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Winter Guard International (WGI) is the non-profit governing body for indoor percussion and winter guard (also known as indoor color guard) units worldwide. WGI sets standardized rules and criteria, provides educational clinics and resources, and manages competitions on a regional, national, and international scale. Competitions are held primarily in the U.S. and Canada. WGI is headquartered in Dayton, Ohio.

WGI's purpose is: "[to provide] a venue for young people to achieve the extraordinary through performance and competition."

Formation
Six people were responsible for the birth of this performing arts organization in San Francisco, California: Don Angelica from New Jersey, Shirlee Whitcomb from Southern California, Stanley Knaub from Seattle, Washington, Bryan Johnston from Chicago, Illinois, Marie Czapinski from Chicago, Illinois, and Lynn Lindstrom from Arlington Heights, Illinois. Together they created the first division of WGI, the color guard division. The second division, indoor percussion, would not be established until 1992.

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, Ohio, however, every few years Championships are temporarily relocated: San Diego, CA (2004), Milwaukee, WI (2001), Phoenix, AZ (1997), Buffalo, NY (1990)

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 A and Open classes "age-out" at 22 years old, and can no longer compete in those classes after their twenty-third birthday, but may continue performing with the Independent World Class.


 * Color Guard Scholastic A (SA)
 * Color Guard Independent A (IA)


 * Color Guard Scholastic Open (SO)
 * Color Guard Independent Open (IO)


 * Color Guard Scholastic World (SW)
 * Color Guard Independent World (IW)

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.


 * Percussion Scholastic A (PSA)
 * Percussion Independent A (PIA)


 * Percussion Scholastic Concert Open (PSCO)
 * Percussion Scholastic Open (PSO)
 * Percussion Independent Open (PIO)


 * Percussion Scholastic Concert World (PSCW)
 * Percussion Scholastic World (PSW)
 * Percussion Independent World (PIW)

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:


 * Percussion Scholastic AA, used in 1996
 * Percussion College Class, used in 1997
 * Percussion Independent Concert Class, used from 1997–1999
 * Percussion University Class, used in 1999

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.

Indoor Percussion Scores and Champions
Class Champions by Year, Historical Top 10 High Scores, Indoor Percussion Fan's Favorite Award, Independent World Medalists and Finalists, Independent World Medal Count, Independent Open Medalists and Finalists, Independent Open Medal Count, Scholastic World Medalists and Finalists, Scholastic World Medal Count, Scholastic Concert World Medalists and Finalists, Scholastic Concert World Medal Count (* denotes tie):

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

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