Explore every episode of the podcast On A Water Break

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

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts.

Marching band heat safety, Fusion Winter Guard’s pause after winning the 2026 WGI Independent World Championship, and the future of regional DCI Open Class drum corps lead this week’s On A Water Break.

Joey Montes III is joined by Nicole Younger, Ricardo Robinson-Shinall, Jeremy Denzer and Haley Harrington to discuss Fusion’s decision to pause beginning with the 2027 season, Boise Gems’ inaugural Open Class campaign, mandatory Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature monitoring for Texas marching bands, the Pepsi National Battle of the Bands moving to AT&T Stadium, marching arts performers at the 2026 MLB All-Star Game and the legacy of Bands of America founder Larry McCormick.

In this episode:
• Fusion Winter Guard pauses after winning WGI Independent World
• Boise Gems completes its first DCI Open Class affiliate season
• The case for smaller corps and shorter regional tours
• Texas mandates WBGT heat monitoring for marching band activities
• HBCU marching bands head to AT&T Stadium in 2027
• Remembering Bands of America founder Larry McCormick
• Ricardo’s 60 Second Tech Block: performance is more than a smile
• Respecting color guard equipment and putting flags on the pole correctly
• Building shows around the performers you actually teach
• Making room for rest, recovery and life outside rehearsal

Featuring:
Joey Montes III — @marchingbymontes
Nicole Younger — @o2bnpjs
Ricardo Robinson-Shinall — @ricardorrobinson
Jeremy Denzer — @jeremydenzer
Haley Harrington — @h_harrington14

Presented by Guard Closet
Your one-stop shop for color guard, marching band and the marching arts.
GuardCloset.com | @guardcloset

Find On A Water Break:
Website
YouTube
Listen Everywhere and Find All Links
Be a guest: onawaterbreakpodcast@gmail.com

Follow @onawaterbreak on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

A Podcast for Marching Arts Enthusiasts — On the Field, In the Stands & Behind the Scenes.

• 00:00 Welcome and panel introductions
• 05:53 Previous episode recap
• 07:04 HBCU bands and the 2027 National Battle of the Bands
• 12:23 Texas mandates WBGT monitoring for marching bands
• 21:54 Boise Gems’ first DCI Open Class season
• 24:12 The case for smaller corps and regional tours
• 28:44 Marching arts performers at the MLB All-Star Game
• 31:52 Remembering Bands of America founder Larry McCormick
• 35:08 Fusion Winter Guard pauses after winning WGI
• 40:04 60 Second Tech Block
• 43:19 Performance is more than a smile
• 49:46 Water We Doing?!
• 50:14 Stop carrying rifles by the strap
• 53:09 Design for the performers you actually have
• 58:15 Respect your color guard equipment
• 01:00:07 Please stop mounting flags upside down
• 01:02:01 Removing stains from white uniforms
• 01:06:40 Make time for yourself
• 01:08:45 Gush & Go
• 01:15:06 Closing rehearsal

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts.
A Podcast for Marching Arts Enthusiasts — On the Field, In the Stands & Behind the Scenes.

Marching arts news moves fast, and this week the panel takes on two stories reaching well beyond the rehearsal field: the ICE detention of Maria Rosales after a trip to Boston with members of her performing team, and a packed national championship season for baton twirling.

Ashlee Amos leads Bill “Woody” Woodward, Bobbey Biddle, Kim Webb and Haley Harrington through the news, a practical 60-Second Tech Block for band directors, and a Water We Doing?! conversation about DCI streaming, ensemble culture, burnout and the way performers are treated online.

THIS WEEK’S PANEL
Ashlee Amos — @famousamossss_
Bill “Woody” Woodward — @remoking100
Bobbey Biddle — @bobbeyboy107
Kim Webb — @kimpossible413
Haley Harrington — @h_harrington14

IN THE NEWS

• The detention of Maria Rosales at Boston Logan Airport and what the story means for educators traveling with performers, students who are afraid for their families and adults responsible for keeping young people safe.
• Inside baton twirling’s national championship season, including the U.S. National Baton Twirling Championships, America’s Youth on Parade, Miss Majorette of America, Grand National competition and international qualification for the Nations Cup, World Championships and Inspiration Cup.

60-SECOND TECH BLOCK
Kim Webb explains why singing and humming with your band can improve intonation, listening, intervals, phrasing and musicality. Her starting point is simple: if students cannot hear and sing the phrase, they are not ready to play it correctly.

WATER WE DOING?!

• West Coast DCI shows that begin near bedtime for East Coast viewers.
• Leaving color guard and percussion outside the full ensemble culture.
• Educators who never make room for a life beyond marching arts.
• What the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders documentary gets right about performers as athletes.
• Adults who criticize performers online for design decisions the performers did not make.

GUSH & GO
Bobbey celebrates a historic Miss Pennsylvania win for Miss Philadelphia, Haley finds a better way to stay hydrated, and Ashlee previews “Joyride,” her upcoming marching band production.

NEWS & RESOURCES
ICE detention following a Boston concert trip — The Boston Globe
U.S. National Baton Twirling Championships — USTA
America’s Youth on Parade 2026 — NBTA

PRESENTED BY GUARD CLOSET
Your one-stop shop for color guard, marching band and the marching arts.
Shop Guard Closet | @guardcloset

FIND ON A WATER BREAK
Website | Listen Everywhere | All Links | Be a Guest
Email: onawaterbreakpodcast@gmail.com
Follow @onawaterbreak on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts.

Blue Devils transportation team member Greg Case gives a firsthand account of the 2026 bus fire, how everyone got to safety, what members lost, and how the Loveland community helped the corps keep moving. Trish O’Shea, Nicole Younger, and Jeremy Williams also cover Brad Furlano’s appointment as DCI’s next CEO, Denise Bonfiglio becoming WGI Color Guard Chief Judge, and the marching bands that found new stages after America 250 parades were canceled by extreme heat. Then Greg takes the 60 Second Tech Block with a lesson on driving a sleeper bus while an entire support team is trying to sleep.

In this episode:

• The Blue Devils bus fire and community response
• Drum corps transportation, tour logistics, and driver responsibility
• Brad Furlano’s appointment as DCI’s next CEO
• Denise Bonfiglio’s appointment as WGI Color Guard Chief Judge
• Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. parade cancellations
• Friends of DCI seating, FloMarching access, and weather backup plans
• 60 Second Tech Block: the art of driving a drum corps sleeper bus

Chapters:
00:00 Welcome • 02:07 Meet Greg Case • 04:37 Blue Devils bus fire • 11:51 Brad Furlano and DCI • 15:20 Denise Bonfiglio and WGI • 17:52 America 250 parade cancellations • 25:58 60 Second Tech Block • 31:57 Water We Doing?! • 42:58 Gush & Go • 50:22 Closing

Guest and panel:
Greg Case — YouTube @gregcase221 | TikTok @gregcase75
Trish O’Shea — @trishdish1102
Nicole Younger — @o2binpjs
Jeremy Williams — @guardcloset

News sources:
Blue Devils incident update • 9NEWS community coverage • DCI appoints Brad Furlano • WGI appoints Denise Bonfiglio • Philadelphia parade coverage • Bands perform after the cancellation • Farmington High School finds a new stage • Washington, D.C. parade cancellation

Related episode:
OAWB S4EP24: Blue Devils Bus Fire, WGI 2027 Calendar, DCI Houston Move & Marching Band Cuts

Sponsored by Guard Closet:
New and consignment color guard, winter guard, and marching band gear at GuardCloset.com and @guardcloset.

Find On A Water Break:
Website • Listen Everywhere • YouTube • Instagram, Facebook & TikTok: @onawaterbreak • Be a guest • onawaterbreakpodcast@gmail.com

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts.

A Podcast for Marching Arts Enthusiasts — On the Field, In the Stands & Behind the Scenes.

