On A Water Break

Marching band, color guard and winter guard news: Two stories from the marching arts community take center stage this week. At Evanston Township High School, marching band and color guard members report racist and homophobic harassment during a football game against New Trier, prompting an investigation. At the University of Pittsburgh, 18-year-old Dante Dew is making history as the first male member of the Golden Girls baton-twirling squad.

Whitney Stone, Ricardo Robinson-Shinall and Sadie Wallace discuss what accountability should look like for the Evanston students and celebrate Dante's milestone alongside the history of male baton twirlers and rifle lines.

Plus, Bands of America regional results from Waco, St. Louis, Memphis and California, WGI's 2027 Future Leaders Program, and new pep band competitions.

Ricardo tackles upside-down color guard flags in the 60 Second Tech Block, then takes aim at unnecessary props in Water We Doing?!

CHAPTERS: 00:00 Preview | 01:05 Welcome | 01:37 Evanston Band Reports Harassment | 08:02 WGI Future Leaders | 10:41 BOA Regional Results | 15:49 Pitt's Golden Guy | 21:51 Pep Band Competitions | 27:13 Previously on OAWB | 32:29 Guard Closet | 34:09 60 Second Tech Block | 36:56 Upside-Down Flags | 44:48 Water We Doing?! | 54:40 Gush & Go | 1:02:06 Closing

HOSTS:

Whitney Stone (@dancerwhit),

Ricardo Robinson-Shinall (@ricardorrobinson),

Sadie Wallace (@m.sadiewallace).

Associate Producer: Jeremy Williams.

SOURCES: Evanston/New Trier: https://www.newtrier.k12.il.us/p/~board/homepage-news/post/joint-statement-from-eths-and-nths |

Pitt's Golden Guy: https://www.post-gazette.com/life/goodness/2026/10/19/pitt-golden-girls-baton-twirlers-marching-band-dante-dew/stories/202610130023 |

BOA: https://marching.musicforall.org/ |

WGI: https://www.wgi.org/futureleaders/ |

Varsity: https://www.varsity.com/performing-arts/pep-band-regional-competitions/

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2027 WGI Percussion & Winds Preview | S4EP42

Stephen McCarrick, Garrett Lippie and Bill “Woody” Woodward break down the 2027 WGI indoor season: 50th anniversary ceremonies, RCC/United/IMPACT/Atlanta Quest staffing, Infinity 2 and Obsidian Winds class moves, Pulse/Blue Devils connections, Winds rule changes and the Grimsley band story. Plus: respect for rehearsal facilities, member fitness, and Gush & Go.

Chapters (source-transcript times; confirm against final edit): 00:00 Intro; 01:17 Welcome; 04:03 WGI history series; 07:50 Garrett’s segment-name debate; 08:25 Woody joins; 13:37 News; 14:04 WGI 50 ceremony; 15:05 RCC; 17:43 United; 27:01 IMPACT; 29:24 Atlanta Quest; 31:37 Infinity 2; 32:37 Pulse/Blue Devils; 35:07 WGI entries; 36:09 Obsidian Winds; 37:04 Winds updates; 40:45 Grimsley follow-up; 49:45 Water We Doing; 01:00:17 Member fitness; 01:05:04 Gush & Go; 01:09:44 Wrap-up.

On mic: Stephen @stephenmccarrick • Garrett @g_lippie27 • Woody @remoking100. AP: Devin Rossey @devvvie96. Produced by Jeremy Williams and Christine Ream. Theme music: Josh Lyda.

Presented by Guard Closet: https://guardcloset.com/ • @guardcloset

OAWB: Listen everywhere • News • Hosts • Join us • @onawaterbreak • onawaterbreakpodcast@gmail.com

Episode sources: WGI 50 • RCC staff • United staff • Stephen/United • IMPACT • Atlanta Quest • Infinity • Blue Devils • Pulse • Obsidian • WGI Winds rules • Entries • Grimsley reporting.

The Grimsley segment includes attributed accounts that differ; details not independently confirmed by OAWB are described as claims.

A marching band kicked out of a football game for playing music? Grimsley Senior High School's band was escorted out of a game against Varina in Virginia following a disagreement about playing while the ball was in play. Ashlee Amos, Bill “Woody” Woodward, Bobbey Biddle and Hayley Harrington discuss what happened and where the line falls between football rules and band traditions.

In more marching arts news: a West Jordan police officer helps Tooele High School's marching band after an equipment trailer breaks down on I-80; Blessed Sacrament celebrates its 90th anniversary; and Music for All names Holly Blake, Matthew B. Carter, Cheryl Floyd and Dan Potter to its 2027 Hall of Fame class.

60-Second Tech Block: Woody tackles program coordinators, staff responsibilities, communication, budgets and program leadership. Water We Doing?! Why aren't more contests under the lights? Why so much Phantom of the Opera? Is fluttering replacing traditional drill? And are educators juggling too many teaching seasons? Plus Gush & Go.

Chapters
00:00 Preview
00:56 Welcome
01:45 Tooele Band Trailer Breakdown
04:14 Grimsley Band Removed from Football Game
11:47 Blessed Sacrament Turns 90
15:10 Music for All Hall of Fame
16:37 Previously on OAWB
18:09 Guard Closet
19:47 60-Second Tech Block
21:50 What Does a Program Coordinator Do?
23:55 Leadership & Accountability
28:29 Budgets & Staff
31:34 Communication
34:57 Mentorship & Hiring
41:50 Water We Doing?!
42:23 Performing Under the Lights
52:32 Phantom of the Opera
58:49 Fluttering vs. Traditional Drill
1:05:52 Teaching Multiple Seasons
1:13:45 Gush & Go
1:13:58 Bobbey
1:20:18 Hayley
1:25:07 Woody
1:28:26 Ashlee
1:31:19 Close

Hosts: Ashlee Amos (@famousamossss_), Bill “Woody” Woodward (@remoking100), Bobbey Biddle (@bobbey107), Hayley Harrington (@h_harrington14).

