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Winter Percussion Goes to Finals at WGI World Championships

April 21, 2008 - 08:38 — MsBagley
Winter Percussion Goes to Finals at WGI World Championships

Stamford Winter Percussion returned yesterday from their trip to Dayton, Ohio for WGI World Percussion Championships.

Two overnight bus rides, four days of drumming, and one earthquake later, SWP returns to their hometown as finalists in the Scholastic Open class, with a final score of 91.30.

Stamford Winter Percussion performed Thursday afternoon in preliminaries, amid tough competition from Pacifica High School, among others. They finished 4th in their round, getting a pass to semifinals, in which they placed 8th. The students gathered nervously after the performance, but broke out into cheering and tears when the staff told them they made it to finals.

With the pressure off and one last performance of "Teenage Wasteland" to go, Stamford knocked out a great show in the University of Dayton arena and placed 6th in the nation in PSO, out of 41 total ensembles in Open.

We congratulate the students on a very successful season, especially the seniors who are now done with Stamford Winter Percussion: Michael Galgano, Kristen Morgan, Lisa Buzzeo, Lauren Eitelmann, Ashley Strain, Atiya Judson-Saunders, Derek Vernazza, Laura Reynolds, Deangelos Floyd, Genesis Garcia, Omi Batan and Tom Gasparrini, Percussion Captain.

We extend much gratitude to the wonderful instructors who made this season possible. Tim Holcomb, Chase Bronstein and Sal Flores carried the ensemble through a tough month of competition, and their arranging, teaching and expertise led to a level of excellence never before reached by Stamford Winter Percussion.

Finally, once again, this trip would not have been possible without the Stamford High Band Parents Association. The parents booked the hotel and bus, chaperoned, cooked, cleaned, shopped, and most importantly, supported their kids. To all the parents who attended the trip, we all thank you for working so hard and for being there for the ensemble. We would be nowhere without you!