Icon note: Several recent letters to the editor on the Icon concern the discontinuance of the Ada High School Winter Guard program. The following information is provided by the Ada Music Boosters to help explain Winter Guard to the general public. The information presented is not to take sides, but to educate others about Winter Guard.

Similar to Color Guard, Winter Guard is a combination of the use of flags, sabers, mock rifles, other equipment, dance, and interpretive movement in a choreographed routine to express emotions and tell stories through their use.  

Winter guard is color guard taken indoors and performed without the band, typically to recorded music. 

Winter Guard competition opportunities are available for elementary, junior high, high school and independent guards.  Within the high school and independent guard groups there are multiple classes based on the guard member’s abilities.  

Unlike other sports, when a Winter Guard is consistently performing at the top of their class the group is moved to the next higher skill level class, even within the same competition season. 

Guard performances are critiqued in 4 areas:
• equipment analysis,
• movement,
• design analysis, and
• general effect (2 judges) with penalties assessed for performances over 8 minutes.  

Winter guard currently exists in 10 countries around the world, and in high schools, middle schools, universities, and through independent organizations.  

In Ohio the opportunity exists to compete in three different Winter Guard circuits, Ohio Indoor Performance Association (OIPA), Mid East Performance Association (MEPA), and Winter Guard International (WGI).  

These circuits also offer competition opportunities for indoor marching percussion, concert percussion and indoor winds.  Winter/color guards, percussion ensembles, and winds groups are considered part of the music education curriculum by most schools.  

Winter Guard provides the opportunity to teach and develop high school color guards, expand individual’s performance skills and opportunities, and help students avoid the need to choose between joining the musical components of the marching band or the color guard.  

As well as internship opportunities, both MEPA and WGI promote higher education by annually awarding academic scholarships to students.  

Since 2010 Ada school has offered a variety of indoor performance opportunities through junior high and high school Winter Guards as well as indoor winds. 

To view a performance of the 2019 Ada Varsity Winter Guard presentation whose message, passion, and performance quality moved multiple audience members to tears throughout the season visit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNiiacr_WDk.