Sources:
Grimsley — FOX8/WGHP syndicated report: https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/grimsley-marching-band-kicked-high-150524211.html
Tooele — original KJZZ URL pending verification.
Blessed Sacrament — https://www.wgi.org/blessedsacrament90/
Music for All — https://musicforall.org/2027-hall-of-fame-inductees/

Presented by Guard Closet: https://www.guardcloset.com/ (@guardcloset)

On A Water Break: https://www.onawaterbreak.com/ | Listen: https://www.onawaterbreak.com/links | News: https://www.onawaterbreak.com/news | Team: https://www.onawaterbreak.com/team | Join: https://www.onawaterbreak.com/join-us | @onawaterbreak

Related: S4EP40 — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtQreB75ItY

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts.

DCI’s 2027 World Class field is getting bigger. Chris Rutt, Grantis Peranda and Jeremy Svoboda break down the Mandarins’ approved return after a one-year hiatus and Gold and The Battalion moving from Open Class into DCI World Class beginning in 2027.

The panel also remembers longtime Drum Corps World publisher and DCI Hall of Fame member Steve Vickers. Grantis takes the 60 Second Tech Block with practical fall color guard costuming advice: choose something that serves the show, survives the field, fits performers well and helps them feel confident. Water We Doing?! tackles recycled and overcomplicated show concepts, copyright and licensing frustrations, and performing in extreme weather.

CHAPTERS
00:00 DCI 2027 Headlines
00:41 Welcome + News
01:17 Mandarins Return to DCI
03:08 Remembering Steve Vickers
07:10 Gold + The Battalion Join World Class
12:52 What You May Have Missed
14:29 Guard Closet
16:08 60 Second Tech Block
17:17 Fall Color Guard Costuming
29:23 Water We Doing?!
33:04 Copyright & Marching Arts
35:55 Extreme Weather + Performer Safety
40:50 Gush & Go
46:42 Final CTA + Closing Rehearsal

PANEL
Chris Rutt — @wildhornbrass1
Grantis Peranda — @grantisimo_p
Jeremy Svoboda / Drum Corps Today — @drumcorpstoday

NEWS & RESOURCES
Mandarins approved to return to the DCI Tour in 2027
Remembering Steve Vickers — Drum Corps International
Gold + The Battalion approved for DCI World Class in 2027

RELATED OAWB
S4EP39 — WGI 2027 Waitlists, Percussion Changes + Practice Makes Permanent
S4EP38 — Marching Arts News + Color Guard Tech Advice

MORE OAWB
https://www.onawaterbreak.com/ | Listen Everywhere | Marching Arts News | Meet the Team | Join Us | YouTube
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WGI’s new Color Guard Chief Judge Denise Bonfiglio joins Trish O’Shea and Sadie Wallace for a special installment of the WGI 50th Anniversary Series — looking back at nearly 50 years of winter guard history and ahead to what comes next.

Denise has been part of WGI since its earliest years as an instructor, designer, adjudicator and educator. She revisits the programs that transformed color guard, explains why WGI’s promotion system is working, discusses growing championship waitlists and venue capacity, and takes us inside the process that led to her becoming WGI Color Guard Chief Judge. She also traces her role in WGI’s adjudication philosophy, mentoring judges, and the challenge of coordinating roughly 380 judging assignments for the season.

CHAPTERS
00:00 Welcome — Denise Bonfiglio joins OAWB
00:36 Trish, Denise & Sadie reconnect
01:22 WGI’s 50th anniversary
05:33 Color guards that changed WGI
14:44 Could anyone have imagined 50 years?
16:39 Scholastic World growth
20:09 Why the promotion system works
22:48 Waitlists & championship venue capacity
23:58 Denise’s road to WGI Color Guard Chief Judge
26:36 WGI adjudication philosophy
28:58 Mentorship and training judges
30:54 What the Chief Judge job requires
31:24 Roughly 380 judging assignments
33:39 Dale Powers & Emerald Marquis memories
35:51 Looking toward WGI 2027
39:09 Closing

GUEST
Denise Bonfiglio — WGI Color Guard Chief Judge

HOSTS
Trish O’Shea — @trishdish1102
Sadie Wallace — @m.sadiewallace

WATCH MORE WITH DENISE
Denise Bonfiglio’s first OAWB interview + 32 Count Life Story

OFFICIAL WGI RESOURCES
Denise Bonfiglio Named Color Guard Chief Judge
WGI 50th Anniversary Opening Ceremonies
2027 WGI Color Guard Calendar

RELATED OAWB
Greg Case — includes OAWB’s earlier coverage of Denise’s appointment

MORE ON A WATER BREAK
Website | Listen Everywhere | Marching Arts News | Meet the Team | Join Us

Follow @onawaterbreak on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook & TikTok.

Presented by Guard Closet — uniforms, flags, costumes, consignment and design for the marching arts.

WGI 2027: waitlists already? Color guard registration is already putting championship capacity in the spotlight. Whitney Stone, Jeremy Denzer, Sadie Wallace, Trish O’Shea and Garrett Lippie break down the early WGI waitlists, WGI percussion changes, European drum corps, whether BOA should judge color guard separately, and more. Garrett’s 60 Second Tech Block is all about why practice doesn’t make perfect — Practice Makes Permanent.

