Milestones from the 2024 WGI Percussion World Championships
Last week, we wrapped up the WGI Color Guard season by highlighting and celebrating some milestones achieved at this year's World Championships....and now it's time to do the same for percussion!
One week after guard competed, 193 marching percussion ensembles and 21 concert percussion ensembles traveled to Dayton to compete in Percussion World Championships. The weekend culminated with 89 marching ensembles and 16 concert ensembles being named a finalist.
Congratulations to all on a fantastic season. Below are some milestones and facts about by the champions, medalists, and finalists at the 2024 WGI Percussion World Championships.
Class Champions & Medalists
Independent World:
1st place: Pulse Percussion (CA) - sixth championship and 11th medal in Independent World (champions in 2023, 2022, 2016, 2014, 2010)
2nd place: Rhythm X (OH) - 14th medal in all classes, 13th medal in Scholastic World
3rd place: RCC (CA) - 15th medal in Independent World
Scholastic World:
1st place: Chino Hills HS (CA) - seventh championship and 13th medal in Scholastic World (champions in 2019, 2018, 2017, 2015, 2013, 2012)
2nd place: Ayala HS (CA) - 11th medal in all marching percussion classes, 9th medal in Scholastic World
3rd place: Avon HS (IN) - 11th medal in all classes, 7th medal in Scholastic World
Independent Open:
1st place: Meraki (CA) - second championship and medal in Independent Open (champions in 2023)
2nd place: Q2 (GA) - first medal in any class (Q2 is the IO ensemble affiliated with Atlanta Quest who were the IO bronze medalists in 2013)
3rd place: Cap City 2 (OH) - first medal in any class (Cap City 2 is the IO ensemble affiliated with Cap City who were the IO champions in 2013)
Scholastic Open:
1st place: Victor J. Andrew HS (IL) - eighth medal and third championship in any class (SO silver medalists in 2013, 2012; SO bronze medalists in 2018, 2017; SA champions in 2016, 2014; SA silver medalists in 2011)
2nd place: Fishers HS (IN) - fifth medal in any class (Scholastic Concert World champions in 2018, 2019, 2022, and 2023)
3rd place: Kettering Fairmont HS (OH) - second medal in any class (Scholastic Concert Open bronze medalists in 2002)
Independent A:
1st place: M3 (OH) - second championship and medal in Independent A (champions in 2022)
2nd place: Charles Towne Percussion (SC) - first medal in any class
3rd place: Revelation (SC) - first medal in any class
Scholastic A:
1st place: Spring-Ford HS (PA) - first championship and medal in any class, first appearance in finals
2nd place: Centerville HS (OH) - fifth medal in any class (SW silver medalists in 2005, SW champions in 2004, SO champions in 1999, SO bronze medalists in 1998)
3rd place: Greenfield-Central HS (IN) - fourth medal in Scholastic A (silver medalists in 2008, champions in 2007, bronze medalists in 2006)
Concert Classes:
PSCW - 1st place: Catawba Ridge HS (SC) - first championship and third medal in Scholastic Concert World (bronze medalists in 2022, silver medalists in 2023)
PSCO - 1st place: Grassfield HS (VA ) - first championship and second medal in Scholastic Concert Open (bronze medalists in 2023)
PSCA - 1st place: Eagle HS (ID) - first championship and medal in any class, first appearance in finals
First time finalists in any class:
PSW - Bridgeland HS (TX)
PSW - Saratoga HS (CA)
PIO - Veritas (IN)
PIO - Spectre Percussion (VA)
PIA - Carolina Storm Indoor Percussion (NC)
PIA - Impulse Drumline (OH)
PIA - Columbus Saints Indoor Percussion Ensemble (OH)
PIA - IGNITE Winter Percussion (IN)
PSA - Spring-Ford HS (PA)
PSA - New Hartford HS (NY)
PSA - Centaurus HS (CO)
PSA - Westfield HS (IN)
PSA - Rex Putnam Combined Schools (OR)
PSA - Osseo Area Combined Schools (MN)
PSCO - Timber Creek HS (FL)
PSCO - Broadneck HS (MD)
PSCO - Enka HS (NC)
PSCO - Eagle HS (ID)
First time finalists in respective classes:
PSW - Brownsburg HS (IN)
PIO - Infinity 3 (FL)
PSO - Fishers HS (IN)
PSO - Fort Zumwalt Combined Schools (MO)*
PSO - Noblesville HS (IN)
PSO - Thomas Jefferson HS (VA)
PSCW - Clover HS (SC)
PSCO - West Clermont HS (OH)
*Fort Zumwalt previously made finals in Independent A under the name Modulation Z
Miscellaneous facts:
Pulse became the first Independent World ensemble to win three consecutive championships since Music City Mystique accomplished the feat in 1996-1998. Other marching ensembles that have won three consecutive championships include Chino Hills HS (PSW, 2017-2019) and Pacifica HS (PSO, 2006-2009).
