# Winter Guard International

Winter Guard International (WGI) is an American governing body that sanctions championship events for three competitive performing arts activities: winter guard, percussion ensembles, and indoor wind ensembles. WGI was founded in 1977 in response to inconsistent adjudication and rules of competition which made it difficult for color guards to compete nationally. Today, WGI publishes and maintains an adjudication handbook, with an accompanying "Rules & Regulations", that has been widely adopted.
WGI championship events are hosted from January to March and conclude with WGI World Championships in April. The first World Championship was hosted at Conant High School in Hoffman Estates, Illinois on April 15, 1978. World championships for percussion ensembles began in 1992, and indoor marching bands, called winds, in 2015. A series of field band competitions, promoted as the WGI Friendship Cup were hosted from 1997 to 2003. The next World Championships is scheduled for April 2025 at UD Arena.
A majority of WGI's championships are hosted in the United States, however regional championships have been hosted in Japan, Malaysia, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Philippines, and Costa Rica.

## History

Prior to the formation of WGI, national color guard championships, or other high-prestige championships, were held in conjunction with drum corps or marching band championships, such as: VFW, American Legion, CYO, or DCI World Championships. The quality of hosts varied widely, as did as the quality of venues and adjudication. As an example, the 1977 "national" color guard championship was held in conjunction with DCI World Championships in Denver. The venue was far too small, there was no functional air conditioning, and the performance area required color guards to maneuver around structural columns.
In 1977, then director of the Seattle Imperials, Stanley Knaub, secured a sponsor—Western Youth International—and a potential venue for a new national championships. However, Knaub was encouraged to seek input from others in the activity by Shirlee Whitcomb and Bryan Johnston. Knaub invited color guard educators from across the country to a meeting on May 14, 1977, at the Sheraton Palace Hotel in San Francisco. Those in attendance included: Don Angelica, Marie Czapinski, and Linda Chambers, in addition to Whitcomb, Johnston, and representatives from Western Youth International. All agreed any future national championship should be held independent of any drum corps or marching band events. Knaub suggested scheduling the championship during the winter months when most color guards competed locally—after marching band season when scholastic bands focused on concert events, but prior to the drum corps season. Whitcomb, Czapinski, and Chambers, advocated for a regional championship system with a national championship at the end of the winter season. The name "Winter Guard International" was suggested by Don Angelica.
A follow-up meeting at the December 1977 DCI Rules Congress included representatives from thirteen color guard circuits and adjudicator associations. The representatives adopted a draft adjudication system and rulebook, as well voting on an organizational structure. Lynn Lindstrom, director of the Midwest Color Guard Circuit, was elected the first Executive Director of WGI. Four competition circuits each donated $250 to fund WGI's first competitive season of fourteen regional championships and a two-day national championship called WGI Olympics. The first championship was hosted by Conant High School in Hoffman Estates, Illinois on April 14–15, 1978. In attendance were twenty-five color guards, the top fifteen advanced to the finals competition. National championships would become the WGI World Championships in 1990.

## About

WGI is a nonprofit association governed by a board of directors, with an Executive Director, responsible for day-to-day operations. The board of directors are chosen from among the directors of competing groups, and at-large members are chosen from the community of color guard, percussion, and winds educators. The board of directors is legally and financially responsible for the conduct of the organization. In 2023, WGI's various programs and activities generated US$5.5 million in revenues.

### Mission and purpose

The mission of organization is to provide a venue for young people to achieve the extraordinary through performance and competition. WGI organizes "high-energy and enjoyable" events for color guard, called winter guard, percussion and winds, divisions. The organization also aims to improve quality of the competing groups through leadership development and education. This includes standardized adjudication.
WGI frequently partners with companies that provide services and products to competing groups, as well as leading educators in other fields to highlight the activity. The organization is promoted using the tagline: Sport of the Arts.

### Advisory Boards

Each of the three competitive divisions (color guard, percussion and winds) are led by Advisory Boards who are responsible for the "adjudication and competitive attributes" of sanctioned events. Advisory boards are also responsible for nominating and electing members to the board of directors.
The Advisory Boards meet annually, usually a few months after World Championships, to discuss changes to rules of competition, adjudication, and policies and procedures, and to make recommendations to the board of directors. The promotion of competing groups is also the responsibility of the Advisory Boards.

### Membership

Groups that compete at WGI events are required to pay a membership fee, in addition to an attendance fee for each event. Only groups who compete in a regional, beginner, class with limited availability (Regional A Class) are excused from paying a membership fee. The fees support general operations, and provide capital for future events, educational services, and research and development.