Color guard, winter guard, marching band, drum corps, DCI 2026, and WGI are all on deck this week. Whitney Stone is joined by Sadie Wallace, Jeremy Svoboda from Drum Corps Today, and special guest P.A. Kelly / Patti Ann Rego for a Water Break Weekly episode connecting old-school drum corps history to the 2026 season.

P.A. shares stories from the Bronx, Blessed Sacrament, Santa Clara Vanguard, the Blue Devils, rifle lines, inspection lines, the Bottle Dance, Blue Devils “Betties,” and the generational shift from early drum corps to today’s DCI and WGI world. The panel also talks Big, Loud & Live, FloMarching, DCI West, River City Rhapsody, the 2026 MLB All-Star Game field cast opportunity in Philadelphia, first DCI scores, ticket prices, the tour model, and the peak Backyard Betty conversation.

Segments:

• Guest Spotlight: P.A. Kelly / Patti Ann Rego on Vanguard, Blue Devils, gold medals, rifle lines, and drum corps history
• News: Walnut Hills practice time, Blue Devils bus incident, DCI Houston relocation, WGI updates, Big Loud & Live, FloMarching, DCI scores, and MLB All-Star field cast opportunity
• Water We Doing?!: DCI ticket prices, smaller lineups, the tour model, and modern show design
• Gush & Go: Momix, the Human Library, Govenaires, Blue Knights, moving, not moving, vintage rifles, Blue Devil Betties, and Backyard Bettys

Panel: Whitney Stone @dancerwhit • Sadie Wallace @m.sadiewallace • Jeremy Svoboda / Drum Corps Today @drumcorpstoday • Special Guest: P.A. Kelly / Patti Ann Rego

Sponsored by: Guard Closet — guardcloset.com — @guardcloset

Source Links: Walnut Hills: https://local12.com/news/local/cincinnati-marching-band-miss-season-after-practice-time-cut-walnut-hills-high-school-students-bands-marching-instruments-talent-controversy-controversial-frustrations-state-finals-performances |

Blue Devils: https://bluedevils.org/news/article.php?ID=1291 | DCI Houston: https://www.dci.org/news/katy-isds-legacy-stadium-to-host-2026-dci-houston-event/ | WGI proposals: https://www.wgi.org/26adboardresults/ |

WGI alumni casting: https://www.wgi.org/wgi-opening-ceremony-alumni-casting-call/ | Big Loud & Live: https://www.dci.org/cinema/ | DCI/FloMarching: https://www.flomarching.com/articles/16020294-subscribe-to-flomarching-to-watch-the-entire-2026-dci-season | DCI scores: https://www.dci.org/scores/ |

BD Entertainment: https://www.facebook.com/WeAreBDE/ | MLB All-Star Week: https://www.mlb.com/phillies/fans/all-star-game |

MOMIX: https://www.momix.com/ | Human Library: https://humanlibrary.org/

Find On A Water Break: Website: onawaterbreak.com | Listen Everywhere: linktr.ee/onawaterbreak | YouTube: @Onawaterbreak | Instagram/Facebook/TikTok: @onawaterbreak | Be a guest: onawaterbreakpodcast@gmail.com

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts.

Color guard, winter guard, and marching band news are moving fast as DCI 2026 gets rolling and WGI 2027 starts coming into view. Nicole Younger hosts Stephen McCarrick and Jeremy Svoboda for a Water Break Weekly episode covering Walnut Hills High School marching band rehearsal access, the Blue Devils travel incident, DCI Houston’s move to Katy ISD’s Legacy Stadium, and the newly released WGI 2027 Color Guard, Percussion, and Winds regional calendars.

In this episode:

• Walnut Hills marching band practice-time concerns and why rehearsal access matters
• Blue Devils members and staff reported safe after a tire-related bus fire
• DCI Houston moving to Katy ISD’s Legacy Stadium for the 2026 tour
• WGI 2027 regional calendars for color guard, percussion, and winds
• 60 Second Tech Block: Stephen on training technique through muscle awareness
• Water We Doing?!: late DCI show announcements, rehearsal leaks, copyright realities, and respecting admin teams
• Nicole highlights the African American Legacy Corps and its 2027 DCI plans
• Gush & Go: Eastern University, Phantom Regiment, Colts percussion, Eagles Drumline, and FIFA performance life

Related Episodes: S4EP23: Summer Color Guard Training, WGI Rule Changes & DCI Houston Relocation | Color Guard & Marching Band Design Analysis | Pro Tip Besties

This week’s panel: Nicole Younger @o2binpjs • Stephen McCarrick @stephenmccarrick • Jeremy Svoboda / Drum Corps Today @drumcorpstoday

Sponsored by: Guard Closet.

Find On A Water Break: Website | Listen Everywhere | YouTube | Instagram/TikTok/Facebook: @onawaterbreak | Be a guest: onawaterbreakpodcast@gmail.com

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts. A Podcast for Marching Arts Enthusiasts — On the Field, In the Stands & Behind the Scenes.

Color guard, winter guard, and marching band summer prep are on deck this week. Grantis Peranda is joined by Jeremy Denzer and Emily Nee for a Water Break Weekly episode covering DCI Houston, major WGI 2026 proposal results, the WGI 2027 Opening Ceremony Alumni Casting Call, Pride Guard season, and practical summer training before band camp.

Episode Highlights:

• DCI Houston relocation and summer tour updates
• WGI proposal results, including Scholastic A seeding and scholastic promotions
• WGI 2027 Opening Ceremony Alumni Casting Call
• 60 Second Tech Block: summer training that matches your performers
• Water We Doing?!: spin clinics should build confidence, not confusion
• Summer opportunities: DCI shows, clinics, local spin days, Pride guards, and parade performance
• Gush & Go: New England Pride Color Guard, forward-moving parade shows, Taiwan travel, and Seattle solstice creativity

Panel: Grantis Peranda (@grantisimo_p), Jeremy Denzer (@jeremydenzer), and Emily Nee (@tch.makes.art).

Sponsored by: Guard Closet (@guardcloset).

Find On A Water Break: Website | YouTube | Listen Everywhere | All Links | Be a guest: onawaterbreakpodcast@gmail.com

OAWB Bonus Episode: Smart Visual Design with Joey Montes & Kim Jones

Originally presented during Guard Closet's "So You Run a Program" virtual workshop, this special bonus episode explores practical visual design strategies that help performers succeed, improve show readability, and create stronger audience impact.

Topics include finding creative inspiration, choosing music with visual possibility, designing around performer strengths, creating visual impact moments, building stronger transitions, avoiding clutter, and connecting visual design directly to musical storytelling.

One of the biggest questions discussed in this session: "Do I hear what I see and do I see what I hear?"

Need help with your next season?
📧 design@guardcloset.com
🌐 Design Closet: https://www.guardcloset.com/design
🌐 Guard Closet: https://www.guardcloset.com

Follow Guard Closet:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/guardcloset
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GuardCloset
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@guardcloset
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GuardCloset

Follow On A Water Break:
Website: https://www.onawaterbreakpodcast.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onawaterbreak
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/onawaterbreak
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OnAWaterBreakPodcast

Listen, learn, and keep building stronger programs.

Color Guard, Winter Guard & Marching Band Design Analysis

Design analysis does not have to feel like a mystery. In this special Pro Tip Besties episode of On A Water Break, Nicole Younger and Dalton Stout dig into the Design Analysis caption with real questions from real color guard, winter guard, and marching band programs.

This conversation originates on On A Water Break and is presented in collaboration with Guard Closet and the Design Closet.

Nicole and Dalton are joined by Preston Copas, Annie Stegall, and Jordan Fontana for a practical conversation about writing smarter shows, designing for the performers in front of you, and building visual programs that are achievable, clear, musical, and effective.

