WGI’s new Color Guard Chief Judge Denise Bonfiglio joins Trish O’Shea and Sadie Wallace for a special installment of the WGI 50th Anniversary Series — looking back at nearly 50 years of winter guard history and ahead to what comes next.

Denise has been part of WGI since its earliest years as an instructor, designer, adjudicator and educator. She revisits the programs that transformed color guard, explains why WGI’s promotion system is working, discusses growing championship waitlists and venue capacity, and takes us inside the process that led to her becoming WGI Color Guard Chief Judge. She also traces her role in WGI’s adjudication philosophy, mentoring judges, and the challenge of coordinating roughly 380 judging assignments for the season.

CHAPTERS
00:00 Welcome — Denise Bonfiglio joins OAWB
00:36 Trish, Denise & Sadie reconnect
01:22 WGI’s 50th anniversary
05:33 Color guards that changed WGI
14:44 Could anyone have imagined 50 years?
16:39 Scholastic World growth
20:09 Why the promotion system works
22:48 Waitlists & championship venue capacity
23:58 Denise’s road to WGI Color Guard Chief Judge
26:36 WGI adjudication philosophy
28:58 Mentorship and training judges
30:54 What the Chief Judge job requires
31:24 Roughly 380 judging assignments
33:39 Dale Powers & Emerald Marquis memories
35:51 Looking toward WGI 2027
39:09 Closing

GUEST
Denise Bonfiglio — WGI Color Guard Chief Judge

HOSTS
Trish O’Shea — @trishdish1102
Sadie Wallace — @m.sadiewallace

WATCH MORE WITH DENISE
Denise Bonfiglio’s first OAWB interview + 32 Count Life Story

OFFICIAL WGI RESOURCES
Denise Bonfiglio Named Color Guard Chief Judge
WGI 50th Anniversary Opening Ceremonies
2027 WGI Color Guard Calendar

RELATED OAWB
Greg Case — includes OAWB’s earlier coverage of Denise’s appointment

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