Winter Guard International

Mission statement

"WGI Sport of the Arts exists to foster positive experiences for all who participate, by promoting education, creativity and freedom of expression through the unification of pageantry and the performing arts."

Competition

At the conclusion of a competitive season that starts in January, guards and percussion ensembles come together to compete within their respective divisions at the WGI World Championships every April. To qualify for competition, both guard and percussion groups must perform in at least one WGI regional contest during the season. The World Championships are usually held in Dayton, OH, however, every few years Championships are temporarily relocated: San Diego, CA (2004), Milwaukee, WI (2001), Phoenix, AZ (1997), and Buffalo, NY (1990)

WGI Hall of Fame

The Hall of Fame is the highest honor to those individuals who make a significant contribution to WGI, and who have in some way influenced the course of its history. Their contribution may be made through artistic standards, administrative leadership or adjudication.

Scholarship Opportunities

As a part of their commitment to education, WGI offers scholarships every year. One member from each color guard or percussion group, performing at the Championships, qualifies to apply. More than $200,000 has been awarded to WGI participants over the years. The scholarship money is collected through raffles, World Championship program sales, and donations. Recipients are announced at the end of the night at the World Championships.

Color Guard

The visual art form of color guard incorporates spinning flags, rifles, sabres, and other various pieces of equipment, while performing to a selection of music, classical to contemporary. Movement is also featured and integrated into the equipment work. WGI began with only 30 participating color guards. Today, it has grown to over 400 guard and percussion groups.

Competition Classifications

WGI classifies color guards into two divisions: Scholastic and Independent. Scholastic guards are made up of members from the same high school. University guards are classified in Independent Class. Independent guards often do not associate themselves with any one school, university units being the exception.

WGI goes on to divide these two divisions even further into classes. There are three classes in each division: A Class, Open Class, and World Class. A Class is for beginner to intermediate level ensembles. Open Class is for those better than A Class, World Class is the highest, reserved for experienced and superior color guards. Independent World Class is the only class with no age restrictions. Performers in the Open class age out at the age of 23 and performers in A class "age-out" at 22 years old, and can no longer compete in those classes after their twenty-third birthday twenty-fourth birthday, but may continue performing with the Independent World Class. Any guard from outside the United States do not have to abide by the age restrictions for A and Open Classes.

Class Champions by Year, Historical Top 10 High Scores, Color Guard Fan's Favorite Award

Color Guard Class Champions by Year

Color Guard Top 10 Historical High Scores

Color Guard Fan's Favorite Award

Color Guard Independent World Class

CGIW Medal Count

Color Guard Independent Open Class

CGIO Medal Count

Color Guard Independent A Class

CGIA Medal Count

Color Guard Scholastic World Class

CGSW Medal Count

Color Guard Scholastic Open Class

CGSO Medal Count

Color Guard Scholastic A Class

CGSA Medal Count

Indoor Percussion

In 1992, WGI oversaw the development of the second division, indoor percussion. Only six groups competed the first year, and that first year Clovis West High School from Fresno, California won the Championships. Indoor Marching percussion ensembles perform a musical selection while also featuring marching drill patterns and tying in artistic visual effects. Indoor Concert Percussion ensembles perform in a standstill setting.

In addition to regular instrumentation of the percussion section of a drum corps, instruments such as the drum set, and electric bass and keyboard are often used in the front ensemble but aren't marched. Narration is used much more than in Drum Corps as well.

Competition Classifications

Like the color guard division, indoor percussion saw such a rapid growth that there became a need for multiple classes. As of 1999, eight classes have been created to accommodate indoor percussion's rising popularity. The concert classes are designed for scholastic percussion ensembles who do not feature marching in their performance.

As WGI Indoor Percussion began to expand in the mid-1990s, the unit classification system fluctuated until the new millennium. Some early, but no longer active, classes include:

Class Champions by Year, Historical Top 10 High Scores, Indoor Percussion Fan's Favorite Award

Class Champions By Year

Indoor Percussion Top 10 Historical High Scores

*Mansfield High School receiving a time penalty from 99.1 to 98.9

Indoor Percussion Fan's Favorite Award

Percussion Independent World Class

PIW Medal Count

Percussion Independent Open Class

PIO Medal Count

Percussion Independent A Class

PIA Medal Count

Percussion Scholastic World Class

PSW Medal Count

Percussion Scholastic Open Class

PSO Medal Count

Percussion Scholastic A Class

PSA Medal Count

Percussion Scholastic Concert World Class

PSCW Medal Count

Percussion Scholastic Concert Open Class

PSCO Medal Count

Winds

Created in 2014, this unique form of the marching music activity can include anything found in a concert band or orchestra, as well as color guard and percussion performers. Winds is considered the final extension of the WGI organization and completes WGI’s support of the total band program.

Competition Classifications

WGI classifies Winds into two divisions: Scholastic and Independent. Scholastic ensembles are made up of members from the same high school. University ensembles are classified in Independent Class. Independent ensembles often do not associate themselves with any one school, university units being the exception.

WGI goes on to divide these two divisions even further into classes. There are three classes in each division: A Class, Open Class, and World Class. A Class is for beginner to intermediate level ensembles. Open Class is for those better than A Class, World Class is the highest, reserved for experienced and superior ensembles. Independent World Class is the only class with no age restrictions. Any ensemble from outside the United States do not have to abide by the age restrictions for A and Open Classes.

Class Champions by Year, Historical Top 10 High Scores, Winds Fan's Favorite Award

Winds Class Champions by Year

Winds Top 10 Historical High Scores

Winds Fan's Favorite Award

Winds Independent World Class

WIW Medal Count

Winds Independent Open Class

WIO Medal Count

Winds Independent A Class

WIA Medal Count

Winds Scholastic World Class

WSW Medal Count

Winds Scholastic Open Class

WSO Medal Count

Winds Scholastic A Class

WSA Medal Count