Community Corner
Concord Blue Devils Take Two Titles
Winter Guards cap 2011 season with two Circuit Championship wins.
With more than 2,000 people cheering them on at Independence High School in San Jose on April 2, the Concord Blue Devils Open and A Winter Guards reached the pinnacle of their performing season by capturing two first-place wins at the 2011 California Color Guard Circuit (CCGC) Championships.
The Blue Devils 'Open' Guard, whose members are high school and college age, performed a show entitled “The Blue Gatsby,” based on the novel The Great Gatsby. They received a score of 82.3 with second place going to Deviation with a score of 76.8.
The Blue Devils A Guard, whose members are in elementary and middle school (and are the only guard in the circuit with elementary school age members), had an undefeated season. With competitors generally high school age, the A Guard also took first. Their final score was 80.1 with Oak Grove Too taking second with a score of 66.9.
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The Guards are judged on general effect, movement and equipment skills, and overall performance. In addition to a dance element, some of the equipment stunts in the shows included tossing a saber toward the ceiling while turning twice underneath before catching it, or exchanging flags midair.
Blue Devils 'Open' Guard captain Emily Nunn was also awarded The Wayne Wengert Memorial Scholarship from the CCGC. The CCGC reviewed overall high school grade point average, two letters of recommendation, and a statement by the applicant explaining why they want or need the scholarship to determine recipients from a pool of two applicants from each unit.
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Nunn is a Clayton Valley High School senior and has been a member of the Blue Devils for 10 years. She also helped teach younger guard members alongside Winter Guard director and A Guard instructor Annette Odello.
“If you want to develop dance skills and physical ability and be part of a dance-based activity that involves commitment and team work, come by and feel free to participate in a rehearsal to see what we are about,” said Odello.
The Blue Devils are now accepting members for the summer season. The Winter Guard programs will begin in October. No experience is needed to be a member of the Blue Devils. Please contact Annette Odello at (925) 383-0424 for more information or check their website here.
