SCPA is an all volunteer nonprofit public benefit corporation and is not organized for the private gain of any person. It is organized under the California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation Law for public purposes. The specific purpose of this corporation is to promote the growth of the percussive arts through competition, performance and educational activities and to encourage goodwill, good sportsmanship and camaraderie through such activities.
Our Handbook: A helpful reference and a must-read for all directors, instructors, and performers.
Each year SCPA awards $4,000 in scholarships to four talented young performers/composers within the SCPA community to help offset some of the expense of pursuing their dreams. Since 2018 SCPA has partnered with the Arcadia Music and Arts Symposium on the Composition Scholarship program to also provide matching music production packages and professional outreach opportunities for scholarship recipients.
Interested participants can view full details at our Composition Scholarship page, and specific category details at the links below.
To submit your work and scholarship application, please visit our composition scholarship submission form.
Board of Directors
Emily Barclay - ebarclay@scpa.live
Mike Jackson - mjackson@scpa.live
Ken McGrath - kmcgrath@scpa.live
Diana Petersen - dpetersen@scpa.live
Caleb Rothe - crothe@scpa.live
Kevin Shah - kshah@scpa.live
Larney Staton - lstaton@scpa.live
Jim Wunderlich - jwunderlich@scpa.live
Operations Manager
Kelly Rothe - krothe@scpa.live
Mailing Address
Southern California Percussion Alliance
1030 N. Mountain Avenue, Suite 338
Ontario, CA 91762
Founding Members (circa 1997)
Luis Echeverria
Pete Ellison
Ike Jackson
Mike Jackson
Caleb Rothe
Mark Stone
Jim Wunderlich
2 months ago
SCPA is pleased to announce that registration for the 2024 season will begin on Tuesday, October 3rd, 2023.
Registration will launch in phases, with an exclusive initial window for each class:
During these exclusive windows, ensembles are able to register for a maximum of three regular-season shows and Championships.
At 3:00 P.M., registration will be open for all classes, and ensembles can add additional shows. Performance order will be determined by registration date.
Please be sure to read through the Participant Handbook in its entirety prior to registration.
2 months ago
The schedule for the inaugural SCPA Symposium is now live and ready for your exploration! This eagerly awaited event promises a wealth of knowledge, inspiration, and networking opportunities for indoor percussion enthusiasts like you. Visit our Symposium Schedule page for a comprehensive breakdown of presenters, speakers, session descriptions, and session times.
To make the most of this symposium, we're excited to introduce you to Sched, our event management platform. If you've already registered, check your inbox for an email from Sched. This will be your ticket to creating your Sched account and building your custom schedule. With such a rich and diverse program, you might find yourself wishing you could be in multiple places at once! We recommend using a "divide and conquer" strategy with your team to ensure your program doesn’t miss out on any of the invaluable insights shared in each session.
Thank you for being a part of the SCPA community, and we look forward to seeing you at the Symposium!
3 months ago
SCPA is thrilled to announce Sean Vega as the keynote speaker for the first-ever SCPA Symposium!
With an illustrious 24-year career, Sean Vega has profoundly shaped the marching arts as an esteemed educator, designer, and clinician. A founding figure at RCC Indoor Percussion, his innovative influence has driven the ensemble to secure an impressive 13 top-two placements at the WGI World Championships, achieving a remarkable six Gold Medals during his tenure as Program Director and Designer. Sean's impact also extends to his vital role with the Concord Blue Devils, contributing to six DCI Championships and four High Percussion Awards, as well as his work championing music education through advisory and clinician positions across the country. Selected as the keynote speaker for the inaugural SCPA Symposium, Sean Vega's wealth of experience and unwavering dedication to our art form not only promises to inspire attendees but also to reignite an unwavering passion for professional learning and personal growth. His keynote is sure to kindle the collaborative spirit for which SCPA's Alliance is celebrated, setting the stage for an event that will resonate long after its conclusion.
You and your staff can register for the Symposium until September, 10th.
4 months ago
The SCPA Symposium Call for Presenters is now open!
We are looking for educators, designers, and administrators who are interested in sharing some of their knowledge and experience in the indoor percussion activity at our September 24, 2023 SCPA Symposium. Lead presenters who are selected in this process will receive a complimentary registration for the Symposium (in the form of a registration fee refund). Breakout sessions will be 60 minutes in length.