CHAPTERS
00:00 WGI 2027 Color Guard Tea
02:02 Welcome + Recent OAWB Releases
08:27 Quiet Spin Flagpole Test
11:28 Derek Phillips Family Thanks the Marching Community
16:15 Remembering Steve Vickers
19:00 WGI 2027 Color Guard Registration + Waitlists
25:15 WGI Percussion 2027: Quad Panel, Audio Theater + Regionals
29:59 Scholastic Open Registration Check
30:49 European Drum Corps Championships
32:58 Guard Closet
35:43 60 Second Tech Block
37:27 Practice Makes Permanent
43:46 Water We Doing?!
51:21 Circuit Sound Systems
53:48 Should BOA Judge Color Guard Separately?
57:59 What Are We Going to Do About It?
58:42 Who Actually Runs the Design?
59:41 Gush & Go
1:07:01 Bridgeland Wins BOA North Houston
1:08:11 Whitney Shares a Personal Loss
1:09:21 Closing Rehearsal

ON THIS EPISODE
Whitney Stone — @dancerwhit
Jeremy Denzer — @jeremydenzer
Sadie Wallace — @m.sadiewallace
Trish O’Shea — @trishdish1102
Garrett Lippie — @g_lippie27
Executive Producer: Jeremy Williams

NEWS + RESOURCES
Derek Phillips family/community support: https://www.kcci.com/article/family-of-derek-phillips-thanks-community-for-support/73859683
University of Iowa remembrance: https://hawkeyemarchingband.uiowa.edu/news/2026/09/message-hawkeye-marching-band-and-school-music
Steve Vickers remembrance: https://www.dci.org/news/steve-vickers-longtime-publisher-of-drum-corps-world-dies-at-77/
WGI July Board recap: https://www.wgi.org/26julyboardrecap/
WGI Color Guard current entries: https://www.wgi.org/currententries/cg-current-entries/
WGI Percussion calendar: https://www.wgi.org/percussion/p-calendar/
European Drum Corps Championships preview: https://www.dci.org/news/ensembles-from-five-countries-will-be-represented-at-2026-european-drum-corps-championships/

MORE OAWB
Website: https://www.onawaterbreak.com/
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RELATED
Quiet Spin Anchor System Quick Sip: https://youtu.be/2C5ubVbUOdk
OAWB with Punk Rock Irving: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jY6RVI39mjc

Presented by Guard Closet — https://www.guardcloset.com/ — @guardcloset

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts.

Marching band season is fully underway, winter guard planning is starting, and this week Chris Rutt, Dalton Stout, Cynthia Bernard, Jeremy Svoboda and guest Monica Drohan tackle the Nimitz High School marching band shirt pulled by Aldine ISD, heat concerns at the Sullivan Marching Band Festival, Indiana’s 2027 Teacher of the Year Jason Witzigreuter, SoundSport 2027 registration and more.

In this episode:

• Nimitz High School’s marching band shirt is pulled after complaints about its imagery
• Nine people are treated for heat-related concerns at the Sullivan Marching Band Festival
• Homestead band director Jason Witzigreuter is named Indiana’s 2027 Teacher of the Year
• SoundSport opens registration for the 2027 season
• Monica Drohan shares her 32 Count Life Story
• Cynthia Bernard breaks down count sheets, tempo, contrasting tape and rifle vs. saber technique
• Water We Doing?! takes on field entrances, soundtrack selection, asking for help, weather plans, breathing and conditioning

Panel:
Christopher E. Rutt — @wildhornbrass1
Dalton Stout — @SaltyDalti
Cynthia Bernard — @cynthiabern
Jeremy Svoboda / Drum Corps Today — @drumcorpstoday
Guest: Monica Drohan / Evoke Performance Collective — @evoke_pc

Chapters:
01:34 Nimitz High School Band Shirt Pulled
06:14 Sullivan Marching Festival Heat Emergency
10:12 Indiana Teacher of the Year
11:49 SoundSport 2027
18:34 32 Count Life Story
22:19 60 Second Tech Block
33:32 Water We Doing?!
49:43 Gush & Go
59:02 Closing Rehearsal

Presented by Guard Closet. Uniforms, flags, costumes, consignment and design services for the marching arts. GuardCloset.com | @guardcloset

Find On A Water Break: https://www.onawaterbreak.com/ | Listen Everywhere: https://linktr.ee/onawaterbreak | YouTube: @OnAWaterBreak | Instagram, Facebook & TikTok: @onawaterbreak | Be a guest: onawaterbreakpodcast@gmail.com

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts.

Joey Montes III, Jeremy Denzer and Courtney Coffey check in on the fall marching season, then break down the Hawkeye Marching Band’s tribute to Derek Phillips and what it means for marching-band heat safety; Penn State’s Blue Band and Morgan State’s Magnificent Marching Machine bringing Hamilton to MetLife Stadium; the NCCU Sound Machine altercation with North Carolina A&T staff over “breaking ranks”; and DCI’s record 1,000-student INpact + BANDtastic! Indy honors bands.

Jeremy’s 60 Second Tech Block explains how to listen to judge commentary twice, identify repeated themes and walk into critique ready for a real conversation. Water We Doing?! takes on velvet costumes, color guard designers being left off design-team announcements and staffs that refuse to delegate. Gush & Go spotlights Color Guard Tea Break, Simply Colorguard Spin School and the start of fall competition season.

