On A Water Break

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts.
A Podcast for Marching Arts Enthusiasts — On the Field, In the Stands & Behind the Scenes.

Marching arts news moves fast, and this week the panel takes on two stories reaching well beyond the rehearsal field: the ICE detention of Maria Rosales after a trip to Boston with members of her performing team, and a packed national championship season for baton twirling.

Ashlee Amos leads Bill “Woody” Woodward, Bobbey Biddle, Kim Webb and Haley Harrington through the news, a practical 60-Second Tech Block for band directors, and a Water We Doing?! conversation about DCI streaming, ensemble culture, burnout and the way performers are treated online.

THIS WEEK’S PANEL
Ashlee Amos — @famousamossss_
Bill “Woody” Woodward — @remoking100
Bobbey Biddle — @bobbeyboy107
Kim Webb — @kimpossible413
Haley Harrington — @h_harrington14

IN THE NEWS

• The detention of Maria Rosales at Boston Logan Airport and what the story means for educators traveling with performers, students who are afraid for their families and adults responsible for keeping young people safe.
• Inside baton twirling’s national championship season, including the U.S. National Baton Twirling Championships, America’s Youth on Parade, Miss Majorette of America, Grand National competition and international qualification for the Nations Cup, World Championships and Inspiration Cup.

60-SECOND TECH BLOCK
Kim Webb explains why singing and humming with your band can improve intonation, listening, intervals, phrasing and musicality. Her starting point is simple: if students cannot hear and sing the phrase, they are not ready to play it correctly.

WATER WE DOING?!

• West Coast DCI shows that begin near bedtime for East Coast viewers.
• Leaving color guard and percussion outside the full ensemble culture.
• Educators who never make room for a life beyond marching arts.
• What the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders documentary gets right about performers as athletes.
• Adults who criticize performers online for design decisions the performers did not make.

GUSH & GO
Bobbey celebrates a historic Miss Pennsylvania win for Miss Philadelphia, Haley finds a better way to stay hydrated, and Ashlee previews “Joyride,” her upcoming marching band production.

NEWS & RESOURCES
ICE detention following a Boston concert trip — The Boston Globe
U.S. National Baton Twirling Championships — USTA
America’s Youth on Parade 2026 — NBTA

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Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts.

Blue Devils transportation team member Greg Case gives a firsthand account of the 2026 bus fire, how everyone got to safety, what members lost, and how the Loveland community helped the corps keep moving. Trish O’Shea, Nicole Younger, and Jeremy Williams also cover Brad Furlano’s appointment as DCI’s next CEO, Denise Bonfiglio becoming WGI Color Guard Chief Judge, and the marching bands that found new stages after America 250 parades were canceled by extreme heat. Then Greg takes the 60 Second Tech Block with a lesson on driving a sleeper bus while an entire support team is trying to sleep.

In this episode:

• The Blue Devils bus fire and community response
• Drum corps transportation, tour logistics, and driver responsibility
• Brad Furlano’s appointment as DCI’s next CEO
• Denise Bonfiglio’s appointment as WGI Color Guard Chief Judge
• Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. parade cancellations
• Friends of DCI seating, FloMarching access, and weather backup plans
• 60 Second Tech Block: the art of driving a drum corps sleeper bus

Chapters:
00:00 Welcome • 02:07 Meet Greg Case • 04:37 Blue Devils bus fire • 11:51 Brad Furlano and DCI • 15:20 Denise Bonfiglio and WGI • 17:52 America 250 parade cancellations • 25:58 60 Second Tech Block • 31:57 Water We Doing?! • 42:58 Gush & Go • 50:22 Closing

Guest and panel:
Greg Case — YouTube @gregcase221 | TikTok @gregcase75
Trish O’Shea — @trishdish1102
Nicole Younger — @o2binpjs
Jeremy Williams — @guardcloset

News sources:
Blue Devils incident update • 9NEWS community coverage • DCI appoints Brad Furlano • WGI appoints Denise Bonfiglio • Philadelphia parade coverage • Bands perform after the cancellation • Farmington High School finds a new stage • Washington, D.C. parade cancellation

Related episode:
OAWB S4EP24: Blue Devils Bus Fire, WGI 2027 Calendar, DCI Houston Move & Marching Band Cuts

Sponsored by Guard Closet:
New and consignment color guard, winter guard, and marching band gear at GuardCloset.com and @guardcloset.

Find On A Water Break:
Website • Listen Everywhere • YouTube • Instagram, Facebook & TikTok: @onawaterbreak • Be a guest • [email protected]

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts.

A Podcast for Marching Arts Enthusiasts — On the Field, In the Stands & Behind the Scenes.

