Winter Guard International

Winter Guard International

Black and white logo
Abbreviation	WGI
Named after	Winter color guard competitive season
Formation	May 15, 1977 (1977-05-15)
Founded at	San Francisco
Type	501(c)(3) organization
Tax ID no.	31-1421760
Legal status	Active
Purpose	Color guard, percussion ensemble, and winds competition circuit
Headquarters	Dayton, Ohio
Region	United States
Executive Director	Ron Nankervis
President	Ed Devlin
Revenue (2022)	US$8.025 million
Expenses (2022)	US$4.334 million
Website	wgi.org

Winter Guard International (WGI) is an American governing body that sanctions championship events for three competitive performing arts activities: winter guard, percussion ensembles, and indoor wind ensembles. WGI was founded in 1977 in response to inconsistent adjudication and rules of competition which made it difficult for color guards to compete nationally. Today, WGI publishes and maintains an adjudication handbook, with an accompanying "Rules & Regulations", that has been widely adopted.

WGI championship events are hosted from January to March and conclude with WGI World Championships in April. The first World Championship was hosted at Conant High School in Hoffman Estates, Illinois on April 15, 1978. World championships for percussion ensembles began in 1992, and indoor marching bands, called winds, in 2015. A series of field band competitions, promoted as the WGI Friendship Cup were hosted from 1997 to 2003. The next World Championships is scheduled for April 2025 at UD Arena.

A majority of WGI's championships are hosted in the United States, however regional championships have been hosted in Japan, Malaysia, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Philippines, and Costa Rica.

History

Prior to the formation of WGI, national color guard championships, or other high-prestige championships, were held in conjunction with drum corps or marching band championships, such as: VFW, American Legion, CYO, or DCI World Championships. The quality of hosts varied widely, as did as the quality of venues and adjudication. As an example, the 1977 "national" color guard championship was held in conjunction with DCI World Championships in Denver. The venue was far too small, there was no functional air conditioning, and the performance area required color guards to maneuver around structural columns.

In 1977, then director of the Seattle Imperials, Stanley Knaub, secured a sponsor—Western Youth International—and a potential venue for a new national championships. However, Knaub was encouraged to seek input from others in the activity by Shirlee Whitcomb and Bryan Johnston. Knaub invited color guard educators from across the country to a meeting on May 14, 1977, at the Sheraton Palace Hotel in San Francisco. Those in attendance included: Don Angelica, Marie Czapinski, and Linda Chambers, in addition to Whitcomb, Johnston, and representatives from Western Youth International. All agreed any future national championship should be held independent of any drum corps or marching band events. Knaub suggested scheduling the championship during the winter months when most color guards competed locally—after marching band season when scholastic bands focused on concert events, but prior to the drum corps season. Whitcomb, Czapinski, and Chambers, advocated for a regional championship system with a national championship at the end of the winter season. The name "Winter Guard International" was suggested by Don Angelica.

A follow-up meeting at the December 1977 DCI Rules Congress included representatives from thirteen color guard circuits and adjudicator associations. The representatives adopted a draft adjudication system and rulebook, as well voting on an organizational structure. Lynn Lindstrom, director of the Midwest Color Guard Circuit, was elected the first Executive Director of WGI. Four competition circuits each donated $250 to fund WGI's first competitive season of fourteen regional championships and a two-day national championship called WGI Olympics. The first championship was hosted by Conant High School in Hoffman Estates, Illinois on April 14–15, 1978. In attendance were twenty-five color guards, the top fifteen advanced to the finals competition. National championships would become the WGI World Championships in 1990.

About

WGI is a nonprofit association governed by a board of directors, with an Executive Director, responsible for day-to-day operations. The board of directors are chosen from among the directors of competing groups, and at-large members are chosen from the community of color guard, percussion, and winds educators. The board of directors is legally and financially responsible for the conduct of the organization. In 2022, WGI's various programs and activities generated US$8.025 million in revenues.

Mission and purpose

The mission of organization is to provide a venue for young people to achieve the extraordinary through performance and competition. WGI organizes "high-energy and enjoyable" events for color guard, called winter guard, percussion and winds, divisions. The organization also aims to improve quality of the competing groups through leadership development and education. This includes standardized adjudication.

