2022 WGI Discussion Thread (Non-Face-Mask Edition?)

[lost]

Interesting to note some things from marching season seemed to have bled into WGI. 

Vista Ridge with some high movement analysis scores coming from two seasons with very choreography heavy Vento shows despite tough placements in other captions.

Friendswood once again with very high GE scores compared to other captions, like we saw on their UIL design sheets.

Winston Churchill with some incredibly solid technical work in their fundamentals lagging in design and general effect, dragging their score down a little. Churchill has had these design issues for a couple of few years sadly.

Just a few noticings.

 

[Rubisco]

I think there are some things that we see in the marching season that bleed over to the winter guard season, like unique equipment skills, for example. But I'd be a little more hesitant to draw comparisons with the specific marching band scores, just because guard is rolled non-specifically into multiple captions in the fall marching band season.

Design stuff, maybe we can make comparisons for those groups that use the same designers/design teams for their winter guard shows as their marching shows. Michael Gaines writes for both Carmel's band and guard, for example. Their 2017 national championship show at BOA, Serenity, borrowed the swingset pieces from their WGI championship show earlier that year. I believe Avon uses (or used) Richard Hinshaw for both, and their 2015 oil show at BOA was repurposed for their world guard at WGI in 2016. But that's not always the case. The reason I brought up Vanderkolff earlier was because The Woodlands uses him for marching band, but I think typically the old Code Black team collaborates on their guard design, since their guard director was one of the directors of that group back in the day.

[VinoGirl]

Just reading through all these posts...I'm totally knocked out. Things sure have come a long way since I was in Flag Corps back in 1986! 🤣 We didn't even have our own competition. Can't wait to see and learn more about this talented world of colorguard! 

[Rubisco]

I had some errands to run before and after, but I caught lots of great performances today in prelims at the first WGI Indy regional. Finals will be tomorrow. The Indy regional is pretty much always a good place to catch performances of future world class medalists and finalists, and this year was no different. I was able to watch all of scholastic open and the world classes. I also went back and caught Carmel A and Brownsburg in scholastic A.

Going into this contest, I might have been leaning toward a Carmel win in the scholastic world class, but after seeing the groups, it was clear Avon was the best. Actually, I'm in 100% agreement with the world class placements in prelims, and the guards were mostly better than I expected they would be. Lots of fairly gentle, elegant shows in the scholastic world class. Avon's is called The Age of Anxiety and features clear plexiglass walls that the performers use to construct little boxes to hold themselves in, as if trapped by their anxieties. This is a clever visual device, especially because the walls catch the light in interesting ways, creating an almost maze-like effect on the floor. Lots of mirrored choreography by performers on the opposite sides of the plexiglass. Huge tosses, clean catches, great choreography -- the show is just all-around excellent. At the end, they topple over the walls, like they're breaking free from their anxieties.

Carmel, kind of similarly, has a show called The Unbearable Lightness of Being. I'm not sure how strongly it's influenced by Milan Kundera's book, but I think it's more just about the general feeling elicited by the title. It opens with some very angsty choreography, almost a little humorous for me. There's not much on the floor besides an odd silvery contraption that rolls around and that they put members into. Trapped by your existence? I don't know. But the show was executed well and maintained my interest from high up. I also always appreciate a more intellectual style of show.

Miamisburg, Warren Central, and Fishers were all better than I expected they would be based on last year's virtual performances. Miamisburg's floor design is just opulent, something like a recreation of a Victorian era parlor room. A lot of furniture gets moved around to create some really interesting staging from high up. I think the show is called Love Dream, like we're experiencing the dream that the member sleeping in the top left of the floor is having. Warren Central, who in my mind wasn't that far behind Miamisburg, did a socially conscious show called My World, with Aaron Copland's Appalachian Spring. Okay, we've heard the music a million times before, but I did find it interesting how they create the floor from different squares at the end, spinning them around and putting them together like a puzzle, before taking the pieces off the floor entirely and leaving the performance space empty of performers as the music wraps up. That was cool. And Fishers, they did a show called Timeless featuring "Time in a Bottle" by Jim Croce and a floor that looked like it was inspired by George Seurat's Sunday Afternoon. Never underestimate a floor design, and staging in general, that's just really nice to look at. And the performers were awesome as well. Way beyond what I expected.

Center Grove and Northview were definitely unexpected disappointments for me. Center Grove's show, Mysterium, actually features a lot of the same sort of difficult skills that Center Grove was nailing in last season's virtual contest, but this run from them was really rough. Drops galore. Same can be said about Northview's program. It's called Pearl, which references a Janis Joplin album, whose music is featured in the show. There's a somewhat campy element to the white boas and the white boa curtains and the lounging around that I really appreciated in Northview's show. I also appreciated the change in style and energy from the previous world class shows. But the execution wasn't there today.

