Yes, I know it’s still 2019, but the marching band season is coming to a close and I’m already feeling withdrawal.
Every winter, I break out my camera and (reluctantly) access my non-Twitter social media accounts so I can cover the indoor color guard, percussion, and winds activity for the Ohio Indoor Performance Association and Winter Guard International. After such a banner year for the marching arts in 2019, I am very excited to see what the 2020 season brings us.
UPDATED 5/22/19 – The first Drum Corps World review assignments are out. I have updated my schedule below to show the reviews AND Drum Corps Planet live coverage I’ll be providing this summer. Keep your eyes peeled for more updates as the schedule is further finalized.
Now that I follow and attend indoor events during the winter and spring, there is a sense of withdrawal which takes place between WGI Championships and the start of the drum corps season. Fortunately, that period is only for a couple months, but it’s still there. In order to get myself psyched for the upcoming season, I love to plan out what shows I will go to throughout the summer for both DCI and DCA. That plan is what you see on this page.
Note that at least some of these shows will also feature live coverage by me for Drum Corps Planet and/or a show review by me for Drum Corps World. There may also be a few other things in the works as well which I am not at liberty to discuss at this time. I will update this list with which shows get what coverage from me.
It’s the beginning of the end of the 2019 indoor season. All across the country, indoor color guards, drum lines, and winds groups are gathering for their state and regional association championships. Some are also preparing for the 2019 Winter Guard International championships in just a few weeks. Nevertheless, it’s a bittersweet time as the members of these groups prepare to perform together for the final time this season.
For me, the end begins in Wapakoneta High School in Wapakoneta, Ohio, site of the 2019 Ohio Indoor Performance Association state championships. The championships take place over the weekend of March 30 (color guard) and March 31 (drum line and winds). Hundreds of young performers will spin, dance, and play in front of their family, friends, instructors, and fans while also competing for the chance to be champions in their class.
As I have in the past, I will be providing social media coverage for both days of OIPA championships. Be sure to follow the OIPA social media feeds to see all of the photos I post online. If you’re at the event, make sure you also post your photos and updates using the hashtags #oipa2019 and #oipafinals, as well as tagging OIPA’s social media accounts.
While I posted many photos for WGI on their various social media platforms, I took many more photos and have uploaded them to my SmugMug account. These photos are free for you to check out and share. All I ask is that you give me credit if you share any photos from my collection.
With the cancellation of the OIPA Premiere due to weather, my first indoor marching arts event of the 2019 season becomes the Winter Guard InternationalTroyIndoor Percussion Regional. The Troy regional is one of two percussion regionals taking place during the first weekend of WGI’s 2019 season.
I will be working on the WGI social media team, switching between their Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and Snapchat accounts. Be sure to subscribe to and follow those accounts on the 9th so you can see my posts! If you’ll be at the Troy regional, be sure to share your photos and comments on social media with the hashtag #wgitroy
In just two weeks, the first event of the 2019 indoor color guard, percussion, and winds season takes place. Thousands of performers will start taking the floor, literally, to entertain the fans and compete with each other, culminating in April at the Winter Guard International World Championships in Dayton, Ohio.