WGI frequently partners with companies that provide services and products to competing groups, as well as leading educators in other fields to highlight the activity. The organization is promoted using the tagline: Sport of the Arts.

Advisory Boards

Each of the three competitive divisions (color guard, percussion and winds) are led by Advisory Boards who are responsible for the "adjudication and competitive attributes" of sanctioned events. Advisory boards are also responsible for nominating and electing members to the board of directors.

The Advisory Boards meet annually, usually a few months after World Championships, to discuss changes to rules of competition, adjudication, and policies and procedures, and to make recommendations to the board of directors. The promotion of competing groups is also the responsibility of the Advisory Boards.

Membership

Groups that compete at WGI events are required to pay a membership fee, in addition to an attendance fee for each event. Only groups who compete in a regional, beginner, class with limited availability (Regional A Class) are excused from paying a membership fee. The fees support general operations, and provide capital for future events, educational services, and research and development.

Scholarships

WGI awards academic scholarships to members of competing groups, which are announced during awards ceremonies at World Championships. According to the WGI website, over US$35,000 is awarded annually, and US$1,000,000 has been awarded since 1978. Funds for scholarships are raised via raffles drawn during WGI events known as "Fifty-fifty".

Hosted competitions

Using a competition-based approach for organizing events, WGI "aims to showcase youth activities" by pursuing a "high standard of achievement." More than sixty regional championships are hosted every year, from mid-January to the late-March. Many are hosted with the aid of WGI's regional circuit partners. Regional championships attract hundreds of color guards, percussion and winds ensembles, and thousands of participants. To qualify for World Championships, groups must compete in at least one regional championship.

World Championships regularly attracts over 350 color guards, 250 percussion ensembles, and over 40 winds groups. Championships occur over two consecutive weekends in early or mid-April. Future World Championships dates have been reserved until 2024.

Alterations due to Covid-19

In March 2020, the 2020 World Championships were cancelled in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021 WGI season was conducted using online tools as a WGI Virtual Season. Participants were given the option to participate in solo, small group, and large group categories.

Past championship sites

Year	Site
1978	Conant High School Hoffman Estates, Illinois
1979	Veterans Memorial Coliseum Madison, Wisconsin
1980	Cape Cod Coliseum Cape Cod, Massachusetts
1981	Onondaga County War Memorial Syracuse, New York
1982	Memorial Gymnasium Vanderbilt University Nashville, Tennessee
1983–1989	UD Arena University of Dayton Dayton, Ohio
1990	Buffalo Memorial Auditorium Buffalo, New York
1991–1996	UD Arena University of Dayton Dayton, Ohio
1997	American West Arena Phoenix, Arizona
1998–2000	UD Arena University of Dayton Dayton, Ohio
2001	Bradley Center Milwaukee, Wisconsin
2002–03	UD Arena University of Dayton Dayton, Ohio
2004	Cox Arena San Diego State University San Diego, California
2005–present	UD Arena University of Dayton Dayton, Ohio

Classification and adjudication

Winter Guard

Main article: Winter guard

Winter guard is the indoor variant of color guard and is a combination of the use of flags, sabers, mock rifles, and various other equipment and props. Performances include dance and other interpretive movement. Color guards are common among high schools, middle schools, some universities, and also some independent organizations such as drum corps, or they are community organizations. The term "winter guard" is taken from the season most color guards compete as single units, and not part of marching bands or drum corps.

Percussion

An indoor percussion ensemble or indoor drumline consists of the marching percussion (also called the "battery") and front ensemble (also called pit or front line) sections. Many ensembles, like color guards, are attached to a competing marching band or drum corps, but many are independent ensembles. Indoor percussion integrates musicality, marching and movement, and theater arts. The activity is referred to as percussion theater by WGI.

Winds

Winds ensembles are small marching music ensembles composed of a variety of instrumentations. These ensembles are distinct from field bands, or marching bands. Many take advantage of marching horns, as well as woodwinds, rhythm sections, and a pit ensemble. Unlike their outdoor counterparts, WGI Winds compete indoors on a performance area roughly the size of a standard basketball court. WGI's previous experiments in marching band competition were known as the Friendship Cup. Winds

Divisions and classes

Groups attending WGI events are organized according to a multi-tier system, placed in one of two divisions, and dozens of classes.

