My annual trek to Bands of America was a fun one this year. I had 6 of my groups attend: Bellbrook HS
Winter guard, or indoor color guard as it is sometimes called, was the first ‘activity’ in which Michael began to teach and design. It is such a unique platform due to the closeness in proximity to the audience, and the intimacy with which performers can relate to the spectators. It was here that Michael began to develop his skills in understanding how performers relate to each other in space and time, and how they contribute to the overall composition.
He has been fortunate to teach some of the best and most well known high school ensembles in the activity, including several WGI Champions.
He was founder, director, and designer for Escapade winter guard from Dayton, OH and beginning in 1997 became a principle designer for Pride of Cincinnati, earning multiple WGI World Championships. He also began designing for Aimachi color guard from Nagoya, Japan who has earned multiple WGI medals during their visits to the United States. They have successfully integrated baton performers with color guard performers to provide a unique identity.
If you are interested in reading more about design services for winter guards, click here.
To view a portfolio with most of Michael’s winter guard projects over the years, click PORTFOLIO
Michael Gaines is a San Francisco based designer who creates drill, staging, and artistic visual projects for various performance groups around the world. Marching bands, winter color guards, indoor percussion ensembles, baton twirlers, and theatrical stage performers are among those groups. Michael is also an international adjudicator, teacher, and design clinician.
Michael Gaines
San Francisco, CA
[email protected]
My annual trek to Bands of America was a fun one this year. I had 6 of my groups attend: Bellbrook HS