WGIcon

WGIcon

SAVE THE DATE! SEPT 6th-8th

Early Bird Registration is Now Open!

DISCOVER, CONNECT, AND CREATE

WGIcon is the premier educational event for all instructors, designers, technicians, and administrators of Percussion, Winds, and Color Guard groups around the globe. Learn from some of the greatest minds in the activity throughout a single weekend filled with multiple interactive and engaging sessions. Discover your passion, connect and network with other members of the community, and create lifelong memories at WGIcon!

2024 Location Announced!

Join us this upcoming September in the beautiful city of San Francisco for a weekend of learning and connecting with some of the greatest minds in the activity! The San Francisco Marquis hotel is offering a discounted rate on rooms until August 15th. 

2024 WGicon Scholarships

WGIcon Scholarships provides ambitious educators with a weekend full of knowledge, a priceless network within the activity, and the tools to return home and grow their own marching programs. This scholarship valued at $600 will cover registration and 2 night hotel stay, is open until end of day on March 15th.  Three (3) winners will be selected by April 5th.  

2024 WGIcon

Presenters: Matt Harloff & Susie Harloff

Arguably, one of the biggest challenges of being a director or staff member of a program is NOT helping your performers excel musically or visually, but rather how to still be a wife, a husband, a son, or daughter…a mom or dad… and even a good friend. There are not a lot of classes you can take that advise on how to run a successful program & maintain a fun and healthy home life. One of the most common questions is: “How can you do drum corps, marching band, WGI & still have a family?” 

In this session, we share our journey, lessons learned, and how we balanced life in our crazy world.

Bios: Matt Harloff received a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Indiana University & Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Indianapolis. Matt is currently the director of bands at Avon High School in Avon, Indiana. He serves as the Marching Black & Gold director, co-conductor for all 5 Concert Bands, and Director of Avon Indoor Winds. Matt is also the brass caption head for Carolina Crown. Matt is married to his wife Susie & has 2 children, Tyson & Shaelyn.

Susie Harloff is from Avon, Indiana. A music teacher by day, she spends her evenings with the Avon band. She is the choreographer and movement specialist for the Avon Winds and the director of the Avon Cadet Guard. She is also the Color Guard Track coordinator for the Music For All Summer Symposium. Susie is happily married to the incomparable Matt Harloff and has loved sharing their passion for the pageantry arts with their two children, Tyson and Shaelyn.

Presenter: Gabrielle Vita

Discover the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in enhancing the precision and efficiency of color guard program management. Designed for instructors and management teams, this session will unveil AI-driven solutions to streamline operations, improve communication, and maximize organizational impact. From automating administrative tasks to providing personalized insights for instructors, explore the key highlights. Including real-world case studies and interactive discussions, take advantage of this opportunity to revolutionize your approach to organizational management in color guard using AI. Join us for an enlightening session that promises to reshape your strategies for success!

Bio: Gabrielle Vita is originally from Fredericksburg, VA. She graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a bachelor’s degree in Forensic Science. Gabrielle began her color guard training at 12 years old, performing with a local winter guard directed by her mother. After graduating high school, her color guard performance career continued with Teal Sound (2007), Jersey Surf (2008 – 2010), Blackwatch Winter Guard (2011), and The Cadets (2011). 

Gabrielle has been an educator for over 12 years. She has worked with a variety of different high school and independent programs including Daviess County HS (2013 – 2019), Eklipse (2015), James E. Taylor HS (2019 – 2022), and Origins Winter Guard (2020 – 2024) in Texas. She currently resides in Houston, TX, where she is a laboratory technician for a chemical manufacturing company pursuing a career in information technology.

Presenter: Eddie Dalton

Description: From conception to auditions, from the first rehearsal to the last, from a new program to a World Championships finalist, and from home base to Dayton and back, join MTC Travel Designer Eddie Dalton as he breaks down all the steps needed to get your program from A 2 B.

Bio: Eddie is no rookie in organizing events and tourism. Born and raised in Orlando, Eddie began his journey through the hospitality industry at Universal Studios. He then continued his journey with the Hilton Hotels. After obtaining his bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership, he made the move to Indiana. Dalton is no stranger to indoor percussion. He was a performer with Infinity Percussion 2015-16 and taught visuals for Lake Howell HS (FL). Eddie is a Travel Designer at MTC.

Presenter: Christopher Tanner

Description: Join Christopher Tanner for ‘Marching to Success: Marketing Strategies for Non-Profit Arts Organizations,’ a marketing-based session where you’ll uncover the secrets to boosting your organization’s visibility and impact. Whether you’re a band booster or leading a top-tier non-profit, this seminar is your gateway to mastering marketing techniques. Learn essential tips and tricks to elevate your outreach, engage your community, and secure vital support for your cause. 

Bio: Christopher Tanner is an experienced marketing professional with more than 25 years of expertise in the marching arts as a performer, designer, and adjudicator. Apart from his pageantry art experience, he has worked in sales, marketing, and management roles in the Fortune 500 world. Currently, Christopher is the Marketing Manager for Digital Performance Gear (DPG), and he resides in Tennessee with his wife Jennifer, son Grayson, who plays hockey, and their cat, Bauer.