• Independent Color guard, Percussion, and Winds divisions are reserved for groups composed of performers who are not associated with a particular school. Independent groups often draw performers from a large geographic area.
• Scholastic Color guard, Percussion, and Winds divisions are reserved for groups composed of performers from the same high school, or high school equivalent, or a school within the attendance zone of that particular high School. The Scholastic division was created in 1980. Prior to the division's creation high school groups competed against Independent groups.

Divisions are further grouped into classes based on experience and achievement:

• Regional A is for new and inexperienced groups. This class is not available at World Championships.
• A Class, often referred to as National A or National, is for groups new to national competition.
• Open Class is for groups who consistently perform at an intermediate developmental level.
• World Class is the highest available class and is reserved for experienced groups. The World classes in both Scholastic and Independent are the most competitive and the highest prestige.

Historic classes and divisions

The following are the divisions and classes represented at World Championships.

Notes:

• The tables below are simplified and do not reflect when specific competitive classes and divisions were defined in the WGI Adjudication Handbook.
• Other classes and divisions may be represented at regional championships or other WGI-sanctioned competitions.

Color guard division

1978–79	1980–1984	1985–1990	1991–92	1993–present
Open Class	Class A	Independent A (IA)
	Open Class	Independent Open (IO)	Independent World (IW)	Independent Open (IO)
				Independent World (IW)
	Scholastic Class	Scholastic A (SA)
		Scholastic Open (SO)	Scholastic World (SW)	Scholastic Open (SO)
				Scholastic World (SW)

Percussion division

1993–1996	1997–2000	2001–2014	2015–present
Scholastic A (PSA)	Scholastic A (PSA)
	Scholastic Open (PSO)
	Scholastic World (PSW)
Scholastic Concert World (PSCW)		Scholastic Concert Open (PSCO)	Scholastic Concert A (PSCA)
			Scholastic Concert Open (PSCO)
		Scholastic Concert World (PSCW)
Independent World (PIW)	Independent Open (PIO)	Independent A (PIA)
		Independent Open (PIO)
	Independent World (PIW)

Adjudication

WGI Adjudication Manuals for color guards, percussion, and winds, championships divide scoring in set reference criteria known as captions forming a scoring rubric. Each caption is subdivided into elements such as performance analysis, design analysis, and effect evaluation. The adjudication manual is multi-tiered, meaning each competitive class—Regional A, A Class, Open Class, and World Class—has a set of scoring sheets listing differing criteria and descriptions for each caption.

Color guard captions and scoring

Captions	Category		Points
Equipment	Vocabulary (10)	=	20.00
	Excellence (10)
Movement	Vocabulary (10)	=	20.00
	Excellence (10)
Design	Vocabulary (10)	=	20.00
	Excellence (10)
Effect	Composition (10)	=	20.00 x 2
	Excellence (10)
	Subtotal		100.00
	Timing & Penalties		- 0.00
	Total		100.00

Marching percussion captions and scoring

Caption	Category		Points
Music	Composition (10)	=	30.00
	Performance Quality (20)
Visual	Composition (10)	=	20.00
	Performance Quality (10)
Music Effect	Overall Music (15)	=	30.00
	Music Effect (15)
Visual Effect	Overall Visual (10)	=	20.00
	Visual Effect (10)
	Subtotal		100.00
	Timing & Penalties		- 0.00
	Total		100.00

Concert percussion captions and scoring

Caption	Category		Points
Music	Composition (20)	=	50.00
	Performance Quality (30)
Artistry	Program (20)	=	50.00
	Fulfillment (30)
	Subtotal		100.00
	Timing & Penalties		- 0.00
	Total		100.00

Winds captions and scoring

Caption	Category		Points
Music Analysis	Composition (15)	=	30.00
	Achievement (15)
Visual Analysis	Composition (15)	=	30.00
	Achievement (15)
Overall Effect	Repertoire (20)	=	40.00
	Communication (20)
	Subtotal		100.00
	Timing & Penalties		- 0.00
	Total		100.00

Media

Contemporary Color is a 2016 film directed by Turner Ross and Bill Ross featuring performances of several winter guard teams. The film was produced as a collaboration between David Byrne, Michael Gottwald, Dan Janvey and Josh Penn. Similarly, "On Guard: A Story of American Youth" is 2023 documentary film directed by Allen Otto and executive produced by Jim Czarnecki. The film follows the journey of an all-female color guard team at Bel Air High School whose goal is to qualify for the 2020 WGI World Championships, which were ultimately canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with a performance dedicated to the victims of the 2019 El Paso Shooting.

