Director: Mr. Ralph “Lee” Hicks
Assistant Director: Mr. Aaron Miller
About the Fontainebleau High School Band Program
Over the past seventeen years the instrumental music program at Fontainebleau High School has become one of Louisiana’s most highly regarded high school band programs, continuously working to “Raise the Bar” in all aspects of our program. Students in the program strive to improve themselves as musicians, students, and leaders in the school and community. The band program at Fontainebleau High School offers a comprehensive music education with concert, jazz, and marching ensembles open to all Fontainebleau High School students interested in music. It is one of the largest and most successful organizations at Fontainebleau High School and is thankful for the constant support of the school district and all of the FHS administration, faculty, staff, and students.
The program was established in 1994 with the opening of the school. At that time, being a new school, the program began with about 30 members and has grown to a current membership of almost 200 members. The program has grown to include 3 concert bands, 2 jazz ensembles, marching band, and winter guard. The Fontainebleau High School band program has become one of Louisiana’s premier high school band programs. All of the ensembles achieve very high levels of performance and consistently receive superior ratings at district, state, and national festivals.
The marching band, known as the “Crimson Band from Bulldog Land” performs at football games, Mardi Gras Parades, and community events. After hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005 the group was offered their first opportunity to participate in the Louisiana Showcase of Marching Bands that showcases 34 of the top marching bands in Louisiana. Since that first experience in the Louisiana Showcase of Marching Bands, the Fontainebleau Crimson Band has returned to the festival to place in the top 5 for the past 13 consecutive years.
The band programs three concert bands have established themselves as well, consistently receiving superior ratings at district, state, and national festivals. Recent literature performed by the ensemble includes Bizzaro by Michael Daugherty, Aspen Jubilee by Ron Nelson, A Movement for Rosa by Mark Camphouse, Pastime by Jack Stamp, A Light Unto the Darkness by David Gillingham, Cloudburst by Eric Whitacre, Children’s March by Percy Aldridge Grainger, and numerous other well-known pieces by noted composers such as Frank Ticheli, Jack Stamp, Percy Grainger, John Philip Sousa, and many others.
It’s “the pride of West St. Tammany,” the Fontainebleau High School Crimson Band from Bulldog Land!