Upland High School percussion ensemble shares excitement about championships

The Winter Guard International is considered the sport of the arts and leads winter guard and indoor percussion activities. The championships will be April 17 and 18 in Dayton, Ohio.

"It's a big deal because we'll compete with groups across the nation with rich histories of competing at these championships," said Kevin Shah, band instructional aide at Upland High.

"Just the caliber of the groups and the caliber of the instruction that goes on is really really high."

The band, made up of the front ensemble and marching percussion, will be performing in Percussion Scholastic World Division category which is considered to be the most technical.

"We're going to be competing with the cream of the crop of high schools across the country as far as demand level," Shah said.

"We're basically saying we're good enough to compete with the best of them. It takes a certain kind of maturity of the ensemble and the kids to make sure that happens."

Twenty-six band members will leave Wednesday for Dayton, which most of them will visit for the first time.

"We've been performing here in small gyms and it's cool, but it's another experience to go and put your product out in front of thousands of people in an arena," Shah said.

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