Past champions

Source(s): 

Color guard (1978–present)

Year	Open Class	—	—	—	—	—
1978 (1st)	Quasar Boston, MA
1979 (2nd)	Phantom Regiment (1) Rockford, IL
Year	Open Class	—	A Class	Scholastic Class	—	—
1980 (3rd)	Phantom Regiment (2) Rockford, IL		West Bridgewater HS West Bridgewater, MA	Holley Central HS (1) Holley, NY
1981 (4th)	Cavaliers (1) Rosemont, IL		Conquest Wood Ridge, NJ	Holley Central HS (2) Holley, NY
1982 (5th)	Cavaliers (2) Rosemont, IL		Elizabeth HS Elizabeth, NJ	Marcus Whitman HS Rushville, NY
1983 (6th)	Cavaliers (3) Rosemont, IL		Woonsocket HS Woonsocket, RI	Canandaigua Academy Canandaigua, NY
1984 (7th)	Skylarks Fairfield, CT		Blue Horizon Rolling Meadows, IL	Center Grove HS (1) Greenwood, IN
Year	Independent Open (IO)	—	Independent A (IA)	Scholastic Open (SO)	—	Scholastic A (SA)
1985 (8th)	Erté Wakefield, MA & State Street Review (1) Madison, WI		St Anthony's Imperials Everett, MA	Union HS (1) Tulsa, OK		Westerville South HS Westerville, OH
1986 (9th)	State Street Review (2) Madison, WI		Final Analysis Jackson, MS	Center Grove HS (2) Greenwood, IN		Hillwood HS Nashville, TN
1987 (10th)	State Street Review (3) Madison, WI		Studio One Flint, MI	Union HS (2) Tulsa, OK		Victor J. Andrew HS Tinley Park, IL
1988 (11th)	State Street Review (4) Madison, WI		Alliance Boston, MA	Union HS (3) Tulsa, OK		Abraham Lincoln HS San Jose, CA
1989 (12th)	State Street Review (5) Madison, WI		Accents Sheboygan, WI	Tate HS Gonzalez, FL		North Penn HS Lansdale, PA
1990 (13th)	San José Raiders (1) San Jose, CA & Blessed Sacrament Cambridge, MA		Genesis II St. Catherine's, Ontario	Center Grove HS (3) Greenwood, IN		Lincoln-Way Central HS New Lennox, IL
Year	Independent World (IW)	—	Independent A (IA)	Scholastic World (SW)	—	Scholastic A (SA)
1991 (14th)	San José Raiders (2) San Jose, CA		Sacred Heart Roslindale, MA	Miamisburg HS (1) Miamisburg, OH		Salisbury HS Allentown, PA
1992 (15th)	San José Raiders (3) San Jose, CA		South Shore (1) Chicago, IL	Miamisburg HS (2) Miamisburg, OH		Southport HS Indianapolis, IN
Year	Independent World (IW)	Independent Open (IO)	Independent A (IA)	Scholastic World (SW)	Scholastic Open (SO)	Scholastic A (SA)
1993 (16th)	San José Raiders (4) San Jose, CA	St Patrick's Shamrocks Stoneham, MA	Nouveau Houston, TX	Bishop Kearney HS (1) Rochester, NY	Centerville HS (1) Centerville, oH	Lakeland HS White Lake, MI
1994 (17th)	San José Raiders (5) San Jose, CA	Chimeras Murfreesboro, TN	Florida Visual Gainesville, FL	Bishop Kearney HS (2) Rochester, NY	Pomona HS (1) Arvada, CO	John Overton HS Nashville, TN
