"Pride of the Sunshine" Fightin' Gator Marching Band
Gator Band 'Members' Only
Gator Band 'Staff' Only
Gator Band 'Alumni' Only
Auditions
The audition requirements are as follow:
- Students must send a recorded (audio) audition for Gator Band, along with a completed Band Application, by mail to P.O. Box 117901 Gainesville, FL 32611-7901 (ATTN: Gator Band Audition) at their earliest convenience, but no later than August 1, 2009.
- Students auditioning for the School of Music do not need to also addition for the Gator Marching Band. The School of Music audition will serve as their audition for Gator Band. However, you will need to fill-out and mail in a 2009-2010 Band Application.
- Audition requirements: 12 major scales, full range chromatic scale, Suwanee, and Orange & Blue (including break strain).
- If you want to audition in person, please contact Mr. Birkner at 352-273-3170.
Click here to submit a request for audition music. (Don't forget to include your instrument in the email.)
University of Florida Drumline "FDL"
Click here for FDL Audition Information
Gatorettes
- Sunday April 19th at the Florida Gym - 1pm; this will be a two-step audition process: step one will involve required elements and marching; those invited for step two will perform individual routines and "on the spot" routine
The audition requirements are as follow:
- Routine: You must perform a 2-3 minute routine to music of your choice
- It must consist of one, two, three baton and a prop
- Required elements: 3-turn or higher, toss illusion, toss reverse illusion, toss cartwheel or walkover, split.
- Marching: you will have to perform a marching square to the UF fight song
- Marching will be judged on style, knee height and timing with the music
- Attire: Royal Blue leotard, nude or tan tights, appropriate footwear (tennis shoes, cougars, or jazz shoes)
- Hair and makeup must be done appropriately for field performance
Florida Visual Ensemble
- Saturday May 2nd at the Florida Gym - 10am; for all current UF/SFCC students plus new students
- Saturday August 1st at the Steinbrenner Band Hall - 9am; final audition and taped auditions due
The audition requirements are as follow:
- Marching: You must perform an 8 count box drill while doing drop spins. (8 counts/spins per each side of box; drop spins should stay in forward plane)
- Routine: You must perform a 1min 30sec to a 2min 30sec routine to music of your choice
- It must consist of primarily flag and then one or more of the following: rifle, sabre, or dance
- You must show a proficiency on flag
- Attire: Blue Shorts, White Tshirt, appropriate footwear (tennis shoes, or dance shoes)
- Hair and makeup must be done appropriately for field performance
Everyone who completes the auditions process will be notified via letter with results and information regarding pre-season camp and instructions for retrieving music from the "Members Only" portion of the website.
Directors
John M. Watkins, Jr.
Associate Director of Bands
Director of Gator Marching Band
Office: MUB 106A
Phone: (352) 392-0227
Email: watkins@ufl.edu
Mr. John M. “Jay” Watkins, Jr. comes to Gainesville to join the Gator Nation as the Associate Director of Bands, Director of Athletic Bands, Assistant Professor in the School of Music, and most importantly as the Director of the “Pride of the Sunshine” Fightin’ Gator Marching Band. Prior to his appointment at UF, he served as Assistant to the Director of Bands, Assistant Director of the Longhorn Band, and Conductor of the Longhorn Basketball, Volleyball and Concert Bands at The University of Texas at Austin, where he was the principal guest conductor of the Symphony Band and the show designer for the Longhorn Band. In the last year, ensembles under his direction performed and recorded with over 36 Grammy-award winning artists in a program he developed to integrate the academic, athletics and live music communities of Central Texas. Prior to his appointment at Texas, he served as the Director of Bands and Assistant Professor of Music at Charleston Southern University (SC), where he was also the Coordinator of Instrumental Music Education. Mr. Watkins received recognition as the CSU Outstanding Faculty Member of the Year in 1997 and was a recipient of the National Band Association’s “Citation of Excellence”, and was the founder, Music Director and Conductor of The Lowcountry Winds, a professional wind ensemble based in Charleston. He has also served as the Director of the U.S. Navy Drum & Bugle Corps and the Director of Instrumental Music at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD, and as a teacher in the public schools in North Carolina, Maryland and Virginia. Prior to his work in music education, he worked for the US Naval Research Laboratory as a research associate in the areas of liquid fuel propellants and their stability, and published over 75 articles in refereed science journals. Mr. Watkins is a native of Falls Church, VA and earned Bachelor of Science and Master of Music Education degrees from George Mason University and Valdosta State University. He holds professional memberships in numerous organizations, served as South Carolina State Chair and Southern Division Chair for the National Band Association, and is an elected member of Phi Beta Mu, the International Bandmaster’s Fraternity. Mr. Watkins remains very active as a designer, clinician and adjudicator throughout the country. He is married to the former Natalie Kay McLain and they have one son, Jacob, who will turn 7 during Band Camp.
Archie Birkner IV
Assistant Director of Bands
Director of Gator
Basketball and Volleyball Bands
Office: MUB 104A
Phone: (352) 392-0227
Email: chipbirk@ufl.edu
Chip Birkner is the Assistant Director of Bands at the University of Florida where he serves as Associate Director of the Gator Marching Band, Director of Pep Bands, Conducts Concert Bands, as well as teaches courses in undergraduate conducting and percussion skills. He is also actively involved in supervising student teachers.
Prior to his appointment at the University of Florida, Mr. Birkner held positions in the public schools as the Assistant Director of Bands at College Park H.S and Knox JH in The Woodlands, TX, as well as similar positions in Tomball, TX and La Porte, TX.
He received his Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Music in Percussion Performance degrees from the University of Florida where he studied under Dr. Kenneth Broadway, Dr. David Waybright, and Matt Sexton.
His professional experience includes performances with the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, Central Florida Symphony Orchestra, Gainesville Symphony Orchestra, and Trommel Percussion Ensemble. His professional affiliations include the Florida Music Educators Association, Florida Bandmasters Association, Percussive Arts Society, Phi Mu Alpha, and Kappa Kappa Psi (Honorary).
Mr. Birkner is an Educational Endorser of Promark Sticks and Mallets. He remains an active clinician/performer across the United States.