In this episode

• Designing for beginner color guard performers without making the show boring
• How marching band guard writing reads from the stands
• Why simple choreography can still create effect
• Building a Plan B before rehearsal pressure hits
• What judges may mean when they ask for “more variety”
• How to avoid split focus in color guard and marching band staging
• Writing for mixed skill levels
• Finishing phrases and strengthening transitions
• Avoiding midseason “science fair project” rewrites
• Teaching performance without just saying “smile”
• Quick fixes for common design problems

Featuring

• Nicole Younger — Guard Closet / Design Closet — Instagram: @o2bnpjs
• Dalton Stout — Instagram: @saltydalti
• Preston Copas — University at Albany Winterguard — Instagram: @ualbanyguard / @heylookitspreston
• Annie Stegall — Corbin High School / University of the Cumberlands — Instagram/TikTok: @corbin.colorguard / Instagram: @whatthefawkbro
• Jordan Fontana — Lecanto Emeralds — Instagram: @lecanto.emeralds

Links

• Learn more about Guard Closet’s Design Closet
• Visit Guard Closet
• Follow On A Water Break
• Follow Guard Closet on Instagram
• Follow On A Water Break on Instagram
• On A Water Break Website

Find On A Water Break: Website: onawaterbreak.com | Listen Everywhere: linktr.ee/onawaterbreak | Be a Guest: onawaterbreakpodcast@gmail.com

#ColorGuard #WinterGuard #MarchingBand #DesignAnalysis #MarchingArts

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts.

A Podcast for Marching Arts Enthusiasts — On the Field, In the Stands & Behind the Scenes.

Marching band, color guard, DCI, WGI, BOA Summer Camp, drum corps, rehearsal planning, and Pride Bands are all on deck this week.

This week on On A Water Break, Joey Montes III is joined by Dalton Stout and Haley Harrington for a Water Break Weekly episode about training with intention, building better rehearsal schedules, keeping performers safe, and remembering that the marching arts are built by people who show up, ask questions, and keep learning.

The panel covers Adams 14 honoring Colorado fallen veterans at the National Memorial Day Parade, WGI event staff opportunities, Bands of America Summer Camp at Ball State, and the Pride Bands Alliance conference in Philadelphia. Then Dalton drops a 60 Second Tech Block on detailed rehearsal schedules before the group gets into trick toss safety, DCI show access, community advocacy, and appreciating how far you’ve come.

Panel:
Joey Montes III — @marchingbymontesDalton Stout — @SaltyDaltiHaley Harrington — @h_harrington14

Episode Highlights:
• Adams 14 honors Colorado fallen veterans• WGI event staff applications and why logistics matter• BOA Summer Camp, Leadership Weekend, and continued learning• Pride Bands Alliance and Philadelphia Freedom Band’s 2026 conference concert• Dalton’s 60 Second Tech Block on detailed rehearsal schedules• Technique in every rehearsal, training in character, and cleaning transitions• Trick toss safety and DCI show access• Gush & Go: summer reading, DVS beginner courses, and WGI advisory board proposals

Related Episodes:
DCI CEO Departure, $85K Drum Corps Scholarships, WGI Brother Duo & Marching Arts Burnout
Band Censorship, DCI Clinics & AI Uniform Design
DCI 2026 Tickets, WGI Graphic Designer Job + Band Censorship Debate

Featured Links:
WGI Event Staff Application
Bands of America Summer Camp
Pride Bands Alliance 2026
Dalton Stout / DVS
Cincinnati Tradition

Sponsored by:
Guard Closet — @guardcloset
Peak Group Travel — @peak.group.travel

Find On A Water Break:
Website
YouTube
Listen Everywhere
All Links
Be a guest
onawaterbreakpodcast@gmail.com

Follow @onawaterbreak on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts.

Marching band, color guard, DCI, WGI, drum corps, and summer band camp prep are all on deck this week.

A Podcast for Marching Arts Enthusiasts — On the Field, In the Stands & Behind the Scenes.

This week on On A Water Break, Ashlee Amos leads Bobbey Biddle, Whitney Stone, Hayley Harrington, and Bill “Woody” Woodward through a packed Water Break Weekly episode covering sunscreen safety, Blue Devils International, Pete Emmons’ visual design legacy, Leia Klein’s inspiring color guard story, the return of WGI Latin America, and the 2026 WGI Future Leaders Program class.

Whitney’s 60 Second Tech Block is the summer marching band and color guard reality check: train your performers, teach technique, size the cast, order costumes, prep flag designs, get music in students’ hands, and make sure the whole staff understands the show before band camp arrives.

Episode Highlights:
• Sunscreen, hats, hydration, and rehearsal safety
• Blue Devils International heading to Europe
• Remembering Pete Emmons and asymmetrical drill
• WGI Latin America returning in Costa Rica
• WGI Future Leaders Program class of 2026
• AI-generated design and why real artists still matter
• Drum corps costs, tour logistics, and alumni support
• Baton music choices, judging standards, and rewarding creativity

Panel:
Ashlee Amos — @famousamossss_
Bobbey Biddle — @bobbeyboy107
Whitney Stone — @dancerwhit
Hayley Harrington — @h_harrington14
Bill “Woody” Woodward — @remoking100

Sponsored by:
Guard Closet — guardcloset.com — @guardcloset
Peak Group Travel — peakgrouptravel.com — @peak.group.travel

Find On A Water Break:
Website
YouTube
Listen Everywhere
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
All Links
Be a guest: onawaterbreakpodcast@gmail.com

Follow @onawaterbreak on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts.

Color Guard Joins the Patti LaBelle Pride Celebration at Philadelphia Pride 2026.

In this Quick Sip, Trish O’Shea welcomes Dylan Watson back to On A Water Break to preview the Philly Pride 365 Colorguard and its role inside Philadelphia Pride 2026.

Dylan talks about building a bigger color guard production this year, including parade choreography, stage movement, dancing, Philly music, and a celebration connected to the music and legacy of Patti LaBelle.

Philadelphia Pride 2026 brings Pride on the Parkway to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway on Sunday, June 7, following March Into Pride in the Gayborhood. This year’s celebration honors Philadelphia icon Patti LaBelle with a tribute recognizing her musical legacy, cultural impact, and connection to LGBTQIA+ communities.

For Dylan, this is more than a parade feature. It is a chance to show audiences that color guard is a full production: visual, musical, emotional, and powerful.

Featuring:
Trish O’Shea – @trishdish1102
Dylan Watson – @that_dude_dylan19

Also connected:
Philly Pride 365 – @phillypride365
Patti LaBelle – @mspattilabelle
Nicole Younger – @o2binpjs

Learn more about Philly Pride 365:
PhillyPride365.org

Find On A Water Break:
Website
Listen Everywhere
All Links
Be a guest
onawaterbreakpodcast@gmail.com

Follow On A Water Break:
Instagram: @onawaterbreak
Facebook: @onawaterbreak
YouTube: @Onawaterbreak

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts.

DCI 2026, drum corps scholarships, WGI percussion, marching band burnout, and AI show art all hit the water break this week.

Ricardo Robinson-Shinall, Sadie Wallace, and Jeremy Denzer break down Drum Corps International’s leadership transition, DCI’s 2026 scholarship recipients, the WGI story of Joshua and Jacob Mendiola, and why marching arts educators need to take a real break before the next season takes over.

