The Fabulous Marching Cavaliers

Princess Anne:
A Virginia Honor Band
1983, 1984, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1998, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008


Princess Anne Bands
Wind Ensemble

Symphonic Band

The Speed of Sound Big Band

The Princess Anne Jazz Combo

The Fabulous Marching Cavaliers

Princess Anne Indoor

Percussion Ensemble

Dominion Storm Indoor Drumline
(an independent drum line comprised of students from several area high schools, of which Princess Anne is a part)

 

Note:  special program offerings, such as flute choir, woodwind choir, and brass choir are on a
student-availability and student-interest basis.

The Wind Ensemble:

The center-piece of the Princess Anne Band Program and performing the most challenging literature in Grade 6, the Wind Ensemble is comprised of the students in PA Bands who seek to achieve a level of artistry, teamwork, and performance that they can barely concieve -- might not even believe is possible -- but trust that they can achieve together with their fellow band members. 

Through a systematic approach to learning, utilizing International Baccalaureate Organization techniques from the Middle Years Program (specifically Approaches to Learning, Community, and Environment), students in the Wind Ensemble are exposed to the most intense, serious works of literature. 

Performances include (at a minimum) Winter Concert, Pre-Festival, Band Festival,  Spring Concert, and Graduation.  Concerts have also been given to middle and elementary schools on Wind Ensemble tour, performances for the Princess Anne student body before winter holidays, performances for rising freshmen, rising IB students, and a clinic under the baton of Maestro Anthony Maeillo. 

PA graduates from the Wind Ensemble have gone on to major in music industry, music business, music performance, jazz studies, music therapy, and music education.   

Students in this ensemble also receive instruction at the hands of instrument-specific pedagogists, paid for by the Marching Cavaliers Parents Association.  These professionals are a vital part of the students’ overall individual education. 

Admission to the Wind Ensemble is gained in one of several ways: 
* Membership in the Fabulous Marching Cavaliers
* All-District Honor Band membership
* Rising freshmen who were All-District Honor Band in middle 
   school
* Instrumentation need
* Competitive Audition  

The Symphonic Band

The Symphonic Band performs Grade 4 literature at the District Band Festival, and performs in concert with the Wind Ensemble.  Comprised of either students for whom Wind Ensemble may not be to their desire, or freshmen Wind Ensemble members assigned to the group for exposure to more literature, or upperclassmen in the Wind Ensemble who are learning a new instrument, the Symphonic Band is a vital learning tool in PA Bands; the ensemble where Approaches to Learning are first instilled in the student membership. 

Students in this ensemble also receive instruction at the hands of select Wind Ensemble students.  Admission to the Symphonic Band is open to all Princess Anne High School students.  

The Speed of Sound Big Band

The Speed of Sound Big Band is the Princess Anne High School Jazz Ensemble (Big Band).  Comprised of students who are also members of the Fabulous Marching Cavaliers, the Speed of Sound rehearses once a week after school, developing its “Book”, which when fully performed can last up to an hour.  The students in the Speed of Sound are also taught theories and practices of improvisation, as well as ensemble performance techniques.  The Speed of Sound “gigs” heavily from March until the end of the school year.  This ensemble also co-sponsors the Big Spring Jam concert series for jazz bands and percussion ensembles with the PA Percussion Ensemble. 

Membership in the Fabulous Marching Cavaliers is a prerequisite to admission to the Speed of Sound, unless there is an instrument-specific need.  Membership in the Speed of Sound is by audition only.  

The Princess Anne Jazz Combo

The Princess Anne Jazz Combo is comprised of those students who desire the combo experience in jazz performance.  Instrumentation is drum set, bass, guitar, piano, and solo instrument.  This group is only for the most intense study in improvisation, performance, and the jazz idiom.   Student run and rehearsed, membership in the Jazz Combo is open by audition only.  

The Fabulous Marching Cavaliers

By far the most famous and visable component of PA Bands, the Fabulous Marching Cavaliers have a history rich in tradition and excellence spanning over 50 years.  Historic notables that have guided the FMC such as Ron Collins, Sam Reynolds, Joe Ligart, and Alan Sharps, have allowed the Fabulous Marching Cavaliers to set their own standards in performance, leadership, education, teamwork, and achievement.   

Membership is open to all Princess Anne High School students, but only the most dedicated -- the students who desire the physical and mental challenge of a team committed to only the highest possible standard they can set -- will learn what “Unity with Pride” means.  While all this may seem like a lot of work for an 8 minute show… one must experience the Fabulous Marching Cavaliers to understand them.   

In this group students learn rehearsal etiquette and protocols that will serve them in both the Wind Ensemble as well as Drum Corps… indeed, many of our students who participate in the marching arts’ premier league notice that most of the regimen of rehearsal in their new corps has already been taught to them in the FMC.   

With an enthusiastic fan base that stretches back to the founding of Princess Anne High School, there are over 50 years of tradition in Excellence that students must uphold to earn their place in The Legacy.  

Princess Anne Indoor

The winter color guard performance ensemble in PA Bands is the Princess Anne Indoor.  Utilizing and expanding concepts learned in the Fabulous Marching Cavaliers Color Guard, students are steeped in movement, equipment, and performance.  This unit of PA Bands competes in the Atlantic Indoor Association circuit.  Membership in the group is on a try-out basis, with try-outs occurring in November.  

Percussion Ensemble

The Percussion Ensemble is comprised of the FMC/Wind Ensemble percussion class.  Studying literature and methods unique to the idiom of percussion ensemble, this group also co-sponsors the Big Spring Jam concert series for jazz bands and percussion ensembles with the Speed of Sound Big Band.  

Dominion Storm Indoor Drum Line

Comprised of students from the Virginia Beach/Norfolk area, this independent drum line competes in the Atlantic Indoor Association circuit.  It is important to note that this is not a Princess Anne Band Program – but one in which PA Bands and the Marching Cavaliers Parents Association  are partners with the Dominion Storm Parents Association – with rehearsal space and equipment being donated to the group. Membership is open to any student in the Hampton Roads area by competitive audition, with auditions occurring in November.