We are excited to announce the structure for the 2024 Winter Guard Season will remain the same as the past couple of years! This structure has produced a lot of stability in the winter guard program, as well as developed more opportunities for growth and technical proficiency for all of our members. There will be two options for involvement: the Competitive Winter Guard (CWG) and the Winter Guard Performance Ensemble (WGPE), as well as enhancing the 7th Grade Winter Guard experience at the middle school.
The CWG will participate in the local Mid East Performance Association (MEPA) Circuit, as well as attend two Winter Guard International (WGI) Regionals and the WGI World Championships in April (exact dates TBA soon). As a result of last year's impressively successful season, WGI bumped our program into Open Class, which is the class we will compete in for this season. This means many things... but most importantly, this means harder work with higher rewards for our members and the entire program.
The Competitive Winter Guard is cast through an audition in mid to late November after Grand Nationals. Attendance at all rehearsals, camps, and competitions is required in order to be cast for this group.
- See here for last year's CWG season schedule. Please note that there will be changes to this schedule, but rehearsals will still primarily be on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and the weekends. This year's schedule will not conflict with the Rose Parade rehearsals and trip schedule. The official schedule will be released to interested parties in October or November.
- See here for last year's CWG Handbook. Please note that there will be a fee increase, due to our added production and performance responsibilities in this new class. An official fees breakdown will be released to interested parties in October or November.
The WGPE, open to all Mason students in grades 8-12, will participate in weekly rehearsals, culminating at the Winter Guard Spring Recital in April. This group focuses on training for the fall color guard season, so rehearsals are geared towards non-competitive training to prepare for color guard placements for the competitive show on the track to BOA Grand Nationals in November.
