Focus On: Tates Creek Indoor
Oct 9, 2009
At the 2009 WGI World Championships, Tates Creek Indoor Ensemble placed 3rd in Percussion Independent Open with their show “Bionic”, receiving their first ever World Championships medal. After just missing out on a medal the previous year (4th place at the 2008 WGI World Championships), TCIE knew how difficult, yet rewarding, the PIO class is. Earning the opportunity to perform on Saturday at WGI Finals and competing for a World Championship provides both performers and instructors with a feeling that words cannot describe. It is the possibility of earning that experience that has driven TCIE since the day it was formed, and it is that feeling that drives its members to raise the bar every season.
In 2004, Tates Creek High School (of Lexington, KY) assembled a group to compete in the Percussion Scholastic Open Class. The Central Kentucky area had never really seen a competitive Scholastic Percussion Ensemble compete regionally or nationally, so TCHS was thrilled to represent its state at the WGI Dayton Regional where it finished 4th in its first ever WGI Contest. The following year, TCHS competed at their first ever WGI World Championships.
After graduating 18 members in 2005 and taking the 2006 season off, TCIE was formed in 2007 out of TCHS alumni, current TCHS students, and a handful of percussionists in the Central Kentucky area. Over the last two years, TCIE has been comprised of performers from TCHS, the University of Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky University, Morehead State University, and surrounding high schools. Not only did TCIE have a 7th grader in the 2009 Ensemble, not one member had previous drum corps experience.
Along with its 2009 WGI Championship Bronze Medal, TCIE won a gold medal at the 2008 WGI Dayton Regional and the 2009 WGI Indianapolis Regional. The group also won PIO gold the past two seasons at the Tri-state Circuit Championships.
The 2009 TCIE staff included Brian Flack (Director/Music Composer), Michael Collins (Asst. Director/Visual Design), Justin Fisher (Caption Head), Sarah Allen (Front Ensemble Tech), Louis Kelly (Tenor Tech), and Adam Miles (Bass Tech). TCIE's 2009 Sponsors consisted of Innovative Percussion, Yamaha Percussion, Remo Inc., and FJM Uniform Design. Instruments and rehearsal space are furnished by Tates Creek High School. The Directors and staff at TCHS have been supportive since day one and without them TCIE wouldn't operate. TCIE would like to thank everyone who has contributed to its success.
Please visit www.tatescreekindoor.com for more information.
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