Cypress bay high school sound of thunder & color guard

About Us

Learn how to play an instrument, perform for football games & community concerts, spin a flag & rifle, dance, and be part of an amazing high school experience!

The Marching Band Season begins in the summer and continues through early winter with performances throughout South Florida. There are concert series in the winter and spring months, as well as a competitive Winter Guard season for the Color Guard team.

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Directors & Staff

Over the years, the Cypress Bay Band Program has been extraordinarily successful. Performing ensembles have been invited to highly recognized state and national events! The Marching Band has received high scores at FBA (district assessment) and FMBC (regional) competitions. And highly skilled musicians have hosted onsite clinics that raised the level of our students’ performance.

Band Director, Mr. Brett Dawson

Since the summer of 2020, Mr. Dawson has been the full-time Director of Bands & coordinates all the classes and clubs that belong to the Sound of Thunder program. His experience as a professional jazz trombonist & 20-years as the former Director of Bands at Coral Springs High School, and 30+ years as a Band Director helped him keep students engaged despite the challenges of teaching virtually, and since then, he has managed to coordinate Band activities and successes such as:

  • A Marching Band of 80+ students that have rehearsed for hundreds of hours, competed in various competitions, and taken part in multiple community service events
  • Earning the title of FMBC First Place Indoor Champion in the AAA Class (2022)
  • Weekly rehearsals for Concert and Jazz Bands, and the Color Guard
  • Achieving the prestigious Otto J. Kraushaar Award (2021-2022 School Year)
  • More than 25 students participated in the first ever virtual Solo & Ensemble District MPA (assessment), and 13 qualified for the State level
  • Dozens of students over three years taking part in the All County Honors Band and Frost Honor Band Festival
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Color Guard Director, Clement Vassell

This program is successful because of the help from very experienced clinicians such as Clement Vassell. Clement directs the Color Guard classes and afterschool sessions. The Color Guard is a very important part of the artistic expression of the show. Mr. Dawson works with two main show designers, Andres Martinez and Michael Pflug. They are the master minds behind writing the music and the drills (choreography) of the SHOW!
 

Depending on the season, more technicians will join the team and work on specific skills with all students. We also have clinicians like,  Jed Davis for that help with Percussion Section.

 

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“Art is how we decorate space. Music is how we decorate silence.”