Formed in the late fall of 2014, IMPACT Percussion is a competitive indoor percussion ensemble based in Kennewick, WA.

Our Mission: To empower youth to reach their full potential through achieving excellence in the performing arts.

Primarily serving performers between the ages of 14 – 22, IMPACT Percussion is an Independent Open WGI ensemble, competing at local WGI Regional events and the WGI Percussion World Championships in Dayton, OH. The group also competes at NWAPA shows across the Pacific Northwest.

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Our History

2015  |  2016  |  2017  |  2018  |  2019  |  2020  |  2021  |  2022  |  2023

In the group’s first year (2015), 19 members from Kennewick and Pasco came together and learned a full winter percussion show, but the group did not go to any competitions. Instead, the ensemble performed at events across the Tri-Cities community. This extremely dedicated ensemble also never practiced inside a gym this year. All rehearsals were held in an empty parking lot in Downtown Kennewick. The only time the group made it into a gym was for its final performance for family and friends at the end of the season.

In 2016, IMPACT Percussion hit the road and went to two NWAPA competitions in the Portland, OR area. The ensemble won first place at both competitions and IMPACT Percussion was named the 2016 NWAPA Independent A Regional Champions. The group also continued to perform at various local events across the Tri-Cities. The ensemble also got some much-needed indoor time this season as the members spent a couple rehearsals inside a gym.

In 2017, the ensemble took a big step forward as it grew to 30 members representing more than half a dozen schools across the Tri-Cities and beyond. The group also went to two NWAPA competitions, and the WGI Portland Regional – which returned to the area after a nine year hiatus. Just like in 2016, the ensemble was undefeated the entire season. The group was also named the NWAPA 2017 Independent A Regional Champions. Also, in a complete reversal from the group’s 2015 season, IMPACT Percussion was lucky enough to practice indoors and in gyms the entire season.

In 2018, IMPACT Percussion took its largest step forward to date, as the ensemble traveled to Dayton, OH to compete in the WGI Percussion World Championships. On top of going to Dayton for the first time, the group won first place in WGI’s Independent A class, beating out 26 other ensembles from across the country to be named World Champions! The ensemble also traveled to two NWAPA shows in the Portland area and also competed at the WGI Portland Regional. IMPACT Percussion earned first place at those three regional competitions as well. This year’s ensemble was 33 members strong – its largest group to date, pulling members from the Tri-Cities, Spokane, Pullman, and Ellensburg. IMPACT also acquired several new instruments this season, had more gym time than any other previous season, and IMPACT officially partnered with Innovative Percussion.

The 2019 season was another year full of many firsts. IMPACT returned to Dayton, OH to compete in the WGI Percussion World Championships, but in a new division. The ensemble moved up to the Independent Open class this year and made Finals in PIO, ending the season in 14th place out of 31 groups. The ensemble also traveled to two NWAPA shows and the WGI Portland Regional – IMPACT earned first place at all three regional competitions. The ensemble was the largest its ever been, with 36 members representing 14 schools from across the Northwest. A saxophone soloist was also incorporated into this year’s show, and this was the first show the ensemble had ever done that told a literal story with the members portraying actual characters. IMPACT also started rehearsing at the brand new Boys & Girls Club in Kennewick, the group continued to acquire new instruments, and IMPACT officially partnered with Remo.

The 2020 season was short-lived due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the season was still full of meaningful moments and highlights. IMPACT had its largest group ever this season: 41 members representing 19 schools across three states! This was also IMPACT’s first year incorporating a Visual Ensemble into the show, and the first year incorporating multiple styles of props into the production. IMPACT also partnered with Fred J. Miller Inc. for this year’s incredibly detailed costume design. The group only performed in front of an audience two times during the season: at the Preview Show in Kennewick, and at the NWAPA show in Sherwood, OR. Sadly, the season ended before we made it to the WGI Portland Regional. Even though the season ended much too soon, members and staff were all grateful for every second we spent together creating this year’s amazing show.

The 2021 season was unlike any other. A major shift from the traditional season, our 2021 ensemble put together a virtual production as a way of staying involved in and engaged with the activity during the COVID-19 pandemic. 27 members participated in this virtual season which was mostly musically focused. For about three months, sections got together online with staff to practice their unique parts through various virtual platforms. After months of virtual rehearsals, each section got together in person for just one day to rehearse together and record their parts of the video. For many members, that was the first day they met the other members of their section in person. The full ensemble also got together for one three-hour rehearsal and video shoot at Columbia Park in Kennewick. That final shoot day was an emotional culmination of work as it was the first time IMPACT Percussion had been together to play music since the 2020 season was cut short. After all the shoots, our production team spent a month editing before releasing “Tomorrow“.

In 2022, three years after our last official WGI performance, we returned to Dayton, OH for the 2022 WGI Percussion World Championships! This season, we had 47 incredible members in the ensemble – our largest group ever (again!). The return to the performance floor brought lots of excitement throughout the season, as well as a rejuvenated drive for excellence. At World Championships, IMPACT finished in 10th place (the group’s highest placement ever in PIO). Perhaps the organization’s most demanding show to date, the entire ensemble did an outstanding job bringing this emotionally deep show to life. This ensemble set a new standard for years to come.

The 2023 season was an exciting journey as we put together a show unlike anything we had done before. In a departure from IMPACT’s previous show styles, this year’s show was thematic in nature and focused on an idea or concept more than a narrative story – with a highly memorable twist at the end. The result of everyone’s hard work was a groundbreaking end to the season, as the ensemble earned the silver medal in PIO at the 2023 WGI Percussion World Championships, finishing the season in 2nd place with our highest score to date (96.35). This season also saw the addition of several new instruction staff members and a more robust administrative team, paving the way for a more sustainable and structured future for the organization.