03-03-2007Anyone who has never seen an Indiana Percussion Association competition is in for a treat March 10, according to Mickey Ratliff, Warsaw Community High School band director.
For the first time in more than 10 years, WCHS is hosting a home percussion competition. The event begins at 2 p.m. March 10 in the Tiger Den with Yorktown High School, and ends at 6:34 p.m. with Avon High School. After Avon’s performance, awards will be presented.
Ratliff said Warsaw tried hosting an invitational competition previously during the 1993-94 school year, but it was not well attended. In 1997, the Indiana Percussion Association was formed. The organization started a circuit for competitions with rules and forms. WCHS was involved with the circuit competitions as a participant. Next Saturday’s competition is the first time WCHS is hosting an IPA competition as part of the circuit. The WCHS Percussion Ensemble will compete during the competition at 5:50 p.m.
Including WCHS, there are 25 teams scheduled to perform. While it’s not the largest contest on the circuit, Ratliff said “it’s far from the smallest.” The earlier performers are coming from nearby high schools, so Ratliff said he hopes those parents and supporters will turn out in force.
As for the performances themselves, Ratlif said spectators should expect an assortment.
“It’ll be quite a wide variety really,” he said. Seven of the groups are concert ensembles, including WCHS. The rest are marching bands that will include full drum lines and mallard instruments. Many will include back drops, visuals, choreography and a range of musical styles.
The schools participating have been involved in competitions for awhile, Ratliff said. Many also have been successful and push the limits.
“I think for the community,” he said, “this is a great opportunity for them.”
While WCHS’s percussion ensemble has had some success and visibility, the community may not understand what the activity is about. The March 10 competition is the first opportunity for many “to see what we do every weekend for two months, as well as other fantastic groups. There are a lot of groups out there who have done it just as well.”
The schools competing, and their performance times, are: Yorktown, 2 p.m.; East Central “A”, 2:09 p.m.; Pioneer, 2:18 p.m.; Twin Lakes, 2:27 p.m.; Wawasee, 2:45 p.m.; Knox, 2:54 p.m.; Angola, 3:03 p.m.; Crown Point, 3:12 p.m.; Elmhurst, 3:21 p.m.; Bluffton, 3:30 p.m.; East Noble, 3:48 p.m.; Carroll, 3:57 p.m.; Bishop Dwenger, 4:06 p.m.; Mt. Vernon, 4:15 p.m.; Breach of Silence, 4:24 p.m.; Crossroads Indoor Percussion, 4:33 p.m.; East Central “Open”, 5 p.m.; Norwell, 5:10 p.m.; Avon “Open”, 5:20 p.m.; LEAP, 5:30 p.m.; Warsaw, 5:50 p.m.; Goshen, 6:01 p.m.; Victor J. Andrew, Ill., 6;12 p.m.; Ben Davis, 6:23 p.m.; Avon “World”, 6:34 p.m.
Judges will be Jeff Parthun, Kevin Miles, Pat Butler and Derek Felix.
Tickets are $5 per person, but children ages 5 and under are free. Tickets are good for the entire day.