The submission window is open now and will close on August 20th at 6 PM. Presenters will be notified on August 28th.
4 months ago
We’re excited to announce that SCPA will be hosting a top-tier indoor percussion education event right here in SoCal for ensemble directors, designers, instructors, and administrators on Sunday, September 24th, 2023 at Embassy Suites Ontario Airport.
This will be the perfect opportunity for those that want to grow, learn more, and expand their skills, but for whom travel to professional development events has always been a challege in the past. We're hoping to see every SCPA instructor, director, designer, and administrator in attendance! You won't want to miss being a participant in the first-ever SCPA Symposium.
Registration for the SCPA Symposium is $100 and includes lunch.
You and your staff can resevere your spots at the Symposium right here.
6 months ago
The SCPA Summit for 2024 will take place on Sunday, June 4, 2023, from 1 to 5 P.M. at Embassy Suites Ontario Airport and the RSVP form is now available.
If you are the primary representative for your ensemble, please RSVP right away. Only those that RSVP and attend the Summit will be eligible for a director badge. Walk-ups are welcome to attend but will not be eligible for a badge. Primary representatives will need to show a photo ID at Summit check-in and for badge pick-up at your ensemble's first event in 2024.
Each attendee may represent only one ensemble, and each ensemble may have a single primary representative. Other representatives are welcome to RSVP and attend as well but are not badge-eligible.
We ask that primary representatives register by Friday, May 26th so we can plan for the appropriate number of attendees. Thank you.
8 months ago
SCPA Championship Finals tickets are on sale now!
Reserved tickets are available for purchase through the Toyota Arena website. General admission tickets will be available on the day of the event.
Tickets ordered online or by phone will incur an additional Ticketmaster service and convenience fee. To avoid such fees, you may also purchase tickets in-person at the Toyota Arena box office during normal business hours, which can be located on their website. There will be a $4 arena fee for each ticket.
https://www.toyota-arena.com/events/detail/scpa-championships-3
You won’t want to miss the excitement as the top high school and independent percussion ensembles from across the west coast compete at Toyota Arena in the 2023 Southern California Percussion Alliance Championship Finals.
We hope to see you there!
10 months ago
To make it even easier to purchase tickets for SCPA events, all ticketing will now be done online. Tickets for all regular season SCPA shows will be available for purchase exclusively through Eventbrite and can be made in advance up through the end of each event. All seating will continue to be on a first-come-first-served basis.
Spectators can purchase tickets online through the Eventbrite website or by using the Eventbrite app. We recommend purchasing your tickets in advance. If you arrive at a show and have not yet purchased your tickets, this will still need to be done online or in the app.
Once spectators arrive at a show, they will proceed to Spectator Check-In (previously the box office) to have their ticket scanned and to receive a wristband. Tickets can not be scanned at the door and wristbands will still be required to enter the gym. In order to be scanned, tickets can be accessed using the app (recommended), your email confirmation, or by printing your ticket at home.
Ticket links can be found on the Schedule page under each event and at scpa.eventbrite.com.
10 months ago
SCPA is pleased to share that details for the 2023 SCPA Composition Scholarship are now available and the application window is now open.
We are excited to announce that for 2023 we will award a total of $4,000 in scholarships to four talented young composers.
Two categories of composition scholarships will be offered: Ensemble Series compositions featuring original works for virtually any type of ensemble and Battery Series compositions featuring original works for battery percussion ensemble. Two scholarships will be awarded to scholastic performers and two to independent performers.
Current high school seniors and high school graduates are encouraged to consider submitting an original and never previously performed or debuted work for the chance to earn one of the four scholarships to help fund whatever opportunities or goals they desire. The recipient of each scholarship will be announced at SCPA Championship Finals.
For details about the contest, award prizes, submission requirements, and eligibility information head to tinyurl.com/scpascholarship and get started on your original composition today!
1 year ago
SCPA is pleased to announce that registration for the 2023 season will begin on Monday, October 3rd, 2022.
Registration will launch in phases, with an exclusive initial window for each class:
During these exclusive windows, ensembles are able to register for a maximum of three regular season shows and Championships.
At 3:00 P.M. registration will be open for all classes. Performance order will be determined by registration date. The SCPA event calendar for 2023 is now live on the Schedule page.
1 year ago
SCPA is pleased to announce the election of Diana Petersen and Emily Barclay to the SCPA Board of Directors.
