Rhythm X, Inc. is a non-profit music education organization that operates a competitive indoor percussion ensemble, as well as an online school for marching music called The X Academy. The company was founded in 2002 by Craig Dunn as the Rhythm X Performance Ensemble. The ensembles compete in both the Winter Guard International (WGI) and Indiana Percussion Association (IPA) circuits in the World Class,[1] which is the classification given to the ensembles that execute musical and visual programs of the highest difficulty.[2] In 2013, Rhythm X announced the launch of The X Academy, an online and in-person educational program suited for high school and college-age musicians interested in competitive percussion and wind ensembles.[3] Later that year the organization announced the addition of its newest ensemble that would compete in the new WGI Winds Division in 2015.[4] Rhythm X Winds was operational until their last season in 2020, when they were forced to disband due to financial struggles caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.[5]
Rhythm X was the 2008, 2009, and 2013 WGI World Champion in Percussion Independent World (PIW) Class[6] and is well-known to indoor marching percussion fans and participants around the world as consistently one of the most highly skilled competitors. The percussion ensemble has also gained a reputation for presenting some of the most innovative content at each WGI Percussion World Championship and is a crowd favorite virtually every year.[7]
History
Rhythm X was founded in 2001 by Craig Dunn and was initially intended to provide a competitive percussion performance experience for young musicians in Ohio. The unit was immediately successful, as it captured the gold medal in its inaugural season in Percussion Independent Open class at the 2002 WGI World Championships. Rhythm X has been classified as Percussion Independent World every season since then.[8]
As Rhythm X's successes have continued, the membership has expanded beyond local Ohio students. Several hours of transportation is typical, but members have commuted as far as twelve hours one way every weekend to participate. Others move to Ohio for the season's duration. In its early years, the ensemble had a mixture of high school and college students, but the current membership contains almost exclusively college students. Most of the members also have experience in World Class Drum Corps International drum and bugle corps.[9]
In 2007, Rhythm X became the first independent Winter Guard International percussion ensemble to conduct a tour of Europe. The members and staff performed and offered clinics in England, France, and Belgium using their 2007 show "Behind the Velvet Rope" as a demonstration.[7]
In 2008, Craig Dunn announced that Andrew Markworth would be overtaking the role of Ensemble Director for Rhythm X, while Dunn would continue with some duties as executive director.[10]
In 2009, Rhythm X announced its sponsorship of a newly formed percussion ensemble in the Netherlands called European X. Head staff members Craig Dunn, Tim Fairbanks, Andrew Markworth, and Tim Jackson periodically visit them to assist with their shows' designs and their members' educations.[11]
In 2010, Rhythm X announced that Tim Jackson would be assuming the role of Ensemble Director for the group.[12]
In 2012, in preparation for the coming 2013 season the Rhythm X staff was slightly restructured. Tim Fairbanks assumed the role of Ensemble Director and a new position was added. Mike Scott joined the administrative team as Operations Director. In 2013 Rhythm X also launched a new website, e-commerce store, and a staff blog.
WGI World Championship Results
Rhythm X has maintained consistent competitive success at WGI World Championships and has been a finalist every year since its inception. The unit has been awarded 3 PIW gold medals, 8 PIW silver medals, 3 PIW bronze medals, and 1 PIO gold medal.[6]
Gold background indicates WGI Championship; Silver background indicates WGI silver medal, Bronze background indicates WGI Bronze medal pale blue background indicates WGI Class Finalist; pale green background indicates WGI semifinalist
Year
Program Title
Placement
Score
Class
2002
Our World
1st
96.150
PIO
2003
Picture This
7th
88.200
PIW
2004
AudioVisual
3rd
93.250
PIW
2005
Wired
2nd
96.700
PIW
2006
Lunaria
2nd
95.750
PIW
2007
Behind the Velvet Rope
6th
92.200
PIW
2008
Gone
1st
96.900
PIW
2009
Touch
1st
97.263
PIW
2010
Inspired
2nd
96.250
PIW
2011
St& By Me
4th
94.225
PIW
2012
enLIGHTened
4th
94.125
PIW
2013
The Man in the Arena
1st
98.263*
PIW
2014
The Razor's Edge
3rd
96.113
PIW
2015
When One Door Closes
2nd
96.950
PIW
2016
The Alpha
4th
95.963
PIW
2017
Looking Back
6th
94.225
PIW
2018
All The World's A Stage
2nd
97.513
PIW
2019
Alinea
4th
97.225
PIW
2020
Parabellum
1st*
85.850*
PIW
2022
Art Shaped Box
2nd
98.075
PIW
2023
The Unspoken
3rd
97.088
PIW
2024
Blackbird
2nd
98.400
PIW
2025
Hands of the Creation
2nd
99.063
PIW
Score taken from final WGI show before the remainder of the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Rhythm X did not field an ensemble in 2021.
WGI World Winds Division
Rhythm X has maintained consistent competitive success at WGI World Championships and has been a finalist every year since its inception. The unit has been awarded 4 WIW gold medals, and 1 WIW silver medal.
Gold background indicates WGI Championship; Silver background indicates WGI silver medal, Bronze background indicates WGI Bronze medal pale blue background indicates WGI Class Finalist
Year
Program Title
Placement
Score
Class
2015
Uncharted Territory
1st
94.125
WIW
2016
Aurora
2nd
96.375
WIW
2017
Jumping Through Loops
1st
96.750
WIW
2018
With A Twist
1st
97.475
WIW
2019
A Day In The Life
1st
96.600
WIW
2020
The Devils Breath
1st*
83.750*
WIW
Score taken from final WGI show before the remainder of the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Rhythm X Winds did not field an ensemble in 2021 or 2022.
Achievements
The second highest-scoring WGI PIW performance at World Championships is held by Rhythm X's 2025 show "Hands of the Creation" with a score of 99.063.
Rhythm X is one of only 6 ensembles to ever win the PIW gold medal at WGI World Championships.
During the 2007 season, Rhythm X became the first independent WGI indoor percussion ensemble to ever tour Europe.[13]
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