Color guard, winter guard, marching band, drum corps, DCI 2026, and WGI are all on deck this week. Whitney Stone is joined by Sadie Wallace, Jeremy Svoboda from Drum Corps Today, and special guest P.A. Kelly / Patti Ann Rego for a Water Break Weekly episode connecting old-school drum corps history to the 2026 season.

P.A. shares stories from the Bronx, Blessed Sacrament, Santa Clara Vanguard, the Blue Devils, rifle lines, inspection lines, the Bottle Dance, Blue Devils “Betties,” and the generational shift from early drum corps to today’s DCI and WGI world. The panel also talks Big, Loud & Live, FloMarching, DCI West, River City Rhapsody, the 2026 MLB All-Star Game field cast opportunity in Philadelphia, first DCI scores, ticket prices, the tour model, and the peak Backyard Betty conversation.

Segments:

• Guest Spotlight: P.A. Kelly / Patti Ann Rego on Vanguard, Blue Devils, gold medals, rifle lines, and drum corps history
• News: Walnut Hills practice time, Blue Devils bus incident, DCI Houston relocation, WGI updates, Big Loud & Live, FloMarching, DCI scores, and MLB All-Star field cast opportunity
• Water We Doing?!: DCI ticket prices, smaller lineups, the tour model, and modern show design
• Gush & Go: Momix, the Human Library, Govenaires, Blue Knights, moving, not moving, vintage rifles, Blue Devil Betties, and Backyard Bettys

Panel: Whitney Stone @dancerwhit • Sadie Wallace @m.sadiewallace • Jeremy Svoboda / Drum Corps Today @drumcorpstoday • Special Guest: P.A. Kelly / Patti Ann Rego

Sponsored by: Guard Closet — guardcloset.com — @guardcloset

Source Links: Walnut Hills: https://local12.com/news/local/cincinnati-marching-band-miss-season-after-practice-time-cut-walnut-hills-high-school-students-bands-marching-instruments-talent-controversy-controversial-frustrations-state-finals-performances |

Blue Devils: https://bluedevils.org/news/article.php?ID=1291 | DCI Houston: https://www.dci.org/news/katy-isds-legacy-stadium-to-host-2026-dci-houston-event/ | WGI proposals: https://www.wgi.org/26adboardresults/ |

WGI alumni casting: https://www.wgi.org/wgi-opening-ceremony-alumni-casting-call/ | Big Loud & Live: https://www.dci.org/cinema/ | DCI/FloMarching: https://www.flomarching.com/articles/16020294-subscribe-to-flomarching-to-watch-the-entire-2026-dci-season | DCI scores: https://www.dci.org/scores/ |

BD Entertainment: https://www.facebook.com/WeAreBDE/ | MLB All-Star Week: https://www.mlb.com/phillies/fans/all-star-game |

MOMIX: https://www.momix.com/ | Human Library: https://humanlibrary.org/

Find On A Water Break: Website: onawaterbreak.com | Listen Everywhere: linktr.ee/onawaterbreak | YouTube: @Onawaterbreak | Instagram/Facebook/TikTok: @onawaterbreak | Be a guest: [email protected]

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts.

Color guard, winter guard, and marching band news are moving fast as DCI 2026 gets rolling and WGI 2027 starts coming into view. Nicole Younger hosts Stephen McCarrick and Jeremy Svoboda for a Water Break Weekly episode covering Walnut Hills High School marching band rehearsal access, the Blue Devils travel incident, DCI Houston’s move to Katy ISD’s Legacy Stadium, and the newly released WGI 2027 Color Guard, Percussion, and Winds regional calendars.

In this episode:

• Walnut Hills marching band practice-time concerns and why rehearsal access matters
• Blue Devils members and staff reported safe after a tire-related bus fire
• DCI Houston moving to Katy ISD’s Legacy Stadium for the 2026 tour
• WGI 2027 regional calendars for color guard, percussion, and winds
• 60 Second Tech Block: Stephen on training technique through muscle awareness
• Water We Doing?!: late DCI show announcements, rehearsal leaks, copyright realities, and respecting admin teams
• Nicole highlights the African American Legacy Corps and its 2027 DCI plans
• Gush & Go: Eastern University, Phantom Regiment, Colts percussion, Eagles Drumline, and FIFA performance life

Related Episodes: S4EP23: Summer Color Guard Training, WGI Rule Changes & DCI Houston Relocation | Color Guard & Marching Band Design Analysis | Pro Tip Besties

This week’s panel: Nicole Younger @o2binpjs • Stephen McCarrick @stephenmccarrick • Jeremy Svoboda / Drum Corps Today @drumcorpstoday

Sponsored by: Guard Closet.

