The FFCC is pleased to announce another great education initiative. As we move into the first 3 winterguard premieres on Saturday, January 19th there will be an opportunity for all staff and directors to sit in the stands with two overview clinicians. The overview clinicians have been selected in order to help you with your thoughts and next steps in show design, staging, equipment writing, and specific needs or wants that you might not get on a judge’s tape. These clinicians can talk about any caption and have many years of experience in the marching arts.
How it works:
- After your group has set up their floor and you’ve given your music to the announcer make your way to the middle of the bleachers where the two overview clinicians will be waiting.
- Discuss with the clinicians anything you specifically want looked at while your show is progressing in real time. The clinicians will also have a recorder like the judges and you can ask for them to just make overall commentary on what they are seeing in your show if you don’t want a conversation during the run.
- Bring your whole package! If you happen to know what the uniforms, flags, floor design, etc. will be, bring a picture. It is premiere, and things won’t be all the way finished, so it’s a great time to get feedback now on the things that aren’t there yet.
- Wrap up: after the performance feel free to ask questions as your group is exiting or have someone on staff get the feedback to bring back to your team. This is a great opportunity to get a view of your show from trained clinicians and generate your own conversation about what is important to you and how to maximize your shows potential.
Meet the Clinicians:
West Premiere: Gaither High School
Meghan McCourt
Meghan McCourt started dancing as a child and began color guard as a freshman in high school. She pursued studies in Dance Education and Human Resources Management at George Mason University and is an alumnus of Dominion Winter Guard and Carolina Crown Drum and Bugle Corps. Meghan has experience designing and teaching with many winter guard and marching band programs at both the high school and collegiate levels. She is an adjudicator with Winter Guard International, Bands of America and associated pageantry arts organizations throughout the country and internationally. Meghan stays actively involved in Performing Arts as the Director of Human Resources with New York City Center, an iconic dance and theater institution in midtown Manhattan, with the civic mission to make the best of performing arts accessible to all.
Rob Jett
Rob Jett grew up outside Nashville, TN, where he went to Western Kentucky University majored in Advertising. He currently resides in San Diego, California with husband, Carlos. Rob’s marching career began with Suncoast Sound Drum and Bugle Corps (1987-1989) and Magic of Orlando Drum & Bugle Corps (1990), as well as Alliance of Miami Winterguard (1988-1990), and San Jose Raiders (1991).
He has served as Color Guard Caption Head for Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps (2000-2002), as well as held positions as a technician/designer/consultant for several other organizations such as The Academy and Spirit of Atlanta Drum & Bugle Corps and The Blue Knights.
Rob has also worked with several winter guard programs such as San Jose Raiders, Rancho Bernardo HS, The Academy, Ayala High School, Fantasia and currently with Diamond Bar High School and Fenix Independent Winterguards.
North Premiere: Flagler Palm Coast High School
Shirley Stratton Dorritie
Shirley Dorritie has been involved in the pageantry activity for over 45 years and specializes in training performers throughout the world for optimal achievement. Shirley holds an MA in Counseling Psychology, with a Certificate in Sport Psychology. A licensed psychotherapist (MFC41061) and founder of The Center for Performance and Achievement in the San Francisco bay area, Shirley has worked with a broad spectrum of individuals who are required to manage their responses to stress in order to perform at their best — including performers, athletes, educators, choreographers and conductors throughout the U.S., Europe, and Japan.
Shirley has adjudicated the competitive Winter Color Guard and Marching Band activities since 1983 and joined the WGI judging roster in 1994. She has served as Director of Judge Education for the Winter Guard Association of Southern California since 2011 and currently serves as Judge Development Manager for WGI. She is the author of the WGI-Certify Judge Training series. As a performance coach, instructor and visual designer, Shirley’s credits include Drum Corps International’s Best Color Guard award and four DCI World Championship titles with The Blue Devils, as well as the Santa Clara Vanguard High School Marching Band and Color Guard programs. She is a 2009 inductee into the prestigious Drum Corps International Hall of Fame. Her book, “Delivering The Goods: Performing at the Top of Your Game When the Pressure Is On”, is due to be released soon.
Michael Raiford
Michael B Raiford is a freelance artist based in Austin, TX. He has designed, staged and choreographed in theatre and for top DCI, BOA and WGI ensembles for over 30 years. He is very fortunate to have had a project in a national or regional finals for 29 years running including more than 22 appearances in a national finals and 8 championships.
