Spirit Winter Percussion Competes in WGI World Championships Today

Spirit Winter Percussion, an Orleans, Massachusetts-based ensemble of 26 members ages 10-22, will take their 2015 indoor percussion show, TANGO!, to the WinterGuard International (WGI) World Championships in Dayton, Ohio where they will compete against 34 other groups in their division today, April 10. Over 12,000 young people from all over the world participate in the WGI World Championships (www.wgi.org).

Spirit has just completed the regional competition circuit, earning high scores at New England Scholastic Band Association and WGI events throughout New England for their performance, which combines percussion music, dance, and drama inspired by the Argentinian music and movement of the Tango. These young musicians, who have devoted hundreds of hours for seven months to achieve the highest level of excellence, are presenting an explosively dynamic show that has been called "lightning in a bottle" by an industry insider. Follow Spirit online at www.spiritwp.org as they prepare to compete at the WGI World Championships!

WGI COMPETITION SCHEDULE:

Friday, April 10 - 4:20pm EST

Percussion Independent Open Class Prelims

Miami University Millett Hall

Saturday, April 11 - Time TBD

(Between 11:50am and 2:25pm depending on Prelims placement.)

Percussion Independent Open Class Finals

University of Dayton Arena

WATCH SPIRIT PERFORM LIVE!

Powered by Drum Corps International, WGI will provide a state-of-the-art live action MULTI-webcast where you can watch the live webcast at home! Visit www.wgi.org/webcast to purchase a daily pass.

ABOUT THE SHOW

TANGO! explores the vast and complicated relationship of love, anger, indifference and passion through the Argentinian music and movement of the Tango. Inspired by the music of Michel Camilo'sLibertango, Tango de Roxanne from Moulin Rouge, Julio Iglesias' La Cumparsita, and Astor Piazzolla'sTango Suite, the 26-member ensemble presents a high-impact, fast-paced performance that weaves together precision drill, dance, dramatic costuming, and all the passion and emotion of South American culture. Unique this year, the show features traditional Latin American cajon drums, which ensemble members studied with professional solo artist Damon Grant, who has been featured in Modern Drummer and Latin Beat magazines. Watch new videos describing the show at www.spiritwp.org/media.

ABOUT SPIRIT WINTER PERCUSSION

Spirit Winter Percussion (www.spiritwp.org), under the direction of Richard K. Pugsley (Director) and Ian Hale (Ensemble Director), ranges in age from 10 to 22. Every year the group immerses itself in a richly educational process of developing a dynamic, indoor show. The season culminates at the WGI World Championships in Dayton, Ohio, where Spirit earned the Gold medal in their division in 2012, the Bronze in 2013, and advanced to the Open Class division in 2014. In addition to teaching the rudiments of music and marching, the experience of Winter Percussion helps young people to develop essential life skills of leadership, teamwork, discipline, empathy, and respect.

Spirit Winter Percussion is open to any young person under age 22. The ensemble regularly offers school assemblies and public performances for the wider community on Cape Cod, and hosts an annual Day of Percussion featuring world-class percussion artists for a day of free clinics and performances offered to students throughout New England.

ABOUT WGI SPORT OF THE ARTS

WinterGuard International (WGI) Sport of the Arts (www.wgi.org) provides a venue for young people to achieve the extraordinary through performance and competition. Founded in 1977, WGI Sport of the Arts is the world's premier organization producing indoor color guard and percussion ensemble competitions. As a non-profit youth organization, WGI serves as the leading governing body of the winter guard and indoor percussion activities. It is called the Sport of the Arts because it brings music to life through performance in a competitive format. Now entering its 37th year, the sport continues to evolve and grow. There were more than 36,000 participants at the regional level, and more than 12,000 participants at the World Championships in Dayton, Ohio last April.

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