The Warsaw Community High School Winter Percussion Ensemble placed second in the state at the Indiana Percussion Association State Finals at Ben Davis High School March 24.
This was Warsaw's 11th consecutive appearance at state finals, and the 10th time the ensemble has placed in the top three.
WCHS competes in the Concert World class, where the highest level of technical and musical achievement is expected. The percussion ensemble from Goshen High School was named the Concert World State Champion. The Goshen and Warsaw percussion ensembles will perform together during the "Drum Enchanted Evening" concert May 11 in the WCHS auditorium.
The members of the WCHS Winter Percussion Ensemble are: seniors Taylor Crane, Stephanie Deerwester, Kassi Myers, Justin Hurt and Daniel Reynolds; juniors Rily Franklin, Thomas Friddle, Cary Lewis, Josh Meade, Ian Trafny and Crystal Watters; and sophomores Lorrin Gorman, Nicholas Utter and Annalyse Watters.
Under the direction of band director Mickey Ratliff, the ensemble 2007 program is titled "Beyond the Mirage." The music, arranged for percussion by Ratliff, consisted of "Beyond the Mirage" by guitarist Al Di Meola, "Medieval Overture" by pianist Chick Corea and "Short Tales from the Black Forest," also by Corea. WCHS will next compete in the Percussion World Finals in Dayton, Ohio, April 19-20.