Presenter: Matt Harloff

Description: Unfortunately, there aren’t any magic words or pixie dust that instantly transform a marching band, concert band, or winds group. Upgrading the sound quality in any musical ensemble takes time, focus, effort, constant reminders, and a well-developed plan. This session will share tips, exercises, daily routines, and a few helpful stories that will hopefully improve your ensemble’s sound.

Bio: Matt Harloff received a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Indiana University & Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Indianapolis. Matt is currently the director of bands at Avon High School in Avon, Indiana. He serves as the Marching Black & Gold director, co-conductor for all 5 Concert Bands, and Director of Avon Indoor Winds. Matt is also the brass caption head for Carolina Crown. Matt is married to his wife Susie & has two children, Tyson & Shaelyn.

Presenter: Wayne Dillon

Description: Let’s face it, evaluating General Effect in the marching arts can feel like comparing apples to oranges or dogs to ponies. In this workshop, we will look at the necessary skills for judges and designers to navigate GE assessment across various marching arts platforms. Participants will explore the intangible factors that make up show design and audience engagement, delving into methods for comparing different design and performance elements. Techniques for assessing aesthetic, intellectual, and emotional responses will be discussed. Finally, we will address the inherent subjectivity of GE judging while providing strategies for minimizing bias.

Bio: Wayne Dillon holds a master’s degree in jazz performance/Pedagogy from the University Of Miami (FL). He is the former Director of Bands at Elizabeth HS in NJ. Wayne is currently the Chief Judge for the Winds division of WGI. He also serves as an adjudicator for Drum Corps International and Bands of America. Wayne is on the Music Admin team for FFCC outdoor, and works as an educational clinician for Conn Selmer.

Presenter: Andrew Markworth

Description: In this session, we will dive into some best practices for putting together a backing track for a WGI Winds group. Let’s discuss sample libraries, mixing, speaker placement, arranging, rehearsal tips, and more, including examples of some previous projects.

Bio: Andrew Markworth is a composer, arranger, and consultant who writes for marching bands, indoor percussion and winds groups, and drum corps all over the world. He is currently the music director for Rhythm X. He was the Music Arranger/Coordinator for the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps from 2015-2020 and the Front Ensemble Arranger/Coordinator for Carolina Crown from 2007-2014. Andrew is currently the full ensemble music arranger for Vandegrift High School, Centerville High School, and many others.

Presenters: Zack Novicki & Stephen Alia

Description: LSM Winds and Horizon Winds are currently the only two WGI Winds programs to compete in all three classifications (A, Open, and World). Join their directors, Zack Novicki and Stephen Alia, as they discuss what led to their program’s reclassifications, how they handled the changes, and the notable differences between competitive classes.

Zack and Steve will host a brief Q&A towards the end of this session so attendees can better evaluate what competitive classification may be best for their winds program.

Bios: Zack Novicki is the Associate Director of Bands at Southgate Community Schools and the Executive Director/CEO of LSM Performing Arts. In his time at LSM, he has helped lead LSM Winds to 7 World Championships Finals appearances, including back-to-back WGI Winds World Championships (2022 WIA, 2023 WIO). LSM Winds is now in the Winds Independent World Class. Zack has actively served on the WGI Winds Advisory Board since 2015 and is currently a member of the Winds Steering Committee.

Stephen Alia is honored to serve as the Executive Director for the Horizon Pageantry Arts Association, Inc., a Florida not-for-profit organization, as well as as the Interim Director of Horizon Winds. He is also the designer for LSM Winds, Kent City Winter Winds, Newnan HS Winds, and Black Flag Winds from East Carolina University. He serves as the Education Coordinator for the Central States Judges Association and on the Steering Committee for the Winds division of WGI.

Presenters: Olivia Spell & Jose Antonio Montes III

Description: “It Takes a Village” is not just an age-old cliché; it’s a call to action. Olivia D. Spell and Jose Antonio Montes III share how working together, investing in your students, and growing the community within your program has created an environment where students and staff can feel supported and nurtured to achieve their fullest potential.

Bios: Olivia D. Spell is a 2009 graduate of East Carolina University. In her 13th year at Corinth Holders High School, she oversees the Marching Band, Concert Band, Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble, Basketball Band, Jazz Band, Winds, Guard, and Winter Percussion Ensemble. Growing this program from the ground up has been one of the most rewarding parts of her career! Olivia enjoys traveling, shopping, and cooking. She also enjoys spending time with her husband, Ryan, and their children, Robbie and Addie Jo.

Jose Montes is a Visual Designer originally from El Paso, TX. He works with competitive marching ensembles in the US. Montes writes drill, designs uniforms/props, choreographs, is a program coordinator, runs visual clinics, and judges Indoor/Outdoor competitions across the country. He is the Executive Director of Eva Independent in Raleigh, NC. The organization has a successful winds group and is in the process of starting a Winter Guard and Indoor Percussion group under the same umbrella.

Check out the recaps from our 2019 and 2022 WGIcon events below!

2019

2022