CHAPTERS
00:00 Where Is Your Marching Season?
08:03 Welcome to On A Water Break
08:34 Hawkeye Band Honors Derek Phillips
09:07 Marching Band Heat Safety + WBGT
16:31 Penn State + Morgan State Bring Hamilton to MetLife
18:12 HBCU Band Altercation + Breaking Ranks
22:36 DCI’s 1,000 Middle School Performers
27:24 Guard Closet
29:02 60 Second Tech Block
31:10 How to Use Judge Commentary Before Critique
40:11 Water We Doing?!
40:32 Velvet Costumes
43:02 Why Color Guard Designers Belong on the Design Team
45:14 Delegate to Your Staff
47:59 Gush & Go
52:27 Closing Rehearsal

PANEL
Joey Montes III — @marchingbymontes
Jeremy Denzer — @jeremydenzer
Courtney Coffey — Simply Colorguard

PRODUCTION
Executive Producer: Jeremy Williams
Associate Producer: Devin Rossey

NEWS & RESOURCES
Hawkeye Marching Band tribute to Derek Phillips
Wet Bulb Globe Temperature / heat safety
Hamilton halftime with Penn State + Morgan State
NCCU / NC A&T band altercation
DCI INpact + BANDtastic! Indy
NOAA El Niño update

MORE OAWB
OnAWaterBreak.com | Episodes | News | Listen Everywhere | Team | Join Us

RELATED
S4EP36 — Derek Phillips, WGI jobs, JD Shaw + recruiting
S4EP29 — marching band heat rules + WBGT

PRESENTED BY GUARD CLOSET
Uniforms, flags, costumes, consignment and design for the marching arts. GuardCloset.com | @guardcloset

Subscribe, follow, review and share. We’ll see you at the next rehearsal — On A Water Break.

WGI Jobs, JD Shaw Retires & Marching Band Recruiting | OAWB S4EP36

Haley Harrington welcomes new OAWB team members Garrett Lippie and Devin Rossey for WGI opportunities, DCI offseason changes, marching band and color guard recruiting, JD Shaw’s Phantom Regiment retirement and Garrett’s 60 Second Tech Block on staying engaged through every hold. The panel also remembers Hawkeye Marching Band member Derek Phillips and asks why students still struggle to find a clear path into marching band.

CHAPTERS
00:00 Haley Takes the Host Chair
00:34 Meet Garrett Lippie & Devin Rossey
01:04 32 Count Life Stories
06:23 Melanin Mosaic NYC Color Guard Casting
08:18 Remembering Derek Phillips
11:28 WGI Color Guard Event Manager
12:54 WGI 2027 Judge Applications
14:39 Blue Devils Percussion Staff Discussion
17:23 JD Shaw Retires from Phantom Regiment
20:12 Guard Closet
21:51 60 Second Tech Block
24:47 Stay Off Your Heels & Stay Engaged
28:00 Water We Doing?!
28:35 Why Is Marching Band So Hard to Join?
32:02 Put the Sticks in Their Hands
33:56 Color Guard Recruiting & Open Gyms
34:56 Bringing Drum Corps Back to the Big Screen
38:16 Stay Humble as Educators
44:01 Gush & Go
44:23 Jeremy Welcomes the New OAWB Team
46:12 Garrett’s Gush & Go
47:59 Devin Teases What’s Coming Next
48:44 Haley’s Gush & Go
50:59 Closing Rehearsal

PANEL
Haley Harrington — @h_harrington14
Garrett Lippie — @g_lippie27
Devin Rossey — @devvvie96
Executive Producer: Jeremy Williams

NEWS & RESOURCES
Melanin Mosaic NYC casting
Remembering Derek Phillips
WGI Color Guard Event Manager
WGI 2027 Judge Applications
Blue Devils Staff
Phantom Regiment

MORE OAWB
https://onawaterbreak.com/ | Episodes | News | Listen Everywhere | Team | Join Us | Blog
YouTube, Instagram, Facebook & TikTok: @onawaterbreak

RELATED
QuietSpin Quick Sip: Spotify | YouTube

PRESENTED BY GUARD CLOSET
Uniforms, flags, costumes, consignment & design for the marching arts. https://guardcloset.com/ | @guardcloset

EDITOR’S NOTE: The episode describes John Mapes as replacing Scott Johnson as Blue Devils percussion caption head. The current Blue Devils staff listing identifies Scott Johnson as Arranger/Caption Head and John Mapes as Arranger/Caption Manager.

Subscribe, follow, review and share. We’ll see you at the next rehearsal—On A Water Break.

On A Water Break celebrates the life and legacy of Dolly Parton through her Tennessee roots, her connection to music education, and an unexpected part of her story: the marching arts.

