Yamaha Ensembles Finish Strong At 2011 Winter Guard International Indoor Percussion Championships

Michelle Muller of Walled Lake Central High School in Walled Lake, MI receives the Yamaha/Dennis DeLucia Scholarship at the 2011 WGI Championships. From L to R: Yamaha Artist Dennis DeLucia, Michelle Muller, Troy Wollwage, Marketing Manager for Yamaha Percussion.

BUENA PARK, Calif.— Yamaha marching ensembles had another successful showing at the 2011 Winter Guard International Indoor Percussion Championships recently, where they received six of the 18 awards given out. Yamaha ensemble winners include: Pulse Percussion (CA), Pulse Open (CA), Madison Independent (IN), Arcadia High School (CA), Dartmouth High School (MA), and Pacifica High School (CA).

Additionally, the 2011 championships were host to the Yamaha/ Dennis DeLucia Scholarship, which was awarded to Michelle Muller of Walled Lake Central High School in Walled Lake, MI. The Yamaha/Dennis DeLucia Scholarship is both a way to honor Mr. DeLucia's contributions to marching music and a continuation of Yamaha's long history of supporting music. This year marks the fifth presentation of the award at WGI.

With 178 total ensembles in the 2011 WGI Competition, Yamaha was also represented by 18 Yamaha Percussion artists who were both judging and instructing the various percussion groups during the three-day championship event. At the event, 30% of the WGI participants were using Yamaha percussion products. In addition to that, many ensembles were also utilizing the latest Yamaha digital mixers, amplifiers, subs, drum sets, DTX Multi-12 drum pad, electronic drum sets, mixers and MOTIF keyboards.

WGI is an organization that supports the competitive indoor marching activities of percussion and color guard. Known as "Sport of the Arts," WGI combines music, movement and props into a theatrical production. Founded in 1977, the organization originally supported indoor color guard only, with percussion being added in 1992. Since then, eight varying levels have been added to accommodate indoor percussion's rising popularity.

"The rapid growth of indoor marching activity reinforces the fact that marching arts is alive and well, and that young people today want and need a positive musical experience in their lives," said Troy Wollwage, marketing manager, Yamaha Percussion. "Yamaha has provided support for this activity for over 12 years in many different ways, one example being the Yamaha/Dennis DeLucia Scholarship. Moreover, Yamaha provides necessary financial support to WGI and many other music activities so that all groups have an opportunity to participate."

Indoor Percussion has grown tremendously in the past decade. There are now more than 40 regional percussion circuits covering all parts of the country. It is estimated that there are over 1,400 performing ensembles with an estimated 45,000 plus young people participating in the activity.

"At the end of the day, scores are not important," continued Wollwage. "What's important is allowing the young people to have the finest music instrument experience possible. At Yamaha we strive to succeed at that every day."

For more information on Yamaha, write Yamaha Corporation of America, Band & Orchestral Division, Wind Instruments, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622; telephone (714) 522-9011; e-mail infostation@yamaha.com; or visit www.yamaha.com/band.