Panel:
Ricardo Robinson-Shinall — @ricardorrobinson
Sadie Wallace — @m.sadiewallace
Jeremy Svboda — @drumcorpstoday

Chapters:
00:00 Cold Open: Welcome to Water Break Weekly
00:46 Meet the Panel
01:45 Jeremy’s Govenaires Update + Drum Corps Season Talk
04:05 Last Week Recap + This Week’s News Setup
05:25 News: DCI Announces Leadership Transition
14:47 News: DCI Awards More Than $85K in 2026 Scholarships
18:09 News: WGI Brother Duo Shares Medal-Winning Experience
22:34 Sponsor Break
24:32 60 Second Tech Block: Skipped This Week
24:32 Water We Doing?!: Drum Corps Apps, AI Show Art, and Burnout
25:14 Sadie: Lot App, Member Tracking, and Tour Privacy
30:14 Jeremy: Show Announcements and AI-Generated Design
33:05 Ricardo: Educators, Take the Break
39:30 Gush and Go
39:38 Sadie: Michael Cesario Wedding Dress Story
44:05 Jeremy: Returning to Drum Corps with the Govenaires
47:09 Ricardo: Philly Pride 365, Patti LaBelle, and Color Guard
53:06 Closing: Submit Stories + Subscribe

Featured Links:
DCI leadership transition
DCI 2026 scholarship recipients
WGI Mendiola brothers feature

Related Episodes:
WGI Housing Policy + AI Show Design Debate
Marching Band Protests, Million Dollar Band Record Numbers, Drum Corps Costs & Big Loud Live

Sponsored by:
Guard Closet — guardcloset.com — @guardcloset
Peak Group Travel — peakgrouptravel.com — @peak.group.travel

Find On A Water Break:
Website
YouTube
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
All Links
Be a guest
onawaterbreakpodcast@gmail.com

Follow @onawaterbreak on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts.

Marching band, DCI 2026, WGI, drum corps, color guard, and music education are all on the table this week.

This week on On A Water Break, Joey Montes III, Nicole Younger, and Hayley Harrington break down the Watertown High School band censorship story, DCI Event Day Clinics, Team DCI age-out volunteer opportunities, WGI’s Dayton impact, Westfield percussion opening Inside The Sound, and why AI uniform design inspiration still needs real-world production sense.

Chapters
00:00 – Welcome to Water Break Weekly
00:41 – Joey, Nicole, and Hayley check in
03:00 – Bonus episode previews
04:23 – Watertown band censorship story
12:08 – DCI 2026 Event Day Clinics
16:09 – Team DCI opportunity for recent age-outs
22:08 – WGI’s Bart Woodley honored by Destination Dayton
24:39 – Westfield Percussion opens Inside The Sound
30:29 – 60 Second Tech Block setup
33:38 – Nicole Younger: judging effect and design
40:17 – Water We Doing?!
40:49 – AI uniform inspiration vs. production reality
45:03 – Stop gatekeeping marching band show reveals
49:06 – Building your name vs. doing the work
52:05 – Gush & Go
58:19 – Closing

Hosts
Joey Montes III – @marchingbymontes
Nicole Younger – @o2bnpjs
Hayley Harrington – @h_harrington14

Links Mentioned
Watertown / A Mother of A Revolution!
DCI Event Day Clinics
Team DCI Age-Out Opportunity
WGI / Bart Woodley Destination Dayton Award
Inside The Sound

Related Episodes
DCI 2026 Tickets, WGI Graphic Designer Job + Band Censorship Debate
Elementary Marching Band, WGI Leadership Applications & Music Rights Costs
Legacy Drum & Bugle Corps 2026 Drum Majors

Find On A Water Break
Website
Listen Everywhere
All Links
Be a guest
onawaterbreakpodcast@gmail.com

Sponsored by Guard Closet: guardcloset.com | @guardcloset

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts.
A Podcast for Marching Arts Enthusiasts — On the Field, In the Stands & Behind the Scenes.

Marching band, DCI 2026, WGI 2026, color guard, drum corps, and music education are all on the table in this Water Break Weekly episode. Ashlee Amos hosts Bobbey Biddle, Bill “Woody” Woodward, Haley Harrington, and guest Deion Curtis for a full sideline conversation about the Watertown band controversy, DCI tour tickets, WGI’s graphic designer opportunity, and Homage Independent going inactive for the 2027 winter guard season.

In this episode:
00:00 – Intro: Water Break Weekly S4EP19
01:44 – Guest Intro: Deion Curtis
02:11 – 32 Count Life Story
04:25 – News: Watertown Band Piece Pulled Over Marsha P. Johnson Dedication
09:22 – News: DCI 2026 Tour Tickets
15:13 – News: WGI Graphic Designer Opportunity
18:12 – News: Homage Independent Going Inactive
38:47 – 60 Second Tech Block: Self-Cleaning Before Staff Corrections
42:26 – Water We Doing?!: Schedules, DCI Timing + Online Haters
01:00:26 – Artistry, Excellence + Marching Arts History
01:14:31 – Gush & Go

This week’s panel:
Ashlee Amos — @famousamossss_
Bobbey Biddle — @bobbeyboy107
Bill “Woody” Woodward — @remoking100
Haley Harrington — @h_harrington14
Deion Curtis — Cincinnati Tradition / Fairfield HS / Centerville Junior Guard / Homage Independent

Referenced links:
DCI 2026 Tour Tickets
WGI Graphic Designer Job
Watertown School Board Story
Homage Independent

Related episodes:
OAWB S4EP18
Legacy Drum & Bugle Corps 2026 Drum Majors
Blessed Sacrament Viral Show Explained

Sponsored by:
Guard Closet — Find On A Water Break:
Website: onawaterbreak.com
Listen Everywhere: plinkhq.com/i/1653637341
All Links: linktr.ee/onawaterbreak
Be a guest: Guest Application Form
Email: onawaterbreakpodcast@gmail.com
#OnAWaterBreak #MarchingArts #DCI2026 #WGI2026 #ColorGuard #DrumCorps #MarchingBand #MusicEducation

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts.
A Podcast for Marching Arts Enthusiasts — On the Field, In the Stands & Behind the Scenes.

Marching band, WGI, DCI 2026, color guard, drum corps, and music education are on deck in OAWB S4EP18. Ricardo Robinson-Shinall hosts Amari Lewis and Bill “Woody” Woodward for a weekly episode about Nuner Elementary’s marching band with color guard, WGI leadership applications, advisory board proposal deadlines, music rights, arrangement costs, and why the activity needs more original show design.

In this episode:
• Nuner Elementary School and Fine Arts Academy starts a marching band with color guard
• WGI Board of Directors and Steering Committee applications are open
• WGI 2026 Advisory Board proposal deadlines are here
• Woody tackles music rights, arrangement costs, and why old charts keep coming back
• Water We Doing?! takes on recycled shows, mismatched media content, and creative silos
• Gush & Go celebrates student growth, DCI tour prep, and a Philly Pride finale in the works

Chapters:
00:00 – Intro: Water Break Weekly S4EP18
00:52 – Panel Check-In: Post-Season Recovery + DCI Move-In
04:22 – Bonus Content Preview: WGI 2026 + Legacy Drum & Bugle Corps
05:15 – News: Elementary Marching Band with Color Guard
13:13 – News: WGI Board + Steering Committee Applications
14:48 – News: WGI 2026 Advisory Board Proposals
19:16 – Sponsor: Guard Closet
21:21 – 60 Second Tech Block: Music Arrangement Costs + Performance Rights
31:02 – Water We Doing?! Recycled Shows, Media Mistakes + Creative Teams
41:55 – Gush & Go: Student Wins, DCI Tour + Philly Pride
48:38 – Closing: Subscribe, Review + Share

Panel:
Ricardo Robinson-Shinall — @ricardorrobinson
Amari Lewis — @_amari.lewis_
Bill “Woody” Woodward — @remoking100

Referenced Links:
Nuner Elementary marching band story
WGI Board + Steering Committee application
WGI 2026 Advisory Board proposal submissions
WGI 2026 Advisory Board meeting dates

Related Episodes:
Why “Believability” Is Winning WGI 2026
Legacy Drum & Bugle Corps 2026 Drum Majors

Sponsored by Guard Closet:
GuardCloset.com
Instagram: @guardcloset

Find On A Water Break:
Website
Listen Everywhere
All Links
Weekly Episodes Playlist
Bonus Episodes + Quick Sips

Keywords: marching band, WGI 2026, DCI 2026, color guard, drum corps, music education, indoor percussion, marching arts, show design, music rights, Guard Closet.

