The Auburndale High School Band was formed after a teacher from Florida Southern College came to Auburndale in 1945 and organized a group of students who played instruments at the school. The first yearbook was published in 1948 and shows a band with white shirts, white pants, and four majorettes directed by David Guthrie. This was the beginning of Auburndale's marching band, now known as "The Imperial Sound of Auburndale."
1954, band director Peter Pullara outfitted the band with uniforms and plumes. The following year William (Bill) Miller became the Imperial Sound’s new director and by 1957 he had created the officer system for the band’s student leaders. Mr. Miller began taking the band to state concert festival and helped the students earn overall superior ratings for each appearance. After receiving newer uniforms in 1960, Mr. Miller showcased the band in the historical Cherry Blossom Parade located in Washington D.C. Under Miller's direction, the band received superior ratings at the district marching festivals and even impressed audiences with fire-twirling majorettes! By 1969, the band had earned 10 years of straight superiors at the district festival. Irv Lipscomb and Ben Godfrey continued to build on Miller's established program and ensured that the students retained a reputation of excellence. Al Sergel took the band to the newly opened Disney World, as well as, Mexico City. In addition, Mr. Sergel instructed the students of the Imperial Sound back to a superior level once again. After Al Sergel, Ralph Jarvis became the next band director for the Imperial Sound only to leave after one year.
Mr. Jarvis was replaced by Paul Richardson who took the band back to Washington, D.C. In 1978, director John Carmichael introduced the students of the Imperial Sound to a very challenging curriculum of musical literature. Mr. Carmichael decided to leave Auburndale to become the new band director for the Lakeland Dreadnaughts which would allow Gary Cable to become the Imperial Sound’s new band director until 1981. After Gary Cable, Jimmy Parker would once again re-establish the Imperial Sound’s musical supremacy by maintaining superior ratings for the next 14 consecutive years at all district marching festivals. Mr. Parker also gave the Imperial Sound band members many unique experiences. These experiences included a trip to Hawaii, several NFL halftime show appearances, and a unique opportunity for the band to appear in a commercial for Target which can be viewed here:
The Auburndale High School Band was formed after a teacher from Florida Southern College came to Auburndale in 1945 and organized a group of students who played instruments at the school. The first yearbook was published in 1948 and shows a band with white shirts, white pants, and four majorettes directed by David Guthrie. This was the beginning of Auburndale's marching band, now known as
"The Imperial Sound of Auburndale."
In 1954, band director Peter Pullara outfitted the band with uniforms and plumes. The following year William (Bill) Miller became the Imperial Sound’s new director and by 1957 he had created the officer system for the band’s student leaders. Mr. Miller began taking the band to state concert festival and helped the students earn overall superior ratings for each appearance. After receiving newer uniforms in 1960, Mr. Miller showcased the band in the historical Cherry Blossom Parade located in Washington D.C. Under Miller's direction, the band received superior ratings at the district marching festivals and even impressed audiences with fire-twirling majorettes!
By 1969, the band had earned 10 years of straight superiors at the district festival. Irv Lipscomb and Ben Godfrey continued to build on Miller's established program and ensured that the students retained a reputation of excellence. Al Sergel took the band to the newly opened Disney World, as well as, Mexico City. In addition, Mr. Sergel instructed the students of the Imperial Sound back to a superior level once again. After Al Sergel, Ralph Jarvis became the next band director for the Imperial Sound only to leave after one year.
Mr. Jarvis was replaced by Paul Richardson who took the band back to Washington, D.C. In 1978, director John Carmichael introduced the students of the Imperial Sound to a very challenging curriculum of musical literature. Mr. Carmichael decided to leave Auburndale to become the new band director for the Lakeland Dreadnaughts which would allow Gary Cable to become the Imperial Sound’s new band director until 1981. After Gary Cable, Jimmy Parker would once again re-establish the Imperial Sound’s musical supremacy by maintaining superior ratings for the next 14 consecutive years at all district marching festivals. Mr. Parker also gave the Imperial Sound band members many unique experiences. These experiences included a trip to Hawaii, several NFL halftime show appearances, and a unique opportunity for the band to appear in a commercial for Target which can be viewed here:
48 years would pass from the first formation of Auburndale High School’s marching band in the winter of 1947 until the summer of 1995 when Alex Kaminsky became the Imperial Sound’s newest band director. In two short years, Mr. Kaminsky would raise the level of achievement to a whole new degree. On Thursday May 1, 1997, Mr. Kaminsky led the Auburndale High School Symphonic Band in making school history in Jacksonville, Florida. For the first time in the Imperial Sound’s 52-year history, straight superior ratings were earned at every Florida Bandmasters Association event. Having achieved this goal, the band was awarded the Otto J. Kraushaar Award, an accomplishment never before achieved by a band at this school. In fact, for the next three years until his departure, Mr. Kaminsky continued to lead the Imperial Sound to three more Otto J. Kraushaar Awards. In addition, the band was also crowned the 1999 Florida Marching Band Coalition Class AAA Champion.
After Kaminsky's legacy, great musicians have occupied the band director position here at Auburndale including Cole Fredricks (2000-2001), Dennis LoCurcio (2001-2004), and Allen Lamp (2004-2005). All of these directors maintained an excellent or superior program that the students of the Imperial Sound have come to expect.
Following a rapid change in band directors over the past five years the Auburndale community was happy to welcome Jason Gibbs in 2006 as he was to serve a seven year span as the band director. The Auburndale Band would have its work cut out for them as now a second charter school (6th-8th grade) had been underway, and between the two schools held almost 1,500 students. With no lasting band program at these charter schools we began to see drastic effects on the Imperial Sound enrollment. However, Mr. Gibbs worked tirelessly to create a stable organization that would ensure a life-changing band experience for each student. His tenure culminated in his final year where the marching band would be selected as a state finalist for the FMBC Class 1A bands, the Jazz and Symphonic Bands performed at State FBA, and the Winterguard earned a bronze medal in the FFCC Class A Shaktai Division.
