The WinterGuard and Indoor percussion Ensemble once again completed very successful seasons, finishing their runs with invites to the WGI competitions.
The WinterGuard finished its run with a 14th place finish in the Scholastic World finals at the University of Dayton on April 4. The team scored an impressive 82.1 points in the finals, improving from their 80.8 in the prelims.
This year’s performance was as all about being able to perform when you get your chance in the spotlight, according to WinterGuard director Sheldon Apo.
“Everyone wants a chance to be in the spotlight, but sometimes people have to wait,” Apo said. “(The show was) a celebration of the duality within every performer – those who dazzle under the brilliance of the lights and those who draw quiet strength from the shadows.”
Apo said the production explored the delicate balance between boldness and humility, showing how each is essential to the artistry of performance. With every graceful movement, the Bellbrook WinterGuard revealed the beauty of embracing both the seen and the unseen, the celebrated and the subtle.
“Their passion ignites the stage, reminding us that the true magic of performance lies in the harmony of these contrasts,” he said.
Apo applauded the seniors, some of whom have been with the program since fourth grade. Brielle Richardson, Riley Smith, Katie Metzler, Sydney Rodenroth, Claire Battelle and Mando Aguila.
“Every year, the makeup of the Bellbrook WinterGuard cast makes the group special,” Apo said. “They spend nearly 15-20 hours a week together getting better at their craft. Within these times, we usually go through many ups and downs of guard, life, relationships, school, etc. But with that, the staff and members create special bonds that no one can tear apart! That is what makes every season special for each cast.
“Ninety percent of this group also knew what it takes to be a Scholastic World Finalist. They had the drive from last season to continue the tradition of excellence of the Bellbrook ColorGuard.”
The Bellbrook IPE Performed in the Scholastic Marching A category, scoring an 84.875 at Truist Arena in Highland Heights, Kentucky, on April 10, advancing to the semifinals the following day. That last performance, however, was not indicative of the type of performance the team put on all season.
“Regardless of placement, we made it a day further than we did the year before and that’s what we were looking for,” director Cameron Halls said. “We wanted to get them one more performance. We took a time penalty because we had some technical difficulties and had to take every cord out and plug it all back in again, so that was definitely part of it.”
Halls said while this isn’t where they want the program to be, it is definitely heading in the right direction. The 2023 team made the semis but lost a lot of participants and the 2024 team was a squad in transition, which fell short of the semifinals.
This year, the team had sixth 8th graders, but Halls said he was more than happy with their progression.
Halls said the thing that pleased him most this season was the entire squad’s ability to take coaching and criticism.
“In the past, sometimes it really felt like we could get down in the dumps when we gave them coaching,” Halls said. “We aren’t overly mean, but we are critical and honest with them. We tell them when we have to do things better. They responded well and were able to push through.”
Halls said this year’s show was inspired by a simple shape: Rectangles. He said the theory behind it was finding ways to connect the team members in as many ways as possible. With a series of belts and props, they were finding ways to make connections through that shape.
“It wasn’t a mind-blowing concept,” Halls said. “But it was something we felt we could do a lot with.”
Halls pointed to two groups of students who made the IPE what it was this year, the seniors – Rya Crocker, Victor Kronenberger, Aeralyn Theodor and Oliver Alban and the Tom Line percussionists, Joe Jefferson, Jude Scott and Cash Dickerson.
“All four seniors were all great and always helpful,” Halls said. “Alban was the definition of having it all together. He was on the talk box in the performance and did a really great job.”