🎙️ ON A WATER BREAK WITH... BRANDY KEETON
Hosted by Jackie Brown and Stephanie Click

This week, we’re heading to Tuscaloosa for a bonus episode featuring the powerhouse behind the University of Alabama Color Guard and Alta Marea—Brandy Keeton! From her early days as a shy baton twirler in Athens, Alabama, to leading one of the most visible and successful collegiate color guard programs in the country, Brandy’s story is full of heart, hustle, and high tide energy.

Join hosts Jackie Brown @spintronixguard and Stephanie Click @stephanieclick as they sit down with Brandy for her 32 Count Life Story, and unpack her journey from Crimsonette to co-director of a WGI medalist program. In this episode, we dive into:

• How Brandy balances SEC football, high school teaching, and directing a world-class winter guard
• The unique structure of Alta Marea—all members are Million Dollar Band students!
• What it’s like to juggle fall football performances on ESPN and prepare for WGI World Class debut in the same season
• University support for the guard—including athletic trainers and realistic fees
• How Alta Marea evolved from a fall training tool into a full-fledged competitive program

✨ In our Water We Doing segment, Brandy calls out the chaos of the UD Arena rain plan and shares the now-iconic “ShamWow moment” backstage in Dayton.
💖 And in Gush and Go, she celebrates Alta Marea’s incredible 2025 season and drops big news: record-breaking audition numbers and early plans for 2026!

💬 Want to be on the show?
Email us at: [email protected]
OR fill out our guest interest form here: https://forms.gle/7GcpYZLfY8Uo54pp9

📲 Follow Brandy and Her Teams:
TikTok: @theblondebobshell
Instagram: @altamarea_cg | @milliondollarband
Facebook: Alta Marea Winterguard | Million Dollar Band Color Guard

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On this jam-packed On A Water Break episode, host Stephen McCarrick is joined live by Matt Walters (@surfingdrums), Austin Hall (@austin_hall10), Woody Woodward (@remoking100), Joey Montes (@marchingbymontes), and first-time guest Daniel Balls (@balls_boy) to break down all the action from WGI Championships 2025.

💥 From record-breaking scores to viral horse props, this live panel covers it all:

🧾 What’s inside this week’s episode:
🎉 Recaps of every finals class: PIW, PIO, PIA, Scholastic World, Open, and A
🥁 Joey's tabla prodigy & ICT’s surprise debut
🥇 George Mason’s fan favorite moment — and controversial video snub
🚨 Ayala & RCC setting new world records
🎭 Deep talk on effect, show design, and letting go of “I didn’t get the show”
🧠 60 Second Tech Block – Joey delivers the “3 C’s of Champ Week” like a pro
🧐 Water We Doing? – Crooked floors, cold lot setups, and missed applause
💖 Gush and Go – Shoutouts to students, staff, wins culture, bass drum culture, and a reminder: We’re all in this together

Plus:

• How a group literally brought horses to WGI
• Why Veritas and George Mason raised the bar
• Woody reveals his students found out he’s on the podcast 👀
• Joey takes on too many groups (again)
• Austin dreams of Winds getting its own weekend
• Matt gushes about bassline love and SoCal Base Camp
• Daniel reflects on member growth and family vibes at North Star

🎧 Whether you watched it live or are tuning in after the fact, this is the ultimate wrap-up of WGI 2025 Percussion & Winds.

—

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📺 Watch episodes & live streams on our YouTube Channel
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🛍 Sponsored by: Guard Closet | @guardcloset
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🎙️ Listen to all episodes: https://onawaterbreak.buzzsprout.com

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🔎 TAGS
#OnAWaterBreak #WGI2025 #PercussionRecap #WindsRecap #PIW #WGIWorldClass #WaterWeDoing #GushAndGo #60SecondTechBlock #GeorgeMason #Ayala #BrokenCity #RhythmX #WGIResults #MarchingArtsPodcast #DrumlineCulture #BasslineLove #SoCalBaseCamp #GuardCloset #PeakGroupTravel #WGIWins #WGI2025Recap #IndependentWorld #ScholasticWorld

🎙️ QUICK SIP: A WGI Love Story — The Tampa Independent Proposal 💍

We’re kicking off our Quick Sip bonus series with a love story straight from retreat! Ricardo sits down with Tampa Independent’s very own Madison Nelson (@maddylynn22) and John Shirella (@drummerboymercy), whose surprise proposal at WGI Finals had the crowd (and their teammates) cheering and crying all at once. 💍💙

From their 32 Count Life Stories to their first days teaching at River Ridge High School, this episode spills all the tea — including how the whole thing went down, the behind-the-scenes nerves, and how press-on nails almost became the real emergency. 😂

We also chat about what it’s like being in a relationship where pageantry always comes first, why it actually works, and how they balance rehearsals, performances, and life together.