Find On A Water Break: Website | Listen Everywhere | YouTube | Instagram/TikTok/Facebook: @onawaterbreak | Be a guest: [email protected]

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts. A Podcast for Marching Arts Enthusiasts — On the Field, In the Stands & Behind the Scenes.

Color guard, winter guard, and marching band summer prep are on deck this week. Grantis Peranda is joined by Jeremy Denzer and Emily Nee for a Water Break Weekly episode covering DCI Houston, major WGI 2026 proposal results, the WGI 2027 Opening Ceremony Alumni Casting Call, Pride Guard season, and practical summer training before band camp.

Episode Highlights:

• DCI Houston relocation and summer tour updates
• WGI proposal results, including Scholastic A seeding and scholastic promotions
• WGI 2027 Opening Ceremony Alumni Casting Call
• 60 Second Tech Block: summer training that matches your performers
• Water We Doing?!: spin clinics should build confidence, not confusion
• Summer opportunities: DCI shows, clinics, local spin days, Pride guards, and parade performance
• Gush & Go: New England Pride Color Guard, forward-moving parade shows, Taiwan travel, and Seattle solstice creativity

Panel: Grantis Peranda (@grantisimo_p), Jeremy Denzer (@jeremydenzer), and Emily Nee (@tch.makes.art).

Sponsored by: Guard Closet (@guardcloset).

Find On A Water Break: Website | YouTube | Listen Everywhere | All Links | Be a guest: [email protected]

OAWB Bonus Episode: Smart Visual Design with Joey Montes & Kim Jones

Originally presented during Guard Closet's "So You Run a Program" virtual workshop, this special bonus episode explores practical visual design strategies that help performers succeed, improve show readability, and create stronger audience impact.

Topics include finding creative inspiration, choosing music with visual possibility, designing around performer strengths, creating visual impact moments, building stronger transitions, avoiding clutter, and connecting visual design directly to musical storytelling.

One of the biggest questions discussed in this session: "Do I hear what I see and do I see what I hear?"

Need help with your next season?
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Listen, learn, and keep building stronger programs.

Design analysis does not have to feel like a mystery. In this special Pro Tip Besties episode of On A Water Break, Nicole Younger and Dalton Stout dig into the Design Analysis caption with real questions from real color guard, winter guard, and marching band programs.

This conversation originates on On A Water Break and is presented in collaboration with Guard Closet and the Design Closet.

Nicole and Dalton are joined by Preston Copas, Annie Stegall, and Jordan Fontana for a practical conversation about writing smarter shows, designing for the performers in front of you, and building visual programs that are achievable, clear, musical, and effective.

• Designing for beginner color guard performers without making the show boring
• How marching band guard writing reads from the stands
• Why simple choreography can still create effect
• Building a Plan B before rehearsal pressure hits
• What judges may mean when they ask for “more variety”
• How to avoid split focus in color guard and marching band staging
• Writing for mixed skill levels
• Finishing phrases and strengthening transitions
• Avoiding midseason “science fair project” rewrites
• Teaching performance without just saying “smile”
• Quick fixes for common design problems

• Nicole Younger — Guard Closet / Design Closet — Instagram: @o2bnpjs
• Dalton Stout — Instagram: @saltydalti
• Preston Copas — University at Albany Winterguard — Instagram: @ualbanyguard / @heylookitspreston
• Annie Stegall — Corbin High School / University of the Cumberlands — Instagram/TikTok: @corbin.colorguard / Instagram: @whatthefawkbro
• Jordan Fontana — Lecanto Emeralds — Instagram: @lecanto.emeralds

• Learn more about Guard Closet’s Design Closet
• Visit Guard Closet
• Follow On A Water Break
• Follow Guard Closet on Instagram
• Follow On A Water Break on Instagram
• On A Water Break Website

Find On A Water Break: Website: onawaterbreak.com | Listen Everywhere: linktr.ee/onawaterbreak | Be a Guest: [email protected]

#ColorGuard #WinterGuard #MarchingBand #DesignAnalysis #MarchingArts

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts.

A Podcast for Marching Arts Enthusiasts — On the Field, In the Stands & Behind the Scenes.

Marching band, color guard, DCI, WGI, BOA Summer Camp, drum corps, rehearsal planning, and Pride Bands are all on deck this week.

This week on On A Water Break, Joey Montes III is joined by Dalton Stout and Haley Harrington for a Water Break Weekly episode about training with intention, building better rehearsal schedules, keeping performers safe, and remembering that the marching arts are built by people who show up, ask questions, and keep learning.

The panel covers Adams 14 honoring Colorado fallen veterans at the National Memorial Day Parade, WGI event staff opportunities, Bands of America Summer Camp at Ball State, and the Pride Bands Alliance conference in Philadelphia. Then Dalton drops a 60 Second Tech Block on detailed rehearsal schedules before the group gets into trick toss safety, DCI show access, community advocacy, and appreciating how far you’ve come.