Pride of Cincinnati and Onyx were both outstanding, go figure. Onyx's Sure on This Shining Night (using the Lauridsen piece) is yet another typical Onyx show. Sleek black, ink-like forms on a blank, white canvas. Actually, at this point, can we say that they're defying expectations by NOT doing something conceptually fresh? At the same time, it's hard to complain, because of the insane execution and the brilliance of the staging. I mean, composition-wise, this is one of their best shows in years. Looots of clever moments (and goosebump moments) in the staging and just in the performance in general. Meanwhile, Pride of Cincinnati's show, Adios, is way more aggressive. Super propulsive Benjamin Clementine song that I'll admit did grate on my nerves a little bit (The De-cis-ion was MINE! The De-cis-ion was MINE!), but it was a nice change of pace from all the bloodless gentleness. Pride has these three, silver lever set pieces that they strap their members into, like they're astronauts in training or something, and they float up into the air, spinning around, doing insane skills, doing exchange tosses, etc. Completely brilliant, but that's what we've come to expect from them. There's this part in the staging where these horizontal lines come together from opposite sides and then eventually a triangle rifle block forms around them. Ugh. Chef's kiss. Perfection. Anyway, neither of these two shows was spotless, they've got some significant room to grow, but I look forward to seeing them at the end of the season.

[packwick]

i think Center Grove had a director change. not 100% sure but it used to be Mike Bolla I think. maybe lost a strong senior class too.

[Rubisco]

Results from Indy were posted a few hours ago. Similar/same placements as prelims. Overall, I thought the guards gave better performances in finals. This regional was actually held a week earlier than usual, but the scores were just about as high as usual, which is interesting.

Also, I totally messed up about the Pride staging moment I really liked. I combined two separate moments into one moment in my memory. I was watching in finals, and was like, "Here it comes!" But then the other half of it didn't come until several minutes later. 😂 Individually, they were still very effective.

WGI returns to Texas next weekend with regionals in both Dallas and Houston. I think Dallas will be streamed live on Flo. The guards at Indy really set the bar high. We'll see if any in Texas can match them.

[packwick]

i didn't know Charlie retired from directing Pride. great guy, very fond memories from high school. i like that they're still innovating. i get sick of seeing the same crap over and over. have your whole guard do an exchange but with a saut de chat mid-air catch or something. something different, anything!

[packwick]

also, i appreciate you doing this. i can't sit through an entire guard contest. too much bad music/treacly pop ballads. i'm like a fat guy on a chaise longue eating bonbons. i pretty much only watch the top independent world groups.

[Rubisco]

  On 2/18/2022 at 12:53 AM, packwick said:

also, i appreciate you doing this. i can't sit through an entire guard contest. too much bad music/treacly pop ballads. i'm like a fat guy on a chaise longue eating bonbons. i pretty much only watch the top independent world groups.

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😂😂😂

You're welcome.

For those interested, here's a link to a document that answers many frequently asked questions related to WGI judging. If you've looked at the actual score sheets and don't know the various terminology, this may help.

https://wgi.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/19-FAQwKARLNotes.pdf

[LeanderMomma]

  On 2/18/2022 at 2:40 AM, Rubisco said:

😂😂😂

You're welcome.

For those interested, here's a link to a document that answers many frequently asked questions related to WGI judging. If you've looked at the actual score sheets and don't know the various terminology, this may help.

https://wgi.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/19-FAQwKARLNotes.pdf

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Wow!  Amazing info, thank you!

[LeanderMomma]

If y’all didn’t see Coppell HS at WGI Dallas today, you missed out!  They had one of the most fun and exciting Open Class shows I’ve ever seen. It was about Toys, and it was full of tricks and tosses and dance, and I wanted to jump through my phone and join them on the floor!!  I have GOT to figure out a way to see this thing live!  

Oh and their JV guard was absolutely adorable with their Ice Cream show. 

Well done Coppell!

[Rubisco]

Agreed on Coppell! They really brought a James Logan kind of energy to that performance. And the entire set was so delightful, with the Barbie boxes and the toys coming off the conveyor belts. Not a big fan of the music, but it fits the style of the show. They'll also need to clean it up significantly to close that gap with Marcus, which honestly seemed a little too big. Marcus' show was very elegant, though, and they gave the stronger performance tonight.

Loved McKinney. (We're getting a lot of rainbow eye floors this year!) Very clean and difficult and elegant. 83+ score! I don't remember if they're going to Nats or not, but that would put them probably at the top of the national rankings at the moment.

I also really liked Keller Central's Killer Bees show with the Rachmaninoff music.

