NHS color guard instructor launches new winterguard program

The arts community is going strong in the St. Vrain Valley School District. With art shows, concerts, and marching band exhibitions, students are presented with an almost endless number of activities in which to participate throughout the year. Color guard is one of them.

Anthony Pierro was brought onto the team at Niwot High School this year as the "Pride of Niwot" Cougar Marching Band's new color guard instructor. Color guard is not new to Niwot as it has been a staple of the ensemble for decades. However, this is the first time color guard at Niwot has won the Best Section award, known as the "Golden Flip-Folder," largely in part to Pierro's instruction and innovation in conjunction with highly dedicated students and talent in the guard.

Given the talent of the color guard and his great success, Pierro is introducing NHS to a new indoor winter color guard program by forming the first competitive St Vrain Schools Winterguard team.

Pierro found his love for color guard back in high school and continued that passion throughout college with the "Golden Buffalo" Marching Band at the University of Colorado Boulder and now participates in his own competitive group for the third year.

"I wanted to provide (students) with the opportunity I didn't have in high school," said Pierro. "I feel like I would have been more confident in my skills sooner before arriving at CU and doing my first competitive season halfway through college."

Pierro has discovered that starting a new winterguard program is not easy. While there have been, and still are, competitive indoor winter percussion programs at Silver Creek High School and Longmont High School, the process of getting an entirely new program introduced to SVVSD has had its challenges.

After a lot of logistical obstacles, the new winterguard team now has a rehearsal space and Pierro has been granted the status as an official, standalone coach in the district. He also navigated the difficulties gaining recognition and being allowed to compete with the Rocky Mountain Color Guard Association (RMCGA). The objective is to attend six competitions and participate in five where the students can observe and gain exposure to this activity and receive feedback from judges.

While starting a new program has taken a lot of effort, there is still work to do. The group recently acquired an old tarp to use as their temporary performance floor and will need to raise funds to attend competitions and acquire equipment such as uniforms, flags, sabres, and rifles.

The goal is to make participation cost less than $250 per student. However, reaching the goal will only be possible through extensive fundraising. A GoFundMe has been started with a goal to raise $700. Donations can be made using this link: https://gofund.me/e214a892.

Currently there are twelve students who have expressed interest or signed up for the program. This group is open to all current high school students in SVVSD, preferably with either marching band, color guard, or dance experience. As this is the first year of the program, the parameters required to participate are fairly loose, and open workshops are available to anyone with interest, and will likely start after Thanksgiving break.

"I would have liked to start the program sooner, as many groups are already in full swing," said Pierro, "but I'm glad we've got things in motion."

Pierro has already been hard at work creating the soundtrack that will be used for the squad's performance as well as choreography. "It will be a fun, campy, pink-themed show," Pierro said, but he is not yet willing to disclose the final concept for the program.

Pierro expressed gratitude to Kirsten Huffman for her guidance and mentorship in starting the program as well as to Activities Director Joe Brown and the NHS administration for their support and advocacy of the guard. Pierro also thanked Wade Hendricks, NHS Director of Bands for the opportunity to come to SVVSD this season and for his continued support.

For further questions, interest, or willingness to support this new program, contact Anthony Pierro at [email protected].