Celebrating Black History Month With SCVWG’s Story of John Henry

Feb 10, 2022 | Blog Post

For Black History Month, we are celebrating by revisiting the story of John Henry with Vanguard performance coach and storyteller, Wayne Harris. A freedman during the Reconstruction Era, post Civil War, John Henry was a railroad steel driver and, as legend has it,...

Virtual Birthday Party 2022

Feb 10, 2022 | News

Calling all friends, family and alumni – You’re invited to celebrate Vanguard’s 55th! We’ve got special plans in store for our birthday this year and we’ll be kicking the festivities off with a Virtual Birthday Party on Sunday, March 6th!  The party will be an...

DCI Hotel Room Blocks Now Available!

Feb 1, 2022 | News

Join us in Indianapolis for finals week and help us cheer on our beloved corps! The link is provided below to reserve your rooms in the Vanguard block. No access code is required if you are booking online. Deadline to book reservations is June 22nd. After that, any...

VMAPA Names Southwest Airlines as Official Airline

Dec 3, 2021 | News, Santa Clara Vanguard

Santa Clara, CA – Vanguard Music and Performing Arts (VMAPA) has announced Southwest Airlines® as the new Official Airline of VMAPA. Southwest has generously donated a select number of flights and is providing VMAPA with promotional support as they relaunch...

Rebecca Compton-Allen appointed as new Director of SCV

Sep 21, 2021 | News, Santa Clara Vanguard

Sept. 21, 2021, Santa Clara, CA: Vanguard Music & Performing Arts is extremely proud to announce the hiring of Rebecca Compton-Allen to the position of Director of the Santa Clara Vanguard. Rebecca is well known in the drum corps activity and comes to Vanguard...

History of The Bottle Dance, In Honor of Pat Pierson

Sep 5, 2021 | Alumni, Blog Post, Santa Clara Vanguard

Imagine a long row of dancers, hands interlocked and arms held at an unshakeable ninety-degree angle. As the unmistakable strains of the “Wedding Dance” from Fiddler on the Roof swell, the line moves forward as one. Step. Drag. Step. With the lock of each passing...

In Memoriam

Aug 28, 2021 | Blog Post, Santa Clara Vanguard

This past year, we lost two important pillars of the Vanguard organization and its history. Don and Ginny Koester passed peacefully on June 27th and February 1st of 2021 respectively. Together they served the Vanguard organization from 1970-1999 and briefly from...

A-Corps Director Ivan De La Cruz Steps Down

Jul 5, 2021 | News, Santa Clara Vanguard

Whenever a highly motivated and driven member of our team leaves, their loss is felt by many. Ivan De La Cruz has been a beacon of kindness, motivation, and empathy since he was named A-Corps Director of the Santa Clara Vanguard in 2019. His humility and devotion to...

Vanguard Voices: Episode 8

Jun 27, 2021 | Alumni, Blog Post, Santa Clara Vanguard

Celebrate Pride Month with our latest episode of Vanguard Voices! Three of our alumni, each of whom proudly represent SCV and the LGBTQ+ community, openly share how the activity played a part in their coming out experience, the progress they’ve witnessed in each...

Vanguard Music and Performing Arts Announces New Executive Director, Chief Financial Officer and Executive Leadership

Jun 4, 2021 | News, Santa Clara Vanguard

Santa Clara, California – The Vanguard Music and Performing Arts Board of Directors are pleased to announce the appointments of Jeremy Van Wert as its new Executive Director and Michael Kovalich as the new Chief Financial Officer. Van Wert and Kovalich shared the role...