Finishing out the marching band season with exciting performances in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Color Guard and percussion are transitioning into their next seasons, Winter Guard and Winter Percussion.Competitions start in January.
After a year hiatus due to lack of interest, winter percussion was reopened to the school this year due to their hard work in their field season.
“We’re doing winter percussion because our percussion is really good this year,” band director Jonathan Pwu said. “They’ve pushed really hard this year to meet new levels in the fall, so essentially it’s just to continue the momentum and utilize it for our winter percussion season.”
Winter Percussion is led by off-campus instructors Kohei Mizushima and Vince Oliver with assistants from the field season Brandon Hussey, Greyson Boydston and Leah Mamaril with a new cymbal technician, Armeen Ghafourpour.
The percussion performs alone in an indoor setting during its winter season, which is scored in artistry and performance analysis. The instructors are excited to open this opportunity to their students.
“I think the winter season is great,” Pwu said. “[Music department chair Michael] Boitz and I feel like it’s really important for [percussion] to have that [practice momentum] because it gives percussion a reason to perform and practice. The experience you get [from being in winter percussion show], you won’t experience in the field show.”
Winter Guard is led by instructor Tony Crapo with assistants Ally Finch and 2008 alumnus Kevin Chen. Winter Guard is also located indoors, focusing more on each aspect of the Color Guard as it competes by itself without the band.
“Instead of having a marching band to count on for the music, we get to pick our own soundtracks,” Crapo said. “It’s a more controlled environment for the activity.”
The group uses flag, rifle and sabre in its show in addition to using modern and ballet-based movement. Scored in equipment, movement, ensemble and general effect, the guard competes against local schools in the Scholastic AA category.
“I have very high expectations of the group this season, as I typically do,” Crapo said. “I think we have a great group of performers this year, and I’m really looking forward to what this season brings.”
In addition to competing in four local competitions in the California Color Guard Circuit (CCGC), the group will also attend a competition in Fresno and Winter Guard International (WGI) regionals in Union City and San Diego.
“I’m really excited to go to the San Diego regional again,” sophomore Jackie An said. “It was so cool to watch all those amazing guards and a really great bonding experience.”
Both ensembles are currently in the preliminary stages of their season and both contain a little fewer than 30 members. The guard will attend its first evaluation on Jan. 5 at James Logan High.
