WGIcon

WGIcon

SAVE THE DATE! SEPT 6th-8th

Early Bird Registration is Now Open!

DISCOVER, CONNECT, AND CREATE

WGIcon is the premier educational event for all instructors, designers, technicians, and administrators of Percussion, Winds, and Color Guard groups around the globe. Learn from some of the greatest minds in the activity throughout a single weekend filled with multiple interactive and engaging sessions. Discover your passion, connect and network with other members of the community, and create lifelong memories at WGIcon!

2024 Location Announced

Join us this upcoming September in the beautiful city of San Francisco for a weekend of learning and connecting with some of the greatest minds in the activity! The San Francisco Marquis hotel is offering a discounted rate on rooms until August 15th. 

2024 General Programming

Day 1: September 6th
5:00 pm Check-in Opens
7:00 pm – 10:00 pm General Sessions & Keynote 1
10:00 pm – 12:00 am Welcome Reception

Day 2: September 7th
8:15 am Check-in Opens
9:00 am – 9:15 pm General Sessions & Keynote 2

Day 3: September 8th
9:00am-11:30am General Sessions
11:30 am – 12:00 pm Closing Remarks

*Additional scheduling is subject to change. All times are local to CA.*

2024 WGicon Scholarships

WGIcon Scholarships provides ambitious educators with a weekend full of knowledge, a priceless network within the activity, and the tools to return home and grow their own marching programs. This scholarship valued at $600 will cover registration and 2 night hotel stay, is open until end of day on March 15th.

Three (3) winners will be selected by April 5th and announced prior to World Championships.

2024 WGIcon

Presenters: Matt Harloff & Susie Harloff

Arguably, one of the biggest challenges of being a director or staff member of a program is NOT helping your performers excel musically or visually, but rather how to still be a wife, a husband, a son, or daughter…a mom or dad… and even a good friend. There are not a lot of classes you can take that advise on how to run a successful program & maintain a fun and healthy home life. One of the most common questions is: “How can you do drum corps, marching band, WGI & still have a family?” 

In this session, we share our journey, lessons learned, and how we balanced life in our crazy world.

Bios: Matt Harloff received a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Indiana University & Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Indianapolis. Matt is currently the director of bands at Avon High School in Avon, Indiana. He serves as the Marching Black & Gold director, co-conductor for all 5 Concert Bands, and Director of Avon Indoor Winds. Matt is also the brass caption head for Carolina Crown. Matt is married to his wife Susie & has 2 children, Tyson & Shaelyn.

Susie Harloff is from Avon, Indiana. A music teacher by day, she spends her evenings with the Avon band. She is the choreographer and movement specialist for the Avon Winds and the director of the Avon Cadet Guard. She is also the Color Guard Track coordinator for the Music For All Summer Symposium. Susie is happily married to the incomparable Matt Harloff and has loved sharing their passion for the pageantry arts with their two children, Tyson and Shaelyn.

Presenter: Gabrielle Vita

Discover the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in enhancing the precision and efficiency of color guard program management. Designed for instructors and management teams, this session will unveil AI-driven solutions to streamline operations, improve communication, and maximize organizational impact. From automating administrative tasks to providing personalized insights for instructors, explore the key highlights. Including real-world case studies and interactive discussions, take advantage of this opportunity to revolutionize your approach to organizational management in color guard using AI. Join us for an enlightening session that promises to reshape your strategies for success!

Bio: Gabrielle Vita is originally from Fredericksburg, VA. She graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a bachelor’s degree in Forensic Science. Gabrielle began her color guard training at 12 years old, performing with a local winter guard directed by her mother. After graduating high school, her color guard performance career continued with Teal Sound (2007), Jersey Surf (2008 – 2010), Blackwatch Winter Guard (2011), and The Cadets (2011). 

