J.P. Taravella Band Leaders Set Their Sights on State Championship

by David Volz August 2, 2026

by David Volz August 2, 2026 2 minutes read

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Dominic Santana, Shamar Drummond, and Natalie Garcia. {David Volz}

Dominic Santana is a leader in the J.P. Taravella High School marching band and in the classroom.

He has the highest grade point average in the senior class, 5.6, and is a lieutenant in the band, where he plays the clarinet and saxophone. Last year, he was in the all-county band and earned a superior rating for solo performance.

“I will be helping the director, Shamar Drummond, lead the band, and I will work to keep everyone motivated,” said Santana, adding that his favorite academic subjects are music and math.

He is looking forward to his senior year and hopes the band earns first place at the upcoming state competition and other contests.

Natalie Garcia, the band’s drum major, is looking forward to her senior year. She plays the bass clarinet and has a 4.5 GPA. She believes the Trojans can earn first place in the state competition.

“I believe it takes passion to be successful in music, and I want to inspire that in all the band members. As a leader, I must be respectful to everyone, but I also encourage members to be competitive,” said Garcia.

Drummond, in his second year as director, believes in this year’s band and expects success at the competitions. “I think we will do better than last year, and if we have passion and commitment, we will do well,” he said.

The Falcon Sound Invitational takes place on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at Charles Flanagan High School in Pembroke Pines.

The 2026 Florida Marching Band Championships will take place on Saturday, November 14, at Pitbull Stadium at Florida International University, according to Drummond.

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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.