Pulse’s championship moves them into a tie for second place with RCC for six championships in Independent World. Music City Mystique leads the class all time with eight championships.
This year marks the ninth time that two ensembles from Southern California won both marching World classes. At the last 13 World Championships, groups from Southern California have won 21 championships (out of a possible 26) between the two marching World classes.
Chino Hills won their seventh championship in Scholastic World and maintain their all time lead for championships won by a high school marching ensemble in all classes. Avon and Pacifica are tied for second with five championships each.
Ayala’s ensembles won medals in both Scholastic World and Scholastic Concert World at the same World Championships for the second year in a row and ninth time all time in their school’s history.
Meraki became the first ensemble ever to win consecutive championships in Independent Open and joined Infinity 2 as only the second ensemble to win multiple championships in the class. Their finals score of 98.488 is a new record for Independent Open, beating the previous record of 98.025 set by Infinity 2 in 2017.
Q2 and Cap City each earned medals in Independent Open, 11 years after their parent ensembles won medals themselves in Independent Open. In 2013, Cap City won the class championship while Atlanta Quest placed third.
Victor J Andrew won their first ever championship in Scholastic Open after having previously won four medals in the class and winning Scholastic A twice in 2014 and 2016. They also become the fifth program ever to win titles in both Scholastic A and Scholastic Open classes.
Fishers HS and Kettering Fairmont each won their first ever medals in a marching class after having previously won medals in concert classes.
2024 marked the first time that a trio of schools from midwestern states took home the three medals in Scholastic Open. Amongst all scholastic marching classes, that milestone has happened only one other time in 2015 in Scholastic A.
Spring-Ford Area became the first ensemble from Pennsylvania to be named champions in any class since Cadets Winter Percussion won Independent Open in 2014. They also became the first group to win Scholastic A in their first ever appearance in finals since Fair Lawn (NJ) did so in 2017.
By taking home the silver medal in Scholastic A, Centerville became only the fourth school ever to win medals in all three scholastic marching classes (they previously won medals in Scholastic Open in 1998 and 1999 and in Scholastic World in 2004 and 2005). The other three schools to accomplish the feat are Avon, Ayala, and Father Ryan.
Greenfield-Central won their fourth medal in Scholastic A, moving them to second place for all time medals in the class. Loara (CA) holds first place with five medals, having won two championships and three additional medals in the class between 1997 and 2007.
Catawba Ridge’s championship in Scholastic Concert World is the first by a group from South Carolina in any concert percussion class since Fort Mill won Scholastic Concert World in 2005. Their championship also follows two runs of four straight championships each by Fishers (2018-2019, 2022-2023) and Ayala (2014-2017) (Fishers did not compete in concert percussion in 2004).
Grassfield’s championship in Scholastic Concert Open is the first won by a group from Virginia in any class since George Mason University won Independent Open in 2012.
Eagle’s championship in Scholastic Concert A is the first medal or championship won by any percussion, guard or winds group from the state of Idaho. They are also only the second ever finalist from the state, joining North Star Independent who made their third consecutive appearance in Independent A finals in 2024.