### Scholarships

WGI awards academic scholarships to members of competing groups, which are announced during awards ceremonies at World Championships. According to the WGI website, over US$35,000 is awarded annually, and US$1,000,000 has been awarded since 1978. Funds for scholarships are raised via raffles drawn during WGI events known as "Fifty-fifty".

### Hosted competitions

Using a competition-based approach for organizing events, WGI "aims to showcase youth activities" by pursuing a "high standard of achievement." More than sixty regional championships are hosted every year, from mid-January to the late-March. Many are hosted with the aid of WGI's regional circuit partners. Regional championships attract hundreds of color guards, percussion and winds ensembles, and thousands of participants. To qualify for World Championships, groups must compete in at least one regional championship.
World Championships regularly attracts over 350 color guards, 250 percussion ensembles, and over 40 winds groups. Championships occur over two consecutive weekends in early or mid-April. Future World Championships dates have been reserved until 2024.

### Alterations due to Covid-19

In March 2020, the 2020 World Championships were cancelled in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021 WGI season was conducted using online tools as a WGI Virtual Season. Participants were given the option to participate in solo, small group, and large group categories.

### Past championship sites

| Year | Site |
| 1978 | Conant High School Hoffman Estates, Illinois |
| 1979 | Veterans Memorial Coliseum Madison, Wisconsin |
| 1980 | Cape Cod Coliseum Cape Cod, Massachusetts |
| 1981 | Onondaga County War Memorial Syracuse, New York |
| 1982 | Memorial Gymnasium Vanderbilt University Nashville, Tennessee |
| 1983–1989 | UD Arena University of Dayton Dayton, Ohio |
| 1990 | Buffalo Memorial Auditorium Buffalo, New York |
| 1991–1996 | UD Arena University of Dayton Dayton, Ohio |
| 1997 | American West Arena Phoenix, Arizona |
| 1998–2000 | UD Arena University of Dayton Dayton, Ohio |
| 2001 | Bradley Center Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| 2002–03 | UD Arena University of Dayton Dayton, Ohio |
| 2004 | Cox Arena San Diego State University San Diego, California |
| 2005–present | UD Arena University of Dayton Dayton, Ohio |

## Classification and adjudication
### Winter Guard

Winter guard is the indoor variant of color guard and is a combination of the use of flags, sabers, mock rifles, and various other equipment and props. Performances include dance and other interpretive movement. Color guards are common among high schools, middle schools, some universities, and also some independent organizations such as drum corps, or they are community organizations. The term "winter guard" is taken from the season most color guards compete as single units, and not part of marching bands or drum corps.

### Percussion

An indoor percussion ensemble or indoor drumline consists of marching percussion (also called the "battery") and front ensemble (also called pit or front line) sections. Many ensembles, like color guards, are attached to a competing marching band or drum corps, but many are independent ensembles. Indoor percussion integrates musicality, marching and movement, and theater arts. The activity is referred to as percussion theater by WGI.
There is also a "concert" classification for scholastic percussion ensembles without drumline, named so because performers are typically stationary, with no drill.

### Winds

Indoor winds ensembles or indoor winds are small marching music ensembles composed of a variety of instrumentations. These ensembles are distinct from field bands, or marching bands. Many take advantage of marching horns, as well as woodwinds, rhythm sections, and a pit ensemble but not a full drumline or color guard. Unlike their outdoor counterparts, WGI Winds compete indoors on a performance area roughly the size of a standard basketball court. WGI's previous experiments in marching band competition were known as the Friendship Cup.

### Divisions and classes

Groups attending WGI events are organized according to a multi-tier system, placed in one of two divisions, and dozens of classes.
* Independent Color guard, Percussion, and Winds divisions are reserved for groups composed of performers who are not associated with a particular secondary school. Independent groups often draw performers from a large geographic area and many are affiliated with colleges and universities.
* Scholastic Color guard, Percussion, and Winds divisions are reserved for groups composed of performers from the same high school, or high school equivalent, or a school within the attendance zone of that particular high School. The Scholastic division was created in 1980. Prior to the division's creation high school groups competed against Independent groups.
Divisions are further grouped into classes based on experience and achievement:
* Regional A is for new and inexperienced scholastic division groups. This class is not available at World Championships.
* A Class, often referred to as National A or National, is for groups new to national competition.
* Open Class is for groups who consistently perform at an intermediate developmental level.
* World Class is the highest available class and is reserved for experienced groups. The World classes in both Scholastic and Independent are the most competitive and the highest prestige.

### Historic classes and divisions

The following are the divisions and classes represented at World Championships.
Notes:
* The tables below are simplified and do not reflect when specific competitive classes and divisions were defined in the WGI Adjudication Handbook.
* Other classes and divisions may be represented at regional championships or other WGI-sanctioned competitions.

