WEST
BLOOMFIELD HIGH SCHOOL KICKS OFF THEIR WINTER GUARD PROGRAM
For the first time in 4 years, West Bloomfield High School will field a competitive winter guard program within the Michigan Color Guard Circuit. The team will,under the direction of Mark DeDeckere, compete in the Scholastic AA class
against several other groups in the state of Michigan. They will undergo nearly 4 months of training before their final performance at Saginaw Valley State
University at the end of March. The guard rehearses twice a week and most Saturdays.
Mark DeDeckere joins the West Bloomfield High School bands as Caption Head of the Color Guard
and Winter Guard programs. He has been involved as a consultant, designer,instructor and clinician for marching bands and color guards for several years.
"I am extremely pleased with the excitement and energy of the students and
our community as we rebuild a quality winter guard program in West Bloomfield. The growth we have seen throughout the fall season is proof that we are on the
right track. It will take time and effort, but the 2014 winter guard
season is truly looking great--our future is bright!"
2014 Competition Schedule:
Saturday, January 11, 2014: Field Day @Flushing High School
Saturday, Feb. 1, 2014: HOME SHOW! @West Bloomfield High School
Saturday, Feb. 15, 2014: WGI Regional @Walled Lake Western HS
Saturday, March 1, 2014: Contest @Chippewa Valley High School
Saturday, March 15, 2014 Contest @Milford High School
Saturday,March 22, 2014: Contest @Novi High School
Friday, March 28, 2014: Friends and Family Show@ Abbott Middle School (Commerce and Orchard Lake Roads (combined with the West Bloomfield Winter Drum line)
Saturday, March 29, 2014: Guard Championships @Saginaw Valley State University
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DeDeckere
has worked throughout the State of Michigan with programs such as Legends
Performing Arts Association All-Star Band & Guard, Hartford, Kelloggsville
(Grand Rapids), Forest Hills Eastern (Ada), Trenton and North Farmington high
schools. He was most recently director and designer for the independent winter guard program Illuminate, from Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Mark, an alumnus of Western Michigan University (Kalamazoo, MI), studied Secondary Education: English Language Arts and Social Studies. While at WMU, Mark served
four years as drum major of the Sound of Western, Bronco Marching Band
under the direction of Dr. David Montgomery. Dedeckere is also a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, music fraternity for men; Phi Alpha Theta, history honors society; as well as a published member of the Third Coast Writing Project. He
currently teaches at L’Anse Creuse Middle School-Central in Harrison Township,
Michigan.
