The Gulf Coast High School Bands are under the direction of Mr. Justin Goff. Our award winning music program has performed at numerous events such as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers half time show, the Miami Dolphins half time show, the Edison Festival of Lights Parade, the Chicago Magnificent Mile Light Parade, the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade, the Washington DC Cherry Blossom Parade, the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Disney’s Magic Kingdom Dreams Come True Parade and the Universals Studios Macy’s Christmas Parade. In 2015, the Gulf Coast High School Shark Marching Band performed at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. The Shark Band is the 9th band in the state of Florida since 1960 to be selected to march in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. In April of 2018 the Shark band marched in The Fiesta Flambeau Light Parade in San Antonio Texas. It is the largest illuminated parade in the Country. In November 2019 the Shark band marched in the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade for the 2nd time. The Gulf Coast High School Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Winds, Symphonic, Concert, and Jazz Bands receive top ratings in FBA and MPA events year after year. In 2013 & 2017 & 2019, the Gulf Coast Band won the coveted Otto Kraashaur Award. Also many of our students have had the prestigious honor of being selected to perform with the All State Band, 9 Star Honor Band and the All County Honors Band.
Marching Band
The Gulf Coast High School Marching Sharks is the largest student organization on campus and the face of the Gulf Coast High School Band program to the public. Membership is open to all students with director permission and each student I enrolled in the appropriate band class. The Gulf Coast High School Marching Sharks is consistently the largest marching band in Florida and is regularly featured in national performances. In the last five years, the Gulf Coast Marching Sharks have traveled to perform in the 2015 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York, the 2017 Fiesta Flambeau Parade in San Antonio, Texas, the 100th Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2019, and the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival Parade in Chicago in 2022. Additionally, the Marching Sharks perform each year in the Universal Studios Holiday Parade Presented by Macy’s and Disney Performing Arts Parades.
Wind Ensemble
The Wind Ensemble is the highest level of performing concert group at Gulf Coast High School. Membership to this group is by audition only and balanced instrumentation. Students within this ensemble should be dedicated to performing at the highest level, as they will gain knowledge of and exposure to the finest band literature as well as advanced performing techniques. There will be regularly scheduled out-of-school time required for rehearsals and performances. This ensemble will perform for the FBA District and State Concert MPA. Additionally, this group regularly auditions for nationally recognized events. In 2020, the ensemble was honored by performing at the Music for All National Concert Festival.
Symphonic Band
The Symphonic Band is open to all students with director permission. This class will concentrate on developing playing skills such as tone production, rhythmic proficiency, intonation, and technical ability, as well as preparation and performance of fine concert band literature. This ensemble will perform on several concert programs and in concert festivals including for the FBA District Concert MPA. There will be out-of-school time required for rehearsals and performances.
Concert Band
The Concert Band is open to all freshmen with director permission. This class will build upon the students’ middle school training while concentrating on developing basic playing skills such as tone production, rhythmic proficiency, intonation, and technical ability, as well as preparation and performance of fine concert band literature. This ensemble will perform on several concert programs and in concert festivals including for the FBA District Concert MPA. There will be out-of-school time required for rehearsals and performances.
Jazz Band A
Jazz Band A is the highest level of performing jazz group at Gulf Coast High School. Membership to this group is by audition only and big band balanced instrumentation. Students within this ensemble should be dedicated to performing at the highest level, as they will gain knowledge of and exposure to the finest jazz literature as well as advanced performing techniques in the jazz idiom. There will be regularly scheduled out-of-school time required for rehearsals and performances. This ensemble will perform for the FBA District and State Jazz MPA. Additionally, this group regularly auditions for nationally recognized events including the Essentially Ellington competition. In 2017 and 2019 this ensemble was invited to perform at the University of Central Florida’s Jazz Festival and has received straight superior ratings in all of its assessments for the last 7 years.
Jazz Band B
There is a place for students of all skill levels in the Jazz Program at Gulf Coast High School. All interested in participating are encouraged to audition. Students in this class will gain knowledge of and exposure to the fine jazz literature as well as develop performing techniques in the jazz idiom. There will be regularly scheduled out-of-school time required for rehearsals and performances. This ensemble will perform for the FBA District and, if qualified, State Jazz MPA. In addition to the audition, all students are required to be enrolled in the appropriate concert band class for membership in jazz band.
Percussion Ensemble
The percussion studio at Gulf Coast is open to all students with director permission. The group is comprised of students who participate in marching band, are assigned to concert bands, and focus on percussion ensemble literature. This class will concentrate on developing playing skills on all percussion instruments including rhythmic proficiency, technical ability, and preparation and performance of fine concert band literature and percussion ensemble literature. This ensemble will perform on several concert programs and in concert festivals including for the FBA District and State Concert MPA and the FBA District and State Solo and Ensemble MPA. There will be out-of-school time required for rehearsals and performances.
Color Guard
This group is half of the visual group of the marching band. Membership is by audition only. Previous formal dance instruction is encouraged. Students in the Color Guard will develop skills in proper flag technique, marching, and basics in rifle technique. The Color Guard performs with the marching band in the fall and participates in both group and individual competitions as a separate unit in the spring. Students in Color Guard that also play instruments must be enrolled in the appropriate band class period.
Dance Line
This group is half of the visual group of the marching band. Membership is by audition only. Previous formal dance instruction is strongly encouraged. Students in this class will concentrate on developing skills such as stronger technique, physical endurance, and dancing as a unit to prepare for performance. The Dance Line performs with the marching band in the fall and participates in both group and individual competitions as a separate unit in the spring. Students in Dance Line that also play instruments must be enrolled in the appropriate band class period.