As many of you know I have spent most of my life performing, teaching, adjudicating and directing pageantry groups. Drum & Bugle Corps, Bands, Winter Color Guards.....wrote a play or two about it (see "May Day Parade")..this madness has been going on since I was 12 years old!

Been around the block a couple of times, you might say. So, it is really thrilling and energizing that I can still experience the activity in new ways ...surprising ways. A prime example is the Santa Clara Vanguard Winter Guard.



For the last couple of years, I have had the honor and joy of working with this amazing group of young women and men. In 2009, that experience concluded with the winning of a World Championship.


However, it was this past season, that has had a profound impact on me. It is never very easy repeating a world championship...ask the Boston Red Sox, Dallas Cowboys....it takes a serendipitous gathering of talent,timing and effort.

This past winter while preparing to go into the 2010 season...The Vanguard had a rough start...limited membership...lots of new...young performers. The weight of a championship title on their backs. High expectations...lofty traditions to maintain.

The result did not end up with a world championship medal. The result did end up with affirmation once again that "it is the journey that matters".....these young folks and their amazing staff created an experience...a production...a work of art, that embodied all of the beforementioned ingredience ...the serendipitous trio
....talent...timing....and alot of EFFORT!

1st - Onyx (Dayton, Ohio).......97.85
2nd - Santa Clara Vanguard....97.50
3rd - Pride of Cinncinatti.........97.35

I have been blessed over the years to be a part of several gold medal winning teams,but, I have never been more proud of a group as I was of the Silver medalist Vanguard Winter Guard!


Congratulation to all of the almost 300 organizations that participated in this past Winter Guard International World Championship....and a large thank you to the wonderful souls that make up the Santa Clara Vanguard...thanks for letting me be a part of your journey.




For more information on the Santa Clara Vanguard and it's many programs for young performers, go to http://www.scv.org/