Supporters Congratulate Marjory Stoneman Douglas Band After Winning Second State Championship

By: Sharon Aron Baron

The Eagle Regiment marching band earned the title of Florida Marching Band State Champions for the second year in a row. 

Led by Band Director Alexander Kaminsky, each November the Eagle Regiment competes in the Florida Marching Band Championships, or FMBC, which are held at Tropicana Field in St Petersburg. There are five different classes and the Eagle Regiment is in class 5A – the largest class based on the number of marching band members. 

This year, the Eagle Regiment’s score of 92.950 beat out Timber Creek High School (91.100) West Broward High School (91.050) Pace High School (88.200)  and Oviedo High School (85.400).  Scores are based on music, general effect and visual performance. 

“The members of the Eagle Regiment always amaze me with their resilience,” said Georgia Garnecki, public relations and volunteer coordinator whose 9th and 11th grade children are in the band.

On Sunday evening, after fun day at Busch Gardens, the 191 band members received a police escort thanks to Parkland Mayor Christine Hunschofsky. She requested BSO Captain Chris Mulligan escort them from the Sawgrass Expressway to the school.  They arrived around 9:20 p.m. to a sea of well-wishers, including Principal Ty Thompson, Parkland Commissioner Bob Mayersohn and School Board Member-elect Lori Alhadeff.

Said Garnecki, “”I am so proud of all of these kids.  After all they have been through, to be able to perform at that level.”