January 2022

Welcome back WGAZ Community and Happy New Years!

We hope your time off with family was restful. Congratulations to all of our performers both virtual and in-person at our kick-off Guard Evaluation show this past weekend! We look forward to seeing all of the wonderful progress of our performers this year.

In this newsletter, you will see information on our current competitive schedule (WGAZ), Hall of Fame and Service Application, our new ticketing policy, information about community events, our member spotlight, and SafeSport. We are excited to be back and providing performance and educational opportunities to our community. As always, please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions you may have. Great skill and we look forward to seeing you at a show real soon!

-WGAZ Board

2022 Competitive Schedule


1/29/2022 - Virtual Week 1 ( including Solo/Small Group)

2/4/2022 - Percussion/Winds Eval Day 1 (Cooley MS)

2/5/2022 - Percussion/Winds Eval Day 2 (Cooley MS)

2/5/2022 - Perry HS (Guard Only)

2/12/2022 - Eastmark HS

2/18/2022 - Cooley MS @ Williams Field HS

2/19/2022 - Mountain View HS (Tucson)

2/25/2022 - Williams Field HS

2/26/2022 - Buckeye HS

2/26/2022 - Casa Grande UHS

3/4/2022 - Guard Focus Show (Gilbert HS)

3/4/2022 - Percussion/Winds Focus Show (Desert Ridge HS)

Hosted by Vision Percussion

3/5/2022 - Guard Focus Show (Gilbert HS)

3/5/2022 - Percussion/Winds Focus Show (Desert Ridge HS)

Hosted by Vision Percussion



3/12/2022 - Virtual Week 2 (including Solo & Small Group)

3/12/2022 - WGI Phoenix Color Guard Regional
(Canyon View HS)

3/12/2022 - WGI Phoenix Color Guard Regional (Verrado HS)

3/19/2022 - Mountain Ridge HS

3/19/2022 - Sahuarita HS

3/26/2022 - Basha HS

4/1/2022 - Guard Championships Day 1 (Millennium HS)

4/1/2022 - Percussion/Winds Championships Day 1 (Verrado HS)

4/2/2022 - Guard Championships Day 2 (Millennium HS)

4/2/2022 - Percussion/Winds Championships Day 2
(Verrado HS)


CLICK HERE to see the full calendar on the WGAZ website

New Ticketing Policy

Continuing this year, WGAZ is pleased to announce that we will be continuing to using GoFan for mobile ticketing for our events. Fans can purchase tickets online through the WGAZ GoFan page.

The continuing ticketing policy allows WGAZ to operate a more efficient and professional ticket gate while creating a safer and enhanced fan experience. Buying tickets online allows fans to access and share tickets easily by email or text without standing in line. Digital ticketing will also help promote social distancing while limiting person-to-person contact and the physical exchange of cash.

Fans are encouraged to buy tickets online prior to reaching the facility. For your convenience, signage will be set up at the venue to help fans navigate an online purchase quickly and easily.

To Purchase tickets online please visit, https://gofan.co/app/school/AZ86318.


WGAZ SafeSport

In alignment with WGI, WGAZ is committed to building a community where participants can learn together in an atmosphere free of emotional, physical, and sexual misconduct. Effective for the 2022 season, all adult instructional and administrative staff having regular contact with or authority over participants of any group participating in any WGI event must complete the “SafeSport™ Trained” Abuse Prevention course.


For more information, please visit WGI Participation Protection


Hall of Fame

The WGAZ Hall of Fame was formed to recognize and honor individual(s) that have had a positive impact on education and unit growth/awareness and have raised the level of creative and artistic standards of the winter color guard, percussion and winds activity in Arizona.

This nomination requires TWO letters of recommendation and may be made by any unit band director/delegate/staff, executive board member, advisory board member, WGAZ administrative staff, Hall of Fame member or adjudicator who is NOT currently serving on the HOF review committee.

Click here to nominate someone for The Hall of Fame!


Recognition of Service

The WGAZ Recognition of Service Award was created to recognize and honor individual(s) for their dedication and commitment to the Winter Performing Arts and for their service and significant contributions to the success of the Winter Guard Arizona organization.

This nomination requires TWO letters of recommendation and may be made by any unit band director/delegate/staff, executive board member, advisory board member, WGAZ administrative staff, Hall of Fame member or adjudicator who is NOT currently serving on the HOF review committee.

Click here to nominate someone for their Recognition of Service!

Member Spotlight

Do you have a student in your program who goes above and beyond? Someone who's always looking for ways to help? How about a director/staff member who really creates a positive and safe environment for students to grow in this activity? Send us a picture and a brief description of the positive impact that individual makes to your program--we want to celebrate them!

Community Events

The Cookout

Message from Nicole Younger (founder of The Cookout)
This is an event put together by people of color for people of color in the color guard community. This event will take place the day after WGI finals; 11am-3pm @ The Marriott (WGI Headquarters).
Our Mission Statement:
“Celebrating years of dedication and service to WGI as black and brown people, our work ethic and our tradition to excellence has been crucial to the growth and expansion of this activity. We have not only been of great importance to the colorguard community but pivotal in innovation, design, intrigue and raising performance standards. This banquet will give people of color whose role as designers, choreographers, directors, technicians, volunteers and judges a safe space to come together and highlight those achievements and celebrate that through the rough times we are still here creating, educating and inspiring the next generation of colorguard. While also providing a space to network, and connect, and PLAN for the future.”