1995 (18th)	Blue Devils (1) Concord, CA	Fantasia Riverside, CA	The Company St. Petersburg, FL	Bishop Kearney HS (3) Rochester, NY	John Overton HS Nashville, TN	Mt. Carmel HS San Diego, CA
1996 (19th)	Blue Devils (2) Concord, CA	The Company St. Petersburg, FL	St Ann's (1) Neponset, MA	Bishop Kearney HS (4) Rochester, NY	Springboro HS Springboro, OH	Lassiter HS Marietta, GA
1997 (20th)	Blue Devils (3) Concord, CA	Shadow Danse Caldwell, NJ	St John's Cambridge, MA	Bishop Kearney HS (5) Rochester, NY	Lassiter HS Marietta, GA	Kings HS Kings Mills, OH
1998 (21st)	Blue Devils (4) Concord ,CA	Patriots Rochester, NY	Nolan Catholic Fort Worth, TX	James Logan HS (1) Union City, CA & Miamisburg HS (3) Miamisburg, OH	Kings HS Kings Mills, OH	Carroll HS Dayton, OH
1999 (22nd)	Emerald Marquis Wakefield, MA	Nolan Dallas/Fort Worth, TX	The Lakota West Chester, OH	James Logan HS (2) Union City, CA	Pomona HS (2) Arvada, CO	Nease HS Ponte Verde Beach, FL
2000 (23rd)	Fantasia (1) Riverside, CA	St Ann's (1) Neponset, MA	Infinity Greenville, SC	James Logan HS (3) Union City, CA	Franklin Central HS Indianapolis, IN	Lake Mary HS Lake Mary, FL
2001 (24th)	Pride of Cincinnati (1) Cincinnati, OH	St Ann's (2) Nesponset, MA	Esperanza de Luz San Diego, CA	James Logan HS (4) Union City, CA	Avon HS Avon, IN	Walton HS Marietta, GA
2002 (25th)	Fantasia (2) Riveside, CA	Oracle Denver, CO	Lealta San Diego, CA	James Logan HS (6) Union City, CA	Irondale HS New Brighton, OH	Fletcher HS Neptune Beach, FL
2003 (26th)	San José Raiders (6) San Jose, CA	Lealta San Diego, CA	Terpsichore Fairfield, CT	James Logan HS (6) Union City, CA	Centerville HS (2) Centerville, OH	Santaluces HS Lantana, FL
2004 (27th)	Fantasia (3) Riverside, CA	Sacred Heart Roslindale, MA	St Ann's (2) Nesponset, MA	James Logan HS (7) Union City, CA	The Woodlands HS The Woodlands, TX	Kennesaw Mt. HS Kennesaw, GA
2005 (28th)	Pride of Cincinnati (2) Cincinnati, OH	Interplay (1) Grand Rapids, MI	St John's of Beverly Beverly, MA	James Logan HS (8) Union City, CA	Kennesaw Mt. HS Kennesaw, GA	Freedom HS Orlando, FL
2006 (29th)	Fantasia (4) Riverside, CA	Croatan Independent Newport, NC	Étude Rock Hill, SC	James Logan HS (9) Union City, CA	Cheshire HS Cheshire, CT	Gates Chili HS Rochester, NY
2007 (30th)	Pride of Cincinnati (3) Cincinnati, OH	Code Black Houston, TX	Rhapsody Seattle, WA	James Logan HS (10) Union City, CA	Carmel HS Carmel, IN	Taravella HS Coral Springs, FL
2008 (31st)	Fantasia (5) Riverside, CA	Alter Ego West New York, NJ	Cascades Vancouver, WA	Flanagan HS Pembroke Pines, FL	Northmont HS Clayton, OH	Colonial HS Orlando, FL
