About OIPA

OIPA, or the Ohio Indoor Performance Association, is an indoor marching percussion, concert percussion, winter color guard, and indoor winds association that provides competitive and non-competitive performance opportunities for high school and independent ensembles throughout the winter and spring seasons.  These events occur all over the state of Ohio, and culminate in a State Championship event, where a State Champion is named in each class of each division.  At an OIPA event your staff and students will be exposed to some of the best adjudicators and ensembles in the country, and will have the opportunity to watch stunning performances, and learn from some of the best educators in these activities.

OIPA offers competitive performance classes for the most novice, brand-new ensemble all the way up to the most experienced and skilled ensemble.  We have ensembles every year composed of brand-new performers, as well as ensembles that compete in the most elite divisions internationally.  Additionally, OIPA offers festival and non-competitive classes for those groups simply looking for a performance outlet. 

The following types of ensembles perform at OIPA events:
 
Winter Color Guards:
 
The OIPA offers competitive or festival participation for colors guards of all ages – elementary through high school (and beyond!).  A Winter Color Guard is an indoor performance ensemble utilizing a recorded soundtrack of the ensembles choosing, flags, rifles, sabers, dancers, and other props and set pieces to produce a 2-8 minute performance.  Think of this activity as the color guard minus the marching band (and minus the wind and rain!).  Winter Color Guard is an outstanding opportunity to keep your fall color guard “in season” during the winter months, as well as provide the color guard experience for students who wish to play their instrument in your marching band.  Many high school band programs use these types of opportunities to continue to teach and develop their fall color guards, expand upon students’ performance skills and opportunities, and help students avoid the need to choose between joining the musical components of the marching band or the color guard.
 
 
Marching Percussion Ensembles:
 
A Marching Percussion ensemble makes use of the typical marching percussion instrumentation – a front ensemble and a battery.  These ensembles march in a gymnasium, and make use of various props, set pieces, visual performers, and technology to create 4-8 minute musical productions.  Think of this activity as the marching band minus the wind sections and color guard.  This activity is an outstanding opportunity to keep your percussionist playing and engaged all school year, as well as provide additional musical learning opportunities for wind players who have always had an interest in the percussive arts. 
 
Concert Percussion Ensembles:
 
These ensembles are very similar to the Marching Percussion Ensembles, with the exception that they do not march.  This provides a percussion-performance experience for groups who may not be interested in learning a marching show for the winter season and simply wish to continue learning and building upon musical performance skills within the percussion activity. 
 
Indoor Winds:
 
Indoor Winds is a relatively new activity being offered across the country.  Indoor Winds is essentially the typical marching band ensemble.  This activity gives students the opportunity to continue marching and playing during the “off-season”, and provides an indoor performance experience for wind musicians who may not be interested in learning color guard or percussion skills.  The advantages to this activity are the obvious cap on ensemble size (as limited by the physical constraints of a gymnasium), as well the adjudication philosophy: ensembles are judged based on the instrumentation presented by the group.
 
This all sounds GREAT, but we don’t have any of these groups!?!?!
 
Worry not!  We have some of the most experienced band directors, color guard directors, and percussion ensemble directors in the country here to help!  Whether your ensemble is a current member of the OIPA looking to return, an existing ensemble looking to join the OIPA as a full member, or just attend a show or two as a guest, or a band director looking to create new educational experiences for their students do not hesitate to reach out to us with any questions.
 
Now is the time to begin planning for next school year, and we are happy to help guide you through the process of starting an ensemble of any kind.  From approaching school administrators and booster groups, to planning and budgeting for an ensemble, to planning and registering for your season, and even how to go about creating your first show, help is available.