T-Bolt Percussion Takes Gold In National Competition

For the first time in Victor J. Andrew High School history, the Percussion Group brought home a gold medal and was crowned WGI Percussion World Champions! The indoor percussion ensemble participated in the Winter Guard International (WGI) Percussion World Championships recently in Dayton Ohio.

The T-Bolts competed against 43 other ensembles over the course of three days in the Scholastic Open class. A total of 36 members, all of whom are enrolled in band or percussion classes, performed their 2024 program, entitled “Shelter.” The performance is an abstract concept that touches on creating a space to call our own despite the many boxes society places us within.

The winter percussion season runs from December to mid-April with rehearsals two days a week and most Saturdays. This year, Andrew attended three WGI Regional competitions and placed first at each of them. Almost all of the students involved in Winter Percussion participate in multiple activities with students in choir, Pep Band, Jazz Band, variety show, winter and spring musicals, athletics, and other miscellaneous clubs. The group is led by a student leadership team which includes Adam Beranek, Sophia Loftus, Jordan Taboada, Abby Cunico, Alexis Fornero, and Vinnie Magsombol.

The Winter Percussion program has appeared in WGI World Championship Finals 15 times and received medals eight times. The 2024 World Championship is Andrew’s first gold medal in the Open Class.

Sponsor Alan Barone says, “This is a very hard-working group of students. Most of our staff, including myself, are alumni of VJA.”