MUSKOGEE, OK — The Muskogee Winter Guard program made school history on March 7, 2026, when its Varsity team became a finalist at the Winter Guard International (WGI) Tulsa Regional—marking the first time a Muskogee team has reached finals at a WGI regional event.
The milestone achievement is the result of months of dedication from the student performers, who began rehearsing in early December. The team practices during first hour at school and one evening each week, balancing their demanding rehearsal schedule with academic and extracurricular commitments. Some members are only able to attend evening rehearsals due to scheduling conflicts, making the team’s success even more remarkable.
This season’s Varsity production, “The Beauty Between,” draws inspiration from the Japanese art form Kintsugi, the practice of repairing broken pottery with gold to highlight the beauty in its imperfections.
“The program is inspired by the Japanese art form of Kintsugi, where broken pieces are mended with gold to create something new,” explained director Mrs. Lauren Fort. “I took this idea and applied it to something meaningful yet abstract—that we all have things in our lives that break us down. We rebuild ourselves into something greater and stronger within ourselves, but also with the support of others, literally becoming the gold that binds us together in our shared experiences. It's a very thought-provoking and moving message, and our students are so very connected to this idea in their own ways.”
The Varsity team is made up of students ranging from 8th through 11th grade, showcasing both experienced performers and younger members developing their skills. The program is under the direction of Mrs. Fort, who has served as the color guard director at Muskogee Public Schools for 15 years.
In 2019, Mrs. Fort revived the school’s competitive winter guard program. Since then, the team has consistently been a top-class finisher in the Winterguard and Percussion of Oklahoma (WGPO) circuit, often missing WGI finals by only tenths of a point despite presenting strong and creative productions each year.
Today, the Muskogee Winter Guard program includes two teams—a JV team and the Varsity team—comprised of students in grades 6 through 11. The program continues to grow in both skill level and participation as color guard is now offered as an elective at all secondary sites across the Muskogee Public Schools district.
“This achievement is hard to put into words,” said Mrs. Fort. “The only way I can describe it is surreal. These kids work so hard every day to be a part of something bigger than themselves, and it has paid off in a big way. I couldn’t be more proud to be their director—today and every day.”
The Muskogee Winter Guard will perform again on March 21 at Bixby High School, and the community is invited to attend and support the students’ continued success. Both teams will take the floor, with the JV team debuting their program “Poems” at 11:49 a.m. and the Varsity team performing at 4:15 p.m.
“We would love for the community to come out and support these hard-working students,” said Mrs. Fort. “They would love to see some familiar faces in the stands cheering them on.”
As the program continues to grow, this historic WGI finalist placement represents not only a competitive milestone but also a testament to the dedication, resilience, and artistry of Muskogee’s student performers.