The band began in
1924 as an 18 piece orchestra. The first uniforms were purchased in 1924 with
money earned from Sunday concerts performed during the winter season. In 1945,
the band performed at U.S.O.'s, U.S. Army Camps, and government defense plants.
A seven piece "German" band was established during the fifties and majorettes
and new band uniforms were soon to follow. During the 50's, the band performed at
various festivals including Gasparilla and the Orange Festival. In 1959 the LHS band
began its tradition of superior ratings at district contests.
Excitement,
vitality, and spirit were the words used to describe the Dreadnaught Band of the
60's. The Spirit of the old "Orange and Black" was reflected in
the enduring perseverance of the band members themselves. During the
marching season this superlative group was found practicing its precise drill
formations in the school parking lot many mornings before the school day began.
Excellence of the band was evident by their invitations to march in the Cherry
Blossom Festival, the Gasparilla Parade, and the Citrus Festival.
During the 70's the
band continued performing and receiving superior ratings. The band marched in the
Cherry Blossom Festival, at Walt Disney World, and at a Miami Dolphins football
game. During the late 1970's the band performed at the National Band
Association Convention in Knoxville, Tennessee.
The 80's began in
new uniforms. The Pride of Kathleen Marching Competition and St. Petersburg's
Tournament of Bands found the Dreadnaught Band marching away with 2nd and 3rd place
respectively. In 1982, the Wind Ensemble was selected to perform at the Midwest
Band and Orchestra Clinic. In 1983, the band won Grand Champion at the
Tournament of Bands and in 1984 the marching band was featured on the Miss Teen
U.S.A. CBS nationally televised special. The mid 80's brought participation in
many events including Tri state Tropicana Field Competition, the Tournament of Roses
Parade in Pasadena, California, FSU Tri-State Music Festival; and a second trip to
the National Band Association Convention. The most highly anticipated event of
the '86-'87 school year was a return appearance at the Midwest International Band and
Orchestra Clinic.
In 1987, the Wind Ensemble earned the John Philip Sousa Foundation's Sudler Flag of Honor,
which is awarded to a high school band for outstanding achievement in
concert performances and also must present evidence of outstanding achievement
in every area of musicianship. 1987 also saw a new uniform. The band
received the Grand Champion award at the Apple Blossom Festival in Winchester,
Virginia in the spring of 1988. The Wind Ensemble performed for the American
Bandmasters Association Convention and the American School Band Directors
Association Convention in 1989. The marching band performed its half-time show
at the 1989 Florida State University Band Day and participated in the Boardwalk and
Baseball Marching Festival in 1988 and 1989.
In 1991, our
Dreadnaught Band led the inaugural parade of Governor Lawton Chiles (an LHS alumnus) in
Tallahassee. The early 1990's found the Symphony Band (formerly Wind Ensemble)
invited to perform at the Midwest National Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago for an
unprecedented third time. In 1994 the Symphony Band once again received the
prestigious Sudler Flag of Honor. Receiving this award for the second time allowing
the Symphony Band to once again make history as it was the first high school band to ever
receive the award twice. The Symphony Band was one of only two high school bands
selected throughout the nation and Japan to receive this award in 1994.
Beginning in the
late 80's and continuing through the present, the Dreadnaught Band has seen a record
breaking number of students receive superior ratings at the District and State level of
solo and ensemble festivals traveling to Jacksonville, Ft. Myers, Daytona Beach, and the
Miami area. LHS band students remain active participants in the Festival of Winds
hosted by the University of South Florida each year as well as Florida State University's
Tri-State Festival; Selected students have also participated in the International Disney
Honor Band in Orlando.
Directors of
the Lakeland High School Dreadnaught Band