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts.

Legacy Drum & Bugle Corps is stepping into its first DCI SoundSport season, and this Quick Sip introduces the first leaders on the podium: Kamryn Burns and Corbin Weiss.

Trish O’Shea sits down with Kamryn Burns, Corbin Weiss, and Legacy/Dream Performing Arts Executive Director Tom Maiello to talk about building a drum corps from the beginning, what it means to be the first drum majors, how recruiting and travel are shaping the season, and what Legacy is preparing for its 2026 debut.

In this episode:

• 00:00 – Quick Sip Intro
• 00:21 – Meet Legacy’s First Drum Majors
• 00:52 – 32 Count Life Stories
• 03:04 – Joining Legacy and Starting Something New
• 04:33 – Rehearsals, Camps, and Move-In Plans
• 07:41 – Recruiting, Travel, and First-Year Logistics
• 09:20 – Legacy’s 2026 Program Sneak Peek
• 11:58 – What Kamryn and Corbin Are Most Excited About
• 13:42 – Biggest Challenges for a First-Year Corps
• 15:38 – How to March with Legacy

Featured in this Quick Sip:
Trish O’Shea — @trishdish1102
Kamryn Burns — Head Drum Major, Legacy Drum & Bugle Corps
Corbin Weiss — Assistant Drum Major, Legacy Drum & Bugle Corps
Tom Maiello — Executive Director, Dream Performing Arts / Legacy Drum & Bugle Corps

Follow Legacy / Dream Performing Arts:
LegacyDBC.org
Legacy Instagram
Legacy Facebook
Dream Performing Arts
Dream Instagram

Sponsored by:
Guard Closet — @guardcloset

Find On A Water Break:
Website
Linktree
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
YouTube

Keywords: DCI SoundSport, Legacy Drum and Bugle Corps, drum corps, drum major, marching band, marching arts, Open Class drum corps, Drum Corps International, 2026 DCI season.

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts.
A Podcast for Marching Arts Enthusiasts — On the Field, In the Stands & Behind the Scenes.

Marching band, drum corps, DCI, college marching band, color guard, and music education are all on deck this week.
This episode covers marching band protests, Alabama’s Million Dollar Band applicant record, Tim Cook’s Robertsdale High School band donation, DCI Big Loud & Live returning to theaters, drum corps tuition, alternates, and Phantom Regiment alumni corps updates.

Chapters
00:00 Welcome + Panel Intro
03:57 Marching Band Protest Story
05:16 Drumline Political Entrance
07:06 Alabama Million Dollar Band Applicant Record
08:37 Tim Cook Band Donation
11:12 DCI Big Loud & Live Returns
15:14 Tony Hall 32 Count Life Story
18:16 Water We Doing?! Music Rights, Drum Corps Costs, Alternates + Gym Floors
31:29 Gush & Go: Phantom Regiment Alumni Corps, Spectacular Follies, Govies + Bridgeland Auditions
39:10 Closing + Support the Activity

Panel
Whitney Stone: @dancerwhit
Sadie Wallace: @m.sadiewallace
Jeremy Denzer: @drumcorpstoday
Tony Hall: @phanynot

Featured Links
Marching band protest story
University of Alabama Million Dollar Band
Tim Cook Robertsdale High School band donation
Drum Corps International
Phantom Regiment
Lot Riot

Watch More On A Water Break
Weekly Episodes Playlist
OAWB With Bonus Episodes Playlist
Listen Everywhere

Follow On A Water Break
Instagram
Facebook
TikTok

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts.

Blessed Sacrament Color Guard had one of the most talked-about WGI moments of the season, and Zach Miranda joins On A Water Break to talk about the viral pole feature, crowd reactions, social media buzz, and the group’s 90th anniversary year.

In this Quick Sip, Zach talks about becoming known as “the pole dancer from Blessed Sac,” hearing the crowd sing along during the show, seeing clips from every angle, and watching the conversation unfold online.

In this episode:
• Zach’s 32 Count Life Story• The Blessed Sacrament pole feature• Crowd reactions in Dayton• Social media clips and Reddit discourse• The meaning behind the “jungle” section of the show• Blessed Sacrament’s 90th anniversary season• Teaching with Spartans Drum Corps

Guest:
Zach Miranda — @Zach_miranda122

Featured Program:Blessed Sacrament — @blessedsac

Watch More On A Water Break

Weekly Episodes:https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL600p0k2IuT4vhEIgopl8XDO-pU3YOR77

Bonus Interviews / Quick Sips:https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL600p0k2IuT5c48Q_cvR1ATvbaQ1QGcN4

Listen Everywhere:https://plinkhq.com/i/1653637341?to=page

Subscribe, leave a review, and follow @onawaterbreak for more marching arts conversations.

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts.

In this Quick Sip, Trish sits down with Kate Cecil, the standout soloist from Center Grove High School’s World Guard—known across the activity as the “yellow flag girl” from WGI Finals.

Kate shares her journey from starting color guard in middle school to becoming a multi-year section leader and viral standout performer. She talks about being chosen as the soloist, handling the pressure of performing alone in a featured role, and what it felt like to gain recognition across the community.

In this episode:

• Kate’s 32 Count Life Story
• How she became the Center Grove soloist
• Performing as the only featured yellow flag performer
• Going viral at WGI Finals
• Advice for Scholastic World performers

Key insight:
“If you see someone performing and they’re feeling it… it makes everything else forgivable.”

Listen everywhere:
https://plinkhq.com/i/1653637341?to=page

Watch more episodes:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL600p0k2IuT4vhEIgopl8XDO-pU3YOR77

Shop Guard Closet:
https://www.guardcloset.com

Indiana Band Program Targeted by Politician Sparks National Debate on Music Education

This Quick Sip dives into a major developing story involving the Westfield High School Band Program and their indoor percussion group following the WGI season.

Band Director Andrew Muth joins On A Water Break to explain what happened after a state politician shared a post criticizing the program—bringing unexpected national attention to their students and their work.

Rather than reacting negatively, the program used the moment to advocate for music education and support their students.

⏱️ Episode Chapters:
00:00 – Intro00:21 – Guest Introduction01:03 – 32 Count Life Story02:23 – The Controversy Explained03:54 – Student Impact05:22 – Supporting Students06:02 – Crisis Response Strategy08:24 – How to Support Westfield09:46 – Closing

🔗 Support Westfield:
https://westfield.band

🌐 Listen Everywhere:
https://plinkhq.com/i/1653637341?to=page

🛍️ Sponsored by Guard Closet:
https://www.guardcloset.com

Why “Believability” Is Winning WGI 2026 + Full Results Recap

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts.

WGI 2026 is officially in the books, and one theme stood out across color guard, percussion, and winds: believability. This week, the On A Water Break panel breaks down championship results, performance quality, judging conversations, and what instructors need to rethink heading into next season.

Joey Montes is joined by Jeremy Denzer, Haley Harrington, and guest Aaron Ferris for a full weekly episode covering WGI results, DCI Hall of Fame news, and a 60 Second Tech Block on what “performing” really means.

