This article highlights the prestigious Santa Clara Vanguard (SCV) percussion section’s participation in the 50th PASIC in Indianapolis, where they will showcase their 2025 production, “The aVANt-Guard.” Renowned for their innovative artistry and excellence, SCV has won seven DCI World Championships and numerous percussion awards. Led by designers and caption heads Sandi and Paul Rennick, their performance will reveal the creative processes behind one of the top marching percussion ensembles. The event emphasizes SCV’s influence in the marching arts and its ongoing tradition of pushing artistic boundaries.

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The 50th anniversary edition of PASIC will see the Santa Clara Vanguard (SCV) percussion section take the stage in Indianapolis as the featured Drum Corps International (DCI) percussion ensemble at this year’s convention. Known for their innovative artistry and a rich tradition of excellence spanning decades, SCV will present their 2025 percussion ensemble, led by renowned designers, arrangers, and caption heads Sandi and Paul Rennick. This milestone PASIC session will not only celebrate SCV’s continued excellence and influence in the marching percussion community but also PASIC’s long history of hosting the marching arts activity’s top ensembles.

Santa Clara Vanguard boasts an impressive history, having won seven DCI World Championships, most recently in 2018. Additionally, the percussion section has earned multiple Fred Sanford High Percussion Awards, named after the legendary SCV Percussion Caption Head Fred Sanford. SCV most recently won drums in 2024, shortly after a impressive run of four straight high-percussion awards from 2016–19. 

Their 2025 production, titled “The aVANt-Guard,” explores avant-garde musical themes, blending classical compositions by Bartók and Corigliano with modern influences. This bold artistic direction continues to reflect SCV’s commitment to pushing the boundaries and helping to redefine the drum corps experience.

At PASIC50 we will go behind the scenes with the Santa Clara Vanguard Percussion Ensemble. Under the guidance and direction of Sandi and Paul Rennick, the percussion section has helped shape the current marching percussive landscape in DCI and beyond. Seeing behind the curtain of SCV, the convention attendees will be able to see the people, concepts, and processes that have helped create one of the most successful percussion ensembles in recent history.

SCV’s presence at PASIC50 underscores the synergy between the marching arts and broader percussion disciplines, offering attendees a rare glimpse into the elite world of one of DCI’s top ensembles. As the Vanguard percussionists take the stage, they not only honor their own legacy but also inspire the next generation of artists moving forward. We hope to see you in Indianapolis in November.