✨ Then we dive into Water We Doing?, where Maddie comes in hot about VE shoes that don’t let you point your feet (jazz shoe nation rise up), and John’s ready to cancel those booming metronome speakers in the lot. And yes, Ricardo might finally be convinced to stop complaining about percussion people in the lot… maybe.

💖 Finally, they wrap things up with a Gush and Go that celebrates the next chapter in their lives — together.

📲 Want to be on the podcast or have a Quick Sip-worthy story? Hit the form in our bio or DM us!
🎥 Watch full episodes on YouTube and follow us @OnAWaterBreak.
💧 Subscribe. Rate. Share. And we’ll see you… on a water break

We’re wrapping up the WGI 2025 Color Guard season with three incredible returning guests who just took the floor by storm in Dayton:

🌟 Jacob Allison – performer with crowd-favorite AMP Winter Guard, who brought the club vibes all season long and left their mark as one of the most entertaining fan-favorite shows of the year.
🌟 Colby Tapp – from Etude Winter Guard, sharing insight into their emotionally moving production Wild Geese and what it felt like to fully settle into his second season in World Class.
🌟 Andrew SeeBaran – gold medalist with Pride of Cincinnati, reflecting on their stunning, intimate floor design and what it meant to lead such a deeply connected cast.

🏆 Hear how each of them tackled personal performance goals, navigated the emotional high of WGI Finals, and what advice they have for aspiring World Class performers. We dig into performance anxiety, disco ball mishaps, UD Arena goose sightings, and the power of trust, timing, and teamwork.

🎧 Plus:
• Why Etude’s poetic staging made such an impact
• The hidden storyline behind AMP’s nightlife-themed journey
• How Pride’s 65x65 circle pushed boundaries and forced focus
• The emotional toll (and ibuprofen count) of being a seasoned vet
• Why we need a Fan Favorite Award back – officially
• Who’s retiring, who’s still hungry, and what they all wish they knew before starting

🎤 HOSTED BY:
Nicole Younger (@thatsingerguardgirl)
Alicia Sharp (@aliciasharptoo)
Trish O’Shea (@trishoshea.design)

👑 GUEST PERFORMERS:
Jacob Allison (@jacoballizon97) – AMP Winter Guard (@ampwinterguard)
Andrew SeeBaran (@iandrewmark) – Pride of Cincinnati (@prideofcincinnati)
Colby Tapp (@c0lbytapp) – Etude Winter Guard (@etudewinterguard)

📸 Don’t forget to check out all the content from WGI 2025 on our Instagram @onawaterbreak and subscribe to the YouTube channel for even more behind-the-scenes and bonus footage:
📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@onawaterbreak
🌐 Website: https://www.guardcloset.com/on-a-water-break
📧 Want to be on the podcast? Fill out the guest form in our link in bio or email us at [email protected]

💬 TAGS:
#OnAWaterBreak #WGI2025 #ColorGuard #WinterGuard #Etude #AMPWinterGuard #PrideOfCincinnati #WGIWorldClass #GuardLife #MarchingArts #FanFavorite #SpillTheTea #WGIRecap #UDArena #ColorGuardGoals #MarchingArtsPodcast

🔥 This week on On A Water Break, we’re LIVE from the 2025 WGI World Championships floor with your recap dream team: Ricardo, Trish, Whitney, Dylan Watson, and Bryan Ayala!

💬 Segment 1:We break down the highlights from an unforgettable WGI weekend — rain, props, floor drama, tears, and triumphs! From scheduling madness to weather woes, we cover the real behind-the-scenes of Dayton. Plus, we celebrate the 2025 DCI Hall of Fame inductees: Jim Moore, Matt Harloff, and Jack Bevins.