#### Color guard division

| 1978–79 | 1980–1984 | 1985–1990 | 1991–92 | 1993–present |
| Open Class | Class A | Independent A (IA) | Independent A (IA) | Independent A (IA) |
| Open Class | Open Class | Independent Open (IO) | Independent World (IW) | Independent Open (IO) |
| Open Class | Open Class | Independent Open (IO) | Independent World (IW) | Independent World (IW) |
| Open Class | Scholastic Class | Scholastic A (SA) | Scholastic A (SA) | Scholastic A (SA) |
| Open Class | Scholastic Class | Scholastic Open (SO) | Scholastic World (SW) | Scholastic Open (SO) |
| Open Class | Scholastic Class | Scholastic Open (SO) | Scholastic World (SW) | Scholastic World (SW) |

#### Percussion division

| 1993–1996 | 1997–2000 | 2001–2014 | 2015–present |
| Scholastic A (PSA) | Scholastic A (PSA) | Scholastic A (PSA) | Scholastic A (PSA) |
| Scholastic Open (PSO) |||
| Scholastic World (PSW) |||
| Scholastic Concert World (PSCW) | Scholastic Concert World (PSCW) | Scholastic Concert Open (PSCO) | Scholastic Concert A (PSCA) |
| Scholastic Concert World (PSCW) | Scholastic Concert World (PSCW) | Scholastic Concert Open (PSCO) | Scholastic Concert Open (PSCO) |
| Scholastic Concert World (PSCW) ||
| Independent World (PIW) | Independent Open (PIO) | Independent A (PIA) | Independent A (PIA) |
| Independent Open (PIO) ||
| Independent World (PIW) |||

### Adjudication

WGI Adjudication Manuals for color guards, percussion, and winds, championships divide scoring in set reference criteria known as captions forming a scoring rubric. Each caption is subdivided into elements such as performance analysis, design analysis, and effect evaluation. The adjudication manual is multi-tiered, meaning each competitive class—Regional A, A Class, Open Class, and World Class—has a set of scoring sheets listing differing criteria and descriptions for each caption.

#### Color guard captions and scoring

| Captions | Category | Category | Points |
| Equipment | Vocabulary (10) | = | 20.00 |
| Equipment | Excellence (10) | = | 20.00 |
| Movement | Vocabulary (10) | = | 20.00 |
| Movement | Excellence (10) | = | 20.00 |
| Design | Vocabulary (10) | = | 20.00 |
| Design | Excellence (10) | = | 20.00 |
| Effect | Composition (10) | = | 20.00 x 2 |
| Effect | Excellence (10) | = | 20.00 x 2 |
| | Subtotal | Subtotal | 100.00 |
| | Timing & Penalties | Timing & Penalties | - 0.00 |
| | Total | Total | 100.00 |

#### Marching percussion captions and scoring

| Caption | Category | Category | Points |
| Music | Composition (10) | = | 30.00 |
| Music | Performance Quality (20) | = | 30.00 |
| Visual | Composition (10) | = | 20.00 |
| Visual | Performance Quality (10) | = | 20.00 |
| Music Effect | Overall Music (15) | = | 30.00 |
| Music Effect | Music Effect (15) | = | 30.00 |
| Visual Effect | Overall Visual (10) | = | 20.00 |
| Visual Effect | Visual Effect (10) | = | 20.00 |
| | Subtotal | Subtotal | 100.00 |
| | Timing & Penalties | Timing & Penalties | - 0.00 |
| | Total | Total | 100.00 |

#### Concert percussion captions and scoring

| Caption | Category | Category | Points |
| Music | Composition (20) | = | 50.00 |
| Music | Performance Quality (30) | = | 50.00 |
| Artistry | Program (20) | = | 50.00 |
| Artistry | Fulfillment (30) | = | 50.00 |
| | Subtotal | Subtotal | 100.00 |
| | Timing & Penalties | Timing & Penalties | - 0.00 |
| | Total | Total | 100.00 |

#### Winds captions and scoring

| Caption | Category | Category | Points |
| Music Analysis | Composition (15) | = | 30.00 |
| Music Analysis | Achievement (15) | = | 30.00 |
| Visual Analysis | Composition (15) | = | 30.00 |
| Visual Analysis | Achievement (15) | = | 30.00 |
| Overall Effect | Repertoire (20) | = | 40.00 |
| Overall Effect | Communication (20) | = | 40.00 |
| | Subtotal | Subtotal | 100.00 |
| | Timing & Penalties | Timing & Penalties | - 0.00 |
| | Total | Total | 100.00 |

## Media

Contemporary Color is a 2016 film directed by Turner Ross and Bill Ross featuring performances of several winter guard teams. The film was produced as a collaboration between David Byrne, Michael Gottwald, Dan Janvey and Josh Penn. Similarly, "On Guard: A Story of American Youth" is 2023 documentary film directed by Allen Otto and executive produced by Jim Czarnecki. The film follows the journey of an all-female color guard team at Bel Air High School whose goal is to qualify for the 2020 WGI World Championships, which were ultimately canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with a performance dedicated to the victims of the 2019 El Paso Shooting.