2009 (32nd)	Santa Clara Vanguard (1) Santa Clara, CA	Rhapsody Seattle, WA	State of Art East Lansing, MI	Avon HS (1) Avon, IN	Marian Catholic HS Chicago Heights, IL	North Syracuse Central HS Cicero, NY
2010 (33rd)	Onyx (1) Dayton, OH	O2 (1) Dayton, OH	Pacificaires (1) Surrey, British Columbia	James Logan HS (11) Union City, CA	West Johnston HS Benson, NC	Little Elm HS Little Elm, TX
2011 (34th)	Santa Clara Vanguard (2) Santa Clara, CA	Pacificaires Surrey, British Columbia	South Shore Drill Team (2) Chiacgo, IL	Carmel HS (1) Carmel, IN	Oak Ridge HS Conroe, TX	O'Fallon Township HS O'Fallon Township, IL
2012 (35th)	Onyx (2) Dayton, OH	O2 (2) Dayton, OH	Impact Northern Virginia	Flanagan HS Pembroke Pines, FL	Freedom HS Orlando, FL	Somerville HS Somerville, NJ
2013 (36th)	Pride of Cincinnati (4) Cincinnati, OH	Identity San Marcos, TX	Luminosa Buffalo, NY	Carmel HS (2) Carmel, IN	Mechanicsburg HS Mechanicsburg, PA	Bellbrook HS Bellbrook, OH
2014 (37th)	Onyx (3) Dayton, OH	UCF Pegasus[h] Orlando, FL	Georgia State University Atlanta, GA	Tarpon Springs HS (1) Tarpon Springs, FL	Spring HS Spring, TX	Lyman HS Longwood, FL
2015 (38th)	Santa Clara Vanguard (3) Santa Clara, CA	Interplay (2) Grand Rapids, MI	St Ann's (4) Neponset, MA	Carmel HS (3) Carmel, IN	Somerville HS Somerville, NJ	Marvin Ridge HS Waxhaw, NC
2016 (39th)	Pride of Cincinnati (5) Cincinnati ,OH	Juxtaposition Westerville, OH	Paramount A Atlanta, GA	Tarpon Springs HS (2) Tarpon Springs, FL	Shenendehowa HS Clifton Park, NY	Bellevue West HS Bellevue, NE
2017 (40th)	Pride of Cincinnati (6) Cincinnati, OH	AMP Camden, NJ	FIU (1) University Park, FL	Carmel HS (4) Carmel, IN	Stockdale HS Bakersfield, CA	Klein Oak HS Klein, TX
2018 (41st)	Paramount (1) Atlanta, GA	UCF Pegasus (2) Orlando, FL	Pacificaires (2) Surrey, British Columbia	Avon HS (2) Avon, IN	Park Vista HS Lake Worth, FL	Leander HS Lender, TX
2019 (42nd)	Pride of Cincinnati (7) Cincinnati, OH	George Mason University Fairfax, VA	Icon Los Angeles, CA	Avon HS (3) Avon, IN	Fishers HS Fishers, IN	Fleming Island HS Fleming Island, FL
2020 (43rd)	Championships cancelled
2021 (44th)	Ratings only
2022 (45th)	Pride of Cincinnati (8) Cincinnati, OH	USF Tampa, FL	FIU Gold (2) University Park, FL	Avon HS (4) Avon, IN	Kiski Area HS Leechburg, PA	Somerset Academy Pembroke Pines, FL
2023 (46th)	Paramount (2) Atlanta, GA	Vox Artium San Diego, CA	Pacificaires (3) Surrey, British Columbia	Carmel HS (5) Carmel, IN	Somerset Academy Pembroke Pines, FL	Dobyns-Bennett HS Kingsport, TN
2024 (47th)	Fusion Parsippany, NJ	Georgia Athens, GA	Georgia State University (2) Atlanta, GA	Avon HS (5) Avon, IN	Ayala HS Chino Hills, CA	Arlington HS LaGrangeville, NY