Emily Barclay is a music educator and an avid supporter of the marching arts. She currently serves as the General Music Teacher at KIPP Raíces Academy in East Los Angeles, is a National Board Certified Teacher, and is a graduate of Butler University (Indianapolis, IN). Past musical experiences include marching with Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps as well as serving on the instructional staff for The Academy and Blue Knights. Additionally, Emily has served as a member of the Board of Directors for Phantom Regiment since 2015.
Diana Petersen is a Southern California native and currently serves as the Director of Administration at Red Pointe Roofing. She is a past member of the front ensemble at Pacific Crest Drum and Bugle Corps, joined their Board of Directors in 2013, and currently serves as Pacific Crest’s Board President. She has also been a part of the Pulse Percussion Administrative Team since 2018. Diana is a graduate of the NRCA/Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University Future Executive Institute program and earned her BA in Music from California State University, Long Beach. She holds professional certifications in human resources management, laws, and ethics.
“We’re incredibly excited to have Diana and Emily join our Board of Directors; each brings with them a wealth of varied and diverse experiences and a passion for serving our percussion community,” said Caleb Rothe, SCPA President. When asked about her election, Diana shared, “I am excited to join the SCPA Board and to have the opportunity to give back to the Southern California percussion community.” Equally excited about joining the Board, Emily shared, “I am honored to be joining the SCPA Board, and look forward to serving the percussion community in Southern California in new ways! I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the growth of the percussive arts locally, and hope to bring a new perspective and unique skill set to the Board.”
1 year ago
SCPA's annual Summit will take place on Sunday, June 5, 2022, in Ontario, CA.
Please RSVP for the Summit.
If you are the primary representative for your ensemble, please RSVP right away. Only those that RSVP and attend the Summit will be eligible for a director badge. Walk-ups are welcome to attend, but will not be eligible for a badge. Primary representatives will need to show a photo ID at Summit check-in and for badge pick-up at your ensemble's first event in 2023.
Each attendee may represent only one ensemble, and each ensemble may have a single primary representative. We ask that primary representatives register by Friday, May 27th so we can plan for the appropriate number of attendees.
We'll see you there!
Sunday, June 5, 2022
1 P.M. - 5 P.M.
Embassy Suites Ontario Airport
3663 E Guasti Rd
Ontario, CA 91761
(909) 605-0281
1 year ago
Effective April 1st, California will be ending the entry requirements for indoor mega-events. Toyota Arena has confirmed with us that their policies will be adjusting to match the new guidance from the state starting this Friday.
Therefore, proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test will no longer be required for performers, instructors, and spectators at SCPA Championship Finals at Toyota Arena.
Masks will still be strongly recommended for all in attendance.
1 year ago
The California Department of Public Health has announced that after March 11th, masks on K-12 campuses will no longer be required and will instead be strongly recommended. All of the campuses hosting SCPA events after that date will be aligning with the updated guidance, strongly recommending but not requiring the use of face coverings.
Therefore, beginning with our event on March 12th at Colony HS, performers, spectators, judges, and instructors will no longer be required to wear face coverings in indoor spaces and can instead make their own decision to continue to wear a face covering or not while at SCPA events.
1 year ago
SCPA Championship Finals tickets are on sale now!
Reserved tickets are available for purchase through the Toyota Arena website. General admission tickets will be available on the day of the event.
Tickets ordered online or by phone will incur an additional Ticketmaster service and convenience fee. To avoid such fees, you may also purchase tickets in-person at the Toyota Arena box office during normal business hours, which can be located on their website. There will be a $4 arena fee for each ticket.
https://www.toyota-arena.com/events/detail/scpa-finals
You won’t want to miss the excitement as the top high school and independent percussion ensembles from across the west coast compete at Toyota Arena in the 2022 Southern California Percussion Alliance Championship Finals.
We hope to see you there!
1 year ago
SCPA is pleased to share that details for the 2022 SCPA Composition Scholarship are now available and the application window is now open.
We are excited to announce that for 2022 we will award a total of $1,000 in scholarships to four talented young composers.
Two categories of composition scholarships will be offered: Ensemble Series compositions featuring original works for virtually any type of ensemble and Battery Series compositions featuring original works for battery percussion ensemble. Two scholarships will be awarded to scholastic performers and two to independent performers.