## Past champions

Source(s):

### Color guard (1978–present)

| Year | Open Class | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1978 (1st) | Quasar (Massachusetts) | | | | | |
| 1979 (2nd) | Phantom Regiment $^{(1)}$ (Illinois) | | | | | |
| Year | Open Class | — | A Class | Scholastic Class | — | — |
| 1980 (3rd) | Phantom Regiment $^{(2)}$ | | West Bridgewater HS (Massachusetts) | Holley Central HS $^{(1)}$ (New York) | | |
| 1981 (4th) | Cavaliers $^{(1)}$ (Illinois) | | Conquest (New Jersey) | Holley Central HS $^{(2)}$ | | |
| 1982 (5th) | Cavaliers $^{(2)}$ | | Elizabeth HS (New Jersey) | Marcus Whitman HS (New York) | | |
| 1983 (6th) | Cavaliers $^{(3)}$ | | Woonsocket HS (Rhode Island) | Canandaigua Academy (New York) | | |
| 1984 (7th) | Skylarks (Connecticut) | | Blue Horizon (Illinois) | Center Grove HS $^{(1)}$ (Indiana) | | |
| Year | Independent Open (IO) | — | Independent A (IA) | Scholastic Open (SO) | — | Scholastic A (SA) |
| 1985 (8th) | Erté (Massachusetts) (tie) State Street Review $^{(1)}$ (Wisconsin) | | St Anthony's Imperials (Massachusetts) | Union HS $^{(1)}$ (Oklahoma) | | Esprit de Corps (Ohio) |
| 1986 (9th) | State Street Review $^{(2)}$ | | Final Analysis (Mississippi) | Center Grove HS $^{(2)}$ | | Hillwood HS (Tennessee) |
| 1987 (10th) | State Street Review $^{(3)}$ | | Studio One (Michigan) | Union HS $^{(2)}$ | | Tempest (Illinois) |
| 1988 (11th) | State Street Review $^{(4)}$ | | Alliance (Massachusetts) | Union HS $^{(3)}$ | | Abraham Lincoln HS (California) |
| 1989 (12th) | State Street Review $^{(5)}$ | | Accents (Wisconsin) | Tate HS (Florida) | | North Penn HS (Pennsylvania) |
| 1990 (13th) | San José Raiders $^{(1)}$ (California) (tie) Blessed Sacrament (Massachusetts) | | Genesis II (Ontario) | Center Grove HS $^{(3)}$ | | Lincoln-Way Central HS (Illinois) |
| Year | Independent World (IW) | — | Independent A (IA) | Scholastic World (SW) | — | Scholastic A (SA) |
| 1991 (14th) | San José Raiders $^{(2)}$ | | Sacred Heart (Massachusetts) | Miamisburg HS $^{(1)}$ (Ohio) | | Salisbury HS (Pennsylvania) |
| 1992 (15th) | San José Raiders $^{(3)}$ | | South Shore $^{(1)}$ (Illinois) | Miamisburg HS $^{(2)}$ | | Southport HS (Indiana) |
| Year | Independent World (IW) | Independent Open (IO) | Independent A (IA) | Scholastic World (SW) | Scholastic Open (SO) | Scholastic A (SA) |
| 1993 (16th) | San José Raiders $^{(4)}$ | St Patrick's Shamrocks (Massachusetts) | Nouveau (Texas) | Bishop Kearney HS $^{(1)}$ (New York) | Centerville HS $^{(1)}$ (Ohio) | Lakeland HS (Michigan) |