Flower Mound gave a great (first-time) world class performance. I didn't catch the title. They've got a sort of fun-house mirrors backdrop that reflects the performers in interesting ways. Kind of raggedy looking black dresses to start (kind of crow-like), but they get removed eventually. Nice job on the tosses while playing jump rope! Lots of high tosses with clean catches. Some tetherball as well. FM is using the ramp from their marching show, which allows them to play with levels a little bit, performing tosses off the sides of the ramp back to the ground. Overall, a fairly dark and strange show (stark contrast to their bubblegum JV show), but that 72 score is really a great first time score -- one that would, I think, normally put them in the running for finals at Nats, if they were going.

[Rubisco]

WGI Houston wasn't streamed, but I'm looking at the results. Some pretty high A class scores. Bridgeland dominated with an 83 in prelims, but Friendswood nearly caught up in finals. Less than a point separated 2nd to 5th in prelims. Bridgeland will be going to Nats, so they'll probably be ranked 1st place in the standings for now, which is exciting. Pflugerville was in 3rd at WGI Houston with an 81-something, just edging out The Woodlands JV, also with an 81.

The Woodlands varsity is doing right where I projected they would. Going into the contest I thought they'd probably get a 77-something, and they got a 77.2, I think. This will put them very slightly below Warren Central in the standings. I haven't seen TWHS' full show, but I'm not sure the design will be able to compete with Miamisburg's show, which is super elegant. Nevertheless, that's a great early season score. I can't recall one as high out of Texas in scholastic world at this point in the season. I think my beloved Bowie 2016 show got a 75 at this point, but that one may have needed more time for people to warm up to it. 😄

[Rubisco]

I believe next weekend all the TCGC events are being streamed on FloMarching. Georgetown and Klein Cain are both pretty packed. Also, I think Flo incorrectly has Klein Cain listed as Klein Collins, but the list of entries matches the Cain list.

[packwick]

was at WGI Houston prelims from the 2nd A round 'til the end of prelims. suuuper impulsive, last minute decision. sat near the upstairs judges. survived a lot of bad pop music with my IQ intact.

favorites: Bridgeland. everything had great musicality, from the staging to the choreo. sprinkle of above level tricks well performed but noooot commiting class fraud thankfully. accurately predicted they'd win the round by at least 2 points.

Clear Brook. Creep is overplayed, but the towering backdrops with the paintings of deranged Bratz doll faces left an impression. strong performers.

Grand Oaks. are gypsy shows in good taste? don't know, but for such a young program, they were very impressive. if Lady Gaga says it's ok, i guess it's ok. is Mike still the band director over there? ah, the memories.

my alma mater's groups were good. a little disappointed they didn't have any costumes yet. they were the only two groups without them. incomplete silks as well, unless they're going with solid colors.

i found myself criticizing the A group like they're a varsity group. why aren't they projecting style and energy and character in between phrases? whyyyy aren't the phrases connected? why wasn't that uniform? would it kill them to toss higher than a quad? what in the world is this show about? add some fork in the road arrow signs or something. the fact i thought these things of a JV group is kind of high praise. keep it up.

world class group, lots of room to grow, lots of moving parts, maybe a little too busy at times. music design is.... diiifferent, kinda strange. lacks a bit of forward motion in the middle section. there's a part where they just kind of stop everything and slowly walk to the middle of the floor. certainly isn't generic. explosive flag feature at end looks like it'll hit the ceiling. wow, ok. always project confidence and clarity, don't look confused. but overall very impressive.

[Rubisco]

  On 2/21/2022 at 2:34 AM, packwick said:

was at WGI Houston prelims from the 2nd A round 'til the end of prelims. suuuper impulsive, last minute decision. sat near the upstairs judges. survived a lot of bad pop music with my IQ intact.

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Thank you for suffering for us. 😂 I immediately searched for Clear Brook on YouTube after reading your description. 😂

Speaking of suffering, I do sometimes wonder how straight men make it through a winter guard show. I just assume they suck it up for their daughters or girlfriends, but many of them must be screaming on the inside.

[packwick]

it wasn't that bad. i wouldn't have been there in the first place if it totally sucked. i have an appreciation for how difficult learning all that choreo is and how progressive the activity is. i've digged it since i first encountered it a couple decades ago.

you probably won't be seeing me at any sportsball games unless i'm drinking and getting hotdogs.

[Rubisco]

I just updated the attendance list. I was looking at the national rankings and was pleasantly surprised to see both McKinney and Friendswood in 2nd and 3rd just under Bridgeland. Southlake Carroll currently in 4th. Only about 40% of scholastic A groups have posted a score, but the TX groups in that class are killing it right now. I suspect Westlake will shoot back up after they compete again. They also scored an 83-something this past weekend, but it was at a TCGC contest.

Moe and Gene Johnson will be attending in scholastic open. They're maybe the top scoring SO group in Texas right now, so that's exciting.

[Rubisco]

I've been stalking some local circuit pages. Palm Desert Charter Middle School is knocking it out of the park again. They won a West Coast Winter Guard contest this past weekend with a 78 -- 3 points higher than the high school group in 2nd place. Super duper impressive.

