Performance video courtesy of STAR Performing Arts Center Director Isaac Spillman.
Zionsville Community High School Indoor Percussion 2021 State Champion in the Open Class Division
The talented Zionsville Community High School (ZCHS) Indoor Percussion team won this weekend's state open class division.
With a proud school and community rallying around them, the team pulled out for competition with hopes of achieving the highest level of musical success. As number one in Class A competition, the percussion team, with the help of woodwind and brass musicians that either performed on percussion instruments, or were specialized visual performers (scarecrows), was moved up to the more challenging Open Class division for Saturday's state competition.
ZCS Superintendent of Schools Scott Robison captured Saturday's send-off. "I am so proud of this group. These students represent our school and community so well," said Dr. Robison. "They have shown where you can go when you work hard and pursue excellence."
Forty-two (42) ZCHS performers brought the show As the Crow Flies to life in a moving performance about an evolving relationship between crows and scarecrows in which the scarecrows learn the hard way that the crows won this battle.
Two of the main songs were If I Only Had A Brain from the Wizard of Oz, and Blackbird by the Beatles.
ZCHS Director of Bands Tom Landrum said of their championship performance, "I am pleasantly and proudly in shock."
This year's state champion title is the culmination of years of hard work.
Their journey began in 2013 with a third-place finish and their first Indiana Percussion Association (IPA) medal. Since then, this group of musicians has worked hard to perfect their craft.
2014
Percussion Scholastic A (PSA) Division Bronze for Singularity
2015
PSA Gold for Balance
2016
PSA Gold for Batter Up
2017
PSA Gold for The Hive
2018
Percussion Scholastic Open (PSO) Division Bronze for The Day After
2019
PSA Gold for The Missing Link
2020
PSA - Season cancelled due to COVID but on March 7 the show The Inner Circle had the highest score in the nation in our division
2021
PSO Gold for As the Crow Flies
They also have a medal at the World Guard International (WGI) level:
2019 PSA Bronze Medalist for The Missing Link
The IPA and WGI are described as “the sport of the arts” not only because of the musical challenge but because of the physical demands as well. The team starts practicing mid-November and ends their season at WGI mid-April.
This state title comes as a result of hours of rehearsals and tape study. Congratulations to the members of As the Crow Flies on your 2021 Open Class State Title.
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