| 1994 (17th) | San José Raiders $^{(5)}$ | Chimeras (Tennessee) | Florida Visual (Florida) | Bishop Kearney HS $^{(2)}$ | Pomona HS $^{(1)}$ (Colorado) | John Overton HS (Tennesse) |
| 1995 (18th) | Blue Devils $^{(1)}$ (California) | Fantasia (California) | The Company (Florida) | Bishop Kearney HS $^{(3)}$ | John Overton HS (Tennessee) | Mt Carmel HS (California) |
| 1996 (19th) | Blue Devils $^{(2)}$ | The Company (Florida) | St Ann's $^{(1)}$ (Massachusetts) | Bishop Kearney HS $^{(4)}$ | Springboro HS (Ohio) | Lassiter HS (Georgia) |
| 1997 (20th) | Blue Devils $^{(3)}$ | Shadow Danse (New Jersey) | St John's (Massachusetts) | Bishop Kearney HS $^{(5)}$ | Lassiter HS (Georgia) | Kings HS (Ohio) |
| 1998 (21st) | Blue Devils $^{(4)}$ | Patriots (New York) | Nolan Catholic (Texas) | James Logan HS $^{(1)}$ (California) (tie) Miamisburg HS $^{(3)}$ | Kings HS (Ohio) | Carroll HS (Ohio) |
| 1999 (22nd) | Emerald Marquis (Massachusetts) | Nolan (Texas) | The Lakota (Ohio) | James Logan HS $^{(2)}$ | Pomona HS $^{(2)}$ | Nease HS (Florida) |
| 2000 (23rd) | Fantasia $^{(1)}$ (California) | St Ann's $^{(1)}$ (Massachusetts) | Infinity (South Carolina) | James Logan HS $^{(3)}$ | Franklin Central HS (Indiana) | Lake Mary HS (Florida) |
| 2001 (24th) | Pride of Cincinnati $^{(1)}$ (Ohio) | St Ann's $^{(2)}$ | Esperanza de Luz (California) | James Logan HS $^{(4)}$ | Avon HS (Indiana) | Walton HS (Georgia) |
| 2002 (25th) | Fantasia $^{(2)}$ | Oracle (Colorado) | Lealta (California) | James Logan HS $^{(6)}$ | Irondale HS (Minnesota) | Fletcher HS (Florida) |
| 2003 (26th) | San José Raiders $^{(6)}$ | Lealta (California) | Terpsichore (Connecticut) | James Logan HS $^{(6)}$ | Centerville HS $^{(2)}$ | Santaluces HS (Florida) |
| 2004 (27th) | Fantasia $^{(3)}$ | Sacred Heart (Massachusetts) | St Ann's $^{(2)}$ | James Logan HS $^{(7)}$ | The Woodlands HS (Texas) | Kennesaw Mt HS (Georgia) |
| 2005 (28th) | Pride of Cincinnati $^{(2)}$ | Interplay $^{(1)}$ (Michigan) | St John's of Beverly (Massachusetts) | James Logan HS $^{(8)}$ | Kennesaw Mt HS (Georgia) | Freedom HS (Florida) |
| 2006 (29th) | Fantasia $^{(4)}$ | Croatan (North Carolina) | Étude (South Carolina) | James Logan HS $^{(9)}$ | Cheshire HS (Connecticut) | Gates Chili HS (New York) |
| 2007 (30th) | Pride of Cincinnati $^{(3)}$ | Code Black (Texas) | Rhapsody (Washington) | James Logan HS $^{(10)}$ | Carmel HS (Indiana) | Taravella HS (Florida) |
| 2008 (31st) | Fantasia $^{(5)}$ | Alter Ego (New Jersey) | Cascades (Washington) | Flanagan HS $^{(1)}$ (Florida) | Northmont HS (Ohio) | Colonial HS (Florida) |