Gabrielle has been an educator for over 12 years. She has worked with a variety of different high school and independent programs including Daviess County HS (2013 – 2019), Eklipse (2015), James E. Taylor HS (2019 – 2022), and Origins Winter Guard (2020 – 2024) in Texas. She currently resides in Houston, TX, where she is a laboratory technician for a chemical manufacturing company pursuing a career in information technology.

Presenter: Eddie Dalton

Description: From conception to auditions, from the first rehearsal to the last, from a new program to a World Championships finalist, and from home base to Dayton and back, join MTC Travel Designer Eddie Dalton as he breaks down all the steps needed to get your program from A 2 B.

Bio: Eddie is no rookie in organizing events and tourism. Born and raised in Orlando, Eddie began his journey through the hospitality industry at Universal Studios. He then continued his journey with the Hilton Hotels. After obtaining his bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership, he made the move to Indiana. Dalton is no stranger to indoor percussion. He was a performer with Infinity Percussion 2015-16 and taught visuals for Lake Howell HS (FL). Eddie is a Travel Designer at MTC.

Presenter: Christopher Tanner

Description: Join Christopher Tanner for ‘Marching to Success: Marketing Strategies for Non-Profit Arts Organizations,’ a marketing-based session where you’ll uncover the secrets to boosting your organization’s visibility and impact. Whether you’re a band booster or leading a top-tier non-profit, this seminar is your gateway to mastering marketing techniques. Learn essential tips and tricks to elevate your outreach, engage your community, and secure vital support for your cause. 

Bio: Christopher Tanner is an experienced marketing professional with more than 25 years of expertise in the marching arts as a performer, designer, and adjudicator. Apart from his pageantry art experience, he has worked in sales, marketing, and management roles in the Fortune 500 world. Currently, Christopher is the Marketing Manager for Digital Performance Gear (DPG), and he resides in Tennessee with his wife Jennifer, son Grayson, who plays hockey, and their cat, Bauer.

Presenter: Matt Harloff

Description: Unfortunately, there aren’t any magic words or pixie dust that instantly transform a marching band, concert band, or winds group. Upgrading the sound quality in any musical ensemble takes time, focus, effort, constant reminders, and a well-developed plan. This session will share tips, exercises, daily routines, and a few helpful stories that will hopefully improve your ensemble’s sound.

Bio: Matt Harloff received a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Indiana University & Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Indianapolis. Matt is currently the director of bands at Avon High School in Avon, Indiana. He serves as the Marching Black & Gold director, co-conductor for all 5 Concert Bands, and Director of Avon Indoor Winds. Matt is also the brass caption head for Carolina Crown. Matt is married to his wife Susie & has two children, Tyson & Shaelyn.

Presenter: Wayne Dillon

Description: Let’s face it, evaluating General Effect in the marching arts can feel like comparing apples to oranges or dogs to ponies. In this workshop, we will look at the necessary skills for judges and designers to navigate GE assessment across various marching arts platforms. Participants will explore the intangible factors that make up show design and audience engagement, delving into methods for comparing different design and performance elements. Techniques for assessing aesthetic, intellectual, and emotional responses will be discussed. Finally, we will address the inherent subjectivity of GE judging while providing strategies for minimizing bias.

Bio: Wayne Dillon holds a master’s degree in jazz performance/Pedagogy from the University Of Miami (FL). He is the former Director of Bands at Elizabeth HS in NJ. Wayne is currently the Chief Judge for the Winds division of WGI. He also serves as an adjudicator for Drum Corps International and Bands of America. Wayne is on the Music Admin team for FFCC outdoor, and works as an educational clinician for Conn Selmer.

Presenter: Andrew Markworth

Description: In this session, we will dive into some best practices for putting together a backing track for a WGI Winds group. Let’s discuss sample libraries, mixing, speaker placement, arranging, rehearsal tips, and more, including examples of some previous projects.

