Parents, fans, and IPA guests

On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Indiana Percussion Association I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to today’s IPA sponsored invitational that is a part of our 28th season!

When IPA was created, the Statement of Purpose was made to read, “The Indiana Percussion Association, Inc. exists to provide its membership with both personal and musical growth through educational and performance opportunities in the percussive arts.” This still rings true today, as this season we will have over 100 units and 2,000 performers competing at an IPA contest!

These young musicians and performers will be spending countless hours perfecting their craft by setting goals, working hard as a team to achieve them, rehearsing during hours that others are free or on break, and literally putting their blood sweat and tears into it for the few minutes they are on the floor today. It is a popular opinion to think that young people are undriven and unwilling to work for anything, but I am reminded every day I’m around an IPA group that these kids are the future, and the future is bright! Please always remember these thoughts throughout the season and don’t hesitate to cheer loudly for every group you get to see today!

As you look around this facility today, please take note of the many busy people that are taking part in this event. Today’s students are surrounded by a host of caring and encouraging parents, teachers, instructors, arrangers, bus drivers, cooks, and judges that are all dedicated to the musical growth of the young people performing here today. It is this devotion that makes the Indoor Percussion activity so special to us all.

We hope you will consider joining us at the culmination of the 2024 season with our State Finals event that will be held at Indiana State University’s Hulman Center in Terre Haute, Indiana on April 6th. This will mark the end of a long journey for many senior students and parents in the Pageantry Arts.

Best wishes for a fantastic 2024 season as part of our IPA family!

Javier Ramirez

President IPA, Inc.

PARTICIPANTS

The Indiana Percussion Association exists fundamentally for its participants: youth, staff, and supporters. This is always the underlying consideration when the Indiana Percussion Association makes its decisions. Thus, the IPA contributes to the cultural responsibilities held by all deserving youth activities: devotion to the individual, preservation of society, and improvement of mankind.

STANDARDS

The Indiana Percussion Association is committed to inspire its participants to achieve ever higher and higher standards. We ascribe to the concept that artistic, aesthetic, and creative standards are important, but inspiration must balance with the primary need of providing recognition and dignity for all participants. Thus, the IPA accepts the quest for wholesome experience and respect for all despite the dilemmas inherent in the conflicting needs to create higher standards.

COMPETITION

The Indiana Percussion Association has chosen competition as its method for organizing youth activities in pursuit of high standards of achievement. We maintain that competition is only the means, subject to whatever controls are necessary to serve the true end -- the participants. Thus, the IPA is organized and administered on the principle that its leaders are professionals teaching by example both in and out of the competitive arena. As mature persons, the IPA leaders know that our youth will learn life attitudes from all the observations of and interactions with those adults who are their models.

NON-DISCRIMINATION

The Indiana Percussion Association treats every participant as a unique individual possessing inherent dignity on his/her own. All participants are regarded as worthy human beings, equally deserving of our available time, thoughts, and energies. Thus, the IPA does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, creed, sexual orientation, national origin, or cultural background. Its activities are based on the credo that all participants and program styles start with equal opportunity for success.