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/ Presented by Guard Closet: https://www.guardcloset.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 | Follow @onawaterbreak, subscribe and share.

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: 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 OnAWaterBreak.com | Listen Everywhere | Marching Arts News | Meet the Team | Join Us | YouTube Instagram / Facebook / TikTok: @onawaterbreak PRESENTED BY GUARD CLOSET GuardCloset.com | @guardcloset

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/ Listen everywhere: https://www.onawaterbreak.com/links 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 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onawaterbreak TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@onawaterbreak 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 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. 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 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onawaterbreak 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: 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. 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. 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