Sun City Independent · El Paso, Texas

Who We Are

Indoor marching percussion from El Paso, Texas.

Built in the Sun City

Sun City Independent (SCI) is an indoor percussion ensemble under Sun City Musical Arts, created to give young musicians the opportunity to perform at the highest level. SCI competes in Winter Guard International (WGI) Sport of the Arts Percussion.

Since its founding in 2018, SCI has won Independent A titles at WGAZ and the WGI Phoenix Regional, made its WGI World Championships debut in Dayton, Ohio in 2023, and in 2026 became the first El Paso percussion ensemble to reach WGI World Championship finals in any class. SCI competed as Sun City Sound from 2018 to 2020 and was renamed Sun City Independent in 2021. For the 2024 season only, SCI fielded two groups, SCI Open (El Hotel Eterno) and SCI A (Enlightenment).

Percussionists and dancers ages 14–22 from across El Paso and the greater Southwest are encouraged to audition. All skill levels are invited to audition!

Sun City Independent front ensemble in uniform

Accolades

2026 Season

2026 WGI World Championship Finalist, 13th in the world, Percussion Independent Open

First El Paso percussion ensemble to reach WGI World Championship finals in any class

2026
Within
  • WGI Dallas Regional, PIO — 2nd place, 85.850
  • WGI World Championships, PIO — Finalist, 13th in the world (prelims 88.638, semifinals 89.313, finals 88.050)
  • First El Paso percussion ensemble to reach WGI World Championship finals in any class
  • Highest placement and score in program history
2025
Alone in a Crowd
  • WGI Dallas Regional, PIO — 4th place, 79.800
  • WGI World Championships, PIO — 17th place (prelims 85.538, semifinals 84.313)
2024
El Hotel Eterno (SCI Open)
  • WGI Denver Regional, PIO — 2nd place (prelims 74.550, finals 67.300)
2024
Enlightenment (SCI A)
  • Sun City Independent A — WGI Denver Regional, PIA — 1st place (prelims 71.700, finals 75.100)
2023
The Picture of Dorian Gray
  • WGI World Championships, Open — Semifinalist (first trip to Dayton)
  • Prelims 83.550, Semifinals 79.625
2022
Lost in the Cosmos
  • WGI Virtual — advanced to finals in 1st place
  • WGI Phoenix Regional, PIA Finals — 1st place, 80.600
2020
What Do You See?
  • WGI Phoenix Regional — 3rd place, Open Class
  • Season cut short by COVID-19
2019
Emotions of War
  • WGI Phoenix Regional — A Class Champions
  • WGAZ Championship Finals, Independent A — 1st place (title defended), 86.925
2018
The Horsemen of Four
  • 1st place at the ensemble's first-ever competition
  • WGAZ Championship Finals, Independent A — 1st place, 82.650

The Fusion Core

We can only do this because of the dedication of our members, the help of our volunteers, and the support of our community.

Join our monthly giving community and help us reach $600 a month. Tiers start at $5/month.

Ray of Light
$5/mo
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Sun Beam
$15/mo
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Solar Power
$25/mo
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Solar Flare
$50/mo
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Supernova
$100/mo
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Join the Family.

2027 auditions are open. Come feel the heat.