Scholastic percussion (1993–present)

Year	—	—	Marching A (PSA)	Concert World (PSCW)	—	—
1993 (16th)			Clovis West HS	No champion
1994 (17th)			Lincoln-Way HS Central	Baldwinsville HS (1)
1995 (18th)			Father Ryan HS (1) (A) Hatboro-Horsham HS (AA)	Baldwinsville HS (2)
1996 (19th)			Avon HS (A) (tie) Father Ryan HS (2) (A) John Overton HS (AA)	Gateway HS (1)
Year	Marching World (PSW)	Marching Open (PSO)	Marching A (PSA)	Concert World (PSCW)	—	—
1997 (20th)	Northglenn HS	Avon HS (1)	Clayton Valley HS	Gateway HS (2)
1998 (21st)	Dartmouth HS (1)	Arvada HS	Johansen HS	Franklin Central HS (1)
1999 (22nd)	Dartmouth HS (2)	Centerville HS	Ayala HS	Franklin Central HS (2)
2000 (23rd)	King Philip HS	Father Ryan HS	Loara HS (tie) Thomas Worthington HS	Franklin Central HS (3)
Year	Marching World (PSW)	Marching Open (PSO)	Marching A (PSA)	Concert World (PSCW)	Concert Open (PSCO)	—
2001 (24th)	Mission Viejo HS	Avon HS (2)	Springboro HS	Franklin Central HS (4)	Union HS
2002 (25th)	Avon HS	Choctawhatchee HS	New Palestine HS	Franklin Central HS (5)	New Albany HS
2003 (26th)	Winston Churchill HS	Thomas Worthington HS	Clovis East HS	Fort Mill HS (1)	Portsmouth HS (1)
2004 (27th)	Centerville HS	Rancho Cucamonga HS	Loara HS (2)	Franklin Central HS (6)	Mission Viejo HS
2005 (28th)	Center Grove HS (1)	Clear Brook HS	Page HS	Fort Mill HS (2)	Goshen HS
2006 (29th)	Center Grove HS (2)	Pacifica HS (1)	Mariner HS	Ayala HS (1)	Heritage HS
2007 (30th)	Mission Viejo HS	Pacifica HS (2)	Greenfield-Central HS	Ayala HS (2)	Mansfield HS (1)
2008 (31st)	Dartmouth HS (3)	Pacifica HS (3)	South Hills HS	Claremont HS	Mansfield HS (2)
2009 (32nd)	Dartmouth HS (4)	Pacifica HS (4)	Los Alamitos HS	Ayala HS (3)	Muscle Shoals HS (1)
2010 (33rd)	Ayala HS	South Hills HS	Timber Creek HS	Ayala HS (4)	Golden HS
2011 (34th)	Arcadia HS	Pacifica HS (5)	Chantilly HS	Muscle Shoals HS	Portsmouth HS (2)
2012 (35th)	Chino Hills HS (1)	South Hills HS (2)	Lebanon HS	Woodbridge HS	Hickory HS
2013 (36th)	Chino Hills HS (2)	Upper Darby HS	Hilton HS	James Logan HS	Clayton HS
2014 (37th)	Dartmouth HS (5)	Clinton HS	Victor J. Andrew HS (1)	Ayala HS (5)	Goshen HS
2015 (38th)	Chino Hills HS (3)	Lebanon HS	Lake Orion HS	Ayala HS (6)	Mansfield HS (3)
2016 (39th)	Ayala HS (2)	Sparkman HS (1)	Victor J. Andrew HS (2)	Ayala HS (7)	Dakota Ridge HS
2017 (40th)	Chino Hills HS (4)	Burleson Centennial HS	Fair Lawn HS	Ayala HS (8)	Tomball HS
Year	Marching World (PSW)	Marching Open (PSO)	Marching A (PSA)	Concert World (PSCW)	Concert Open (PSCO)	Concert A (PSCA)
2018 (41st)	Chino Hills HS (5)	Clear Brook HS	Plainfield HS	Fishers HS (1)	Clayton HS	Decatur Central HS
2019 (42nd)	Chino Hills HS (6)	Sparkman HS (2)	Grand Blanc HS	Fishers HS (2)	Campbell County HS	Price Charter
2020 (43rd)	Championships cancelled
2021 (44th)	Ratings only
2022 (45th)	Avon HS (2)	Sherwood HS	Clover HS	Fishers HS (3)	Muscle Shoals HS (2)	East Central HS
2023 (46th)	Ayala HS (3)	Clover HS	Irondale Combined Schools	Fishers HS (4)	Cleveland HS	Warren East HS
2024 (47th)	Chino Hills HS (7)	Victor J. Andrew HS	Spring-Ford HS	Catawba Ridge HS	Grassfield HS	Eagle HS

Independent percussion (1994–present)

Rhythm X after being awarded gold medals in Percussion Independent World Class at the 2009 Winter Guard International Percussion World Championships

