The energy in the arena is electric as all the momentum and the buildup amalgamate to the final movement of the marching show. In this high velocity moment, with the snareline playing their last feature from atop the props and the rest of the battery as well as the pit joining them from below, the whole ensemble is giving it their all. At the conclusion of the show, the snareline stands alone, high above the rest of the ensemble who falls and lays to rest on the ground, motionless and finished.

“This is arguably what I believe to be the most difficult music we have during the show, illustrating the concept of those on the floor have the capability to be those on top of the props if they strive to; hence, ‘As Above, So Below,’” snare drum player Caitlyn Snyder (11) said.

The expectations for the drumline’s show this year have risen, in part because of their big win at the Winter Guard International (WGI) Percussion World Championships in Dayton, Ohio last year. As the rigor and difficulty of their program has been amped up to follow the success they had in the 2023 season, more is being asked of Ayala’s world class percussion ensemble than ever before. 

“The battery percussion members are doing things they’ve never been asked to do while playing their instruments, like rolling around on the floor, rolling drums to each other, climbing up onto props and playing while the prop gets pushed around,” Front Ensemble Caption Head Sean Gordon said. “The Front Ensemble is playing challenging music, both technically and tonally, as we try to sonically get our concept across.”

The journey Ayala Drumline took to arrive at the 2024 WGI Percussion World Championships was a long and arduous one with many highs and lows. It began with competing at the WGI West Percussion Power Regional from March 23 to 24 at California State University, Fullerton. 

“I feel like our performance at WGI Regionals was very strong, but definitely not our strongest,” cymbal player Riley Mendoza (11) said. “We definitely had more in us especially with our show unfinished at the time.”

In the preliminary rounds, the drumline placed first in the Percussion Scholastic Concert World (PSCW) division with a score of 88.85, and they placed second in the Percussion Scholastic World (PSW) division with a score of 92.9. Chino Hills High School placed first in PSW prelims with a score of 93.9. In the final rounds, their PSCW program won second place with a score of 89.75, and their PSW program won second place once again with a score of 90.675. West Ranch High School won first place in PSCW finals with a score of 92.9, and Chino Hills High School won first place in PSW finals with a score of 94.7.

“I don’t really think about the scores too much,” marimba and vibraphone player Hannah Luu (9) said. “I feel like the numbers don’t really matter and the placements don’t really matter. I try to remember more about what the performance felt like and how I can improve on that rather than looking at the scores that judges gave and trying to go from there.”

The excitement the drumline feels during a performance trumps the feeling of achieving competitive success or basking in the glory of winning first place. The numbers and the placements are just an afterthought, and they do not compare to the experience of performing a spectacular show for audiences to enjoy.

“What I remember is the excited feeling I felt when I was playing my parts,” tom drum player Ryder Hsu (9) said. “Each one of us is extremely excited.”

After the drumline had qualified for the WGI Percussion World Championships by competing at WGI Regionals, they had their eyes set on the world stage. Ayala makes their annual trip to Dayton and consistently amazes audiences with their carefully crafted and fine-tuned production at the World Championships. The drumline puts in a tremendous amount of hard work and dedication to make the production come together, and they always come back bigger and better, season after season.

“Every year is so different but the culture of the ensemble at Ayala is very ingrained,” Percussion Caption Head Darren Van Derpoel said. “Each year our juniors and seniors take the culture that was shown to them, make improvements where they can, and pass that along to that year’s freshmen and sophomores. The hope is that with only a little bit of staff intervention, the group continues to thrive from the motivation and work ethic within the ensemble.”

The World Championships lasted from April 18 to 20. On the first day of competition, the drumline competed in PSCW and PSW prelims at the University of Dayton Arena. In PSCW, they placed second with a score of 93.65 behind Catawba Ridge High School, who placed first with a score of 94.1. In PSW, they placed first with a score of 97.1. On the second day of competition, the drumline competed in PSCW finals at Wright State University’s Nutter Center and PSW semi-finals at the University of Dayton Arena. In PSCW, they placed third with a score of 93.6 behind Clover High School, who placed second with a score of 94.075 and Catawba Ridge High School, who placed first with a score of 95.35. In PSW, they placed second with a score of 97.288 behind Chino Hills High School, who placed first with a score of 98.025. On the third day of competition, the drumline competed in PSW finals at the University of Dayton Arena and ended the season with a second place finish, scoring 97.538. Chino Hills High School won first place with a score of 98.638. 

“Being a finalist on the floor was already surreal enough, but throughout the whole entire weekend of competing, we were getting second place,” drumset player Wilson Feng (10) said. “We prepared ourselves to get announced whichever place, but when we got announced second, I personally felt very prideful of our drumline and how much we have achieved throughout the entire season.”

As the season comes to a close, pride is the prevailing feeling that the drumline expresses in these final moments. This season was filled with challenges that were dealt with and triumphed, and it all paid off in a satisfactory ending for both the students and the staff who produced their marching and concert shows.

“After the entire season, I feel very proud especially of all the newer members of the ensemble, because a lot of them came from our junior high feeder program and have not experienced something to this level,” Tenor Drum Section Leader Aidan Shaw (11) said. “Having seen them grow as performers and as people made me very proud.”