December 19, 2008

Tarpon Springs Marching Band Honored with Sudler Shield Award
 Presentation at Tarpon Springs High School on Friday, May 15, 2009 at 7:00 p.m.

By Kevin Ford, Director

On Friday, December 19, 2008 the Tarpon Springs High School Outdoor Performance Ensemble was selected to receive the John Philip Sousa Foundation's Sudler Shield award by the Jury of the Sudler Shield at the 62nd annual Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, IL. The Sudler Shield is awarded by the John Phillip Sousa Foundation "to establish and support international standards of excellence in musical performance, marching execution, innovation, choreography, and show design for high school or youth marching bands...

"The Sudler Shield is an international award recognizing high school and youth marching bands of world class excellence. The Sudler Shield is endowed by Louis and Virginia Sudler and administered by the John Philip Sousa Foundation. The Sudler Shield committee is chaired by Dr. Dale Warren Director of Concert Bands University of Arkansas and consists of fourteen members. This jury includes university and high school band directors from throughout the United States. Each year the committee meets at the Midwest Band & Orchestra Clinic/Convention in Chicago, Illinois. The jury views video and reviews materials of bands that have been placed in nomination."

I would like to congratulate everyone from our parents, administration, community, instructional staff, alumni, and most importantly our students. I am thrilled for our school and community and very honored that our organization and students have been internationally recognized as this year’s recipient of the John Philip Sousa Foundation's "Sudler Shield" award by the Jury of the “Sudler Shield” at the 62nd annual Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, IL. This award is given internationally to marching bands that have exhibited performance and creative excellence consistently over the years. I want to make sure our alumni know that they are as much a part of this award as our current students. It was through a consistent level of excellence through the years as well our current students’ performance at the Grand Nationals in Indianapolis, Indiana that earned them this prestigious honor.

In November, we submitted a DVD of our Grand National performance and an achievement resume from the past 5 years. On December 19, 2008, Dr. Warren called me to let me know that a jury of 14 panelists had viewed our video and reviewed our achievements from the past 5 years and had selected our organization for this honor.

I want to personally thank each and every one of you for your contributions to our organization. I also want to congratulate our students and alumni for their terrific efforts and wonderful performances through the years. We will always be eternally grateful to our outstanding instructional staff for sharing your time, gifts, and expertise with our students. A prestigious honor like the “Sudler Shield” can only be achieved when collectively parents, community, administration, instructional staff, and hard working students are all working together towards a common goal. I am very proud of each and every one of you and I hope that you will share this honor with your family and friends.

The Sulder Shield will be officially awarded at a special public ceremony during the annual Spring Concert on May 15, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. at Tarpon Springs High School.

The 2008 Jury of the Sudler Shield