| 2009 (32nd) | Santa Clara Vanguard $^{(1)}$ (California) | Rhapsody (Washington) | State of Art (Michigan) | Avon HS $^{(1)}$ (Indiana) | Marian Catholic HS (Illinois) | North Syracuse Central (New York) |
| 2010 (33rd) | Onyx $^{(1)}$ (Ohio) | O2 $^{(1)}$ (Ohio) | Pacificaires $^{(1)}$ (British Columbia) | James Logan HS $^{(11)}$ | West Johnston HS (North Carolina) | Little Elm HS (Texas) |
| 2011 (34th) | Santa Clara Vanguard $^{(2)}$ | Pacificaires (British Columbia) | South Shore Drill Team $^{(2)}$ | Carmel HS $^{(1)}$ (Indiana) | Oak Ridge HS (Texas) | O'Fallon Twp HS (Illinois) |
| 2012 (35th) | Onyx $^{(2)}$ | O2 $^{(2)}$ | Impact (Virginia) | Flanagan HS $^{(2)}$ | Freedom HS (Florida) | Somerville HS (New Jersey) |
| 2013 (36th) | Pride of Cincinnati $^{(4)}$ | Identity (Texas) | Luminosa (New York) | Carmel HS $^{(2)}$ | Mechanicsburg HS (Pennsylvania) | Bellbrook HS (Ohio) |
| 2014 (37th) | Onyx $^{(3)}$ | UCF Pegasus (Florida) | Georgia State University (Georgia) | Tarpon Springs HS $^{(1)}$ (Florida) | Spring HS (Texas) | Lyman HS (Florida) |
| 2015 (38th) | Santa Clara Vanguard $^{(3)}$ | Interplay $^{(2)}$ | St Ann's $^{(4)}$ | Carmel HS $^{(3)}$ | Somerville HS (New Jersey) | Marvin Ridge HS (North Carolina) |
| 2016 (39th) | Pride of Cincinnati $^{(5)}$ | Juxtaposition (Ohio) | Paramount A (Georgia) | Tarpon Springs HS $^{(2)}$ | Shenendehowa HS (New York) | Bellevue West HS (Nebraska) |
| 2017 (40th) | Pride of Cincinnati $^{(6)}$ | AMP (New Jersey) | FIU $^{(1)}$ (Florida) | Carmel HS $^{(4)}$ | Stockdale HS (California) | Klein Oak HS (Texas) |
| 2018 (41st) | Paramount $^{(1)}$ (Georgia) | UCF Pegasus $^{(2)}$ | Pacificaires $^{(2)}$ | Avon HS $^{(2)}$ | Park Vista HS (Florida) | Leander HS (Texas) |
| 2019 (42nd) | Pride of Cincinnati $^{(7)}$ | George Mason University (Virginia) | Icon (California) | Avon HS $^{(3)}$ | Fishers HS (Indiana) | Fleming Island HS (Florida) |
| 2020 (43rd) | Championships cancelled | Championships cancelled | Championships cancelled | Championships cancelled | Championships cancelled | Championships cancelled |
| 2021 (44th) | Ratings only | Ratings only | Ratings only | Ratings only | Ratings only | Ratings only |
| 2022 (45th) | Pride of Cincinnati $^{(8)}$ | USF (Florida) | FIU Gold $^{(2)}$ | Avon HS $^{(4)}$ | Kiski Area HS (Pennsylvania) | Somerset Academy (Florida) |
| 2023 (46th) | Paramount $^{(2)}$ | Vox Artium (California) | Pacificaires $^{(3)}$ | Carmel HS $^{(5)}$ | Somerset Academy (Florida) | Dobyns-Bennett HS (Tennessee) |
| 2024 (47th) | Fusion (New Jersey) | Georgia Winterguard | Georgia State University $^{(2)}$ | Avon HS $^{(5)}$ | Ayala HS (California) | Arlington HS (New York) |