Ricardo Robinson-Shinall, Jeremy Denzer and Alicia Sharp are joined by Bri Eskenazi, Assistant Band Director with the Sevier County High School Band, Dolly Parton’s alma mater. Bri shares what Dolly’s legacy still means inside the school and Sevier County community, stories that have been passed down through generations, Dolly’s support of young people and education, and how her example continues to influence students walking the same halls where Dolly once dreamed of becoming a musician.
Then it’s time for Dolly Takes the Field. Alicia brings Gates Chili Independent Winter Guard’s 2023 “Dolly,” Jeremy shares Sonnor Cadet CPEC’s unforgettable Tooth Fairy concept built around “9 to 5,” Bri revisits the University of Tennessee Pride of the Southland’s Dolly Parton halftime production, and Ricardo closes the showcase with Dobyns-Bennett Winter Guard’s 2022 “Jolene and Diane.” The episode finishes with a special Gush & Go: Dolly Edition, including Alicia’s deeply personal connection between Dolly, her grandmother and growing up in East Tennessee.
CHAPTERS
00:00 A Salute to Dolly Parton
02:49 Meet the Panel
04:55 Meet Bri Eskenazi
06:55 Bri’s 32 Count Life Story
09:59 Sevier County High School & Its Community
12:25 Dolly’s Legacy at Her Alma Mater
18:20 The SCHS Concert, Buddy Program & Local Stories
22:41 Dolly’s Philanthropy & the Band Uniforms
27:00 What Dolly’s Example Teaches Young Musicians
28:18 Dolly Parton in 32 Counts
30:35 Water Break
32:40 Dolly Takes the Field
34:16 Gates Chili 2023 — Dolly
39:06 Sonnor Cadet CPEC — The Tooth Fairy Works 9 to 5
42:18 Pride of the Southland’s Dolly Show
44:50 Dobyns-Bennett — Jolene and Diane
48:08 Gush & Go: Dolly Edition
55:50 Supporting Sevier County High School
56:49 Closing Rehearsal
GUEST
Bri Eskenazi — Assistant Band Director, Sevier County High School Band
Instagram: @briannachristine12
Sevier County High School Band: https://www.schs.sevier.org/27479_2
Sevier County High School: https://www.schs.sevier.org/
PANEL
Ricardo Robinson-Shinall — @ricardorrobinson
Jeremy Denzer — @jeremydenzer
Alicia Sharp — @aliciaoninsta2
VIDEOS FEATURED IN DOLLY TAKES THE FIELD
Alicia — Gates Chili Independent Winter Guard 2023 “Dolly”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-EpYdl84E0
Jeremy — Sonnor Cadet CPEC — Tooth Fairy / “9 to 5”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3zH-9PUeH0
Bri — University of Tennessee Pride of the Southland Dolly Parton Halftime Show: https://vimeopro.com/dollyparton/dollyparton/video/142027178
Ricardo — Dobyns-Bennett Winter Guard 2022 “Jolene and Diane”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZsLo2HzSW4
EPISODE RESOURCES
Dolly Parton Official Website: https://www.dollyparton.com/
The Dollywood Foundation: https://dollywoodfoundation.org/
Gates Chili Independent Winter Guard — WGI: https://www.wgi.org/23iareview/
Dobyns-Bennett “Jolene and Diane” — WGI: https://www.wgi.org/dbfeature/
ON A WATER BREAK
Website: https://www.onawaterbreak.com/
Listen Everywhere: https://www.onawaterbreak.com/links
Marching Arts News: https://www.onawaterbreak.com/news
Meet the Team: https://www.onawaterbreak.com/team
Join Us: https://www.onawaterbreak.com/join-us
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Onawaterbreak
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TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@onawaterbreak
On A Water Break is presented by Guard Closet: https://www.guardcloset.com/

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts.
A Podcast for Marching Arts Enthusiasts — On the Field, In the Stands & Behind the Scenes.

That rattling weight inside your color guard flagpole? Bob from SouthEnd Precision 3D decided there had to be a better solution. In this OAWB Quick Sip, Trish O’Shea and Nicole Younger talk with Bob about the Quiet Spin Anchor System, a flexible 3D-printed insert designed to center a standard carriage-bolt weight inside a flagpole and eliminate the metal-on-metal movement that creates that familiar rattle. Jeremy Williams puts the Quiet Spin through a real flagpole test, and Bob explains how years as a guard dad—and roughly 45 revisions, including an early prototype his daughter promptly reported had shattered—led to the finished product. They also get into electrical tape, changing flagpole weights, guard glove clips, saber tips, hair-tie holders and the other hyper-specific marching arts problems SouthEnd Precision 3D is tackling.

Featuring:
Bob — SouthEnd Precision 3D
Trish O’Shea — @trishdish1102
Nicole Younger — @o2binpjs
Jeremy Williams — Quiet Spin demonstration

Find SouthEnd Precision 3D: https://southendprecision3d.com/
Quiet Spin Anchor System: Available through Guard Closet

Quiet Spin Anchor Review: Guard Closet Review

Presented by Guard Closet
Your one-stop shop for color guard, marching band and the marching arts.
https://www.guardcloset.com/ | @guardcloset

On A Water Break:
Website: https://www.onawaterbreak.com/
Listen Everywhere: https://www.onawaterbreak.com/links
Hosts: https://www.onawaterbreak.com/hosts
Marching Arts News: https://www.onawaterbreak.com/news
YouTube: @OnAWaterBreak
Instagram, Facebook & TikTok: @onawaterbreak

On A Water Break is your all-access pass to the marching arts — on the field, in the stands, and behind the scenes.

Join directors, instructors, performers, designers, judges, alumni, and fans for weekly conversations about marching band, DCI drum corps, WGI, color guard, indoor percussion, baton twirling, parades, education, design, and the stories shaping the activity.

Expect marching arts news, interviews, 32 Count Life Stories, 60 Second Tech Block, Water We Doing?!, Gush & Go, Quick Sips, OAWB With interviews, special coverage, and plenty of opinions from around the activity. Those recurring elements are part of the established OAWB format.

New episodes every week.

Website: https://www.onawaterbreak.com
Listen everywhere: https://www.onawaterbreak.com/links
Marching arts news: https://www.onawaterbreak.com/news
Meet the team: https://www.onawaterbreak.com/team
Join us: https://www.onawaterbreak.com/join-us

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts.

Color guard educator, choreographer and adjudicator Wanda Conway joins Whitney Stone, Sadie Wallace and Jeremy Svoboda / Drum Corps Today for a conversation connecting decades of color guard history to the activity today.

Wanda shares stories from growing up near George Zingali, Quasar and the 27th Lancers to teaching the Cavaliers as a teenager, working with the Cadets, teaching marching band in Indonesia, judging across the country and her current work with Onyx. The panel also digs into color guard fundamentals, writing choreography to music and drill, women in marching arts leadership, performer safety, physical preparation and the lifelong friendships built through the activity.

