3 MSD Eagle Regiment Members Secure Spots in Florida All-State Band

by David Volz September 26, 2024

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3 MSD Eagle Regiment Members Secure Spots in Florida All-State Band

Gage Heller, Ryan Shaw and Alexander Laurenzano {David Volz}

Several Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Eagle Regiment band members have earned a place in the Florida all-state band.

Ryan Shaw, 17, is a highly regarded trumpet player in the Eagle Regiment. He has qualified for the all-state band since he was in the eighth grade at Westglades Middle School and is now the section leader for trumpets.

He lives in Parkland, is a senior with a 4.8 grade point average, and is a member of the National Honor Society.

“Being a good trumpet player takes a lot of dedication and work. I practice every day,” said Shaw.

Gage Heller, 17, is a talented trombone player and band captain who has achieved all-state status. “I love to practice, play the trombone, and participate in the Eagle Regiment,” he said, adding that it takes effort to play the trombone well.

Heller is a junior living in Parkland with a 4.9 GPA and would like to be in a college marching band.

Alexander Laurenzano, 16, a junior, is one of the top tuba players in Florida. He has been a member of the all-state orchestra and all-state band and has also performed at a music festival in North Carolina.

“These are all great musicians, and they consistently set the example for their peers on a musical level,” said band director Robert Rivero.

The Eagle Regiment earned many accolades and performed at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade last year.

According to Rivero, they will compete in the Falcon Sound Invitational at Flanagan High School on Saturday, October 5, and on October 26 at the Bands of America Preliminary Round at Camping World Stadium in Orlando.

They are traveling to Indianapolis in November to compete in the Bands of America Grand Nationals at Lucas Oil Stadium. “This competition is regarded as one of the most prestigious marching band competitions in the United States,” said Rivero.

He said the Eagle Regiment has been successful because the students enjoy working hard, and the band has a great parent support system.

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Author Profile

David Volz

David Volz has worked as a writer in South Florida for 35 years. He has written for the Sun-Sentinel, Hollywood Gazette, School Transportation News, South Dade News Leaders, Observer among others. He has an MA in Communications from Florida Atlantic University and a BA in Communications from Valparaiso University. Volz teaches Communications at Miami Dade College and Palm Beach State College. He lives in Coral Springs and enjoys running and participating in 5Ks and half-marathons.