Bio: Andrew Markworth is a composer, arranger, and consultant who writes for marching bands, indoor percussion and winds groups, and drum corps all over the world. He is currently the music director for Rhythm X. He was the Music Arranger/Coordinator for the Crossmen Drum and Bugle Corps from 2015-2020 and the Front Ensemble Arranger/Coordinator for Carolina Crown from 2007-2014. Andrew is currently the full ensemble music arranger for Vandegrift High School, Centerville High School, and many others.

Presenters: Zack Novicki & Stephen Alia

Description: LSM Winds and Horizon Winds are currently the only two WGI Winds programs to compete in all three classifications (A, Open, and World). Join their directors, Zack Novicki and Stephen Alia, as they discuss what led to their program’s reclassifications, how they handled the changes, and the notable differences between competitive classes.

Zack and Steve will host a brief Q&A towards the end of this session so attendees can better evaluate what competitive classification may be best for their winds program.

Bios: Zack Novicki is the Associate Director of Bands at Southgate Community Schools and the Executive Director/CEO of LSM Performing Arts. In his time at LSM, he has helped lead LSM Winds to 7 World Championships Finals appearances, including back-to-back WGI Winds World Championships (2022 WIA, 2023 WIO). LSM Winds is now in the Winds Independent World Class. Zack has actively served on the WGI Winds Advisory Board since 2015 and is currently a member of the Winds Steering Committee.

Stephen Alia is honored to serve as the Executive Director for the Horizon Pageantry Arts Association, Inc., a Florida not-for-profit organization, as well as as the Interim Director of Horizon Winds. He is also the designer for LSM Winds, Kent City Winter Winds, Newnan HS Winds, and Black Flag Winds from East Carolina University. He serves as the Education Coordinator for the Central States Judges Association and on the Steering Committee for the Winds division of WGI.

Presenters: Olivia Spell & Jose Antonio Montes III

Description: “It Takes a Village” is not just an age-old cliché; it’s a call to action. Olivia D. Spell and Jose Antonio Montes III share how working together, investing in your students, and growing the community within your program has created an environment where students and staff can feel supported and nurtured to achieve their fullest potential.

Bios: Olivia D. Spell is a 2009 graduate of East Carolina University. In her 13th year at Corinth Holders High School, she oversees the Marching Band, Concert Band, Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble, Basketball Band, Jazz Band, Winds, Guard, and Winter Percussion Ensemble. Growing this program from the ground up has been one of the most rewarding parts of her career! Olivia enjoys traveling, shopping, and cooking. She also enjoys spending time with her husband, Ryan, and their children, Robbie and Addie Jo.

Jose Montes is a Visual Designer originally from El Paso, TX. He works with competitive marching ensembles in the US. Montes writes drill, designs uniforms/props, choreographs, is a program coordinator, runs visual clinics, and judges Indoor/Outdoor competitions across the country. He is the Executive Director of Eva Independent in Raleigh, NC. The organization has a successful winds group and is in the process of starting a Winter Guard and Indoor Percussion group under the same umbrella.

Presenters: Rosie Queen & Rick Subel

Description:

Join Rick Subel & Rosie Queen for the next installment of their “WGI Game-Changer” series. At our last WGIcon, we barely scratched the surface of all there is to uncover, so the well-received historical series will continue with a Part 2.

This session isn’t just about reminiscing over the past 47 awe-inspiring years of WGI Color Guard performances; it’s about harnessing past lessons to propel us toward new heights of creativity and inspiration. Join us as we explore the essence of greatness, unique identities, creativity, and ground-breaking techniques of those past units that changed the WGI game.

Together, we’ll unravel the threads of innovation and dissect the most captivating moments in WGI Color Guard history. With over 45 years of spectacular performances as our canvas, we’ll paint a picture of inspiration for the future.

Bios:Rosie Queen has been a driving force in the marching arts since 1983, serving as an instructor, designer, adjudicator, and clinician nationwide. Notably, she directed Carmel H.S.’s program for 16 years, from 2003 to 2019. Passionate about mentorship, Rosie has shared her expertise at WGI and BOA events, creating educational videos and serving on WGI’s advisory and executive boards. She recently relocated to Southern California and continues to inspire as the Instructor Education Director for the WGASC.