### Scholastic percussion (1993–present)

| Year | — | — | Marching A (PSA) | Concert World (PSCW) | — | — |
| 1993 (16th) | | | Clovis West HS | No champion | | |
| 1994 (17th) | | | Lincoln-Way HS Central | Baldwinsville HS $^{(1)}$ | | |
| 1995 (18th) | | | Father Ryan HS $^{(1)}$ (A) Hatboro-Horsham HS (AA) | Baldwinsville HS $^{(2)}$ | | |
| 1996 (19th) | | | Avon HS (A) (tie) Father Ryan HS $^{(2)}$ (A) John Overton HS (AA) | Gateway HS $^{(1)}$ | | |
| Year | Marching World (PSW) | Marching Open (PSO) | Marching A (PSA) | Concert World (PSCW) | — | — |
| 1997 (20th) | Northglenn HS | Avon HS $^{(1)}$ | Clayton Valley HS | Gateway HS $^{(2)}$ | | |
| 1998 (21st) | Dartmouth HS $^{(1)}$ | Arvada HS | Johansen HS | Franklin Central HS $^{(1)}$ | | |
| 1999 (22nd) | Dartmouth HS $^{(2)}$ | Centerville HS | Ayala HS | Franklin Central HS $^{(2)}$ | | |
| 2000 (23rd) | King Philip HS | Father Ryan HS | Loara HS (tie) Thomas Worthington HS | Franklin Central HS $^{(3)}$ | | |
| Year | Marching World (PSW) | Marching Open (PSO) | Marching A (PSA) | Concert World (PSCW) | Concert Open (PSCO) | — |
| 2001 (24th) | Mission Viejo HS | Avon HS $^{(2)}$ | Springboro HS | Franklin Central HS $^{(4)}$ | Union HS | |
| 2002 (25th) | Avon HS | Choctawhatchee HS | New Palestine HS | Franklin Central HS $^{(5)}$ | New Albany HS | |
| 2003 (26th) | Winston Churchill HS | Thomas Worthington HS | Clovis East HS | Fort Mill HS $^{(1)}$ | Portsmouth HS $^{(1)}$ | |
| 2004 (27th) | Centerville HS | Rancho Cucamonga HS | Loara HS $^{(2)}$ | Franklin Central HS $^{(6)}$ | Mission Viejo HS | |
| 2005 (28th) | Center Grove HS $^{(1)}$ | Clear Brook HS | Page HS | Fort Mill HS $^{(2)}$ | Goshen HS | |
| 2006 (29th) | Center Grove HS $^{(2)}$ | Pacifica HS $^{(1)}$ | Mariner HS | Ayala HS $^{(1)}$ | Heritage HS | |
| 2007 (30th) | Mission Viejo HS | Pacifica HS $^{(2)}$ | Greenfield-Central HS | Ayala HS $^{(2)}$ | Mansfield HS $^{(1)}$ | |
| 2008 (31st) | Dartmouth HS $^{(3)}$ | Pacifica HS $^{(3)}$ | South Hills HS | Claremont HS | Mansfield HS $^{(2)}$ | |
| 2009 (32nd) | Dartmouth HS $^{(4)}$ | Pacifica HS $^{(4)}$ | Los Alamitos HS | Ayala HS $^{(3)}$ | Muscle Shoals HS $^{(1)}$ | |
| 2010 (33rd) | Ayala HS | South Hills HS | Timber Creek HS | Ayala HS $^{(4)}$ | Golden HS | |
| 2011 (34th) | Arcadia HS | Pacifica HS $^{(5)}$ | Chantilly HS | Muscle Shoals HS | Portsmouth HS $^{(2)}$ | |
| 2012 (35th) | Chino Hills HS $^{(1)}$ | South Hills HS $^{(2)}$ | Lebanon HS | Woodbridge HS | Hickory HS | |
| 2013 (36th) | Chino Hills HS $^{(2)}$ | Upper Darby HS | Hilton HS | James Logan HS | Clayton HS | |
| 2014 (37th) | Dartmouth HS $^{(5)}$ | Clinton HS | Victor J. Andrew HS $^{(1)}$ | Ayala HS $^{(5)}$ | Goshen HS | |
| 2015 (38th) | Chino Hills HS $^{(3)}$ | Lebanon HS | Lake Orion HS | Ayala HS $^{(6)}$ | Mansfield HS $^{(3)}$ | |
| 2016 (39th) | Ayala HS $^{(2)}$ | Sparkman HS $^{(1)}$ | Victor J. Andrew HS $^{(2)}$ | Ayala HS $^{(7)}$ | Dakota Ridge HS | |
| 2017 (40th) | Chino Hills HS $^{(4)}$ | Burleson Centennial HS | Fair Lawn HS | Ayala HS $^{(8)}$ | Tomball HS | |
| Year | Marching World (PSW) | Marching Open (PSO) | Marching A (PSA) | Concert World (PSCW) | Concert Open (PSCO) | Concert A (PSCA) |
| 2018 (41st) | Chino Hills HS $^{(5)}$ | Clear Brook HS | Plainfield HS | Fishers HS $^{(1)}$ | Clayton HS | Decatur Central HS |
| 2019 (42nd) | Chino Hills HS $^{(6)}$ | Sparkman HS $^{(2)}$ | Grand Blanc HS | Fishers HS $^{(2)}$ | Campbell County HS | Price Charter |
| 2020 (43rd) | Championships cancelled | Championships cancelled | Championships cancelled | Championships cancelled | Championships cancelled | Championships cancelled |
| 2021 (44th) | Ratings only | Ratings only | Ratings only | Ratings only | Ratings only | Ratings only |
| 2022 (45th) | Avon HS $^{(2)}$ | Sherwood HS | Clover HS | Fishers HS $^{(3)}$ | Muscle Shoals HS $^{(2)}$ | East Central HS |
| 2023 (46th) | Ayala HS $^{(3)}$ | Clover HS | Irondale Combined Schools | Fishers HS $^{(4)}$ | Cleveland HS | Warren East HS |
| 2024 (47th) | Chino Hills HS $^{(7)}$ | Victor J. Andrew HS | Spring-Ford HS | Catawba Ridge HS | Grassfield HS | Eagle HS |

