Warsaw Community HS Winter Percussion Ensemble, Guard Learn Teamwork
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Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
Students who participate in Warsaw Community High School Winter Percussion Ensemble and Winter Guard have the opportunity to not only learn about music, dance and choreography, but also teamwork. Mickey Ratliff, band director, said there are 19 students in grades freshman through senior who are in the percussion ensemble. They play percussion instruments such as bells, vibraphones, marimbas and chimes, bass drums, timpani, congas, bongos and trash cans. Ratliff said the ensemble competes as part of the Indiana Percussion Association and meets Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and practices in the high school band room. This is the ensemble’s 20th year for participating in competitions. The ensemble has made state finals every year and were state champions five times, placed second at state five times and placed third place four times. The ensemble will compete March 5 at Greenfield Central High School, March 12 at New Palestine High School, and state prelims are March 12 at New Palestine High School. State finals are April 2 at Indiana State University. Ratliff discussed the importance of music education. “I always look at music education as not teaching music, but teaching young people and I use music as a medium to do that,” Ratliff said. “Through music I teach the students how to set a standard of excellence, how to set goals and to work toward achieving those goals as well as a strong work ethic, and how to work together as a team,” Ratliff said. The title of the show this year is “Passion, Grace and Fire,” based on the music of Al Di Meola, jazz guitarist. Kate Koontz, a sophomore marimba player, said it is her second year for being a member of the ensemble. Last year she played bells and chimes, and this year she plays the marimba and trash can. “I enjoy playing the music. It’s a really great teamwork community feel because we are all working together to create music that our director has taught us,” Koontz said. Daniel Terry, a junior, has been a part of the ensemble for three years. He has played the virbraphone. “The ensemble is unique in that I get to work with others and I enjoy the music we get to play,” Terry said. Caleb Warner, sophomore, plays the vibrophone. It is his second year for being in the ensemble. “The thing I love most is the teamwork that has to go on because all of us have to work with each other and if any of us hesitates at any time the whole thing falls apart,” Warner said. Not only does the percussion ensemble use teamwork to compete, but the winter guard does as well. There are 12 students, grades freshman to senior, who are part of the winter guard. One of the performers also is an eighth-grader at Lakeview Middle School. They perform by tossing rifles and twirling flags. They practice Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays in the band room. They perform a three-minute show with the rifles and flags to ’70s music. The title of their show is “Groove.” Jaime Rice, winter guard director, said her daughters, Janis Gongwer, eighth-grader at Lakeview, and Katelan Gongwer, senior, perform in the winter guard. Amanda Reece, winter guard co-director, also participated in the winter guard when she was in high school. “We want them to learn teamwork and learn how to work with each other,” Reece said. Jaime once performed in the winter guard when she was in high school, from 1994 to 1998, and Reece performed in the winter guard when she was in high school, from 2001 to 2003. Jaime said she hopes the girls learn teamwork. “We want them to have fun and work as a team and how to put music to dance,” Jaime said. Janis and Katelan said they both enjoy being in the guard. “I like to have fun and do the work as it is supposed to be and work as a team,” Janis said. Katelan said she enjoys performing. “I love to compete. We are all like a big family,” Katelan said. Ashley Stover, sophomore, said she enjoys being in the winter guard. “It is a lot harder than people think it is. It is physical work,” Stover said. Ericka Deboest, senior, said she likes the family atmosphere. “I enjoy performing and helping others out,” Deboest said. The winter guard will compete in eight competitions this year. They will compete at Zionsville High School this weekend, and DeKalb High School next weekend. Divisional finals are March 19 in Indianapolis.