Rick is the co-founder, director, and creative designer for Paramount Winterguard in Atlanta, GA. With over 25 years as a designer in the pageantry arts, Rick is constantly learning and sharing new and proven methods for creating competitive and artistic designs. In addition to his design roles, Rick is an active adjudicator, clinician, and consultant.

Presenter: Andy Toth

Description: Let’s talk about critique! In this session, you will learn practices to maximize the time spent in the conversations between the judge and director. Learn how to steer conversations to get meaningful feedback while observing live scenario settings and see how your approach can significantly impact your overall experience.

Bio:  Andy Toth has been an active and passionate citizen in the marching arts community for the past three decades. He is an original cast member of the Emmy & Tony award-winning production of Blast! and is honored to have designed for numerous high schools, including Carmel HS (2002-2022). He has a BS degree in Exercise Physiology from UIC-Chicago, where he resides today. 2024 marks Andy’s 10th year on the WGI color guard steering committee and his 25th year on the design team for Pride of Cincinnati.

 

Presenter: Robby Jacobson

Description: This session will discuss how we can tailor our technique and training programs for our performers to maximize their ability to take their training and apply it to their performances. With interactive audience participation, this session will take a multi-angled approach to training philosophies ranging from technique choices to teaching strategies, allowing us to efficiently magnify the carryover from our training programs to our productions.   Let’s discuss ways to maximize and implement a solid training program that will optimize your performer’s ability to be successful while also being time efficient.

Bio:   Robby has a long career teaching color guard at many levels. He currently teaches winter guard at Fantasia, Mission Viejo HS, and Palm Desert MS. Robby has also been on staff with the Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps for over 16 years. In addition to teaching color guard, Robby is a certified Pilates, Barbell, and Kettlebell instructor. He also trains instructors and teaches at Kettlebell Certifications, allowing him to teach diverse groups of students.

Presenter: Jennifer Hinshaw

 

Description: This session will bring you to the dance floor. Participants will explore a contemporary master class that will get your pulse rate up and your muscles sore. Bring your water, moveable clothing, strength, confidence, and, most importantly, your passion! We will explore skills you have seen on the floor with some of your favorite A, Open, and World Class guards. Participants can also choose to simply observe. We will smile together, laugh together, and maybe even cry a little. Don’t miss it!

Bio:  Jennifer Hinshaw has been immersed in dance since the age of 3. Childhood classes in multiple genres cultivated a love for dance that became her life’s work. Jennifer received her BS in Dance Education from UNC Greensboro and went on to found two full-time public school dance programs. In addition to her work in public education, she has spent the last 20 years passing on her passion for dance as a color guard educator, a studio administrator, and an accomplished freelance choreographer.

Presenter: Tony Lymon

Description: A practical, real-world approach to going from seeing things you like to creating something you love. This clinic seeks to demystify design concepts, lingo, and processes in plain terms for those who feel left out of the conversation. Whether you are looking to have a better working relationship with the designers you hire or you want to advance your design skills with new perspectives, this is the clinic for you.

Bio: Tony is a distinguished Artistic Director, recognized for his expertise in show design within the marching arts. Currently serving as the Artistic Director for the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps and Artistic Design/Sound Design for United Percussion (PIW), Tony also holds the role of creative designer for feniX Independent Winter Guard (IW), ViP Percussion (PIW), UP2 Open (PIO), Vision Percussion (PIO), and Boswell HS (PSW). With extensive experience, Tony has made a lasting impression on the marching band and percussion community. Recently concluding a twenty-four-year tenure as founder and show designer for Petal Indoor Percussion Theatre (PSW), a WGI Percussion Scholastic World Class Finalist, he has also contributed significantly as the co-music arranger/show designer for the Petal High School marching band, guiding them to success on both regional and national platforms.

