Showband of the Carolinas

ELHS "Cheval" Winter Guard Members - Row 1, left to right - Rachel Collichio, Danielle Driscoll, Emily Murphy, Bronwyn Turner; Row 2 - Keri Bradley, Ciera Roberts, Brandon Nichols, Samantha Early, Brittain Nichols, Andy Roberson, Shelby Benson, Debbie Jones; Row 3 - Nicole Young, Kerrigan Gudger, Kalie Driscoll, Sarah Eliason, Taylor Costner, Alaina Seidle, Ayla Harvey, Jaqui Silva, Caitlin Jones

Congratulations to our 2011 Winter Guard International Raleigh Regional Scholastic A CHAMPIONS!!!
You can find below the press release that has been sent to area news papers for immediate release.  Way to go "Cheval!"  You all should be very proud of all your hard work and this major accomplilshment! 

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There is some big news to report from East Lincoln High School this week.  The “Cheval” Winter Guard of East Lincoln High School deserves a big pat on the back after being named the 2011 Scholastic A Champion at this past weekend’s Winter Guard International (WGI) Raleigh Regional Championships at Cleveland High School in Clayton, NC.  As the WGI website describes the unit, “The Scholastic A Champions were the performers of East Lincoln. Dressed as mimes, these performers did anything but just go through the motions. Completely committed to their emotional performance of “A House is Not a Home”, this guard proves that substance is what makes a home (and a great winter guard show)! Their shining moment was the artistry exuded in the ending flag feature.”  The “Cheval” Winter Guard is currently seeded #1 in the Scholastic A classification in the Winter Guard International circuit.  ELHS Band Director, Dustin Stamey, commented, “It’s just hard for us to wrap our minds around the fact that our winter guard from ‘little ole East Lincoln’ could be ranked in an international seeding, and especially at the top of the list.  I am so proud of these students, the hard work that they do each day to be the excellent artistic dancers and performers that they are, and the accomplishments they have realized up to this point!”  While the unit is currently seeded in the #1 spot according to the website www.guardbuzz.com, Stamey made it clear that this seeding is very fluid, and very similar to that of the NCAA brackets that most everyone is following very closely right now.  “It will basically change week to week as more regional events take place.  We were just fortunate enough to have two fantastic performances in Raleigh this weekend to put us in that spot.  We are really trying not to think about it a whole lot, but it’s hard to not enjoy that moment just a little bit,” said Stamey. 

The winter guard’s next performance will be at the Carolina Winter Ensemble Association Championships to be held in the Winthrop University Coliseum on March 26.  In early April, the winter guard will be traveling to Dayton, Ohio to participate in the WGI World Championships event held at the University of Dayton and other venues in the area.  Instructors of the group include Rachel Stamey, Caren Kimbrell and Zakia Ruffin.  “Without these dedicated and talented staff members, the success this group is experiencing would not be possible,” said Mr. Stamey.  Mr. Stamey also wishes to thank, in large part, the support and encouragement of the East Lincoln Band Boosters.  “We absolutely could not have the band program we have at East Lincoln without the logistical, financial and emotional support of our wonderful Band Boosters, past and present.  They are truly what makes the ELHS Band world turn!” 

“WGI ‘Sport of the Arts’ is the world's premier organization producing indoor color guard and percussion ensemble competitions.  As a non-profit youth organization, WGI serves as the leading governing body of the winter guard and indoor percussion activities. It is called the ‘Sport of the Arts’ because it brings music to life through performance in a competitive format. Now entering its 33rd year, the sport continues to evolve and grow.”   For more information on WGI, please visit www.wgi.org or contact Dustin Stamey, Director of Bands at East Lincoln High School. 

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