Stephen McCarrick, Garrett Lippie and Bill “Woody” Woodward preview the 2027 WGI Percussion and Winds season: WGI’s 50th anniversary, staff news across several programs, class moves, Winds policy updates and a careful follow-up on Grimsley. The panel also talks rehearsal-space respect, member fitness and what they’re excited about this season.

*A marching band kicked out of a football game for playing music?* Grimsley Senior High School's band was escorted out of a game against Varina in Virginia following a disagreement about playing while the ball was in play. Ashlee Amos, Bill “Woody” Woodward, Bobbey Biddle and Hayley Harrington discuss what happened and where the line falls between football rules and band traditions.

Chris Rutt, Grantis Peranda and Jeremy Svoboda cover the Mandarins’ approved 2027 return, Gold and The Battalion moving into DCI World Class, the legacy of Steve Vickers, fall color guard costuming, extreme-weather safety and this week’s Water We Doing?!

WGI Color Guard Chief Judge Denise Bonfiglio joins Trish O’Shea and Sadie Wallace for the WGI 50th Anniversary Series to revisit the guards, judging philosophy and growth that shaped winter guard—and what comes next for WGI.