Foundation Series · Show Design · 2h 18m
From Concept to Competition: Chino Hills HS
An online class with Ian Grom, composer, arranger, and co-founder of Box Six.
This is not a victory-lap documentary. I dissect the infrastructure behind Chino Hills: feeder-program continuity, shared terminology, staff alignment, concept selection, rehearsal efficiency, pressure training, and scheduling that keeps a season from eating your performers alive. I connect big-picture design to daily operations: how I reject a weak premise early, choose material the ensemble can carry honestly, give impact moments room to land, and build exercises that serve the actual book. It is a candid look at how culture, design, teaching, and pacing compound over years rather than magically appearing at finals.
What I actually cover
- The program infrastructure behind consistent competitive work
- Getting a design staff aligned before writing starts
- How I reject a weak concept early
- Building rehearsal exercises that serve the actual book
- Pacing a season without eating performers alive