Rose City Independent

Rose City is an indoor colorguard ensemble under the director of Lithium Nitro and an ensemble of the Rose City Performing Arts Association. Rose City competes as a Division II colorguard in the INSPIRE! (INS) and Fantasy Marching Arts (FMA) circuits as well as independent contests. Rose City was previously a member of the League of Extraordinary Guards (LEGS) circuit from Seasons 77-84, Color Guards Together (CGTG) from Seasons 85-99, and CG Eagles Nest (FLIGHT) during Season 100. The colorguard premiered during Season 77 alongside the RCPAA drum corps and percussion ensembles. RCI’s name is derived from their parent ensemble.

## History

Season 78 began Rose City’s rise, placing 2nd in the Division III LEGS Championships and making FMA Division III Finals for the first time with a 5th place finish. RCI was promoted to Division II at the beginning of Season 85. The ensemble broke 60 for the first time, the first of any RCPAA ensemble, at the Season 86 CGTG Seasonal Guard Festival. The ensemble was the only group of the four under the RCPAA banner to remain in Division II for Season 88 before returning to Division III for Season 89. Rose City first competed in the prestigious Masters of FMA, an annual event comprised of former champions and medalists, in Season 86.

Due to financial difficulties, other time commitments from the staff, and waning interest in the region, the entire RCPAA organization went inactive from Seasons 92 and 99. RCPAA and Rose City Independent returned for the centennial Season 100 in November of 2021. Season 100 would also see Rose City advance into Division II Finals for the first time in their history, last making any Finals event during Season 90 for Division III. The ensemble would also break their scoring record, achieving a score of 80 for the first time at the Season 100 Division II Colorguard Prelims, their previous record being a 72.090 during Season 89 Division II Finals. They would cap off Season 100 with a victory in the new FLIGHT league as Division II and Overall Champions, winning awards for all captions, equipment (15.810/20), movement (15.775/20), ensemble (15.880/20), and general effect (32.005/40) and being promoted to the Board of Directors for FLIGHT.

RCI elected to depart from FLIGHT due to no events being scheduled for Season 101, instead joining the new INSPIRE! (INS) league founded by the CLASS (drum corps) and ENCORE (marching band) organizations. During Seasons 104, 107, and 108, the RCPAA hosted the premiere Masters of FMA event, a seasonal event reserved for former and current medalists and champions. Season 104 also marked the 15th active season and 28th overall season for the RCPAA. RCI would remain in Division II through Season 106, the only RCPAA ensemble to do so. That season would see RCI dominate the DII competition with a 24 show win-streak and their first FMA championship to cap off an undefeated season. This would additionally be the most wins for any colorguard ensemble in any of the three divisions for 106 and the second most wins of any ensemble, behind Synechdoche and Synecdoche2 in DII drum corps and marching band, respectively, tied with 25 wins. For Season 111 RCI forwent hosting the usual Rose City Classic, instead joining 9 other ensembles on the FMA World Tour, hosting FMA World Tour South Korea at Seoul’s Olympic Gymnastics Stadium.