Marching Arts News: Southern University's Human Jukebox x Gap; BGSU's 600-member Falcon Marching Band; Barberton's Student Opportunity to Participate Fund; Cody Fry feat. The Blue Devils on “Magic in You.”

Chapters:
00:00 Meet Wanda Conway
02:06 Welcome
04:13 Human Jukebox x Gap
05:04 BGSU Hits 600
08:07 Barberton Participation Fund
09:33 Cody Fry x Blue Devils
13:14 Wanda's 32 Count Life Story
17:36 Teaching the Cavaliers
19:17 Teaching in Indonesia
24:17 Career Highlights
26:02 Choreography with Sadie
31:54 Fundamentals Still Matter
34:23 What Are We Doing?!
34:40 Women in Leadership
38:26 Writing to Music and Drill
40:54 Performer Safety
46:11 Physical Preparation
50:11 Gush & Go
54:40 Banana Ball Meets Marching Band
01:04:31 Closing Rehearsal

Panel: Whitney Stone @dancerwhit | Sadie Wallace @m.sadiewallace | Jeremy Svoboda / Drum Corps Today @drumcorpstoday

Guest: Wanda Conway

Presented by Guard Closet. Listen everywhere, explore Marching Arts News, meet the hosts and find more On A Water Break.

What happens when Phantom Regiment alumni step back onto the field for the corps’ 70th anniversary?

Ricardo Robinson-Shinall talks with Jamison Williams, Dr. Taylor Clements, Nikki Brose and Megan Mbengue about returning to drum corps after years away, what their bodies remembered, how the rehearsal culture felt different as adults, and the emotional payoff of performing at DCI World Championship Semifinals in Lucas Oil Stadium.

The group also gets into Water We Doing?!, Gush & Go, electronics, judging technology, alumni costuming, women in leadership and why an alumni corps can feel like finding home again.

Guests:

• Jamison Williams — @titan_of_la
• Dr. Taylor Clements — @Dr.TClements
• Nikki Brose — @therealdrumcorpstea
• Megan Mbengue — @megan_mbengue

Host: Ricardo Robinson-Shinall — @ricardorrobinson.

Presented by Guard Closet: https://www.guardcloset.com/.

On A Water Break:

Website • Listen everywhere • Join us • YouTube.

Related: DCI 2026 Finals recap • DCI Finals Week.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Phantom Regiment Turns 70
01:06 Welcome + Meet the Alumni
02:01 32 Count Life Stories
09:20 Sections + Jamison’s Viral Photo
13:52 Why They Said Yes to the Alumni Corps
17:59 First Rehearsal Across Generations
22:26 What Came Back Fast — and What Didn’t
26:41 The First “This Is Phantom” Moment
28:50 Guard Closet Break
31:01 What Phantom Regiment Gave Them
38:45 Back on the Field as Adults
41:28 Rewriting Old Drum Corps Memories
46:23 DCI Semifinals Night at Lucas Oil Stadium
49:53 “Phantom Regiment Is…”
50:59 Water We Doing?!
54:45 Could Technology Make Visual Scoring More Objective?
56:23 Phantomettes, Uniforms & Alumni Corps Costuming
1:00:08 Women at the Decision-Making Table
1:00:49 Gush & Go
1:03:08 Could You March Again?
1:06:16 Ricardo’s Cavaliers Challenge
1:07:21 Guest Socials + Closing

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts.

On this episode of On A Water Break, Jeremy Denzer welcomes Courtney Coffey to the team! Courtney shares her 32 Count Life Story before joining Jeremy and Bill “Woody” Woodward for conversations about the biggest topics happening throughout the marching arts.

Courtney shares her journey from Honolulu, Hawaii, to James Madison University, teaching, choreography, and creating Simply Color Guard.

In this episode: Is marching band a sport? Why technique and physical preparation matter. Building stronger rehearsal environments. Professionalism and expectations in the marching arts. How marching arts communities support students.

Marching Arts News: Trump Administration Declares Brass Instruments a National Security Threat: Classic FM |

Why Marching Band Isn't Exactly a Sport: USA Today |

McKinney High School Band Dress Code Discussion: WFAA |

Menasha Marching Band Finds Comfort and Connection After Tornado: We Are Green Bay

60 Second Tech Block: Courtney Coffey discusses why dance technique, movement fundamentals, and performer preparation create stronger performers.

Water We Doing?!: The team discusses skill development, rehearsal expectations, communication, professionalism, and whether physical activity should ever be used as punishment.

Gush & Go: Celebrating positive moments, new opportunities, and growth throughout the marching arts community.

Referenced Episodes:

DCI Finances: Jeff Gill on Drum Corps Costs, Dues & Sustainability |

On A Water Break Rehearsal Block featuring Dalton Stout |

DCI 2026 Finals: Bluecoats Win, Spirit Returns & Rita Moreno

A Podcast for Marching Arts Enthusiasts — On the Field, In the Stands & Behind the Scenes.

Find On A Water Break: Website | OAWB Links | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | Be A Guest

Presented by Guard Closet.

Punk Rock Irving Lopez is back on On A Water Break.

Jackie Brown and Scott Ruiz sit down with Irving for a conversation about leaving color guard, finding himself outside of the activity, becoming a dad, and returning to the marching arts with a new perspective.

Irving shares his 32 Count Life Story, from growing up in Los Angeles and discovering performance at an early age to joining color guard at 11, marching Diamante, Santa Clara Vanguard, Blue Devils, and Fantasia, becoming one of the first major color guard creators online, and building a career in entertainment marketing.