Panel:
Joey Montes III — @marchingbymontesDalton Stout — @SaltyDaltiHaley Harrington — @h_harrington14

Episode Highlights:
• Adams 14 honors Colorado fallen veterans• WGI event staff applications and why logistics matter• BOA Summer Camp, Leadership Weekend, and continued learning• Pride Bands Alliance and Philadelphia Freedom Band’s 2026 conference concert• Dalton’s 60 Second Tech Block on detailed rehearsal schedules• Technique in every rehearsal, training in character, and cleaning transitions• Trick toss safety and DCI show access• Gush & Go: summer reading, DVS beginner courses, and WGI advisory board proposals

Related Episodes:
DCI CEO Departure, $85K Drum Corps Scholarships, WGI Brother Duo & Marching Arts Burnout
Band Censorship, DCI Clinics & AI Uniform Design
DCI 2026 Tickets, WGI Graphic Designer Job + Band Censorship Debate

Featured Links:
WGI Event Staff Application
Bands of America Summer Camp
Pride Bands Alliance 2026
Dalton Stout / DVS
Cincinnati Tradition

Sponsored by:
Guard Closet — @guardcloset
Peak Group Travel — @peak.group.travel

Find On A Water Break:
Website
YouTube
Listen Everywhere
All Links
Be a guest
[email protected]

Follow @onawaterbreak on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts.

Marching band, color guard, DCI, WGI, drum corps, and summer band camp prep are all on deck this week.

A Podcast for Marching Arts Enthusiasts — On the Field, In the Stands & Behind the Scenes.

This week on On A Water Break, Ashlee Amos leads Bobbey Biddle, Whitney Stone, Hayley Harrington, and Bill “Woody” Woodward through a packed Water Break Weekly episode covering sunscreen safety, Blue Devils International, Pete Emmons’ visual design legacy, Leia Klein’s inspiring color guard story, the return of WGI Latin America, and the 2026 WGI Future Leaders Program class.

Whitney’s 60 Second Tech Block is the summer marching band and color guard reality check: train your performers, teach technique, size the cast, order costumes, prep flag designs, get music in students’ hands, and make sure the whole staff understands the show before band camp arrives.

Episode Highlights:
• Sunscreen, hats, hydration, and rehearsal safety
• Blue Devils International heading to Europe
• Remembering Pete Emmons and asymmetrical drill
• WGI Latin America returning in Costa Rica
• WGI Future Leaders Program class of 2026
• AI-generated design and why real artists still matter
• Drum corps costs, tour logistics, and alumni support
• Baton music choices, judging standards, and rewarding creativity

Panel:
Ashlee Amos — @famousamossss_
Bobbey Biddle — @bobbeyboy107
Whitney Stone — @dancerwhit
Hayley Harrington — @h_harrington14
Bill “Woody” Woodward — @remoking100

Sponsored by:
Guard Closet — guardcloset.com — @guardcloset
Peak Group Travel — peakgrouptravel.com — @peak.group.travel

Find On A Water Break:
Website
YouTube
Listen Everywhere
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Apple Podcasts
All Links
Be a guest: [email protected]

Follow @onawaterbreak on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts.

Color Guard Joins the Patti LaBelle Pride Celebration at Philadelphia Pride 2026.

In this Quick Sip, Trish O’Shea welcomes Dylan Watson back to On A Water Break to preview the Philly Pride 365 Colorguard and its role inside Philadelphia Pride 2026.

Dylan talks about building a bigger color guard production this year, including parade choreography, stage movement, dancing, Philly music, and a celebration connected to the music and legacy of Patti LaBelle.

Philadelphia Pride 2026 brings Pride on the Parkway to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway on Sunday, June 7, following March Into Pride in the Gayborhood. This year’s celebration honors Philadelphia icon Patti LaBelle with a tribute recognizing her musical legacy, cultural impact, and connection to LGBTQIA+ communities.

For Dylan, this is more than a parade feature. It is a chance to show audiences that color guard is a full production: visual, musical, emotional, and powerful.

Featuring:
Trish O’Shea – @trishdish1102
Dylan Watson – @that_dude_dylan19

Also connected:
Philly Pride 365 – @phillypride365
Patti LaBelle – @mspattilabelle
Nicole Younger – @o2binpjs

Learn more about Philly Pride 365:
PhillyPride365.org

Find On A Water Break:
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Listen Everywhere
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Be a guest
[email protected]

Follow On A Water Break:
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Facebook: @onawaterbreak
YouTube: @Onawaterbreak