Year	Independent World (PIW)	—	—
1994 (17th)	Blue Knights (1)
1995 (18th)	Atlanta Rhythm Machine
1996 (19th)	Music City Mystique (1)
Year	Independent World (PIW)	Independent Open (PIO)	—
1997 (20th)	Music City Mystique (2) Patriots (1) (PCW) UNLV (PCU)	South Mountain
1998 (21st)	Music City Mystique (3) Patriots (2) (PCW)	Freelancers
1999 (22nd)	Blue Knights (2) Cynosure (PCW) Georgia Tech (PCU)	South Maine
Year	Independent World (PIW)	Independent Open (PIO)	Independent A (PIA)
2000 (23rd)	Blue Knights (3)	Penn State	Eastside Fury
2001 (24th)	Music City Mystique (4)	Eklipse	Arthur Hill
2002 (25th)	Riverside City College (1)	Rhythm X	Plan B
2003 (26th)	Blue Knights (4)	North Coast Academy	L.E.A.P. (1)
2004 (27th)	Music City Mystique (5)	Eastside Fury	L.E.A.P. (2)
2005 (28th)	Riverside City College (2)	Surround Sound	Elements
2006 (29th)	Music City Mystique (6)	First Degree	Walled Lake
2007 (30th)	Riverside City College (3)	United	Pioneer (1)
2008 (31st)	Rhythm X (1)	Tyler Junior College	Pioneer (2)
2009 (32nd)	Rhythm X (2)	Pariah	OCI
2010 (33rd)	Pulse (1)	Palmetto	Dojo
2011 (34th)	Music City Mystique (7)	Vanguard	Madison
2012 (35th)	Riverside City College (4)	George Mason University	Spirit of America
2013 (36th)	Rhythm X (3)	Capital City	Brookwood
2014 (37th)	Pulse (2)	Cadets	Lone Star
2015 (38th)	Riverside City College (5)	Spirit of America	PureFusion
2016 (39th)	Pulse (3)	Vigilantes	STRYKE 2
2017 (40th)	Music City Mystique (8)	Infinity 2	Modulation Z
2018 (41st)	Riverside City College (6)	Matrix Open	IMPACT
2019 (42nd)	Broken City	Bakersfield College	Unity
2020 (43rd)	Championships cancelled
2021 (44th)	Ratings only
2022 (45th)	Pulse (4)	Infinity 2 (2)	Matrix A
2023 (46th)	Pulse (5)	Meraki (1)	Modulation Z (2)
2024 (47th)	Pulse (6)	Meraki (2)	M3

Winds (2015–present)

Year	Independent World (WIW)	Independent Open (WIO)	Independent A (WIA)	Scholastic World (WSW)	Scholastic Open (WSO)	Scholastic A (WSA)
2015 (38th)	Rhythm X (1)	FIU	Inertia (1)	Father Ryan HS	Ola HS	Nova HS
2016 (39th)	Aimachi (Japan)	STRYKE Wynds	FIU	Avon HS (1)	Cleveland HS	Jackson County HS
2017 (40th)	Rhythm X (2)	Chromium (1)	Inertia (2)	Avon HS (2)	Central Lafourche HS	Valley Christian HS (1)
2018 (41st)	Rhythm X (3)	Chromium (2)	Valley Christian	Flanagan HS	Azle HS	Lake Hamilton HS
2019 (42nd)	Rhythm X (4)	Chromium (3)	Daviess County HS	Cleveland HS	South Jones HS	Valley Christian HS (2)
2020 (43rd)	Championships cancelled
2021 (44th)	Ratings only
2022 (45th)	UTRGV	Chromium (4)	LSM Winds	Avon HS (3)	Miamisburg HS	Corinth Holders HS
2023 (46th)	STRYKE Wynds (1)	LSM Winds	Eva Independent Winds	Avon HS (4)	Westfield HS	Bob Jones HS
2024 (47th)	STRYKE Wynds (2)	Valhalla Winds	Ethereal Winds	Avon HS (5)	Catawba Ridge HS	Valley Christian HS (3)

See also

• Bands of America
• Drum Corps International
• Mid-America Competing Band Directors Association

External links

• Official website