Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
INDIANAPOLIS - For the third time in eight years, the members of the Warsaw Community High School Percussion Ensemble are state champs.
The group placed first in the Concert World Class division Saturday at the Indiana Percussion Association State Finals.
WCHS received a score of 90.45. Second place was Greenwood High School, followed by Goshen High School at third.
The ensemble's program is "The Deep End" and was arranged by WCHS band director Mickey Ratliff, based on the piano music of Alberto Ginastera. The ensemble is directed by Ratliff and WCHS band director Matthew Gratton.
Members of the 2005 WCHS Percussion Ensemble are: Kyle Carter, Taylor Crane, Cyrus Felton, Rily Franklin, Thomas Friddle, Jenny Foy, Luke Gillis, Sam Gillis, Cory Glowe, Eric Green, Mark Guiles, Michael Hall, Nathan LaFountain, Cary Lewis, Tara Pettit, Brandi Reis, James Trafny, Crystal Watters and Adam Wishart.
Fifty percussion ensembles competed in seven classifications at the statewide competition at Ben Davis High School, Indianapolis.
Saturday's state championship is Warsaw's third, previously having won the title in 1997 and 2001. Warsaw placed second in state three times and took third place twice.
Warsaw's percussion ensemble will compete at World Championships in Dayton, Ohio, April 15-16.