🥇 Segment 2:We’re dishing out the medals and celebrating top-tier performances! Huge congrats to:

• The Woodlands HS (Scholastic World Gold, 98.000) — first Texas gold in SW!
• Pride of Cincinnati (Independent World Gold, 94.900)
• Little Elm HS (Scholastic Open Gold, 98.400)
• Third Legend (Independent Open Gold, 96.900)
• Pope HS (Scholastic A Gold, 96.555)
• Homage Independent (Independent A Gold, 95.985)

Texas DOMINATED in all classes — with six SA and six SO guards in finals and three Scholastic medals coming home to the Lone Star State!

🛠️ Segment 3: 60 Second Tech BlockDylan Watson breaks down how to nail multiple three-turns in one show. It’s technical gold — you’ll want to replay it again and again!

😤 What Are We Doing?!

• Trish calls out copy-paste scoring from Power Regionals to finals.
• Whitney blasts WGI proposal culture at retreat (it's giving Phoebe from Friends).
• Dylan questions post-show photos (makeup meltdown edition).
• Ricardo demands tents for rain logistics and questions A Class burnout with 2-shows-a-day finals format.
• Bryan asks WGI to up the wristband allotments for staff — can we get a little more help?

🎉 Gush & Go:

• The clipping trend is here and it's adorable.
• Texas celebrates a true glow-up year.
• Dylan gets personal about his choreography growth and starting year 3 at ASU.
• Bryan shows love to all the first-time finalists and the amazing young directors.
• Ricardo gushes over the power of WGI fellowship, The Cookout, and community.

🎧 Guests: Dylan M. Watson @that_dude_dylan18, Bryan Ayala @itsbadluckbryan / @ehsfriscocolorguards

🎧 Catch the full episode now and celebrate the season with us!

📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEIZAjFybvq_AzpFUXvNJDQ
🌐 Brought to you by our sponsors:
Guard Closet — https://guardcloset.com | IG: @guardcloset
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📩 Want to be a guest? DM us or submit at the link in bio!
💌 Email: [email protected]
📲 Follow us everywhere: @onawaterbreak

#WGI2025 #ColorGuard #MarchingArts #OnAWaterBreak #PrideOfCincinnati #TheWoodlandsHS #LittleElmHS #TexasGuards #TechBlock #PageantryLife #WGIRecap #GuardLife

This week’s On A Water Break is coming to you LIVE for the first time ever! 🎉 Hosted by Jackie, Steven, and Nicole, this episode is packed with spontaneous moments, major marching arts news, heartfelt reflections, and all the chaos you expect from a live stream.

💬 What’s Inside:

• Nicole takes over the 60-Second Tech Block with a passionate pitch on Why You Should Go to The Cookout – a must-attend, inclusive WGI-week event
• Jackie shares a moving story about the Yukon Band’s fundraiser to support a neighboring school after a devastating fire (News 9 Oklahoma)
• Nicole follows up on our recent reporting with an update on the Palisades Charter High School Band returning to performance after California wildfires (Spectrum News)
• Stephen announces the newest WGI Hall of Fame Inductees for 2025 (WGI.org)
• Nicole brings us national coverage of a sweet surprise moment for a North Carolina high school band (ABC News/GMA)
• Upcoming appearances and live recaps from the Show Day booth at WGI
• Exciting info about The Cookout: Join us Saturday between Open and World Finals from 3–5 PM at Paw Paw Pavilion — $10 donation ($5 per performer if you're bringing your whole group), live music, scholarship awards, and community vibes! @thecookoutcg

🌎 Organizations & Partners Featured:

• @gonzako.projects
• @melaninmosaic
• @grantisimo_p
• @guardcloset – guardcloset.com
• @peakgrouptravel – peakgrouptravel.com
• @pflagdayton
• @miamivalleymeals

📣 Want to be a guest? Submit your story through our Link in Bio or email us at [email protected].

📲 Follow us @onawaterbreak for behind-the-scenes fun, bonus content, and livestream alerts.

🎧 Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with a friend. Keep coming back each week for more laughs, lessons, and love from the On A Water Break crew.