Current high school seniors and high school graduates are encouraged to consider submitting an original and never previously performed or debuted work for the chance to earn one of the four scholarships to help fund whatever opportunities or goals they desire. The recipient of each scholarship will be announced at SCPA Championship Finals.
For details about the contest, award prizes, submission requirements, and eligibility information head to tinyurl.com/scpascholarship and get started on your original composition today!
1 year ago
Due to the ongoing pandemic and the state thresholds for indoor mega events, SCPA will not be facilitating any all-day tickets for events this season, except for SCPA Finals on April 16th at Toyota Arena.
All of our shows held on K-12 campuses throughout the season (February 5 - April 10) will instead be broken into different, separately-ticketed events designed to help limit the number of people on campus and in the gym at one time. Each event will require different wristbands/tickets. Event designations will be included on the show schedules when they are published.
Additional information regarding SCPA Finals will be shared at a later date.
2 years ago
SCPA is pleased to announce that registration for the 2022 season will begin on Friday, October 1st, 2021.
Registration will launch in phases, with an exclusive initial window for each class:
During these exclusive windows, ensembles are able to register for a maximum of three regular season shows and Championships.
At 3:00 P.M. registration will be open for all classes. Performance order will be determined by registration date. The SCPA event calendar for 2022 is now live on the Schedule page.
2 years ago
SCPA is excited to announce that we'll be hosting a PSJ and Feeder Programs Summit on Sunday, July 25th at 1:00 P.M. via Zoom.
This summit is designed for those that currently work with a PSJ ensemble or represent an ensemble that would like to develop a feeder program. If you're interested in our PSJ class, taking your ensemble to the next level, or getting a junior high or middle school percussion program (competitive or non-competitive) off the ground, we'd encourage you to consider attending. Guest speakers featuring dozens of years of middle school and junior high experience will be sharing their perspectives and secrets.
To register for the summit, please head to forms.gle/yhdLHENarv8y4Rzt8
2 years ago
The SCPA Summit for 2022 will take place on Sunday, June 6th, from 1 to 5 P.M., and will again be conducted as a video conference.
Each attendee will need to register using the link below. A video conference link will be sent on the day of the Summit to those that have registered.
Before registering, please confer with your staff and determine who will serve as your ensemble’s primary representative at the Summit. Primary representatives will be eligible to earn a director badge for the 2022 season, provided they RSVP and fully attend the Summit.
Each attendee may represent only one ensemble and each ensemble may have a single primary representative.
Summit registration will close on Saturday, June 5th.
2 years ago
SCPA is pleased to announce the election of Kevin Shah to the Board of Directors.
Kevin has been an active participant within the So Cal percussion scene for more than two decades. In his years as a performer, instructor, and designer, he has led both marching and concert ensembles in A, Open, and World Classes and has worked with both scholastic and independent programs. He currently works with Broken City, Arcadia HS, and Vista Murrieta HS, in addition to running his own publishing company for the marching arts. Mr. Shah also serves as a member of the WGI Board of Directors and the Percussion Steering Committee. In recent years Kevin has been instrumental in helping to craft WGI’s Future Leaders Program and the Emerging Voices Award.
“Kevin has a wealth of knowledge and experience in a variety of roles within our activity; his perspective and insight will be an invaluable addition to the SCPA Board,” said Caleb Rothe, SCPA President. When asked about being elected to the SCPA Board, Kevin shared, “I’m honored to join the SCPA Board of Directors, and cherish this opportunity to continue serving our southern California percussion community. This is my home, this is where I’ve built my life, and this community is responsible for so many incredible innovations to the indoor activity. To me, the SCPA experience is built on excellence, attention to detail, member experience, and community, and I look forward to advancing our mission.”
2 years ago
SCPA is saddened to learn of the passing of Pete Ellison.
Pete was a founding member of our organization and served as SCPA’s first President. The Southern California Percussion Alliance would not exist without Pete’s efforts and contributions in the early years. He was instrumental in SCPA’s establishment and the growth of the indoor percussion activity across Southern California. Pete will be remembered fondly.
Championship Prelims @ Coussoulis Arena
PSCA & PSA Prelims
Championship Prelims / PSJ Finals @ Coussoulis Arena
PSCO, PSCW, PSO & PSW Prelims; PSJ Finals
Championship Prelims / Semifinals @ Coussoulis Arena
PIA, PIO & PIW Prelims; PSA Semifinals