing the best they can then at that point the scores and the placement become irrelevant.”
Sportsmanship, camraderie and the strive for excellence is something that John Mapes and Ian Grom have instilled into the ensemble. With such a consistent track record, it comes as no surprise that there are four members in the ensemble who have been involved with Pacifica all four years since their first gold medal victory back in 2006 with their show, Opposites. Each of them carries a different perspective, hailing from various sections in the ensemble, and describing a unique story that contributes to the delicate tapestry of memories that these members have experienced across the past four years.
“All the friendships we have here in the ensemble and that all we get along with each other. We help each other out through the hard times, hype each other and just have a good time,” Blake – one of Pacifica’s snare players – says. “Back when I first started as a freshman I was in the upper battery, always hanging out with the snares and such. As those seniors left and graduated I tried to uphold what I learned from those guys and pass it down to everyone else that was involved with the ensemble.”
“This year we didn’t have nearly as many vets as we did in the past in terms of the cymbal section,” Tim – the cymbal section leader – notes. “A lot of ‘em were rookies and in the past we kind of all just worked together to make it work. But this year I took more of a leadership role in order to keep the entire Pacifica vibe going. We’re unique in respects that when people play cymbals in an ensemble they use it as a stepping stone to learn how to march, but here people actually pay attention to what we do and enjoy it. That’s why I stuck with it for four years, because it’s been fun to be part of such an active section, along with the rest of the guys in the drumline.”
“I’m really proud of everyone,” Scott – another snare player notes – notes. “And I’m gonna’ miss the busy schedule, which I know sounds kind of ridiculous, but I think that’s what make this whole thing worth it. You know, we start in May and then we work the entire year. It’s a full-year activity, but when stuff like this happens at the end it makes it worth while. We just try to do the gig and make sure it’s the best thing we can put out on the floor, because I’ve never felt like we’re the best drumline here. There are so many great drumlines out here and it’s always a gamble and we’ve gotten really lucky, but at the same time we’ve worked really hard.”
“This year has been amazing,” Brad – the front ensemble captain – smiles. “I’m the only guy who’s been in the front ensemble all four years, but this season has been really intense. For me – as one of the guys who has been here the longest – my aim was to make sure these guys understand what Pacifica is all about. We have a reputation and it’s not about winning, but we need to have a good show. We need to show them why we love the activity and I know as a freshman it’s hard to understand that concept. I was there at one point, but as the season has progressed we’ve all learned – especially the rookies – what it means to be part of this ensemble. John and Ian are always great about reminding us it’s not about the medal, but it’s about having a great performance to look at on the DVD. It’s about having fun and showing people why you love what you do.”
“You know the year we first won it felt like a dream and it was totally perfect,” Ian Grom – the front ensemble instructor/arranger – says. “It was my first time in Ohio and my first full year with the ensemble – coming out once a week and volunteering my time to help John out. Every year since then feels like it’s been harder and harder work as the rest of the Open Class groups have significantly improved. It’s so hard to stay at the top and to even be in the company that we’re in with the other top group is an honor in itself.”
“But John and I are always reminding the kids it’s not about the win. It’s about feeling fulfilled and taking the life lessons you gain from this activity. It’s about learning to work in a group and understanding there’s a certain amount of sacrifice required to be the best and be proud of the work you’ve placed into this show. I think looking at that and watching these young kids become young adults is what renews our commitment to the activity – both as designers and instructors – because there are some great things that happen here with these kids. Plus, the life skills you gain here are priceless and it’s such in a positive experience for the members, because you apply them in the real world.”
As such, personal accounts such as these are but a small portion of the other untold experiences each member – staff and ensemble based alike – carries with them throughout the season and beyond. There are the phantoms that linger in the lot – both at the Nutter Center and the University of Dayton Arena – of performers that have come and gone in the past; a series of unknown legacies both minute and grand in terms of scope and scale. The important aspect to remember, though, is the fact the activity allows us to create such priceless and timeless experiences; something to reflect upon in a latter stage of our lives and smile.
Obviously all good things come to an end, but even as the doors are closed on another season of competition, the memories never fade. The music never stops. And the friendships people develop extend beyond the reaches of high school, or age-out limits. This segment of their life merely presents another series of wonderful opportunities that mold them from young students to young adults. That in itself is a rare and beautiful thing, but at the same time is what makes this activity so profound – the ability to recollect on an emotional level few people will ever understand and be much better individuals for that same reason.
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