Presenter: Kevin Shah

 

Description: This session will arm you with actionable strategies and frameworks for creating, curating, and producing a more cohesive musical score for your ensemble.

We will focus on both the creative and functional thought processes that go into building a sonic experience across all classes of competition. While there will be some discussion around technology, the main focus will be creative ideation, orchestration, and the process of editing the soundtrack for a more authentic audience experience.

Bio: KEVIN SHAH is passionate about bringing artistic expression to life through composition and re-imagining the world creatively and meaningfully. Kevin owns and operates projectRISEmusic.com, which features original works for marching band and indoor percussion. In 2021, Kevin launched PRMworkshops.com, a design-focused educational platform for the marching arts, through which he provides exclusive workshops, design and composition coaching, and an online community with hundreds of members.

Presenter: Rochelle Mapes

Description: This class will focus on creating and assessing drumline choreography using foundational movement elements like rhythm, level, space, and dynamics/textures. We will cover strategies for developing a unique choreographic voice specific to a show concept. Additionally, we will discuss terminology and verbiage to describe the movement, with the aim of creating a common language for judges, staff, and members.

We will focus on both the creative and functional thought processes that go into building a sonic experience across all classes of competition. While there will be some discussion around technology, the main focus will be creative ideation, orchestration, and the process of editing the soundtrack for a more authentic audience experience.

Bio: Rochelle Mapes is the choreographer for 5-time PIW Gold Medalist Pulse Percussion and Chino Hills HS and is the Operations Manager for Box Six. Outside the drumline activity, Rochelle is the Director of Dance at Mater Dei HS, an experienced freelance choreographer and master class teacher, a respected dance judge for prestigious events like UDA College Dance Team Nationals, and a former professional dancer. She earned an MA and BFA in Dance from Cal State University, Long Beach.

Presenter: Wardell King & Kristina Haney

Description:“Fostering a Diverse Ensemble” highlights the significance of inclusivity in performing arts. It explores how diverse perspectives fuel innovation, enrich storytelling, and foster empathy. Showcasing the diverse landscape of WGI as a whole, learn how small language changes, uniform/costume selection, and group culture have helped create a welcoming environment for our ensemble and how you can implement them into your independent or scholastic groups.

Bio: Mr. King is in his 30th year as an independent music educator, arranger, consultant, and performer specializing in marching percussion. He is currently the Executive Director / Caption Head of Vision Percussion Indoor Drumline (PIO) and serves as caption head/arranger for various high schools in Arizona. Wardell has a strong teaching philosophy that guides him to offer life lessons through music and dedicated practice.

Bio: Kristina is an educator from Chandler, AZ. She has performed with several ensembles in and out of state, including Dark Sky Percussion, Pulse Percussion, and Pacific Crest. She has taught several ensembles in different captions and is currently the Assistant Director of Vision Percussion in Gilbert, AZ, where she is also on the design team and teaches the cymbal line. Kristina strives to create a safe and diverse environment for performers and staff.

Presenter: Paul Weber

Description: In his session, Success with Basic Skills, Paul Weber breaks down the development of a successful indoor percussion ensemble based on the training and application of basic skills. Although successful ensembles at all levels share several attributes, groups at a basic level have unique characteristics and needs. Designing a show and training program that work together to address the needs and attributes of your students can form the foundation for short-term success and long-term growth.

Bio:Paul Weber has been the director of the Irondale HS drumline since 2003. During his tenure, the Irondale drumline has made eight WGI World Championship finals appearances and has been awarded medals in both Open and A class, including a World Championship in 2023. Weber has also worked with River City Rhythm (program coordinator/batterie arranger), the Blue Knights drum corps (batterie coordinator/percussion captionhead), the Madison Scouts, Blue Stars, Southwind, and the Timberwolves PACKcussion.

Check out the recaps from our 2019 and 2022 WGIcon events below!

2019

2022