This conversation goes beyond the performances and viral moments. Irving talks about the Patricia meme, working in WGI media, the pressure of being watched online, mental health, why he stepped away from color guard, and how time away helped him understand who he was beyond the activity.

Now Punk Rock Irving is back with new stories to tell — sharing lessons from color guard, adulthood, fatherhood, creativity, and life outside the floor.

Featuring:
Jackie Brown — @spintronixguard
Scott Ruiz — @sdruiz
Punk Rock Irving Lopez — @punkrockirving

Presented by Guard Closet
Your one-stop shop for color guard, marching band, and marching arts gear.

Check out the new OAWB website:
https://www.onawaterbreak.com/

Read the latest marching arts news:
https://www.onawaterbreak.com/news

Meet the OAWB hosts:
https://www.onawaterbreak.com/hosts

Listen everywhere:
https://www.onawaterbreak.com/links

Follow Punk Rock Irving:
Instagram: @punkrockirving

A Podcast for Marching Arts Enthusiasts — On the Field, In the Stands & Behind the Scenes.
FOLLOW PUNK ROCK IRVING:
Instagram: @punkrockirving
TikTok: @punkrockirving
YouTube: Punk Rock Irving
#OnAWaterBreak #ColorGuard #WGI #DCI #MarchingArts

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts.
A Podcast for Marching Arts Enthusiasts — On the Field, In the Stands & Behind the Scenes.

Bluecoats finish an undefeated season as the 2026 DCI World Champions, Spirit of Atlanta returns to Finals for the first time since 2013, Carolina Crown wins the Jim Ott Award, and Rita Moreno returns to the DCI broadcast 46 years after her original appearance.

Ashlee Amos is joined by Bobbey Biddle and Haley Harrington to recap championship weekend, including Blue Stars' historic sixth-place finish, the DCI All-Age Championship, Cincinnati Tradition's record score and the Phantom Regiment Alumni Corps. They also discuss the construction reshaping downtown Indianapolis and what it could mean for future DCI and BOA visitors.

Bobbey takes the 60 Second Tech Block with a practical challenge for every design team: hire a drill writer who understands how the color guard contributes to the full production. The conversation continues with intentional transitions, giving designers room to create, stronger musicality in baton twirling and more collaboration across the performing arts.

Panel
Ashlee Amos — @famousamossss_
Bobbey Biddle — @bobbeyboy107
Haley Harrington — @h_harrington14

Chapters
00:00 DCI Championship Weekend Highlights
03:47 Welcome to On A Water Break
04:58 Spirit of Atlanta Returns to Finals
08:13 Bluecoats, Crown and the 2026 DCI Results
14:29 DCI All-Age and the Phantom Regiment Alumni Corps
19:08 Downtown Indianapolis Construction
23:54 Rita Moreno Returns to DCI
31:07 Break
33:11 60 Second Tech Block
35:07 Better Drill Design for Color Guard
41:50 Water We Doing?!
42:34 Stop Boxing In Your Drill Writer
46:31 Baton Twirling Needs More Musicality
53:20 More Collaboration Across the Performing Arts
59:22 Gush & Go
01:11:10 Closing Rehearsal

Presented by Guard Closet
Uniforms, flags, costumes, consignment and design services for the marching arts.
https://www.guardcloset.com | @guardcloset

Find On A Water Break
Website | Listen everywhere | YouTube | Be a guest or join the team
Follow @onawaterbreak on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts.
A Podcast for Marching Arts Enthusiasts — On the Field, In the Stands & Behind the Scenes.

DCI Finances: Jeff Gill on Drum Corps Costs, Dues & Sustainability | Quick Sip

Can drum corps keep increasing spending without making the activity less sustainable or less accessible?

Trish O’Shea and Ricardo Robinson-Shinall sit down with Jeff Gill, former Cavaliers board member and treasurer, to discuss his “Follow the Money” analysis of publicly available Form 990 filings from DCI corps.

Jeff walks through what he believes the data suggests about spending and competitive placement, rising operating costs, member dues, reserves, and the different revenue models behind today’s organizations. He also explains the limits of the available tax data and why it cannot tell us whether props, uniforms, staff, or touring are specifically driving the increase.

IN THIS QUICK SIP
• Why Jeff started studying drum corps finances
• Spending and competitive placement
• Rising costs and a shorter DCI tour
• Corps with outside revenue engines vs. corps depending more heavily on dues and reserves
• Affordability and socioeconomic barriers for performers
• Standardized financial reporting and DCI governance
• A possible premier/elite-class model
• Four reasons the sustainability issue is difficult to address

FEATURED
Trish O’Shea — @trishdish1102
Ricardo Robinson-Shinall — @ricardorrobinson
Jeff Gill — Instagram @jeff.sfo | Facebook jeff.gill.sfo

READ JEFF’S ANALYSIS
Follow the Money — Part 4: Nobody Owns This Problem

Listen everywhere: https://plinkhq.com/i/1653637341?to=page
Website: https://www.onawaterbreak.com
Follow @onawaterbreak.

00:00 Quick Sip Intro00:23 Meet Jeff Gill + Ricardo Robinson-Shinall01:12 Jeff Gill’s 32 Count Life Story02:49 Why Drum Corps Sustainability Matters04:48 Jeff’s “Follow the Money” Series05:24 Does Spending Predict DCI Placement?08:46 Are Props and Uniforms Really the Problem?12:19 Should DCI Standardize Financial Reporting?14:58 Why Jeff Won’t Use 2026 Results Yet17:18 Two Very Different Drum Corps Financial Models19:15 Are Member Dues Pricing Performers Out?21:10 What Happens Next?23:48 Four Reasons the Problem Doesn’t Get Fixed27:11 Final Takeaways27:55 Where to Find Jeff Gill28:24 Quick Sip Closing

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts.
A Podcast for Marching Arts Enthusiasts — On the Field, In the Stands & Behind the Scenes.