Panel:
Joey Montes — @marchingbymontes
Jeremy Denzer — @jeremydenzer
Haley Harrington — @h_harrington14
Aaron Ferris — @phunky.af

Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro + Panel Welcom02:45 – 32 Count Life Story: Aaron Ferris08:04 – News: Buc-ee’s Ohio Store Chaos at WGI10:05 – DCI Hall of Fame 2026 Announced11:29 – WGI 2026 Color Guard Results Breakdown14:34 – WGI 2026 Percussion Results Breakdown23:12 – WGI 2026 Winds Results Breakdown28:02 – 60 Second Tech Block: What Is Performance Quality?33:23 – Water We Doing: Judging + Social Media Rants47:50 – Gush & Go54:35 – Closing Thoughts + Where to Follow

In This Episode:

• WGI 2026 Color Guard, Percussion, and Winds results
• Why believability is separating top groups
• DCI Hall of Fame Class of 2026
• Judging, social media, and educator responsibility
• 60 Second Tech Block: Performance Quality

Links:
WGI Scores Hub: https://www.wgi.org/scores/WGI Color Guard Scores: https://www.wgi.org/scores/color-guard-scores/WGI Winds Scores: https://www.wgi.org/scores/winds-scores/DCI Hall of Fame 2026: https://www.dci.org/news/five-to-be-inducted-into-dci-hall-of-fame-class-of-2026/
Listen Everywhere: https://plinkhq.com/i/1653637341?to=page
OAWB Website: https://www.onawaterbreak.com
All Links: https://linktr.ee/onawaterbreak

Sponsor:Guard Closet — https://www.guardcloset.comInstagram: @guardcloset

Follow On A Water Break:
Instagram/Facebook/TikTok: @onawaterbreak

#OnAWaterBreak #WGI2026 #ColorGuard #IndoorPercussion #Winds #MarchingArts

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts.

Marching band drill design is evolving—and OpenMarch is helping lead that change.

In this episode of On A Water Break, we sit down with Alex Dumouchelle, Founder & Lead Developer of OpenMarch, and Aleksi Saario, OpenMarch’s Marketing Manager, to talk about how their free, open-source drill writing platform is changing access, collaboration, and creativity in the marching arts.

This conversation digs into where OpenMarch started, why open-source matters, how real programs are already using it, and what the future of drill design could look like when more designers actually have access to the tools.

In this episode:

• How OpenMarch got started
• Why open-source matters in the marching arts
• How the platform lowers barriers for designers and educators
• Real-world use in marching arts programs
• What’s next for OpenMarch

Featured Guests:
Alex Dumouchelle — Founder & Lead Developer, OpenMarch
Aleksi Saario — Marketing Manager, OpenMarch

Find OpenMarch:
Website: https://openmarch.com
Team / About: https://openmarch.com/about/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/openmarchapp
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtDQuvHRnj-GQ_GrNbpNYhQ

Hosts:
Joey Montes — https://www.instagram.com/marchingbymontes
Ricardo Robinson-Shinall — https://www.instagram.com/ricardorrobinson

Follow On A Water Break:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onawaterbreak
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/onawaterbreak
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@onawaterbreak

Listen Everywhere:
https://plinkhq.com/i/1653637341?to=page

Watch More OAWB:
Weekly Episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL600p0k2IuT4vhEIgopl8XDO-pU3YOR77
OAWB With: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL600p0k2IuT5c48Q_cvR1ATvbaQ1QGcN4

Sponsor:
Guard Closet: https://www.guardcloset.com

Got a question or want to be on the show?
Email: onawaterbreakpodcast@gmail.com

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts.

DCI 2026 tour tickets are live, a Minnesota band director is stepping into politics, and summer marching camps are already making noise.

This week on On A Water Break, Ashlee Amos, Bobbey Biddle, Bill “Woody” Woodward, and Haley Harrington break down four timely stories from across the activity, then jump into a 60 Second Tech Block that turns into a very real conversation about last-minute packing, freezing bus rides, and surviving tour prep.

The panel also unloads in Water We Doing?! with hot takes on winter activities running into May, spring concerts happening way too early, not drinking enough water, and the pressure of cleaning championship performances. Gush and Go closes things out with love for WGI teams, travel wins, live event coverage, and local programs building momentum.

Panel:
Ashlee Amos — @famousamossss_
Bobbey Biddle — @bobbeyboy107
Bill “Woody” Woodward — @remoking100
Haley Harrington — @h_harrington14

In this episode:

• Band director Christoph Dundas runs for public office
• DCI 2026 tour tickets go on sale
• BOA Summer Camp and Director Academy discussion
• USBands summer clinics conversation
• 60 Second Tech Block: packing for tour and cold bus rides
• Water We Doing?!
• Gush and Go

Listen everywhere:
https://linktr.ee/onawaterbreak
https://plinkhq.com/i/1653637341?to=page

Watch more:
Weekly Episodes Playlist
Bonus Episodes Playlist

Referenced in this episode, coming soon:
WGI 2026 Color Guard Recap
WGI 2026 Percussion Finals Preview

Sponsored by Guard Closet:
https://www.guardcloset.com
Sell with Guard Closet
Design with Guard Closet

WGI 2026 Percussion World Class performers break down the reality of Finals week, show design, and age-out season.

This episode features performers from Rhythm X, RCC (Riverside City College), United Percussion, and George Mason University Indoor Drumline — giving a real look inside the highest level of indoor percussion.

In this episode:

• How World Class shows evolve throughout the season
• Why top groups constantly rewrite and adjust their productions
• The difference between cleaning and designing at an elite level
• Finals week mindset and handling pressure
• The emotional experience of aging out

Panelists:

• Ari Chervony — United Percussion (Instagram: @ari_chervony)
• Eitan Chervony — Rhythm X (Instagram: @eitanchervony)
• Aud Sherrill — RCC (Instagram: @aud.sherrill)
• Lily Etzel — GMU (Instagram: @lilliannaetzel)
• Host: Stephen McCarrick (Instagram: @yeahbass)

• Guest Host: Anne Turner (Instagram: @anne.saber)

Follow the Ensembles:

• Rhythm X — @rhythmxinc
• RCC Drumline — @rccdrumline
• United Percussion — @unitedpercussion
• GMU Drumline — @gmudrumline

Listen Everywhere:
https://plinkhq.com/i/1653637341

Watch More:
Weekly Episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL600p0k2IuT4vhEIgopl8XDO-pU3YOR77
Bonus Episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL600p0k2IuT5c48Q_cvR1ATvbaQ1QGcN4

Sponsor:
Guard Closet — https://www.guardcloset.com

Why do color guard performers panic in performance—and how should we actually be training recoveries?

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts.

This week on On A Water Break, Alicia, Dalton, Grantis, and Jeremy break down major marching arts news while tackling one of the most overlooked performance skills: recovery training.

In this episode:

• A marching band trailer theft in Orlando and what programs can learn from it
• The legacy of Marlene Miller, co-founder of FJM, and her impact on the activity
• Hawthorne Caballeros celebrating 80 years of drum corps history
• WGI + BOA Instructor Academy expansion and what it means for instructors

60 Second Tech Block:
Recovery training — why performers panic, how to fix it, and why recovery skills matter in real performance.

Water We Doing?!

• Performers losing confidence in front of audiences
• The lack of high-energy “banger” shows this season
• Drum corps still hiring staff late into spring
• Performing with hair in your face

Gush & Go:

• Program growth and championship success
• Performer development and confidence wins
• Looking ahead to the summer season

Listen everywhere:
https://plinkhq.com/i/1653637341?to=page

Watch full episodes:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL600p0k2IuT4vhEIgopl8XDO-pU3YOR77

Follow us:
Instagram / Facebook / TikTok: @onawaterbreak

Presented by Guard Closet:
https://www.guardcloset.com

CHAPTERS

00:00 – Cold Open & Introductions
03:16 – News: Trailer Theft in Orlando
05:18 – News: Hawthorne Caballeros 80th Anniversary
06:33 – News: Marlene Miller & FJM Legacy
08:27 – News: WGI Instructor Academy
10:59 – 60 Second Tech Block: Recovery Training
16:34 – Water We Doing?!
25:03 – Gush & Go
30:16 – Closing

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts.

This week on On A Water Break, Trish O’Shea is joined by Whitney Stone, Justin, and first-time guest Sha’Tara Robinson for a live WGI 2026 conversation packed with late-season energy, controversy, and real talk.

