About the Winter Haven High School Band
Links to articles about the WHHS Band
 

ABOUT THE WINTER HAVEN HIGH SCHOOL BAND
The award winning Winter Haven High School Band provides students many opportunities for musical success. The band program, under the leadership of  band director Sean Luce, Devilette Instructor Leslie Roberts and Percussion Instructor Todd Betz, consists of the "Pride of Winter Haven" Marching Band, including the Devilette Dance and Flag Ensemble, the Symphonic and Concert Bands, Jazz Band, Brass and Clarinet Choirs, Percussion Ensemble and many student led ensembles. This well-rounded band program has received awards and recognition at district and state level. Hundreds of graduates have gone on to play in university and service bands. Many have played professionally or have assumed music education positions in schools and universities.

The roots of the Winter Haven band are found in the earliest days of the city when several musicians got together and formed a small town band. A bandstand was built in the community park and the band would play for the locals on Sunday afternoons. The official beginning of the high school band is recorded as 1936, when Miss Esther Mayhall was hired as the school’s first director. Mr. Everett Shortt was director in 1940, followed in 1942 by the legendary Roy V. Wood. Roy directed the band for the next 23 years until 1965. During the height of Mr. Wood’s tenure, the band was the largest in the state with 272 members. Roy Wood was responsible for bringing the Winter Haven band into the national spotlight.

The Winter Haven High School Marching Band, also known as "The Pride of Winter Haven," performs at football games, marching band competitions, community events and local and national parades. This ensemble of over 100 members has an enviable record as a top-level marching organization. In its long history, the "Pride of Winter Haven" has performed in many national events, including, most recently, the 1998 St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York City. This group consistently receives superior ratings at marching events and has received straight superior ratings at its district marching assessment for the past four years.  The Pride has also won several Grand Championship awards at local and regional marching band competitions including The Crown Jewel Marching Band Invitational in 2003 and the West Coast Marching Band Invitational in 2004.

The Symphonic and Concert Bands are committed to performing the finest band literature at the highest levels of musical achievement. The Winter Haven High School Symphonic Band is the principal concert ensemble of the band program and has earned a reputation as one of the finest symphonic organizations in the State of Florida. The band has received the Florida Bandmasters Association’s Otto J. Kraushaar Award eight years, beginning in 2002 when the band received the award for the first time in school history. This award is presented to a high school band program that receives yearlong superior ratings at marching and concert performance assessments at the district and state levels. The Symphonic Band has performed at the 2004 FMEA In-Service Clinic-Conference, the 2004 Stetson University Band Invitational,  the 2005 Bands of America National Concert Band Festival in Indianapolis, and at Carnegie Hall in 2008.  Members must audition for this ensemble and attend weekly evening sectional rehearsals.  The Concert Band received its first superior rating at District Band Assessment in the spring of 2004 school year, marking the start of a new tradition for that ensemble.

Beginning in the fall of 2003, the Winter Haven HS Band returned Jazz Band to its list of ensembles.  The Jazz Band rehearses as a class during the school day during the entire year.  Members receive one credit per year for jazz ensemble for their participation in this special activity.  The band has received straight superior ratings at District Jazz Band Assessment for two years in a row.

The Brass, Clarinet and Percussion Choirs are comprised of the top wind and percussion players in the band program. These groups perform standard choir literature, and provide an excellent opportunity for young musicians to develop strong ensemble skills. All ensembles have consistently received superior ratings at district and state level assessments. Groups begin to rehearse in October in preparation to participate in the Florida Bandmasters Association Solo and Ensemble Assessment, as well as in a recital concert that takes place in early February.
 

DIRECTORS OF THE WINTER HAVEN BAND

MAJOR PERFORMANCES PAST AND PRESENT
OF THE WINTER HAVEN HIGH SCHOOL BAND

ABOUT OUR DIRECTOR
 

Mr. Sean Luce
Director of Bands

A native of Lakeland, Florida, Sean Luce received the degree of Bachelor of Music Education from The Florida State University. Mr. Luce completed his teaching internship at Winter Haven High School in Fall 2004 and returned to become the Director of Bands in Fall 2006.

As director, his teaching responsibilities include the Symphonic Band, Concert Band, and the "Pride of Winter Haven" Marching Band, Jazz, and Advanced Placement Music Theory. Under his direction the past three school years, the WHHS band program has kept its standard of excellence. The marching band has received straight superior ratings at all FBA events as well as second place finishes at Palmetto Ridge Marching Invitational and the Ocala Marching Band Invitation. The concert band has received an overall superior rating at district concert festival. The symphonic band has also received straight superior ratings at the district level, an overall state superior as well as a straight superior earning the band program its eighth Otto J. Kraushaar Award for year long straight superior ratings. Also, the symphonic band auditioned and performed at the world famous Carnegie Hall in New York City in May of 2008.

Prior to arriving at WHHS, Mr. Luce served as the Associate Director of Bands and Director of Orchestras at Palm Bay High School in Melbourne, FL. There, his teaching responsibilities included the Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Chamber Orchestra, Symphonic Orchestra, and color guard. While at PBHS, the orchestra received straight superior ratings for the first time in over eight years. Also, within the first semester of being at PBHS, a second orchestra was formed and received a superior rating within its first two months of existence. The indoor color guard received superior ratings at all FBA events at both the district and state levels, as well as becoming the 2006 Class B Gold Medalists in the Florida Federation of Color Guard Circuit.

Mr. Luce continues to be an active clinician and involved member of several music organizations. His professional and musical affiliations include the Music Educators National Conference, Florida Bandmasters Association, North American Saxophone Alliance, Phi Mu Alhpa Sinfonia, the National Band Association, and saxophonist in the Hollingsworth Winds in Lakeland, Florida. Mr. Luce is a happy newlywed with his wife Heather Luce.

LINKS TO ARTICLES ABOUT THE WHHS BAND
Ledger Article Announcing Carnegie Hall