🎯 #marchingband #drumcorps #colorguard #wgi #dci #marchingarts #winterguard #bandlife #gushandgo #waterwedoing #onawaterbreak #livepodcast #guardcloset #thecookout #wginationals #marchingartsnews

In this special bonus episode, Stephen McCarrick and Anne Turner sit down with Julie Davila, renowned percussion educator, composer, adjudicator, and newly appointed Judge Administrator for Drum Corps International (DCI). Julie shares her remarkable journey through the marching arts, from her early passion for percussion and transformative years at the University of North Texas to her extensive adjudicating career in both DCI and WGI.

✨ Highlights from this Episode:

• Julie's "32-Count Life Story": From her roots as a young drummer and water sports enthusiast to becoming a respected leader and advocate for women in percussion.
• Deep Dive into Arranging and Composition: Julie discusses her powerful piece, "Faith and Fortitude," inspired by personal experiences and resilience through her daughter’s medical challenges.
• Judging Insights: Julie provides an insider look at what defines a successful front ensemble, balancing innovation with tradition, and her experience across multiple judging captions.
• New Role at DCI: Julie shares her excitement about becoming the Judge Administrator for DCI, her goals for supporting diversity in adjudication, and nurturing future talent.
• "Water We Doing?": Julie, Stephen, and Anne address the pitfalls of comparing scores across competitions and advocate for a stronger musical foundation in young ensembles.
• "Gush and Go": Celebrating recent accomplishments, exciting future plans, and the continuous growth of women leaders in the marching arts.

🔗 Featured Organizations & Links:

• Drum Corps International: https://www.dci.org
• WGI: https://www.wgi.org
• University of North Texas Percussion: https://percussion.music.unt.edu
• Roloff Productions: https://www.roloff.com

🌟 Connect with Julie Davila:

• Instagram: @sisterjules9397
• Facebook: Julie Sutton Davila

📲 Stay Connected:

• Follow "On A Water Break" on Social Media: @onawaterbreak
• Questions or episode suggestions? Email us at [email protected]

🎧 Don't forget to subscribe, review, and share! Stay tuned to "On A Water Break" for more insightful conversations, innovative ideas, and exclusive content from the marching arts community!

#MarchingArts #DrumCorps #DCI #WGI #Percussion #JulieDavila #MusicEducation #BandLife #Colorguard #IndoorPercussion #Podcast #OnAWaterBreak

Join us this week on On A Water Break as we wrap up Women's History Month with an incredible panel of talented women from the marching arts! Hosts Stephen McCarrick, Trish O'Shea, Cynthia Bernard, Beth Beccone, and Anne Turner lead a dynamic conversation filled with insightful tips, exciting news, and passionate discussions.

• Beth Beccone from Peak Group Travel announces an exciting new podcast sponsorship and shares essential travel tips for ensembles.
• In our 60 Second Tech Block, Beth tackles bus travel logistics, crucial for smooth touring experiences.
• Spirit of Atlanta Alumni Corps celebrates its 50th anniversary with a special performance at DCI semifinals. spiritdrumcorps.org
• Big Parade News for July 4th 2026 - Marching.com
• Pacific Crest Drum & Bugle Corps sets a new standard for financial transparency in Drum Corps. pacific-crest.org
• WGI announces a job opening for Digital Marketing Manager, a fantastic opportunity for marching arts enthusiasts. wgi.org
• University of South Alabama unveils plans for a state-of-the-art rehearsal facility opening in 2026.
• Hosts discuss recent design trends appearing simultaneously across WGI groups, prompting conversations on creativity and originality.
• Third Legend, Sonor Winterguard, and Pacificaires receive special shoutouts and detailed insights from Cynthia Bernard.
• Specter Percussion celebrates top rankings in preparation for WGI Championships. specterpercussion.org

• Instagram: @onawaterbreak
• YouTube: On A Water Break Channel

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In this powerful bonus episode, On A Water Break tackles an emotional and timely subject: how the marching arts community responds in moments of crisis. In light of the recent Texas drumline tragedy and the devastating California wildfires, we explore the systems, support networks, and people who rise up when everything is on the line.

Alicia is joined by rotating hosts Ricardo and Nicole along with Band director Spencer Milligan for an urgent and candid roundtable conversation about safety, preparedness, and how programs can act before tragedy strikes.