The panel digs into the biggest story still hanging over the activity — the Paramount situation and Independent Open waitlist fallout — before shifting into who has real momentum right now in Independent World and Scholastic World. Fusion gets major love, Vox Artium gets praised for a bold design turn, and the crew talks through Fantasia, AMP, Juxtaposition, Arcadia, Avon, The Woodlands, Center Grove, and more.

Later in the episode, Justin delivers a timely 60 Second Tech Block on the mental side of preparing for WGI week, and Water We Doing?! turns into one of the strongest segments of the episode with rants on petal tosses at the tarp edge, low volume at contests, costume shipping chaos, rewriting shows at the last minute, and valuing flash over technique.

In this episode:

• Paramount fallout and waitlist frustration
• Fusion, Fantasia, Vox Artium, AMP, and Independent World buzz
• Arcadia, Avon, The Woodlands, and the Scholastic World race
• Scores vs momentum heading into Dayton
• 60 Second Tech Block: preparing mentally for WGI week
• Water We Doing?! late-season chaos, design choices, and logistics
• Gush and Go wins from teams and staff heading into championships

Panel
Trish O’Shea — @trishdish1102
Whitney Stone — @dancerwhit
Justin — @justin.vs.guard
Sha’Tara Robinson — TikTok @yourfavoriteplantauntie

Referenced links
WGI Color Guard World Championships:
https://www.wgi.org/color-guard/world-championships-cg/

WGI Championships Schedule:
https://www.wgi.org/color-guard/world-championships-cg/world-championships-schedules-cg/

Independent World Standings:
https://www.wgi.org/color-guard/independent-world-group-standings/

Scholastic World Standings:
https://www.wgi.org/color-guard/scholastic-world-group-standings/

Related OAWB episodes
Paramount WGI Promotion Controversy & Independent Open Waitlist Breakdown:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/paramount-wgi-promotion-controversy-independent-open/id1653637341?i=1000756670385

2026 WGI World Class Performers: Juxtaposition, Alta Marea & AMP:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/2026-wgi-world-class-performers-juxtaposition-alta/id1653637341?i=1000747924736

WGI Housing Policy + AI Show Design Debate:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wgi-housing-policy-ai-show-design-debate-water-break-weekly/id1653637341?i=1000746369564

Find On A Water Break
Listen everywhere: https://plinkhq.com/i/1653637341?to=page
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OnAWaterBreak
Website: https://www.onawaterbreak.com
Weekly Episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL600p0k2IuT4vhEIgopl8XDO-pU3YOR77
Bonus Episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL600p0k2IuT5c48Q_cvR1ATvbaQ1QGcN4
More OAWB / Be a Guest: https://linktr.ee/onawaterbreak

Sponsors
Guard Closet — https://www.guardcloset.com/

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts.

In this special On A Water Break Quick Sip, Trish O’Shea is joined by Jeff Ream to remember Gil Silva and the impact he had on Drum Corps Associates and the all-age drum corps activity.

Together, they reflect on Gil’s calm leadership, his humor, his years guiding DCA through change, and the way he helped create space for growth across the activity. From memorable rainy championship moments to larger conversations about DCA, Class A, and the future of all-age corps, this episode is a tribute to someone who left a lasting mark on drum corps.

In this episode:
- Remembering Gil Silva’s leadership and presence in DCA
- Personal memories from Trish O’Shea and Jeff Ream
- Reflections on Class A growth and the expansion of the all-age activity
- Thoughts on Gil’s role in the changing relationship between DCA and DCI
- A closing tribute and condolences to Gil’s family

Panel:
Trish O’Shea
Jeff Ream - @reamjeff

Listen everywhere:
https://plinkhq.com/i/1653637341?to=page

Watch On A Water Break on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@OnAWaterBreak

More OAWB:
https://linktr.ee/onawaterbreak

00:00 Quick Sip: Intro

00:20 Quick Sip: Jeff Ream Joins the Conversation

00:39 Quick Sip: Gil Silva’s DCA Leadership

02:43 Quick Sip: Rain Delay Memories and Gil Under Pressure

05:08 Quick Sip: Humor, Patience and Personality

06:19 Quick Sip: Growing DCA and Expanding Class A

09:07 Quick Sip: Gil Silva and the Future of DCI All-Age

10:33 Quick Sip: Final Tribute to Gil Silva

11:12 Quick Sip: Closing and Subscribe Call

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts.

In this Quick Sip, Jackie sits down with Devon Kugler of Spin Strong to talk about fitness for color guard performers, injury prevention, and why performers need more than just rehearsal to stay strong and healthy.

Spin Strong is creating free, accessible fitness resources built specifically for the marching arts community — focused on strength, recovery, and sustainability rather than diet culture.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

• Devon’s journey from performer to Spin Strong founder
• Why “weekend warrior” rehearsal habits aren’t enough
• What Spin Strong actually teaches performers
• A breakdown of the Guard Gains training program
• Why injury prevention is becoming a major conversation in WGI
• What’s next: clinics, website, and custom training support

Follow Spin Strong:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spinstrong_official/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SpinStrong_Official

Listen to more episodes of On A Water Break:

https://plinkhq.com/i/1653637341?to=page

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts.

This week on On A Water Break, Ricardo Robinson is joined by Sadie Wallace, Miles Kellett, Kim Webb, and Jeremy Svoboda (@drumcorpstoday) for a full breakdown of the biggest conversations across marching band, drum corps, color guard, WGI, and DCI.

We cover major national moments and real-world challenges impacting performers and educators, including the 2027 Rose Parade marching band lineup, a historic FAMU Marching 100 Oscars performance, and new opportunities from DCI and WGI.

📰 News & Links:

• 🌹 Rose Parade 2027 Band Lineup
  Tournament of Roses
• 🏆 FAMU Oscars Performance
  FAMU News
• 🎺 DCI IN STEP Fellowship
  DCI
• 💃 WGI Movement Clinic
  WGI
• 🎼 Avon HS Director Announcement
  Avon Schools

⚙️ 60 Second Tech Block: Skipped this week

🎤 32 Count Life Story — Miles Kellett (@thatbandteacherwhospins)
Miles shares his journey through the marching arts—from performer to educator.

💧 Water We Doing?!

• Sadie Wallace (@m.sadiewallace): Independent contractor taxes
• Kim Webb (@kimpossible413): Respect volunteers
• Miles Kellett (@thatbandteacherwhospins): Travel demands in WGI
• Jeremy Svoboda (@drumcorpstoday): Heat safety awareness

💛 Gush and Go

• Sadie Wallace — Performance opportunities
• Kim Webb — Program success
• Miles Kellett — Student progress
• Jeremy Svoboda — Recruiting growth
• Ricardo Robinson — AALC development

🎙️ Panel:
Ricardo Robinson (@ricardorrobinson)
Sadie Wallace (@m.sadiewallace)
Miles Kellett (@thatbandteacherwhospins)
Kim Webb (@kimpossible413)
Jeremy Svoboda (@drumcorpstoday)

▶️ Watch More:
Weekly Episodes
Bonus Episodes

🛍️ Guard Closet:
guardcloset.com

🎧 Listen Everywhere:
Podcast Links

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts.

In this Quick Sip, Trish is joined by Andy Lecture to break down the ongoing situation involving Paramount’s second guard, an age eligibility issue, and their move from Independent A Class to Independent Open.

This episode dives into how the situation unfolded, what the WGI rulebook says, and how the decision is impacting multiple groups currently on the Independent Open waitlist for World Championships.

What’s inside this episode:

• Paramount’s age eligibility violation and disqualification
• The decision to self-promote instead of removing a member
• WGI rules and enforcement (Rule 1.5)
• Independent Open waitlist concerns
• Registration tiers and how teams qualify
• The balance between fairness and member experience

This conversation offers insight into the realities of running independent groups and navigating high-stakes decisions mid-season.

