Welcome to the 2026-2027 River Valley Winter Arts Season
Practices
All practices will be held indoors. Appropriate footwear should be worn at all rehearsals. Because practices involve intricate maneuvers, no sandals, flip-flops, etc. will be allowed.
Performers are to wear clothing to move around comfortably. Dressing in layers may be helpful as the practice spaces may be cooler, but you will warm up once rehearsals begin.
Eat a healthy meal or snack before coming to practice. Always eat a well-balanced meal consisting of carbs, protein, and enough calories to get you through practice. It is always a good idea to pack a healthy snack.
It is a good idea to begin each day well-hydrated. Drink plenty of water before rehearsals as well as during rehearsals. Students are encouraged to bring a water bottle with them to stay hydrated during practices.
Performance Apparel
Students are responsible for having their own performance apparel that is needed in addition to their provided uniform. Items may include shoes, guard gloves, equipment bag(s), etc. An online store is available to purchase these items through the Cadets, who will then order in bulk to assist with saving on shipping fees. Students should confirm with their director to verify needed items before making any purchases.
Competitions
An itinerary will be posted in the Band App during the week before competitions. Though the specifics are not known very far in advance, a good rule of thumb is to block off the whole day for the event.
The itinerary will include details of the competition, including departure, warm-up, competition times, etc.
All students are expected to ride with the group both to and from the competition unless written permission from a parent is received by the director. If other arrangements are necessary, they must be made with the directors ahead of time.
Parents, family, and friends are encouraged to attend any or all of the competitions. Please keep the following in mind:
- The competitions are a fundraiser for the sponsoring band. They will charge an admission fee.
- Competitions will have concession stands and possibly other items for purchase.
- Be positive and polite. Always be positive about other bands, schools and performances. You never know who is sitting around you.
- Cheer enthusiastically when your group performs. They’ve worked hard to put on the show - let them know you appreciate their hard work!
- Invest in a blanket or bleacher chair to sit on. You’ll be glad you did the next morning.
- Practice patience. On competition days, there is a lot of waiting and then rush-to-get-things-done.
All three groups participate in WGI (Winter Guard International), which is a worldwide organization that serves as the governing body for the indoor color guard, percussion, and winds activities. The three groups participate in at least one WGI event each year, and this year we will be competing in the WGI world competition in Dayton OH.
MPA (Minnesota Percussion Association) is the local governing body for percussion and winds. Groups from all over the Midwest come to compete. The majority of the competitions we compete in are MPA-hosted, and there is a large MPA finals competition at the end of the year.
NSC (North Star Circuit) is the local governing body for the winter guard. Groups from all over the Midwest come to compete, and their finals will be held on April 3rd.
Each of these organizations has rules for participation and is judged. There are multiple classes, such as Scholastic A or Independent. Most of the groups consist of middle school to high schoolers, but there are a few groups that have college students and adults. Directors meet with the judges after each show to receive feedback, which the Directors bring back to the students to make modifications to the program. It is very fun to see how much the show changes and improves from the first show to the last.
Volunteering
Volunteer opportunities will be available consistently throughout the season. Some areas will be uniform fittings, volunteering to be on a committee for the board to help with props, transportation, or other items that will come up. Keep an eye on the Band App for information on upcoming volunteer opportunities. With enough volunteers, we can share the load and get great things accomplished.
We are actively looking for people to support the different areas of the board through help on committees. If you are looking for additional ways to help, please reach out, and we can see if there is a committee that would be a good fit for your skills and talents.
You will be asked to help with many events throughout the season, and we need all hands on deck to make these events successful. Your involvement is extremely important to the success of each event, and we highly encourage everyone to volunteer as often as you are able. We will be asking for volunteers to help at events, competitions, our home shows, as well as other events that are scheduled throughout the season.
Home Shows
March 13, 2027 - Guard Home Show, Rogers High School
April 3, 2027 - MPA Prelim Show (Sound/Percussion), Elk River High School
River Valley Winter Arts hosts a Home Show each year, showcasing performing groups from across the state and beyond. This is our largest fundraiser of the season and requires a number of volunteers to assist with taking tickets, selling concessions, warm-up room assistants, parking lot attendants, food donations, and more. The success of the Home Show heavily depends on every family contributing to the event.
When you volunteer for the Home Show, you will receive free admission to the show, and we will ensure that you are able to see your student perform. A volunteer registration form will be shared as the date(s) get closer.
In Spring 2027, River Valley will host two Home Shows as we are the host for the MPA prelims, and this will be an all-day event!
WGI Worlds - Dayton OH
The WGI World championships is the “Superbowl” for the Guard, Percussion Theater and Winds groups. Due to the large number of groups that participate in WGI worlds, the world championships are held in multiple venues in Dayton over many days.
Parents and family are welcome to make the trip to Dayton OH to watch the performances, however; WGI Worlds will be streamed live via FloMarching https://www.flomarching.com/. Schedules are published ahead of time so you will know when the groups will be performing, but pay attention to the times as they are in Eastern time.
Dates:
- WGI Color Guard World Championships: Thursday, April 8 – Saturday, April 10, 2027
- Travel anticipated April 7-11
- WGI Percussion World Championships: Thursday, April 15 – Saturday, April 17, 2027
- Travel anticipated April 14-18
- WGI Winds (Sound) World Championships: Saturday, April 17 – Sunday, April 18, 2027
- Travel anticipated April 15-18
We will be holding parent meetings to provide you more detailed information about the trips including itineraries at the end of March.
Band Calendar
Each group has its own calendar with the season's scheduled practices, performances, and any other items that are scheduled.
Professional Photos
Every student will also take a professional photograph in uniform as well as a large group photo of their group. The photographer will open a store to purchase photos once the photos are ready for purchase. Photos will likely take place in January once uniforms are received.
Merchandise
Each season, there is an “official” show shirt that represents the themes of each of the groups. These shirts, as well as several other River Valley-branded items, will be available for purchase. The show shirts will be provided to each performer as part of their uniforms.
Information about the merch store will be posted on the Band App, including the link to get into the store.
If you have friends or family members who are interested in merch, the link for the store is open to the public. Stores are not just for participants and their families.
Fundraising
There are a number of ways to support the 728 Cadets organization through your normal daily activities. We additionally encourage you to help us by promoting events and giving opportunities by sharing them with your friends, families, neighbors, and employers, as well as sharing our content on your social media platforms. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
Upcoming Fundraising Activities
Give to the Max - November 19
Promoting Give to the Max in support of the 728 Cadets organization is one of our largest fundraisers, bringing in more than $4,000 in recent years. We ask students and families to share the Give to the Max giving opportunity with their families, friends, and community members and by sharing social media posts and links. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
Maynard's Dine In Night - January 25
On Monday, January 25th you can show your support for the 728 Cadets Marching Band by eating dinner at Maynard's from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Invite your friends, family, neighbors, etc and share the event on your social media to encourage others to support us!
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