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
The audition requirements are as follow:
-
Routine: You must perform a 2-3 minute routine to
music of your choice
-
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
-
Attire: Royal Blue leotard, nude or tan tights,
appropriate footwear (tennis shoes, cougars, or jazz shoes)
Florida Visual Ensemble
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)
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.