Listen everywhere:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OnAWaterBreak
Website: https://www.onawaterbreak.com

Follow us:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onawaterbreak
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/onawaterbreak

The OAWB crew dives into a massive week for the marching arts, from record-breaking facility investments to historic Hall of Fame inductions. We also get a masterclass in bass drum tech and tackle the "drama" of mid-season reclassifications.

Highlights:

• Details on the University of South Alabama’s new $13M ensemble hall and practice field.

• Celebrating Wayne Markworth as the first-ever WGI Winds Hall of Fame inductee.

• How to muffle bass drums to avoid the "trash can" sound in a gym.

• The logistical nightmare of being bumped a class two weeks before Dayton.

• Joey’s takeaway from the HBCU Southern Classic Battle of the Bands.

Panelists/Hosts:

• Joey @marchingbymontes

• Anne Sabre Turner @anne.saber

• Hayley @h_harrington14

Find On A Water Break:Website: OnAWaterBreak.comLinktree: linktr.ee/onawaterbreakEmail: onawaterbreakpodcast@gmail.com

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts.

This week on On A Water Break, main host Bobbey Biddle is joined by Hayley Harrington and Joseph Simons (Jo) for a Weekly episode packed with marching arts headlines, WGI updates, drum corps news, and a thoughtful conversation about AI in the arts.

Jo opens with his 32 Count Life Story and shares his path through UCF Pegasus World (2018–2022), Carolina Crown (2021), Mirage (2025), and Tampa Independent World (2026), along with teaching experience at Gaither High School and Bloomingdale High School.

In this episode:

• Homewood Patriot Marching Band becomes the first American marching band invited to perform in Corso Zundert, the world’s largest flower parade
• A story of inspiration featuring Sarah Ferguson
• 2026 WGI Virtual Solo ratings for color guard, percussion, and winds
• Darcie Aungst is announced as part of the 2026 WGI Hall of Fame class
• The panel reflects on March Fourth and the impact of the marching arts
• DCI’s 2026 livestream schedule begins with Drums Along the Rockies on June 27

60-Second Tech Block:
Jo talks about breathing, breathwork, and how it supports movement, stamina, performance quality, and storytelling.

Water We Doing?!
Why are we not bringing more guest clinicians into rehearsals? Why are people using AI in the production, promotion, and creation of marching arts programs? And why are artists criticizing other art forms?

Gush & Go:
Hayley gushes about concert festival season, a guest clinician visit, and Cincinnati Tradition. Jo shares excitement about Tampa Independent World and the energy of the season. Bobbey gushes about teaching, Philly Pride, and sunnier days ahead in Philadelphia.

Panel:
Bobbey Biddle — @bobbey107
Hayley Harrington — @h_harrington14
Joseph Simons (Jo) — @josephroman_

Sponsors:
Guard Closet — guardcloset.com
Peak Group Travel — peakgrouptravel.com

Story Links:
Homewood Patriot Band
Corso Zundert / Homewood announcement coverage
WGI 2026 Virtual Solo Color Guard Ratings
WGI 2026 Hall of Fame Recipients
DCI Drums Along the Rockies 2026

Find On A Water Break:
Website
YouTube
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
Linktree

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts.

In this At Step Off bonus episode of On A Water Break, Jack Goudreau talks with Paula Braiden about the world of Scottish and Northern Irish drum major competition — from adjudication and flourish design to dress inspection, musicality, leadership, and the international performance work of The Force.

Paula shares how a family tradition led her into the activity, what judges are really looking for, why presentation matters, and how drum majoring builds confidence, discipline, and leadership far beyond the competition circle.

In this episode:

• What Scottish drum major competition looks like
• How drum majors are judged in Scotland and Northern Ireland
• Why uniform, dress, and detail matter in scoring
• How flourish routines balance simplicity and effect
• Paula’s competition memories and teaching philosophy
• What The Force is and where it performs
• Why drum majoring teaches leadership from the front

Guest: Paula Braiden
Host: Jack Goudreau

Featured quote:
“The leadership of the drum major is essential.”

Find On A Water Break:
Website: https://www.onawaterbreak.com/
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/onawaterbreak
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0wgaml1T115IsvvZd0XheT
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/on-a-water-break/id1653637341
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OnAWaterBreakPodcast

Find The Force:
Website: https://theforce.events/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theforce.events/

Follow:
OAWB: @onawaterbreak
Jack Goudreau: @goudreau_
The Force: @theforce.events

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts.

This week on On A Water Break, Nicole Younger is joined by Dalton Stout, Grantis Peranda, Amari Lewis, and featured guest Chris Green for a Weekly episode packed with DCI ticket news, WGI Hall of Fame recognition, indoor season reality checks, and one of the most memorable behind-the-scenes stories of the season.

Chris Green joins the show representing Virtual Assistant Director and Fruhauf Uniforms, where he shares new announcements from Fruhauf including the streamlined Gen5 uniform line and new Hyper Performance tops and bibs for marching band. He also announces that the popular Virtual Assistant Director live conversations will begin crossing over with On A Water Break, opening the door for more shared conversations, casual industry chats, and cross-promotion across the marching arts community.

This episode also covers new 2026 DCI ticket releases, the move of Open Class Championships to Dayton, WGI’s Hall of Fame honor for Darcie Aungst, Jackson State’s Sonic Boom being featured in the Michael campaign, and the African American Legacy Corps’ push toward 2027. Plus: Water We Doing?! takes on audience etiquette, helping indoor groups, and why some people still need to read Twirl.

Panel this week:
Nicole YoungerDalton StoutGrantis PerandaAmari Lewis
Featured Guest: Chris Green

Featured guest:Chris Green – @virtualassistantdirector & @fruhaufuniforms

Featured links:Virtual Assistant Director: https://virtualassistantdirector.comFruhauf Uniforms: https://fruhauf.com

Story links:
https://www.dci.org/news/new-2026-dci-tour-event-tickets-on-sale-soon
https://www.dci.org/news/open-class-world-championship-to-relocate-to-daytons-welcome-stadium
https://www.wgi.org/26hof-darcieaungst/
https://www.wlbt.com/2026/02/27/jsus-sonic-boom-promotes-release-michael-jackson-biopic/
https://www.dci.org/news/african-american-legacy-corps-sets-sights-on-2027-world-championship-appearance

Listen to more:
https://www.onawaterbreak.com
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL600p0k2IuT4vhEIgopl8XDO-pU3YOR77
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL600p0k2IuT5c48Q_cvR1ATvbaQ1QGcN4
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL600p0k2IuT408fWr_3N-lt6eq7MkWwnL

Send us your topics:
onawaterbreakpodcast@gmail.com

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts.

This week on On A Water Break, Whitney Stone, Sadie Wallace, and Jeremy Svoboda (Drum Corps Today) break down major marching arts updates—plus a Water We Doing?! debate that belongs on a medal podium: should color guard be an Olympic sport?

Panel
Whitney Stone — Instagram (@dancerwhit)
Sadie Wallace — Instagram (@m.sadiewallace)
Jeremy Svoboda (Drum Corps Today) — Instagram (@drumcorpstoday)

Links mentioned
WGI Terrace Suites (UD Arena): https://www.wgi.org/suiteexperience/
Disney Boo To You Parade Flag Corps info (audition listing coverage): https://blogmickey.com/2026/02/popular-entertainment-returning-for-2026-mickeys-not-so-scary-halloween-party-confirmed/

Guard Closet Shout-Out
Follow @guardcloset for gear tips and season-ready essentials.

Follow OAWB
Instagram •TikTok •YouTube

00:03 Marching Arts News

00:04 DCI x Conn-Selmer

00:06 WGI Terrace Suites (UD Arena)

00:09 Disney Flag Corps Auditions

00:11 60-Second Tech Block

00:17 Water We Doing?!

00:18 Guard in the Olympics?

00:22 Camp Info Posted Late

00:26 Audience Etiquette Reset

00:31 Gush & Go

00:37 Outro + Follow