DCI 2026 Finals Week is here. Chris Rutt, Whitney Stone and Jeremy Svoboda from Drum Corps Today break down the final stretch of the drum corps season after DCI East, including Bluecoats tying the Allentown stadium record, the fight for Saturday night, Open Class in Dayton and Phantom Regiment’s 70th Anniversary Alumni Corps.

The episode also moves beyond scores: allegations involving the Denver School of the Arts band program lead to a conversation about student safety and rehearsal culture; Music for All names Anne Fennell Senior Director of Education; and WGI’s July Board meeting brings changes for the 2027 Color Guard, Percussion and Winds seasons.

In this episode:
• Bluecoats ties the DCI East/J. Birney Crum Stadium record at 96.825
• Blue Stars, Madison Scouts, Pacific Crest and the fight around the Top 12
• Student safety and allegations involving Denver School of the Arts band
• Anne Fennell joins Music for All as Senior Director of Education
• WGI 2027 proposal and championship updates
• The Battalion, Gold and Blue Devils B after Open Class Prelims in Dayton
• DCI housing sites, rehearsal limits and the All-Age championship schedule
• Govenaires prepares for its 100th anniversary in 2027
• Water breaks, heat safety and long walks from warmup lots
• Why color guard phrases need more choreography and less trick-to-trick staging
• Phantom Regiment’s 70th Anniversary Alumni Corps

Panel:
Chris Rutt — @wildhornbrass1
Whitney Stone — @dancerwhit
Jeremy Svoboda / Drum Corps Today — @drumcorpstoday

Presented by Guard Closet
Uniforms, flags, costumes, consignment and design services for the marching arts.
GuardCloset.com | @guardcloset

Find On A Water Break:
Website: onawaterbreak.com
Listen everywhere: plinkhq.com/i/1653637341?to=page
YouTube: @OnAWaterBreak
Instagram, Facebook & TikTok: @onawaterbreak
Be a guest: onawaterbreakpodcast@gmail.com

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 DCI East, Bluecoats, Crown & the Fight for Finals09:58 Welcome to On A Water Break11:51 Denver School of the Arts Band Director Allegations17:00 Music for All Names Anne Fennell Senior Director of Education20:42 WGI Announces 2027 Rules & Championship Changes23:54 Bluecoats Tie the Allentown Stadium Record30:21 Water We Doing?!30:54 DCI Championship Housing & Rehearsal Problems32:48 Jeremy Svoboda on the Govenaires35:23 Govenaires Prepare for Their 100th Anniversary37:13 Give Performers More Water Breaks38:08 Why Are Warmups So Far From the Stadium?41:50 Color Guard Needs Complete Choreography Again44:29 Gush & Go44:44 DCI Open Class, The Battalion & SCV49:13 Getting Ready for DCI Finals Weekend50:14 Phantom Regiment’s 70th Anniversary Alumni Corps51:55 Closing

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts.

A Podcast for Marching Arts Enthusiasts — On the Field, In the Stands & Behind the Scenes.

FloMarching camera angles, college marching bands, DCI drum corps and Santa Clara Vanguard’s jump-rope choreography are on the sidelines this week.

Whitney Stone, Ricardo Robinson-Shinall and Sadie Wallace discuss how drum corps broadcasts can better capture the moments designers intend audiences to see. Producer Jeremy Williams joins the conversation with a practical solution: better communication with design teams, show-specific production rundowns and directors who know when the major visual moments are coming.

In this episode:
• FloMarching camera angles and drum corps broadcast direction
• USA TODAY’s Best College Marching Band vote
• SCV working with 31-time jump-rope world champion Tori Boggs
• J. Birney Crum Stadium expansion funding
• Sadie’s original 1982 Garfield Cadets instructor jacket
• Why Florida still needs a DCI Tour event
• Boston Crusaders’ Building A Champion documentary
• Carolina Crown, band camp and the final DCI push

This week’s panel:
Whitney Stone — @dancerwhit
Ricardo Robinson-Shinall — @ricardorrobinson
Sadie Wallace — @m.sadiewallace

Chapters:
00:00 – Welcome to On A Water Break
00:58 – Meet Whitney, Ricardo and Sadie
06:28 – Previous episode and Blue Devils bus fire recap
08:03 – Marching arts news
08:21 – Best College Marching Band vote
11:23 – J. Birney Crum Stadium funding
15:27 – SCV jump rope with Tori Boggs
20:39 – 60 Second Tech Block
22:56 – Sadie’s 1982 Garfield Cadets jacket
28:05 – Water We Doing?!
28:27 – Stadium logos and field presentation
35:21 – Why Florida needs a DCI event
37:40 – FloMarching camera angles
39:02 – A production-rundown solution
43:51 – Gush & Go
44:09 – Building A Champion
46:00 – The final DCI push and band camp
47:14 – Carolina Crown
48:23 – Behind-the-scenes OAWB shoutout
49:32 – Submission callout
51:19 – Closing rehearsal

News & resources:
Best College Marching Band vote
J. Birney Crum Stadium funding
SCV and Tori Boggs
Building A Champion

Presented by Guard Closet
Uniforms, flags, costumes, consignment and design services for the marching arts.
https://www.guardcloset.com/ | @guardcloset

Find On A Water Break:
Website | Listen everywhere | YouTube | All links and guest application

Email: onawaterbreakpodcast@gmail.com

#OnAWaterBreak #MarchingArts #DCI2026 #DrumCorps #ColorGuard #MarchingBand