Building on the strong foundation was the newest band director in 2012, Christopher Dyel. Mr. Dyel would enjoy three years with the Auburndale Band students focusing on the level of individual achievement with a rigorous curriculum of music literature, history, and pedagogy. Bloodhounds were selected for All State Symphonic Band, Festival of Winds, Tri-State, All County Bands, All County Jazz, and a State Gold Medal rifle soloist. We also saw the formation of an annual Alumni Band featuring AHS alumni conductors; Jimmy Parker, Dr. John Carmichael and ___________. Marching, Concert, Jazz and Indoor ensembles continued their legacy of superb performances earning awards at the state and district levels. However, unique to AHS was the success of placing six students, future band directors, on scholarship into undergraduate programs for Music Education where they will eventually come to share their own bloodhound-inspired legacies with future generations of Florida band students.
And here we are now in Spring 2015 waiting for the arrival of the next fortunate band director of the Auburndale High School!
"The Imperial Sound of Auburndale."
In 1954, band director Peter Pullara outfitted the band with uniforms and plumes. The following year William (Bill) Miller became the Imperial Sound’s new director and by 1957 he had created the officer system for the band’s student leaders. Mr. Miller began taking the band to state concert festival and helped the students earn overall superior ratings for each appearance. After receiving newer uniforms in 1960, Mr. Miller showcased the band in the historical Cherry Blossom Parade located in Washington D.C. Under Miller's direction, the band received superior ratings at the district marching festivals and even impressed audiences with fire-twirling majorettes!
By 1969, the band had earned 10 years of straight superiors at the district festival. Irv Lipscomb and Ben Godfrey continued to build on Miller's established program and ensured that the students retained a reputation of excellence. Al Sergel took the band to the newly opened Disney World, as well as, Mexico City. In addition, Mr. Sergel instructed the students of the Imperial Sound back to a superior level once again. After Al Sergel, Ralph Jarvis became the next band director for the Imperial Sound only to leave after one year.
Mr. Jarvis was replaced by Paul Richardson who took the band back to Washington, D.C. In 1978, director John Carmichael introduced the students of the Imperial Sound to a very challenging curriculum of musical literature. Mr. Carmichael decided to leave Auburndale to become the new band director for the Lakeland Dreadnaughts which would allow Gary Cable to become the Imperial Sound’s new band director until 1981. After Gary Cable, Jimmy Parker would once again re-establish the Imperial Sound’s musical supremacy by maintaining superior ratings for the next 14 consecutive years at all district marching festivals. Mr. Parker also gave the Imperial Sound band members many unique experiences. These experiences included a trip to Hawaii, several NFL halftime show appearances, and a unique opportunity for the band to appear in a commercial for Target which can be viewed here:
48 years would pass from the first formation of Auburndale High School’s marching band in the winter of 1947 until the summer of 1995 when Alex Kaminsky became the Imperial Sound’s newest band director. In two short years, Mr. Kaminsky would raise the level of achievement to a whole new degree. On Thursday May 1, 1997, Mr. Kaminsky led the Auburndale High School Symphonic Band in making school history in Jacksonville, Florida. For the first time in the Imperial Sound’s 52-year history, straight superior ratings were earned at every Florida Bandmasters Association event. Having achieved this goal, the band was awarded the Otto J. Kraushaar Award, an accomplishment never before achieved by a band at this school. In fact, for the next three years until his departure, Mr. Kaminsky continued to lead the Imperial Sound to three more Otto J. Kraushaar Awards. In addition, the band was also crowned the 1999 Florida Marching Band Coalition Class AAA Champion.
After Kaminsky's legacy, great musicians have occupied the band director position here at Auburndale including Cole Fredricks (2000-2001), Dennis LoCurcio (2001-2004), and Allen Lamp (2004-2005). All of these directors maintained an excellent or superior program that the students of the Imperial Sound have come to expect.
Following a rapid change in band directors over the past five years the Auburndale community was happy to welcome Jason Gibbs in 2006 as he was to serve a seven year span as the band director. The Auburndale Band would have its work cut out for them as now a second charter school (6th-8th grade) had been underway, and between the two schools held almost 1,500 students. With no lasting band program at these charter schools we began to see drastic effects on the Imperial Sound enrollment. However, Mr. Gibbs worked tirelessly to create a stable organization that would ensure a life-changing band experience for each student. His tenure culminated in his final year where the marching band would be selected as a state finalist for the FMBC Class 1A bands, the Jazz and Symphonic Bands performed at State FBA, and the Winterguard earned a bronze medal in the FFCC Class A Shaktai Division.
Building on the strong foundation was the newest band director in 2012, Christopher Dyel. Mr. Dyel would enjoy three years with the Auburndale Band students focusing on the level of individual achievement with a rigorous curriculum of music literature, history, and pedagogy. Bloodhounds were selected for All State Symphonic Band, Festival of Winds, Tri-State, All County Bands, All County Jazz, and a State Gold Medal rifle soloist. We also saw the formation of an annual Alumni Band featuring AHS alumni conductors; Jimmy Parker, Dr. John Carmichael and ___________. Marching, Concert, Jazz and Indoor ensembles continued their legacy of superb performances earning awards at the state and district levels. However, unique to AHS was the success of placing six students, future band directors, on scholarship into undergraduate programs for Music Education where they will eventually come to share their own bloodhound-inspired legacies with future generations of Florida band students.
And here we are now in Spring 2015 waiting for the arrival of the next fortunate band director of the Auburndale High School!