We also feature an inspiring interview co-led by Christopher Rutt and Alicia with Peter Ye and Allison Avina-Wyant from Palisades Charter High School in Los Angeles. When their campus was impacted by wildfires over winter break, their band and color guard programs faced immediate disruption. Hear how they worked together—with help from the Santa Monica High School staff and band parents—to continue their seasons and keep students connected through music and performance.

From forming partnerships and sharing rehearsal spaces to securing donated instruments and navigating circuit policies, their story highlights the resilience of the performing arts.

Topics Covered in This Episode
🎵 The importance of proactive safety policies across indoor and outdoor circuits
🛡️ How visibility and communication can save lives at competitions
📣 The role of band parents, school districts, and circuit leadership in protecting performers
🤝 How community partnerships—like the one between Palisades and Santa Monica—can turn a disaster into a comeback
💡 How circuits like FFCC, SCPA, and WGASC are supporting programs in crisis

Organizations & Programs Mentioned
📍 Palisades Charter High School (Los Angeles, CA)
Support them: https://givebutter.com/paliband
Instagram: @paliband

📍 Santa Monica High School
Instagram: @samohiband

📍 FFCC – Florida Federation of Colorguards Circuit
Website: https://ffcc.org
Instagram: @ffccflorida

📍 SCPA – Southern California Percussion Alliance
Website: https://sc-pa.org
Instagram: @scpapercussion

📍 WGASC – Winter Guard Association of Southern California
Website: https://wgasc.org
Instagram: @wgasc_official

📍 Townsend Junior High School – Instrument donor
https://www.chino.k12.ca.us/townsend

📍 Evolv Technology – Weapons detection system mentioned in the show
https://www.evolvtechnology.com

📣 JOIN THE CONVERSATION
Are you a band parent, performer, or educator? Share your thoughts in the comments about how your circuit or school is handling safety and preparedness. We want to hear from every corner of the activity.

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💌 Email: [email protected]
Want to be on the show? Visit the link in our bio or DM us!

This week, we're highlighting more powerhouse women in the marching arts as part of our Women’s History Month series.

This episode features hosts:🎤 Nicole Younger 🎤 Whitney Stone 🎤 Kim Webb 🎤 Haley Harrington 🎤 Roxy Lazar

WHAT TO EXPECT IN THIS EPISODE:

💬 Candid sideline chats, from surprise slaps in rehearsal to spring break shenanigans. 🌟 Guest introductions and our signature “32 Count Life Stories” with Roxy, Haley, and Kim—featuring their experiences as performers, educators, and leaders. 🎙️ Real talk about being women in marching arts, breaking barriers, and mentoring the next generation.

📰 Marching Arts News & Reflections

• Honoring the legacies of Doug Young (Sebastian St. Jacques) and Ramon Ruiz
• A discussion on hazing at Southern University
• DCI’s new “I Marched” alumni initiative
• WGI and UDB’s pilot program: Beam Music
• Performance safety, mental health, and community remembrance

⚙️ 60 Second Tech Block – Whitney drops rapid-fire knowledge on ensemble etiquette: show up, go full out, and don’t whisper during rehearsal!

🤔 Water We Doing?! – Rants and reflections on marching arts trends, like:

• Not watching performance videos with students
• Directors neglecting the color guard
• Is “marching” disappearing from marching band?
• Skipping technique blocks? What are we doing?!

💖 Gush and Go – Celebrating wins and joy across the activity:

• Vox A-Guard heads to WGI for the first time
• Kim’s band earns superior ratings and heads to state
• A Cincinnati art show raising money for DCA champ Cincinnati Tradition
• Nicole shares love for a junior guard with 50+ members

🏫 FEATURED PROGRAMS & ORGANIZATIONS

• Vox Artium – @voxartium
• The Academy Drum & Bugle Corps – arizonaacademy.org
• Cincinnati Tradition – cincinnatitradition.org
• Russell County HS – russellcoschools.com
• Greene County Tech HS – gctsd.k12.ar.us
• WGI Sport of the Arts – wgi.org
• Drum Corps International – dci.org
• Ultimate Drill Book – ultimatedrillbook.com
• FloMarching – flomarching.com

📲 CONNECT WITH US📧 Email: [email protected] 

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