Overall, though, the Cali scores seem pretty low. Chino Hills was able to get a 71.9 at a WGASC contest this past weekend, which is very solid, but the other world class groups seem significantly lower than usual. Palm Desert High School, which the middle school feeds into, got a 60.4 this past weekend, with both individual analysis scores in the 50s. Probably at least partly pandemic related, but it does make me wonder if the staff is doing everything they can to nurture that amazing talent they have coming into the program. Writing/designing for the world class is also definitely a unique challenge.

Florida groups seem to be faring a bit better. Tarpon seems about as strong as usual and will probably be somewhere in or around the top 5 at Dayton.

[LeanderMomma]

On Tuesday I had the distinct pleasure of chatting live on YouTube with Tim Hinton and Paul Simondac about some of my favorite winterguard shows from this season so far (looking at you Coppell, Johnson and Earl Warren!).  I was admittedly kinda shocked (and terrified) when the folks at Marching Arts Now reached out to me to see if I was willing to come on one of their weekly broadcasts to talk about winter guard, but I squelched the fear and had a blast doing it!  If you are as geeky of a guard fan as I am, you might enjoy watching this episode which also includes Tim and Paul talking with the incredible guard show designer Michael James. 🥰🥰

 

 

[Rubisco]

Looks like there is an issue with Flo's Klein Collins/Klein Cain TCGC stream. I don't think it has been live at all today. Maybe somebody had to back out at the last minute. Disappointing!

[Parkwoodmom]

So annoying! Maybe someone went to the wrong high school?!

 And we pay for this service.  Hopefully they the stream it later.  I’m glad BOA went to Box5.  😕

[Rubisco]

There's a stream up of Klein Cain now. I'm not sure how long it has been up, and unfortunately there's no rewind option for those of us who thought there wasn't going to be any stream at all. Also, the music is barely audible. Very disappointing. Meanwhile, Georgetown's stream is extremely low resolution with major frame rate issues. All around awful.

[LeanderMomma]

It was an appalling day as far as the FloMarching feed went. Truly appalling!  Thank GOD I’ll be attending WGI Austin live next weekend. I have zero faith in the quality of streaming for all future events this season on Flo!

[Rubisco]

The streams were SO bad! But the WGI percussion one that was going on at the same time looked great. Flo probably doesn't want to lose the WGI contract. TCGC, on the other hand...

I was going to comment, but I didn't really see anything today. (Colorful floor, CTJ! I could almost see it through the pixelation!)

I can comment on some score surprises. Churchill coming out on top in Scholastic National A at Georgetown makes me happy. I really liked the design of the show when I saw it a few weeks ago, but I didn't think the performance was there yet. Must have improved a lot! On the flip side, Cedar Ridge, another group I liked, might be flatlining a little bit.

CTJ just barely edged out the other Johnson, despite losing to the Buda team a week or two ago. 78.9 versus 78.7. Super close scores. We've got a duel! Unfortunately, CTJ won't be at WGI Austin next weekend. Eastlake will, however, and I'm a huge Eastlake fanboy. Hope they're as strong as usual! Haven't seen anything from them yet.

Klein Cain's stream had the benefit of being both pixelated AND essentially soundless, AND it didn't start until most of the contest was over. Looking at the scores, this was Woodlands domination. McCullough JH 30 points ahead of the other middle school groups (why, oh why, are they still in that class?), TWHS JV in 1st place in National A by 5 points with a score that would probably put them in the top 10 nationally, and TWHS varsity improving 4 points from last week to an 81 in the world class -- a very evenly balanced score across the captions, too.

Looking outside of Texas, Tarpon got an 82 at a Florida contest, so next weekend will hopefully provide some clarity, since both Tarpon and TWHS will be competing in WGI events. My gut says those are the two fighting for 4th and 5th at Dayton, based on what I've seen and the existing scores. (Maybe add Warren Central to that group.)

I think Miamisburg's place in the top 3 with Avon and Carmel is probably secure. Avon got nearly an 87 today at WGI Chicago, but rather shockingly, Miamisburg scored OVER an 87 at an Ohio circuit contest (with at least a couple active WGI judges). To put that into perspective, Avon beat Miamisburg by over 5 points at Indianapolis a couple weeks ago. Of course, I'll believe it when I see it happen at a WGI contest, but that improvement is exciting. Maybe we'll actually have a contest near the top this year!

Northview is seeing some major improvement in the Indiana circuit. Makes me wonder about Center Grove as well. Northview's show is a lot of fun, and I look forward to seeing it polished up at finals in Dayton. I'll have to find myself a nice white boa to wear as I watch the stream.

Arcadia and Norwin both posted scores in the upper 70s at WGI events today. I find that heartening. I think finals at Dayton will actually be a lot stronger from top to bottom than I initially expected.