As the WGI Sport of the Arts Percussion World Championships get underway this week in Dayton, Ohio (April 14-16), Drum Corps International fans can certainly expect to see some familiar faces on the floor.
Aside from the individual performers who spend their winters with any number of WGI organizations, several DCI drum corps have a strong (or growing) tradition in WGI competition.
Legends Winter Percussion
An ensemble run under the Legends Performing Arts Association, Legends Winter Percussion is the 2015 Michigan Color Guard Circuit Independent Open State Champions and a 2014 WGI Independent Open finalist.
2016 Production: “Destruction & Rebirth”
Recent Finish: 2nd place, Independent Open Michigan Color Guard Circuit Championships
WGI Prelims Performance: Thursday, April 14, 2:55 p.m. ET, Millett Hall | WATCH
River City Rhythm
Before it was a DCI Open Class drum corps, Anoka, Minnesota’s River City Rhythm got its start as a percussion ensemble. Competing in WGI’s Independent Open Class, RCR has taken home WGI’s Fan-Favorite Award in its division for the last four years.
2016 Production: “Refugee”
Recent Finish: 1st place, Minnesota Percussion Association Championships
WGI Prelims Performance: Thursday, April 14, 5 p.m. ET, Millett Hall | WATCH
Cadets Winter Percussion
Winning the WGI World Championship title in the Independent Open Class in its very first year in 2014, Cadets Winter Percussion jumped to the Independent World Class in 2015, finishing as a finalist in sixth place.
2016 Production: “The Dream Electric”
Recent Finish: Exhibition performance at the 2016 Mid Atlantic Percussion Society Championship Prelims
WGI Prelims Performance: Thursday April 14, 6:35 p.m. ET, University of Dayton Arena | WATCH
RCC Indoor Percussion
The defending WGI World Champion, RCC became a program under the umbrella of Blue Devils Performing Arts in 2015. Always near the top of the competitive pack, RCC is one of the winningest ensembles in WGI history.
2016 Production: “Bound is the Heart”
Recent Finish: 1st place, Southern California Percussion Alliance Championship
WGI Prelims Performance: Thursday April 14, 6:55 p.m. ET, University of Dayton Arena | WATCH
Blue Knights Percussion Ensemble
While missing a finalist spot for the second year in a row in 2015, the Blue Knights Percussion Ensemble will look to return to the form this year that won the group 11 WGI medals since its founding in 1993. Four of those have been gold.
2016 Production: “Mightier”
Recent Finish: 1st place, Rocky Mountain Percussion Association Championship
WGI Prelims Performance: Thursday April 14, 8:25 p.m. ET, University of Dayton Arena | WATCH
Cavaliers Indoor Percussion
Originally founded as Green Thunder Percussion, this percussion ensemble took to the WGI arena in 2015 for its inaugural year as Cavaliers Indoor Percussion. While relatively new to the WGI scene, Cavaliers Indoor finished last year as a finalist in ninth place.
2016 Production: “The Lost Boys”
Recent Finish: 4th place, WGI Indianapolis Percussion Regional
WGI Prelims Performance: Thursday April 14, 8:36 p.m. ET, University of Dayton Arena | WATCH
OC Indoor
Run as part of the Oregon Crusaders, OC Indoor took first place in the Independent A Class at the 2009 WGI World Championships. Since then the group has been classified as an Independent World ensemble and finished as a WGI finalist in that division most recently in 2014.
2016 Production: “Imitate Life”
Recent Finish: 1st place, Northwest Association for Performing Arts Championship
WGI Prelims Performance: Thursday April 14, 9:31 p.m. ET, University of Dayton Arena | WATCH
Aside from the individual performers who spend their winters with any number of WGI organizations, several DCI drum corps have a strong (or growing) tradition in WGI competition.
Legends Winter Percussion
An ensemble run under the Legends Performing Arts Association, Legends Winter Percussion is the 2015 Michigan Color Guard Circuit Independent Open State Champions and a 2014 WGI Independent Open finalist.
2016 Production: “Destruction & Rebirth”
Recent Finish: 2nd place, Independent Open Michigan Color Guard Circuit Championships
WGI Prelims Performance: Thursday, April 14, 2:55 p.m. ET, Millett Hall | WATCH
River City Rhythm
Before it was a DCI Open Class drum corps, Anoka, Minnesota’s River City Rhythm got its start as a percussion ensemble. Competing in WGI’s Independent Open Class, RCR has taken home WGI’s Fan-Favorite Award in its division for the last four years.
2016 Production: “Refugee”
Recent Finish: 1st place, Minnesota Percussion Association Championships
WGI Prelims Performance: Thursday, April 14, 5 p.m. ET, Millett Hall | WATCH
Cadets Winter Percussion
Winning the WGI World Championship title in the Independent Open Class in its very first year in 2014, Cadets Winter Percussion jumped to the Independent World Class in 2015, finishing as a finalist in sixth place.
2016 Production: “The Dream Electric”
Recent Finish: Exhibition performance at the 2016 Mid Atlantic Percussion Society Championship Prelims
WGI Prelims Performance: Thursday April 14, 6:35 p.m. ET, University of Dayton Arena | WATCH
RCC Indoor Percussion
The defending WGI World Champion, RCC became a program under the umbrella of Blue Devils Performing Arts in 2015. Always near the top of the competitive pack, RCC is one of the winningest ensembles in WGI history.
2016 Production: “Bound is the Heart”
Recent Finish: 1st place, Southern California Percussion Alliance Championship
WGI Prelims Performance: Thursday April 14, 6:55 p.m. ET, University of Dayton Arena | WATCH
Blue Knights Percussion Ensemble
While missing a finalist spot for the second year in a row in 2015, the Blue Knights Percussion Ensemble will look to return to the form this year that won the group 11 WGI medals since its founding in 1993. Four of those have been gold.
2016 Production: “Mightier”
Recent Finish: 1st place, Rocky Mountain Percussion Association Championship
WGI Prelims Performance: Thursday April 14, 8:25 p.m. ET, University of Dayton Arena | WATCH
Cavaliers Indoor Percussion
Originally founded as Green Thunder Percussion, this percussion ensemble took to the WGI arena in 2015 for its inaugural year as Cavaliers Indoor Percussion. While relatively new to the WGI scene, Cavaliers Indoor finished last year as a finalist in ninth place.
2016 Production: “The Lost Boys”
Recent Finish: 4th place, WGI Indianapolis Percussion Regional
WGI Prelims Performance: Thursday April 14, 8:36 p.m. ET, University of Dayton Arena | WATCH
OC Indoor
Run as part of the Oregon Crusaders, OC Indoor took first place in the Independent A Class at the 2009 WGI World Championships. Since then the group has been classified as an Independent World ensemble and finished as a WGI finalist in that division most recently in 2014.
2016 Production: “Imitate Life”
Recent Finish: 1st place, Northwest Association for Performing Arts Championship
WGI Prelims Performance: Thursday April 14, 9:31 p.m. ET, University of Dayton Arena | WATCH