It’s Only the Beginning
The 2014–2015 school year was a year of firsts for the Riverview Band Program. In November the Blue Coat Regiment performed for the first time at Tropicana Field for the Florida Marching Band Coalition State Championships; the Regiment would go on to win 6th place that day with their program “It’s Only the Beginning,” marking their highest placement at Championships.
The Blue Radiance Color Guard had its first ever full season with the Florida Federation of Colorguards Circuit, and what a season it was. The team’s season began with FFCC Premiere in January placing 1st place in Class AAA, which earned them a promotion to Class AA. After that the team went on to win another five consecutive 1st place wins at FFCC regional competitions. In the midst of their undefeated season the Administrative Team and Booster Board were busy planning the first annual Blue Radiance Showcase of Champions competition, which showcased 35 competing teams and also marked the premiere performance of the I-4 Winds—Hillsborough County’s entrance into Winter Guard International’s new Winds division, sponsored by the Riverview Band Program. The season for the team ended in late March in Daytona Beach at the FFCC Championships where the girls took home silver medals after placing second place in the Class AA Knights Division. During the off season the team was informed by the FFCC that due to their consistently high placements during the season they had been promoted to Class A for the 2016 season.
On the instrumentalist side of things this year marked the first time that Riverview has taken two ensembles to the Florida Bandmasters Association District 7 Concert Music Performance Assessment. Students of both the Concert Band and Wind Ensemble took the stage at Wharton High School and earned a rating of excellent at this festival.
For many this year was the beginning of a new attitude—a reinvigorated attitude of success, motivation and dedication. This year also marks the beginning for two people we hold near and dear to us at Riverview High School. John Davis, Director of Instrumental Music, has been selected as a Peer Evaluator for Hillsborough County and will use his wealth of knowledge and experience to assist other music teachers throughout the district.
We are incredibly excited to announce that Trevor Butts, 2014 fall intern from USF, will be coming on as our new Director of Bands for the 2015–2016 school year. “I am looking forward to not only continuing, but also growing, the tradition of excellence and achievement that Mr. Davis has developed over his eight years here at Riverview,” said Mr. B.
Mr. Davis will write the show music for the Blue Coat Regiment’s 2015 fall production and Mr. Miller, Assistant Marching Band Director will also take on a more administrative role as the Program’s new Staff Director and continue to support the efforts of the Band Program wherever possible.
