North Florida Honor Band
Serving
Baker, Bradford, Columbia, Gilchrist, Levy, Suwannee and Union Counties
Serving
Baker, Bradford, Columbia, Gilchrist, Levy, Suwannee and Union Counties
Mission Statement:
The purpose of the North Florida Honor Band is to provide a consistent source of camaraderie for Baker, Bradford, Columbia, Gilchrist, Levy, Suwannee, and Union Counties through promoting and celebrating band students on their individual musical achievements in an honor band setting to further their growth as a musician.
Clinicians 2025-2026
High School Clinician - Mr. Robert Sheldon, Composer
Robert Sheldon (b. Feb 3, 1954) has taught instrumental music in the Florida and Illinois public schools and has served on the faculty at Florida State University where he taught instrumental music education classes, conducting, and directed the university bands. Following seventeen years as Director of Concert Band Publications for Alfred Music, he now maintains an active composition and conducting schedule, regularly accepting commissions for new works. Sheldon received the Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of Miami and the Master of Fine Arts in Instrumental Conducting from the University of Florida. In 2020, VanderCook College of Music presented him with an honorary Doctorate in Music Education.
An internationally recognized clinician, his music is performed around the world and frequently appears on many international concert and contest lists. Sheldon has conducted Regional and All-State Honor Bands throughout the United States and abroad. He often appears as a Music Education clinician and has presented sessions and seminars at numerous colleges and universities as well as state and provincial Music Education Association conferences. He has served as a conductor and clinician in all fifty states and the District of Columbia in the United States, as well as Japan, Canada, Italy, Taiwan, Germany, Australia and China, and has conducted performances of his works in New York’s Carnegie Hall, Chicago’s Orchestra Hall, Boston’s Symphony Hall, Taipei’s National Concert Hall, Matsumoto’s Seiji Ozawa Performing Arts Center, Hamamatsu’s ACT City Concert Hall, the Sydney Opera House and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C.
Middle School Clinician - Mr. Joshua Autrey, Director at Milwee MS, Longwood, FL
Joshua Autrey is in his eleventh year as the Director of Bands at Milwee Middle School in Longwood, FL. He is a highly sought after adjudicator, guest teacher, and mentor to other young directors by regularly hosting student interns from universities around Florida. Bands under the direction of Mr. Autrey have consistently been lauded for their excellence at Florida Bandmasters Association festivals and music programs under his direction have grown to include a higher number of students enjoying the performance of band literature. In 2014, Mr. Autrey was the recipient of the FBA Tom Bishop Award for his growth of the Gateway High School Band program and more recently, he was awarded the Linda Mann Five Year Superior Award & Five Year Jazz Band Superior Award at Milwee Middle School. In 2024, the Milwee Symphonic Band performed by invitation at the Florida Music Educators Association President’s Concert in Tampa, FL. Mr. Autrey holds associations with the Florida Bandmasters Association, American School Band Directors Association, and Kappa Kappa Psi. He is a proud graduate of The Florida State University College of Music with a Bachelors in Music Education.
Refer to the Handbook page for ALL pertinent information
Please encourage your students to audition so we can be sure to have a complete band for our Clinicians. This is a great opportunity for our students to be exposed to someone from another area. The things they will learn can hopefully be transferred to their own band rooms and will help us all grow and enjoy our music making to its fullest.
If you have any questions (directors only) please call:
Honor Band Coordinator: Kelly Dorsey 352-448-5228, dorseyk@union.k12.fl.us
Audition coordinator: Chris Dunn 352-463-4210, dunnc@mygcsd.org
Rehearsal Site Host: Kelly Dorsey 352-448-5228, dorseyk@union.k12.fl.us
Treasurer: Jay Miller 386-755-8080 millerj@columbiak12.com
Event Sites
All Rehearsals will be held at Union County HS.
Each school must provide their own chaperone.
Directors should not count themselves as a chaperone as you will be busy working.
Students will wear their NFHB T-Shirts on Friday
Food
Lunch will be provided free of charge by the UCHS Cafeteria. Dinner plans will be announced.
After the concert, there will be a director's reception at the Dorsey home. Be sure to have your students coordinate a ride home with their parents so you can attend. This is a wonderful gathering and exchanging of stories and ideas!
Schedule 2025-2026
AUDITION SCHEDULE
November 19 - Audition Recordings due to Chris Dunn & Paperwork/check DUE to Kelly Dorsey (MPA Online)
November 21 - Section recordings emailed to judges
December 3 - Judge results due back to Chris Dunn
REHEARSAL/PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE
Tuesday, 1/27
Rehearsal 5:30pm-8:30pm
Thursday, 1/29
1:00pm-5:00pm
Friday, 1/30
9:30am - 3:30pm Rehearsal
12:10pm - 12:40pm LUNCH - Provided in the cafeteria
4:00pm - 5:00pm Meet the Conductors
5:00pm - 6:00pm Dinner - Provided
6:30pm Call time for concert
7:00pm Concert