Stage: Michael’s work in the band, winter guard and drum corps lead him to a career in scenic and costume design for theatre, opera and dance. His work has been seen at the Opera Boston; The New Victory Theatre, NYC; South Coast Repertory, The Alliance Theatre in Atlanta. GEVA Theatre, Playmakers Rep., Actor’s Theatre of Louisvile; Ford’s Theatre, Washington, DC; Cleveland Playhouse; Kansas City Rep; The Maltz Jupiter Theatre, Florida; Ballet Austin; Central City Opera, Merrimak Rep, The Antaeus Company in LA and Austin Lyric Opera. Most recently Michael directed “Blast: The Music of Disney” in 2016. For a look at some of his stage designs visit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/michaelraiford/sets/
BOA: Highlights include: The Woodlands, BOA National Champion, multiple-time national and regional finalists and champions; Union High School, national and regional finalist; Plymouth Canton Educational Park, national and regional finalist; James Bowie, national and regional finalist; Ayala HS, multiple regional championships; Central Cabarrus High School, multiple-tim regional and national finalist and Cypress Falls High School, multiple regional finalist.
DCI: Michael’s early years were focused on 6-time DCI finalist Suncoast Sound. Contributions included serving as a choreographer and production designer, he also began staging during his tenure as well as turns as show and staff coordinator. He conceived the famed “Vietnam” show pioneering theatrical elements in the drum corps idiom. His next major project in drum corps was Magic of Orlando. For 6 seasons, Michael worked as part of the creative team and as production designer including 4 finals appearances. More recent drum corps associations include The Cavaliers, Academy, Troopers and Glassmen.
WGI: from 1998-2008 Michael worked on the creative team with Karl Lowe for 5-time World Champion “Fantasia” Winter Guard. Michael worked as a creative collaborator and as the production designer and performance coach. Other favorite projects include: Blessed Sacrament and San Jose Raiders. Michael has also worked for WGI teaching design and performance workshops for Spinfest as well as an overview contributor for WGI Regionals.
Michael received his MFA in Design from the University of Texas at Austin where he subsequently taught design for 10 years. He is a member of United Scenic Artists.
Central Premiere: Lyman High School
Jude Boughton
Jude served in a variety of roles during his tenure in DCI his last role was as visual coordinator for the Phantom Regiment in 2015. Previous drum corps experience includes Spirit of Atlanta (Color Guard Coordinator 10-13), The Colts (Program Coordinator 05-09), The Glassmen (Movement & Dance Instructor 05), The Phantom Regiment (Color Guard Instructor & Caption Head 03-04.) Boughton has taught extensively around the country as a designer, choreographer, dance educator,program consultant and coordinator working with many organizations including WGI medalists Juxtaposition & Mechanicsburg High School, and most notably with 12-time WGI Independent World Class finalist The Black Watch Color Guard (03-12). Attending Kutztown University of Pennsylvania with a focus in Theater & Dance and additional studies in Movement for Non-Dancers & Dance in the Musical Theater Boughton has long been a student of dance and musical theater history in America and movement education to non-dancers. Originally from Pittston, Pennsylvania Jude moved to Austin, Texas in 2010 where he was employed at Round Rock High School as Program Coordinator and Color Guard Director of the Dragon Band (2013, 15, & 17 Bands of America Grand National Finalist,) from 2010-2018. Until 2015 served Vandegrift High School as Program Coordinator (2013 4A Texas State Champion & 2015 UIL Silver Medalist), & at Leander High School as Program Coordinator (2015 UIL Bronze Medalist & 2016 BOA Grand National Finalist) from 2015-2017. After judging for WGI for 8 years Jude is proud to have served as a member of the WGI Advisory Board for 8 years & two terms on the WGI Board of Directors. Jude resides his Austin Tx. with partner Will and dogs Cindy and Lily.
Randy Nelson
Randy Nelson is a Lifetime Member of the Florida Bandmasters Association after serving as the Director of Bands at Choctawhatchee HS in Fort Walton Beach, FL for 26 years. The Choctawhatchee Guards were 28 time SW Class Finalists. He is a member of the Winter Guard International Hall of Fame and a Past President of the Winter Guard International Board of Directors. Randy is currently a member of the Board of Directors for the Florida Marching Band Championships. He has adjudicated for Bands of America, Winter Guard International, Drum Corps International, ISSMA, CBA and served as Chief Judge for the Western Band Association. Randy attended Jacksonville State University where he received his degree in Music Education. He is currently a freelance designer and clinician for bands and winter guards residing in Jacksonville, FL.