### Independent percussion (1994–present)

| Year | Independent World (PIW) | — | — |
| 1994 (17th) | Blue Knights $^{(1)}$ | | |
| 1995 (18th) | Atlanta Rhythm Machine | | |
| 1996 (19th) | Music City Mystique $^{(1)}$ | | |
| Year | Independent World (PIW) | Independent Open (PIO) | — |
| 1997 (20th) | Music City Mystique $^{(2)}$ Patriots $^{(1)}$ (PCW) UNLV (PCU) | South Mountain | |
| 1998 (21st) | Music City Mystique $^{(3)}$ Patriots $^{(2)}$ (PCW) | Freelancers | |
| 1999 (22nd) | Blue Knights $^{(2)}$ Cynosure (PCW) Georgia Tech (PCU) | South Maine | |
| Year | Independent World (PIW) | Independent Open (PIO) | Independent A (PIA) |
| 2000 (23rd) | Blue Knights $^{(3)}$ | Penn State | Eastside Fury |
| 2001 (24th) | Music City Mystique $^{(4)}$ | Eklipse | Arthur Hill |
| 2002 (25th) | Riverside City College $^{(1)}$ | Rhythm X | Plan B |
| 2003 (26th) | Blue Knights $^{(4)}$ | North Coast Academy | L.E.A.P. $^{(1)}$ |
| 2004 (27th) | Music City Mystique $^{(5)}$ | Eastside Fury | L.E.A.P. $^{(2)}$ |
| 2005 (28th) | Riverside City College $^{(2)}$ | Surround Sound | Elements |
| 2006 (29th) | Music City Mystique $^{(6)}$ | First Degree | Walled Lake |
| 2007 (30th) | Riverside City College $^{(3)}$ | United | Pioneer $^{(1)}$ |
| 2008 (31st) | Rhythm X $^{(1)}$ | Tyler Junior College | Pioneer $^{(2)}$ |
| 2009 (32nd) | Rhythm X $^{(2)}$ | Pariah | OCI |
| 2010 (33rd) | Pulse $^{(1)}$ | Palmetto | Dojo |
| 2011 (34th) | Music City Mystique $^{(7)}$ | Vanguard | Madison |
| 2012 (35th) | Riverside City College $^{(4)}$ | George Mason University | Spirit of America |
| 2013 (36th) | Rhythm X $^{(3)}$ | Capital City | Brookwood |
| 2014 (37th) | Pulse $^{(2)}$ | Cadets | Lone Star |
| 2015 (38th) | Riverside City College $^{(5)}$ | Spirit of America | PureFusion |
| 2016 (39th) | Pulse $^{(3)}$ | Vigilantes | STRYKE 2 |
| 2017 (40th) | Music City Mystique $^{(8)}$ | Infinity 2 | Modulation Z |
| 2018 (41st) | Riverside City College $^{(6)}$ | Matrix Open | IMPACT |
| 2019 (42nd) | Broken City | Bakersfield College | Unity |
| 2020 (43rd) | Championships cancelled | Championships cancelled | Championships cancelled |
| 2021 (44th) | Ratings only | Ratings only | Ratings only |
| 2022 (45th) | Pulse $^{(4)}$ | Infinity 2 $^{(2)}$ | Matrix A |
| 2023 (46th) | Pulse $^{(5)}$ | Meraki $^{(1)}$ | Modulation Z $^{(2)}$ |
| 2024 (47th) | Pulse $^{(6)}$ | Meraki $^{(2)}$ | M3 |

### Winds (2015–present)

| Year | Independent World (WIW) | Independent Open (WIO) | Independent A (WIA) | Scholastic World (WSW) | Scholastic Open (WSO) | Scholastic A (WSA) |
| 2015 (38th) | Rhythm X $^{(1)}$ | FIU | Inertia $^{(1)}$ | Father Ryan HS | Ola HS | Nova HS |
| 2016 (39th) | Aimachi (Japan) | STRYKE Wynds | FIU | Avon HS $^{(1)}$ | Cleveland HS | Jackson County HS |
| 2017 (40th) | Rhythm X $^{(2)}$ | Chromium $^{(1)}$ | Inertia $^{(2)}$ | Avon HS $^{(2)}$ | Central Lafourche HS | Valley Christian HS $^{(1)}$ |
| 2018 (41st) | Rhythm X $^{(3)}$ | Chromium $^{(2)}$ | Valley Christian | Flanagan HS | Azle HS | Lake Hamilton HS |
| 2019 (42nd) | Rhythm X $^{(4)}$ | Chromium $^{(3)}$ | Daviess County HS | Cleveland HS | South Jones HS | Valley Christian HS $^{(2)}$ |
| 2020 (43rd) | Championships cancelled | Championships cancelled | Championships cancelled | Championships cancelled | Championships cancelled | Championships cancelled |
| 2021 (44th) | Ratings only | Ratings only | Ratings only | Ratings only | Ratings only | Ratings only |
| 2022 (45th) | UTRGV | Chromium $^{(4)}$ | LSM Winds | Avon HS $^{(3)}$ | Miamisburg HS | Corinth Holders HS |
| 2023 (46th) | STRYKE Wynds $^{(1)}$ | LSM Winds | Eva Independent Winds | Avon HS $^{(4)}$ | Westfield HS | Bob Jones HS |
| 2024 (47th) | STRYKE Wynds $^{(2)}$ | Valhalla Winds | Ethereal Winds | Avon HS $^{(5)}$ | Catawba Ridge HS | Valley Christian HS $^{(3)}$ |