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Top of the class
Bands at a glance
By Times Staff Writer
Published August 11, 2005
LAND O'LAKES HIGH GATORS:
Director of Bands : Kenny Mathis
Other instructors : Color Guard: Andrea Jackson
Number of students: 104
Show: "Spanish Nights." Selections include Topaz, Diego's Goodbye, a drum feature, Madagascar and Sun Cat.
First home game performance: Sept. 16 against Hudson High.
Trips: Disney World.
Wish list: Cash donations, instruments, equipment. Call (813) 794-9400 .
PASCO HIGH PIRATES
Director of Bands: Michael Vail
"Band camp went well even though we had a slow start because the music didn't come in on time," said Vail, who comes to Pasco High this year after teaching for 11 years at Stewart Middle School. "Everything's going really well. We're on track to do really well this year."
Other instructors: Color Guard : Laurel Weightman. Percussion: Jason Stafford.
Number of students: 78
Show: Mama Mia. Selections include I Have a Dream, Mama Mia, Dancing Queen and The Winner Takes it All.
First home game performance: Sept. 9 against Mitchell High.
Trips: None scheduled at this time .
Special appearances: TBA
Wish list: Cash donations, instruments, trailer for transporting instruments, music for the solo ensemble library. Call (352) 524-5500.
WESLEY CHAPEL HIGH WILDCATS
Director of Bands: Mary Harvey
"I'm excited. We had a really good turnout for camp and the kids are motivated and ready to work," said Harvey. It's going to be a good year."
Other instructors: Color guard: April Anderson an d Tonya Hicks. Percussion: Dan Johnson.
Number of students: 130
Show: The music of Cirque du Soleil's LaNouba. Selections include Urban, Reve' Rouge, A La' Lune and Distorted.
First home game performance: Sept. 1 against Hudson High.
Trips: The Fiesta Bowl in December in Tempe, Ariz.
Special appearances: Oct. 8 at Kathleen High School in Lakeland. The Lion's Pride festival on Oct. 22 at King High School in Tampa.
Wish list: Cash donations, vibraphone, instruments such as tubas, french horns, etc. Call (813) 794-8700.
ZEPHYRHILLS HIGH BULLDOGS
Director of Bands : Russell Schmidt
"I think it's going to be a great show," said Schmidt. "Our band camp is voluntary because I don't think you should make kids have to give up their summer. We have 76 percent of our kids here. That's impressive."
Number of students: 80
Halftime show: A Disney theme featuring 13 selections including Mickey Mouse March, Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious, Colonel Hathi's March, Bare Necessities and When You Wish Upon a Star.
First home game performance: Aug. 26 against Land O'Lakes High.
Trips: TBA.
Special appearances: The Lights Out show Nov. 4 at Zephyrhills High. "It's really cool," said Schmidt. "We turn the lights out and do the show in the dark with glow sticks and necklaces."
Wish list: Instruments and cash donations for travel expenses and general equipment. Call (813) 794-6100.
GULF HIGH SCHOOL BUCCANEERS
Director of Bands : William L. Rutherford
Other instructors: Color Guard: Kelly S. Rutherford. Percussion : Angelo Saroukos. Woodwinds : Jason Allgai .r
Number of students: 75
Show: Phantom of the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber with arrangements by Jay Bocook and Paul Lavender, as well as Gulf High's woodwind instructor, Jason Allgair. Selection s include The Phantom of the Opera, Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again, dance number Masquerade and Music of the Night.
First home game performance: Aug. 26 against Wesley Chapel High.
Trips: Washington, D.C. in April
Special appearances: TBA.
Wish list: Cash donations for the Washington, D.C. trip, sponsorships for the color guard, walkie-talkies. Call (727) 774-3374.
HUDSON HIGH SCHOOL COBRAS
Director of Bands : Terry Adams
"I feel like it's going to be a really strong band this year. It's going to be an awesome year," said Adams. "Band camp went real well despite the hot heat."
Other directors: Color Guard , Erik Nordstrom.
Number of students: 80
Show: "A Tribute to John Williams." Selections include the theme to NBC Nightly News, Olympic Fanfare, E.T., Yoda's Theme, Imperial March and Jurassic Park.
First home game appearance: Aug. 26 against River Ridge.
Trips: TBA.
Special appearances: Lion's Pride Festival, Oct. 22 at King High School in Tampa.
Wish list: Cash donations. Call (727) 774-4200 .
J.W. MITCHELL MUSTANGS
Director of Bands/Music Design : Matchett Bradford III
"I could not be happier with their performance," said Bradford of his students efforts so far. "It's going to be a fantastic year."
Other instructors: Percussion captain/staff coordinator , Brian C. Hayman. Drill design/visual captain, Tom Slaughter. Ensemble music/visual , Jason Foster. Guard captain , Jennifer Leavy.
Number of students: 120.
Show: "Colors of Earth" featuring Appalachian Morning, First Circle and Puma.
First home game performance: Aug. 19 against Sickles High.
Trips: TBA.
Special appearances: State Marching Competition Nov. 19 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. Bradford also invites the community to come out from 5-8 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday evenings to watch rehearsals.
Wish list: A new marimba and cash donations. Call (727) 774-9200.
RIDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL RAMS
Director of Bands : Jonathan McKeown
"Things are going really well. This is the strongest group since I've been here," said McKeown, who is in his fifth year as director at Ridgewood High. McKeown was also pleased with the progress his band accomplished during summer band camp, helped along greatly by instructors from Florida State.
Other instructors: Color guard : Vicki Shuster.
Number of students: 110
Show: This year's show has no title yet, but has a traveling theme, said McKeown. Selections include Ride, Down a Country Lane and The Perilous Skies.
First home game performance: Aug. 26 against Mitchell High
Trips: Orlando .
Special appearances: Golden Invitational Festival, Oct. 15 in Largo.
Wish list: Cash donations for equipment. (727) 774-3900 .
RIVER RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL ROYAL SOUND
Director of Bands : Robert L. Cook
"Camp has gone very well. So far we're moving right along as scheduled. I'm lucky to have such a great staff," said Cook, adding that this year's band is a young group. "But they're very exciting. They're fun to work with."
Other instructors: Color Guard : Jessica Marino. Percussion : Steve McNeely. Visual Tech: Tom Damato. Middle school director : Travis Henry. Percussion assistant : Frank Frati.
Number of students: 72
Show: "Music by Karl Jenkins." Selections include In Caelum Fero, Zarabanda, Palladio, Cantus Song of Aeolus.
First home game performance: Aug. 26 against Hudson High.
Trips: TBA, possibly Washington, D.C .
Special appearances: Tarpon Springs Outdoor Music Festival, Oct. 8.
Wish List: Cash donations, bassoons. Call (727) 774-7384.
[Last modified August 11, 2005, 00:43:15]
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