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INDIANAPOLIS - With a combined score of 182, Warsaw Community High School Percussion Ensemble took the bronze medal in the world class concert division at the Indiana Percussion Association State Championships Saturday.
Placing second was Carmel, with scores totaling 189.2, while repeat champions Franklin Central received a total score of 192 for the gold medal.
The Warsaw ensemble's theme is "... Of Rome ..." and includes selections of "The Pines of Rome" and "Roman Festivals" by Ottorino Resphighi as arranged by WCHS band director Mickey Ratliff.
Before the results of the competition were announced, Ratliff said the ensemble's performance "was OK. It wasn't perfect. We had some problems." He said the group needs to improve on its maturity and focus. They need to concentrate on the task at hand and not let the other events going on at competition get in the way. The veterans in the ensemble have performed in competition for years, he said, so they know what is expected, but the newer members have to learn to put out their best performance regardless of what's going on around them.
After the placings were announced, Ratliff said, of winning the bronze award, "I feel completely fine with it." He said the ensemble's score has gone up every week, and third place is about what he expected.
"I always preach to our kids the only competition is with ourselves and we need to do better each time. I think we accomplished that today," he said. He said each time they perform, he just wants the ensemble to get better and better.
The Warsaw schools' community has a lot to be proud of in its band program in general and with the percussion ensemble. They represent the community well and set and meet a high standard.
"These kids are the reason I do what I do," Ratliff said.
Mike Cotton, a senior and three-year member in the ensemble, said the performance went "pretty well. I think it was a really, really good show until a certain point toward the end, where it was shaky, but we ended with a strong finish."
As the level of competition gets more intense, Cotton said, they will have to raise their level of competition.
"At world, we're going to have to reach our peak," Cotton said.
Up next for the ensemble is the world finals in Dayton, Ohio, April 11-13. To prepare for that, Ratliff said, "we're just going to keep practicing like we have been, keep at the same level we have been."
There will be some change to the performance, he said, but not much. The music pieces will stay mostly as they've been written, he said, but the ensemble will raise its performance level.
Cotton said the state finals gave the newcomers exposure to the pressures they will be under at world and in the following years. There's a tradition behind them and Saturday's competition showed them what the expectations are for them.
Charlie Albertson, whose daughter Chelsy performs in the ensemble, said of the show, "I thought it was fantastic and I think I enjoy it as much as the kids do being involved in it."
The parents of the ensemble are the "pit crew" of the ensemble, helping to load, unload and move the instruments from the truck to the stage. They, as well as the students, are a pretty close-knit group, he said.
"I think she really enjoys the team spirit," Albertson said of his daughter, "She loves music and she really enjoys being with others who enjoy music."
And of Ratliff, Albertson said, "The kids really respect (him)."
