About the Program
The Niceville High School band is an outstanding program consisting of seven musical ensembles: Varsity Band, Concert Band, Symphonic Winds, Wind Ensemble, Big Band and Jazz “Too.” In the fall, these groups join together to form the 270-plus Eagle Pride Marching Band. They have a loyal following throughout the southeast and a reputation for presenting entertaining halftime shows wherever they perform. The marching and concert organizations have in fact received superior ratings on the field and in the concert hall for over forty-plus years.
The Niceville Wind Ensemble has performed at the College Band Directors National Association Southern Division Conference (2008, 2014) the 2010 New York Wind Band Festival at Carnegie Hall and the 2019 National Sousa Festival at the Kennedy Center and the 2020 Florida Music Educators Association Conference President’s Concert.
The Niceville Band program has received the Otto J. Kraushaar Award over 35 times in the past four decades. This award is given by the Florida Bandmasters Association to high school band programs that receive straight superior ratings in marching and concert performance assessments at the district and state levels. In addition, the jazz program continues to be very active while also receiving superior ratings at all FBA Jazz Music Performance Assessments - routinely garnering praise from professionals in the area of jazz education. In 2018, the Niceville High School Big Band was selected to perform at the prestigious Savannah Music Festival Swing Central Jazz Competition. This invitation is extended to only 12 of 110 band applications through a blind taped audition.
Much attention is given to the individual development of every musician in the Niceville Band. Most students are involved in solo and ensemble festival each year, summer music camps and private lessons. Focus on the cultivation of chamber ensembles is also paramount in the program’s philosophy. The depth of talent in the band is exceptional with numerous members performing in the Okaloosa County Honor Band, Florida All-State Band and Orchestra, and various other honor bands throughout the Southeast. From 2005 thru present day, at least 50% of the participants in the 100-plus member Okaloosa County Honor Band were members of the Niceville Wind Ensemble. Members of the Niceville Band are routinely accepted into major universities in the southeast and conservatories around the nation including the Julliard School, the Manhattan School, the Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music, and Indiana University.
Over the past forty years, the Eagle Pride as made appearances at the Washington, D.C. National Cherry Blossom Festival, the Orange Bowl Parade, the Cotton Bowl Parade, the Fiesta Bowl Parade, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, at Pearl Harbor, at halftime in the Superdome for the New Orleans Saints, and three appearances at the Tournament of Roses Parade – the most recent appearance being in 2024. The Eagle Pride Marching Band has received the highest rating of “Superior” at the Florida Bandmasters Association Marching Performance Assessment for the past 40+ years.
Mission Statement of the Niceville Band:
“The American Bandmasters Association states the goal of all school band programs should be to ‘grace it’s participants with the ideals and sensitivities that are vital to the human existence and progress.’ The Niceville High School Band program has, at its core, the mission of providing a safe and wholesome place for students to enrich their intellectual, emotional, and artistic needs. Attributes that are crucial to becoming a ‘whole’ person and a contributing member of our community. If these goals are achieved, the program will create educated consumers of music and the Fine Arts – what should be the ultimate goal in any music classroom.”
Sections of the Program
The Eagle Pride
Marching Band
The over 300-member marching band is our most visual ensemble, and encompasses all members of the band program. The Eagle Pride has been selected to perform at many prestigious events, such as the Tournament of Roses Parade and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade to name a few. The Eagle Pride regularly earns Superior ratings at the Florida Bandmasters Association’s Marching Band Music Performance Assessments.
Concert Bands
The concert bands are the academic focus of the Niceville Band Program throughout the year. The students are placed into four bands - Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Winds, Concert Band, and Varsity Band.
The premiere concert band, The Niceville Wind Ensemble, has a long tradition of successful and significant performances. They have performed twice at Carnegie Hall, Atlanta's Symphony Hall, twice at the CBDNA/NBA Divisional Conference(2008, 2014), the FMEA President’s Concert, and at the 2019 National Sousa Festival on stage at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. They have received superior ratings at district and state music performance assessments for the past four decades.
Jazz Bands
Jazz Band is an optional secondary ensemble at Niceville. The jazz program houses two bands, the Big Band, and Jazz “Too” ensemble.
The Niceville Big Band has performed at the Savannah Music Festival, and was selected to perform at the Jazz National Convention.
Annually, both jazz bands perform with guest clinicians and premiere new works for jazz ensemble. Past clinicians include Andrew Distal, Alex Hahn, Joseph Spainola, and more. Both ensembles routinely receive Superior ratings at the Florida Bandmasters Association’s Marching Band Music Performance Assessments.
Color Guard
The Niceville Color Guard makes up the majority of our auxiliary program. Made up regularly of more than sixty students, our color guard is one of the largest in the state. Color Guard students take a half-year course in the fall during the marching band season. Students may audition for the color guard with having no prior experience.
Majorettes
The Eagle Pride is proud to include a majorette line in our auxiliary program. The Niceville Majorette Line is for students with long-standing experience in the art of baton. These students take a half-year course in the fall during the marching band season, just as the Color Guard students do.