The Florida Federation of Colorguards Circuit musically motivates Florida bands
It starts with the crowd, the people who sit down and cheer. Then the students, dressed up in heavy nylon and compression gear, wearing hats fitted with feathers inches off their heads. They hold instruments that reflect the bright lights of the stadium, their chins held up to the box where the judges sit. There is a collective silence on the field as everyone seems to take a deep breath, allowing their anxieties to dissipate as the music begins to flow through their fingers. This is marching band, this is FFCC.
The Florida Federation of Colorguards Circuit, FFCC, has grown to be one of the largest outdoor marching band circuits in Florida over the last 2 years. With competitions held around the state, from Gaither High School in Tampa to Oviedo High School, FFCC has reached out far and wide, originally starting in Lakeland, as an indoor circuit. At first, they mainly hosted events focusing around the winter season, such as Winter Guard International, or WGI. These events consisted of winter guard, indoor percussion, and later indoor winds. It wasn’t until the fall of 2023 that they began to shift towards outdoor marching festivities.
This isn’t just a competition- it is, and has always, been so much more. It is a symbol of community, kinship, togetherness. The events don’t feel like your traditional competition- there is never any hate or bad blood between teams- it feels like a family all cheering each other on.
Drum Major Elizabeth Graft from West Port High School said, “I think all of our kids in our band love coming out and getting to watch all the talent.”
Everyone is there to support someone else, even if it’s someone unknown from halfway across the state. Students get the chance to talk with people they never would’ve met otherwise, and it nurtures friendships across all of Florida’s bands.
This sense of community isn’t only within the students, but it goes further into the staff and judges involved.
“FFCC to me means a place where we all belong,” said Time and Penalty Judge Kelly Ann Ross. “And we provide a really great experience for our member teams- students, independent teams- as well as our directors and staff,”
Several of the judges and staff make a point to talk or chat with bands throughout the day, especially before they go on the field to perform. The field itself is full of energy, especially from the judges who walk around during shows for rating.
Long time Music Ensemble judge Mark Hoskins said, “I love that energy- that connection on the field,”
Both Hoskins and Ross have worked on the field, agreeing that the energy from the students are why they want to keep going, to continue to judge and interact with the fantastic bands that partake in FFCC.
Overall, FFCC has created such a massive community within a very short time in the outdoor marching band world. Through the energy of the students, the participation of the judges, and the effort of everyone involved, the community will continue to grow and flourish.
