April 11-13—Spirit is headed to the Winter Guard International (WGI) “Sport of the Arts” Percussion World Championships in Dayton, OH next week to represent the best of Massachusetts with their show, All the Colors in the Box. In their current 15th anniversary season, members of Spirit have inspired thousands of audience members across the East Coast with a courageous & universal message to be yourself in a world that’s constantly pressuring us to conform to others. Using color as the vehicle, the show progresses from a greyscale palate, gradually exposing more bright shades until finally reaching an explosion of color that speaks to the power found when everyone brings their unique gift or mission to the world.
Spirit Winter Percussion, under the direction of Richard K. Pugsley, is dedicated to teaching essential life lessons such as teamwork, empathy, courage, discipline, problem-solving, compassion, and determination through the pursuit of individual excellence and personal growth. Members work hard, traveling as many as ten hours for rehearsals (from as far away as CT and RI), and practicing hundreds of hours (including weekends and school vacations) from September through April, to achieve a high level of performance—their hard work and dedication resulting in medaling in the World Championships five out of the last seven years. Spirit provides an inspirational, team focused, positive environment for youth in New England to flourish.
“[Spirit—] You have set the bar high, and brought more excitement and the joy of music to those around you than you can ever imagine.” —John Jamison, Director of Dennis-Yarmouth High School Winter Percussion
Spirit won their caption at the WGI Power Regional in New Jersey, and now heads to the Winter Guard International (WGI) World Championships in Dayton, OH, April 12-14, where they will compete against 31 other ensembles for the Championship title. The “Sport of the Arts” activity is a musical medium that blends the athletic strength and endurance of marching and dance, with music and theatrics. WGI Sport of the Arts reaches at least 36,000 young people each year and is one of the fastest-growing youth activities across our country. With a mission of “Excellence, Passion, and Teamwork,” Spirit Winter Percussion is a living model of the power of music and the arts to equip young people for a life of purpose, meaning, and service to others.
For more information, please contact Kirsti Pfeiffer: 774-722-9986, kirstip@artsempoweringlife.org, or visit spiritwp.org.
WGI PERCUSSION WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS COMPETITION SCHEDULE
Thursday, April 11 – Time TBD
Percussion Independent Open Class Prelims
Hobart Arena, Troy, OH
Friday, April 12 – Time TBD
Percussion Independent Open Class Semi-Finals
Wright State University Nutter Center, Dayton, OH
Saturday, April 13 – Time TBD
Percussion Independent Open Class Finals
University of Dayton Arena, Dayton, OH
WATCH SPIRIT PERFORM LIVE!
Watch their performance LIVE via a MULTI-camera webcast through FloMarching.com.