About Us
The Florida 9th District American Legion Symphonic Band is a non-profit organization sponsored by the American Legion 9th District. With over 60 professional and amateur musicians who volunteer their time and talents, the band provides live music for enjoyment throughout the tri-county Area (Broward, Palm Beach, Dade). The concert band originated in January 2004 in Oakland Park, FL. It was founded by Arthur Tenney and was incorporated under the name “American Legion Symphonic Pops, Inc”. Today it is one of the few community concert bands in South Florida, and is the only American Legion-affiliated band in Florida. Previously known as the Oakland Park American Legion Symphonic Band, the band was renamed to the Florida 9th District American Legion Symphonic Band in November 2008 in gratitude for the 9th District's sponsorship.
Both the symphonic band and Nostalgia perform at various venues including the City of Oakland Park, the Alexander Nininger State Veterans’ Home, the Parks and Recreation Departments of Pompano Beach, the John Knox Village, and veteran’s activities and other patriotic events sponsored by the Florida 9 District American Legion.
The current conductor is: James McGonigal. Jim is beginning his first season as our conductor and takes the podium after 20 years of previous conducting experience at both the high school and college level. The majority of his teaching/conducting was in the public high schools of Florida with brief sojourns into the realm of college teaching out of state to Kansas and Ohio. He left teaching for the business world, but has now been drawn back part-time to his love of working with amateur musicians! His vision for our band is to advance and promote a musical organization which can not only be a joy to its members, but can also be a powerful contributor to the musical life of the South Florida community at large. And, our new conductor’s knowledge and expertise has launched our organization into a highly successful expansion effort which has doubled our membership! Our musicians really enjoy “working hard” making music! Jim holds both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the Florida State University and has completed all course work requirements for the Doctor of Music Education degree from the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. Concert bands, marching bands and jazz ensembles under his direction were consistently rated among the best in the southeastern United States and received numerous local and regional awards. Many of his former students have gone on to highly successful careers in either music teaching and in performing professionally. His professional memberships have included The Florida Bandmaster’s Assn., The College Band Director’s National Assn., The National Band Assn. (charter member), as well as Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, a men’s music fraternity and Kappa Kappa Psi (honorary member), a men’s band fraternity. Jim is a brand new member of the Assn. of Concert Bands (a national community band organization) and participated in the national convention held in Houston, Texas in April of 2009.
Our mission is to contribute to the musical environment of the tri-county area, provide musical entertainment for our residents, visitors, and veterans’ organizations, and provide an opportunity for our band members to improve their musical skills, and have an opportunity to perform in a first class musical organization. It is also our purpose to reaffirm and keep alive the place of the concert community band in American music by reviving and maintaining the tradition of the “town band”.
Nostalgia is comprised of musicians from the Florida 9th District American Legion Symphonic Band. Our goal is to keep the sounds of the big band era alive for all to enjoy. The band is available for either performances or dances.
Location:
We rehearse at:
American Legion Post #142
(Sterling McClellan Post)
171 American Legion Blvd. (SW 2nd St.)
Pompano Beach, FL 33060
The Post is just east of the tracks & Dixie Hwy., one block south of Atlantic Blvd.
Rehearsals:
Concert band rehearsal: 7:00 pm to 8:45 pm
Nostalgia (dance band) rehearsal: 9:00 pm to 10:00 pm
** The bands will take from 07/05 to the first Wednesday after Labor Day for vacation**
Concerts:
Keep checking our site for more details.
Calendar of Events:
Band Officers:
President: Jim McGonigal
Vice President: Dr. Marvin Cogan
Secretary: Tracey Alderson
Treasurer: Carlos Pinera
Business Manager: John Vazquez
IN MEMORIAM:
The band wishes to honor the memory of members who have passed away ~
Bill Bailey (2008)
Ted McLaughlin (November 2008)
Ben Etri (November 2008)
PHOTOS:
Links:
Other:
