CHEROKEE BLUFF GUARD

Mr. Nick Carter, Guard Director

Fall Guard Handbook

All current and prospective students and parents should read this handbook.  
Fall Guard Handbook 2023 - 2024

Guard Auditions

Guard auditions are held for 2-3 days on the Cherokee Bluff Campus.  Auditions for guards are open to any Cherokee Bluff student that meet the extracurricular participation requirements.  No experience is required.  During the audition clinics students will be taught both a dance and flag routine that must be performed during the audition process during the final day.  The students will be placed on the guard based off of the results of their performance.  Students not meeting the standard will not be placed in the guard program.

CONGRATULATIONS!! 2022 MARCHING BEARS COLOR GUARD

This past week we held classes and auditions for the 4th edition of the Marching Bears Color Guard.  We were highly impressed with every candidate and are thrilled to have the following students awarded membership to the 2022 Fall Guard:

Anderson, Zoe
Bright Breyen
Carr, Maggie
Childers, Abby                                                                  GO  BEARS!
Gilbert, Mallorey-Brooke
Johnson Cassidy
Nester, Beth
Reagan, Eliana
Renteria-Arellano, Arlet
Tolbert, E'mya
The Cherokee Bluff Guard is comprised of three highly decorated programs.  Students participating in the guard program will receive specialized training in dance, flag and performance weapons such as rifle and sabre.  The Fall Guard is the guard for the Cherokee Bluff Marching Bears.  The Winter Guards are separate performance ensembles that compete in the Southern Association for Performance Arts (SAPA) and the Winter Guard International national (WGI) Winter circuits.  Cherokee Bluff Guard students have an opportunity to spin and perform during the full school year.

FALL GUARD

The Fall Guard is the auxiliary unit for the Marching Bears.  Students in the Fall Guard are considered members of the marching band.  Students in the guard play a vital role in the marching field production as well as travel to all home and away football games, competitions and parades.  Auditions for the Fall Guard occur in April.

Varsity Winter Guard

The Varsity Guard is designated for our advanced color guard students.  Students in the Varsity guard will compete both in the SAPA regional WGI national circuits.  The Varsity guard will do a full winter guard production.  Students in the Varsity guard must exhibit a high degree of skill in one ore more color guard performance categories.  These categories can include Movement, Wooden Rifle, Saber, or Flag.  The Varsity students are held to the highest performance standard for the Cherokee Bluff Guard.  Students must attend Cherokee Bluff and be in good academic standing.  Auditions for the Varsity Winter Guard occur in October and the season ends in early April.

JV Winter Guard
​(in the future)

The Junior Varsity Guard is designated for beginner and intermediate color guard students.  Students in the JV guard will compete in the SAPA regional circuit and will do a full winter guard production.  The JV Program will focus on developing beginning and intermediate movement and equipment fundamentals.  Equipment may include Flag, Wooden Rifle and Saber.  Students must attend Cherokee Bluff and be in good academic standing.  Auditions for the Junior Varsity Winter Guard occur in October and the season ends in early April.

WHAT IS WINTER GUARD?

Winter Guard is an indoor color guard activity.  Unlike traditional color guard, winter guard is performed indoors, usually in a gymnasium or an indoor area.  Performances make use of recorded music rather than a live band or orchestra.  Winter guard ensembles perform at judged competitions officiated by local and regional associations using criteria developed by Winter Guard International (WGI).  The Cherokee Bluff Winter Guards will perform in the Southern Association for Performance Arts (SAPA circuit.  www.sapaonline.com.  SAPA is a regional circuit serving Georgia, Alabama and Tennessee.  The Varsity Guard will perform in both SAPA circuit as well as the WGI international circuit. 

The winter guard program functions as an auxiliary performance ensemble of the Cherokee Bluff Band program.  All winter guard activities will be facilitated and governed by the Cherokee Bluff Band and its Booster Organization (CBBA).
WINTER GUARD PAGE

CONTACT INFO.

Color Guard Instructor: Mr. Nick Carter (carter.nicholas2017@gmail.com; cell: 678-761-7932)
Director of Bands: Mr. Craig Cantrell (craig.cantrell@hallco.org)