What is Winter Guard?

Winter guard is the sport of indoor color guard. Modern color guard is a combination of the use of flags, sabres, mock rifles, and other equipment, as well as dance and other interpretive movement. Color guards can be found in high schools, middle schools, some universities, and also some independent organizations, some of which are related to drum corps. - wgi.org

 Winter guard is a competitive team activity that performs a four minute routine which is choreographed and performed to recorded music. The activity emphasizes dance and compliments choreography with flags, sabres, rifles, and other props. Competitions take place throughout the tri-state area, and transportation is provided for members to each event. 

The winter guard season begins in late November with four clinics that will teach new members the fundamentals of performance: how to spin a flag, trained dance, and movement through space. It is required for new members and highly recommended for old members, and is followed by an audition sequence to determine placement within the ensemble. Should the member cap be reached, students will be auditioned for a spot in the ensemble. Should a student not secure a spot in the ensemble, they are encouraged to audition for a spot in our other indoor program, the competitive indoor percussion ensemble.

All practices are mandatory for the advancement of the group. The competition season begins in February and ends in early May, thus December and January are essential for assembling our show. Students must be able to commit to the complete schedule of rehearsals and competitions.

While this group practices and performs independently from the band, the skills learned are easily transferred to the field for the fall marching band season. Both groups serve to strengthen each other and the program as a whole.

The central job of a winter guard is to tell a story through music. Through trained performance, members spin equipment, dance through choreography and act out their roles.