Emerging Voices Award Recipient Announced
We are excited to announce our first-ever Emerging Voices Award recipient, Kennedy Riles! Kennedy has performed with Divenire Winter Guard since 2017 and currently serves as a captain for her group and is a senior at the University of Alabama. Prior to Divenire, Kennedy marched at Sparkman High School (Harvest, AL). “Over the past five years, […]
WGI Community Spotlight: Tony Lymon
In honor of Black History Month, WGI is proud to feature strong African-American voices in the WGI community who are making significant contributions in and outside of the indoor marching arts. Learn more about Tony Lymon through the graphic above!
WGI Celebrates Black History Month
WGI celebrates February as Black History Month and aspires to support the Black community and all underrepresented communities every month of the year. Our goal must be to create an environment that celebrates all individuals and provides the right conditions for each person to reach their highest potential. A worldwide awakening has taken place about the role […]
Passion without Performing in Person
DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of WGI. Any COVID-19 safety information contained in this article is not meant to substitute for medical recommendations, diagnosis, or treatment. How to Cultivate and Maintain Dedication in a Virtual World […]
WGI Welcomes BAND App as a 2020 Sponsor
WGI Sport of the Arts, the world’s leader in producing indoor marching arts events for color guard, percussion ensembles and winds groups, announced today that BAND App will serve as a Corporate Partner for the 2020 WGI season. BAND App, a leading group communication app, is built to help organize and facilitate peer-to-peer communication. “Heading into […]
Become a Volunteer
Do you want a behind the scenes look at WGI World Championships? Sign up to be a volunteer! Volunteers are essential for providing the experience that members, staff, and fans expect from WGI. The success of each event is only possible with dedicated volunteers, like you! You will have the opportunity to request a job […]
A Beloved Fan Favorite: Aimachi
By Jenny Lyons To performers standing in the tunnel of the Dayton Arena on WGI finals night, with their bare feet standing on the cool cement, hearts pounding with anticipation within their chest, anxious hands reaching out to a wall lovingly speckled with lipstick, and focused minds imagining what lies beyond the thick black curtain […]
2017 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
By Jenny Lyons On the eve of WGI prelims, amid the bustle of Championships weekend, members of the color guard activity took pause for a moment to celebrate three prolific creators, the newest inductees into WGI’s hallowed hall of fame: Michael Shapiro, Peggy Twiggs, and Jon Vanderkolff. In introducing Michael Shapiro, Fred Feeney says that […]
Medals May Fade… Friendships Remain
By David Hill To help usher in Winter Guard International’s 40th Anniversary, let’s tell the stories of some of the activity’s first “Super Guards,” each a World Champion: Quasar, Skylarks, Erte, State Street Review, Odyssey, San Jose Raiders, and Emerald Marquis. Who better to remind us all of the impact these units made than the […]
Hall of Fame 2017: Michael Shapiro
By Jenny Lyons What are the elements of a winter guard show that make us, as an audience, remember? We gravitate towards the shows that shock and awe, the ones that show us something we have never seen before, the ones that push the limits of what we thought possible within the arena. We hang […]
WGI 40: Disruptive Design
By David Hill To help usher in Winter Guard International’s 40th Anniversary, let’s tell the stories of some of the activity’s first “Super Guards,” each a World Champion: Quasar, Skylarks, Erte, State Street Review, Odyssey, San Jose Raiders, and Emerald Marquis. Who better to remind us all of the impact these units made than the […]
Ground Breaking. Legendary. Trend Setter.
By David Hill To help usher in Winter Guard International’s 40th Anniversary, let’s tell the stories of some of the activity’s first “Super Guards,” each a World Champion: Quasar, Skylarks, Erte, State Street Review, Odyssey, San Jose Raiders, and Emerald Marquis. Who better to remind us all of the impact these units made than the […]
WGI Mourns the Passing of Shirlee Whitcomb
On May 14, 1977 six people met in San Francisco to create an entity that would unify and transform the color guard activity by creating Winter Guard International, today’s leader in the indoor marching arts. WGI is profoundly sad to announce that one of those founders, Shirlee Whitcomb, passed away yesterday, January 4, 2017, at […]
Feeder Programs – Making Color Guard Great
By Hannah Corson World class color guards don’t become great overnight. Many factors go into making these groups the powerhouses that they are including hours of practice, good work ethic, and passion for the activity. For some, these things start in high school, but for others, the work starts as early as the first grade. […]
WGI 40: Love It, Do It, Believe It
By David Hill To help usher in Winter Guard International’s 40th Anniversary, let’s tell the stories of some of the activity’s first “Super Guards,” each a World Champion: Quasar, Skylarks, Erte, State Street Review, Odyssey, San Jose Raiders, and Emerald Marquis. Who better to remind us all of the impact these units made than the […]
Controversial Shows: Fantasia’s "A Good German"
By Dan Schack Since I became aware of the indoor drumline and color guard activities, I’ve wondered what deems a show “controversial.” At some point throughout my experience marching drum corps and indoor drumline, I realized that the pageantry world is a generally accepting and open-minded place. Some of the most creative, out of the […]
WGI 40: The Beginning
By Jenny Lyons On May 14, 1977 at the Sheraton-Palace Hotel in San Francisco, six people were about to change the face of the color guard activity. These individuals were brought together by the dream of an international color guard organization and the desire to create a national stage upon which the world’s top groups […]
Backstage Pass: Pre-Performance Rituals
By Michael Reed Have you ever wondered what your favorite color guard does before a show to calm the nerves and get focused? Have you ever been within earshot of a warmup area and heard an excited troupe do an enthusiastic chant? Do you know if your favorite group has their own special, unique traditions? […]
Supportive Parents – WGI’s Biggest Fans
by Hannah Corson Those who participate in WGI spend countless hours practicing, traveling, and performing each season. Year after year, these young musicians work diligently to perfect every count of their show. Although it is the performers’ passion, effort, and commitment to the activity that leads to excellence, for some, it is the support of […]
WGI Teachers Prevail After Mass Shooting
By Jenny Lyons Around 2:00 am on Sunday morning, Pulse Night Club of Orlando, Florida became home to the largest mass shooting in U.S. history. Out of the once welcoming walls of Pulse have emerged horrifying stories of a night of fun and music shattered by chaos and unthinkable tragedy after a shooter opened fire […]
