User:Sora2767/Fontainebleau Crimson Band

Fontainebleau Crimson Band is the marching band, including the color guard, of Fontainebleau High School located in Mandeville of St. Tammany Parish in Louisiana. The "Crimson" comes from the school's dark red and black colors. The Fontainebleau Crimson Band program was established in 1994, during the opening of the school, by the school's band director, Roland Huie. Although the band started out with a few 30 members, it quickly became popular amongst the students of the school, and in only a few years has earned over 150 members to date.

8 years after establishing the program, Huie took on his third assistant band director, Lee Hicks. the year before the Symphonic Band achieved the Sweepstakes trophy at District and State Festival. In the spring of 2003, Huie decided to take a sabbatical to work on getting his Specialist in Administration and immediately moved onto an administrative position after completing his Specialist that semester, leaving Hicks to lead the band to a widespread growth and long road of victory. Once Hicks stepped up to the plate as band director, the program has taken giant leaps in such short time, becoming one of Louisiana's premier high school band programs and growing to 3 concert bands, 2 jazz ensembles, marching band, winter guard, and winter percussion. All of these ensembles acheive very high levels of performance and constantly receive superior ratings at district, state, and national festivals.

The marching band, knows as the "Crimson Band from Bulldog Land," performs musical pieces at FHS football games, Mardi Gras Parades, community events, and has been seen marching down Main Street in Walt Disney World on several occasions. In the fall of 2003 the Crimson Band attended its first marching festival and began its journey toward becoming an excellent marching program. After hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005 the group was offered their first opportunity to participate in the Louisiana Showcase of Marching Bands which showcases 32 of the top marching bands in Louisiana. With the loss of 6 weeks of school due to the damage and destruction caused by the hurricanes the band appeared at the 2005 Louisiana Showcase of Marching Bands and after only 4 weeks of rehearsal and placed 22 out of the 32 bands in attendance.

Since that first experience in the Louisiana Showcase of Marching Bands, the Fontainebleau Crimson Band has returned to the festival to place in the top 5 for the past 3 years; placing 3 in 2006, 5th in 2007, and being named “Reserve Grand Champions,” for 2nd place in 2008. The Crimson Band also attended its first Bands of America Regional in 2008 and looks forward to participating in more national festivals with many outstanding bands from around the country.

The programs three concert bands are establishing themselves as well, consistently receiving superior ratings at district, state, and national festivals. Because the school is one of the largest in Louisiana, these ensembles are required to perform some of the more difficult band literature available. Recent literature performed by the ensemble includes Aspen Jubilee by Ron Nelson, A Movement for Rosa by Mark Camphouse, Pastime by Jack Stamp, Be Thou My Vision by David Gillingham, Cloudburst by Eric Whitacre, Children’s March by Percy Aldridge Grainger, and numerous other well-known pieces by noted composers such as Frank Ticheli, John Philip Sousa, and many others.

The Fontainebleau Jazz program consists of the Jazz Ensemble One and the Jazz Workshop and is developing a strong reputation throughout the state and country. The Fontainebleau Jazz Ensemble One has participated in the Loyola Jazz Festival receiving sweepstakes awards each year since Mr. Hicks started the group in 2003. In the spring of 2008 the group was invited to participate in the 1st Swing Central National Jazz Ensemble Competition as part of the Savannah Music Festival in Savannah, Georgia. As one of 12 jazz ensembles invited to participate from around the country, the Fontainebleau Jazz Ensemble One placed fourth behind some truly amazing high school jazz ensembles including: Agoura High School Blue Ensemble from Agoura Hills, California in 3rd place, - Dillard School of the Arts of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida in 2nd place, and New World School of the Arts from Miami, Florida who won 1st place. Mr. Hicks and the members of the Jazz Ensemble One were honored to be part of such a great festival and look forward to returning to Savannah in the near future. In March of 2009 the Fontainebleau Jazz Ensemble One was named Louisiana State Grand Champion at the 2009 Louisiana Association of Jazz Educators state jazz ensemble competition and festival.

There is a place in the FHS Band for any student interested in learning to play an instrument and have a memorable time belonging to the best student organization on campus! The program will continue to set its goals higher each year and its members will continue to have the DESIRE to succeed, the DISCIPLINE to work towards success, and the DEDICATION to continue “raising the bar.”