Rhythm X

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This article is about the organization. For other uses, see Rhythm X, Inc.
Rhythm X, Inc.
Formation 2001
Founder Craig Dunn
Type Non-Profit Organization
Location
  • Dayton, OH
President
 Tim Fairbanks
CEO
 Mike Scott
Affiliations Winter Guard International
Staff
 30
Volunteers
 30-50
Slogan Innovate. Explore. Inspire.
Website rhythmx.org
Formerly called
 Rhythm X Performance Ensemble

Rhythm X, Inc. is a non-profit music education organization that operates a competitive indoor marching percussion ensemble and wind ensemble, as well as an online school for marching music called The X Academy. The company was founded in 2002 by Craig Dunn as the Rhythm X Performance Ensemble. The ensembles compete in both the Winter Guard International (WGI) and Mid-East Performance Association (MEPA) circuits in the World Class,[1] which is the classification given to the ensembles that execute musical and visual programs of the highest difficulty.[2] In 2013, Rhythm X announced the launch of The X Academy, an online and in-person educational program suited for high school and college-age musicians interested in competitive percussion and wind ensembles.[3] Later that year the organization announced the addition of its newest ensemble that will compete in the new WGI Winds Division in 2015. [4]

Rhythm X was the 2008, 2009, and 2013 WGI World Champion in PIW class[5] and is well-known to indoor marching percussion fans and participants around the world as consistently one of the most highly skilled competitors. The percussion ensemble has also gained a reputation for presenting some of the most innovative content at each WGI Percussion World Championship and is a crowd favorite virtually every year.[6]

History

Rhythm X was founded in 2001 by Craig Dunn and was initially intended to provide a competitive percussion performance experience for young musicians in Ohio. The unit was immediately successful, as it captured the gold medal in its inaugural season in Percussion Independent Open class at the 2002 WGI World Championships. Rhythm X has been classified as Percussion Independent World every season since then.[7]

As Rhythm X's successes have continued, the membership has expanded beyond local Ohio students. Several hours of transportation is typical, but members have commuted as far as twelve hours one way every weekend to participate. Others move to Ohio for the season's duration. In its early years, the ensemble had a mixture of high school and college students, but the current membership contains almost exclusively college students. Most of the members also have experience in World Class Drum Corps International drum and bugle corps.[8]

In 2007, Rhythm X became the first independent Winter Guard International percussion ensemble to conduct a tour of Europe. The members and staff performed and offered clinics in England, France, and Belgium using their 2007 show "Behind the Velvet Rope" as a demonstration.[6]

In 2008, Craig Dunn announced that Andrew Markworth would be overtaking the role of Ensemble Director for Rhythm X, while Dunn would continue with some duties as Executive Director.[9]

In 2009, Rhythm X announced its sponsorship of a newly formed percussion ensemble in the Netherlands called European X. Head staff members Craig Dunn, Tim Fairbanks, Andrew Markworth, and Tim Jackson periodically visit them to assist with their shows' designs and their members' educations.[10]

In 2010, Rhythm X announced that Tim Jackson would be assuming the role of Ensemble Director for the group.[11]

In 2012, in preparation for the coming 2013 season the Rhythm X staff was slightly restructured. Tim Fairbanks assumed the role of Ensemble Director and a new position was added. Mike Scott joined the administrative team as Operations Director. In 2013 Rhythm X also launched a new website, e-commerce store, and a staff blog.

WGI World Championship Results

Rhythm X has maintained consistent competitive success at WGI World Championships and has been a finalist every year since its inception. The unit has been awarded 3 PIW gold medals, 4 PIW silver medals, 2 PIW bronze medals, and 1 PIO gold medal.[5]

Year Program Title Placement Score Class
2002 Our World 1st 96.150 PIO
2003 Picture This 7th 88.200 PIW
2004 AudioVisual 3rd 93.250 PIW
2005 Wired 2nd 96.700 PIW
2006 Lunaria 2nd 95.750 PIW
2007 Behind the Velvet Rope 6th 92.200 PIW
2008 Gone 1st 96.900 PIW
2009 Touch 1st 97.263 PIW
2010 Inspired 2nd 96.250 PIW
2011 St& By Me 4th 94.225 PIW
2012 enLIGHTened 4th 94.125 PIW
2013 The Man in the Arena 1st 98.263* PIW
2014 The Razor's Edge 3rd 96.113 PIW
2015 When One Door Closes 2nd 96.950 PIW

Achievements

  • The second highest-scoring WGI PIW performance at World Championships is held by Rhythm X's 2013 show "The Man in the Arena" with a score of 98.263.[12]
  • Rhythm X is one of only 6 ensembles to ever win the PIW gold medal at WGI World Championships.
  • During the 2007 season, Rhythm X became the first independent WGI indoor percussion ensemble to ever tour Europe.[13]
  • Rhythm X and the Blue Knights Percussion Ensemble are tied for the second-most consecutive WGI PIW gold medals.[7]

Staff

File:TouchRX2009WorldChampions.JPG
Rhythm X 2009 after performing their program "Touch" and winning the gold medal at WGI World Championships with a 97.263.

Rhythm X has a versatile staff with many years of experience teaching, designing for, judging, and performing in the marching arts.[14] Because of the skill level of the musicians and the cohesive nature of Rhythm X's alumni network, several former members of the ensemble have returned to serve as staff members.

Design Team

  • Tim Fairbanks - Program Coordinator/Visual Designer
  • Tim Jackson - Battery Arranger/Choreographer
  • Andrew Markworth - Music Coordinator/Front Ensemble Arranger
  • Kevin Shah - Sound Design

Administrative Staff

  • Craig Dunn - Founder/Executive Director
  • Tim Fairbanks - Director of Ensembles
  • Mike Scott - CEO/Operations Director
  • Tim Jackson - Battery Coordinator
  • Andrew Markworth - Front Ensemble Coordinator

Technical Staff

  • Ryan Lamb - Bass Tech
  • Jared Kortz - Bass Tech
  • Josh Brickey - Snare Tech
  • Tom Gasparrini - Snare Tech
  • Adam Norris - Quad Tech
  • Jake Ansley - Cymbal Tech
  • Chelsea Levine - Cymbal Tech
  • Kelsey Behl - Pit Tech
  • Rily Franklin - Pit Tech
  • Sam Cope - Pit Tech
  • Matt Hahn - Pit Tech

Corporate Partners

Rhythm X, Inc. exclusively uses equipment and costumes produced by the companies with whom it has partnerships.[15]

References

  1. ↑ List of registration for WGI Percussion Independent World class units
  2. ↑ What is WGI? (Includes ensemble classifications' descriptions)
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Historical WGI PIW World Champions
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Evans Press Release
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 List of WGI World Class Champions, Finalists, Scores, and Medal Counts
  8. ↑ Rhythm X FAQ
  9. ↑ New Vision for Rhythm X
  10. ↑ Rhythm X Announces Sponsorship of European X
  11. ↑ [1]
  12. ↑ [2]
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Sabian and Rhythm X
  14. ↑ Rhythm X Staff
  15. ↑ Rhythm X Sponsors
  16. ↑ Innovative Percussion and Rhythm X
  17. ↑ [3] tistId=40710 Evans Drumheads and Rhythm X]
  18. ↑ Planet Waves and Rhythm X
  19. ↑ Fred J. Miller Sponsor News
  20. ↑ The X Blog - Rhythm X Endorses Digimet

External links

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