Pride Youth Band
Registration is open
Apply here
Registration closes December 12, 2025
The South Florida Pride Bands is proud to announce the Fourteenth Annual Pride Youth Band Program for 2025-2026. The band is open to all high school students in South Florida. Its purpose is to give students an opportunity to work with an outstanding artistic team and musician mentors, to network with other band students, to unite against bullying and to celebrate diversity through music.
High School students from the tri-county area will join forces with members of the South Florida Pride Concert Band as they celebrate the music of Dr. Erika Svanoe. These students will perform under the direction of Dr. Svanoe, Conductor of the University of Wisconsin–Stout Symphonic Band. Over a dozen $1,500 college scholarships will be awarded to members of the Youth Band and one solo competition winner will receive a $7500 College Scholarship, sponsored by FLoatarama.
Dates and Times:
Sunday, February 8 – 2:00-6:00pm – St. Mark’s (all)
Sunday, February 15 – 2:00-6:00pm – St. Mark’s (all)
Friday, February 20 – 7:00-9:00pm – St. Mark’s (Jazz) and Art Serve (Concert)
Saturday, February 21 – 10:30am – 5:00pm – St. Mark’s (Jazz) and Art Serve (Concert)
Sunday, February 22, 3:00 pm call and 7:00pm performance – The Parker (all)
Solo Competition
We are proud to announce the opportunity to audition for the Fourth Annual FLoatarama Soloist Competition and Scholarship! The scholarship audition is open to all 2026 Pride Youth Band Season Fifteen participants. The winner of the competition will receive a $7,500 college scholarship courtesy of FLoatarama and the opportunity to perform their solo with the South Florida Pride Concert Band at our Spring concert at The Parker on May 2, 2025.
The soloist competition requirements are:
- Participants must be a member of the 2026 Pride Youth Band Season 15 and perform in the Pride Youth Band concert on February 22, 2026.
- The piece must be grade 4-6
- Participants must perform their solo with the South Florida Pride Concert Band at our May 2, 2026 concert at 7:00 pm at The Parker.
Applicants must submit a (.wav or .mp3) audio file recording of their solo which can be with or without accompaniment. This is a blind audition, so the recording should only include your performance. Please do not speak, and the file should not include your name or any identifying information. The recording along with a scanned copy of the sheet music should be sent via email to sfpwegrants@gmail.com by Monday, February 16, 2026. Please let us know if you have any questions.
Students accepted to the program will be required to attend ALL rehearsals and to perform with the Pride Youth Band as well as the South Florida Pride Concert Band on Sunday, February 22, 2026 at 7:00 pm at The Parker in Ft. Lauderdale. The concert will be recorded. Local professional musicians will be working with students in sectional and ensemble rehearsals leading up to the performance weekend.
Registration is open
Apply here
Registration closes December 12, 2025
Acceptance to the program is based on receipt of application and instrumentation needs. It is FREE to apply. Accepted students are required to pay a $20 participation fee. Students with financial need may request a waiver of the $20 participation fee. Students with transportation issues may also request assistance. Please include these requests on your application.
Students participating in the program will be eligible for one of at least TEN $1,000 COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS. Recipients of scholarships will be selected by the program leadership based on participation, enthusiasm and leadership qualities. To date, over $200,000 in scholarships have been awarded.
If you would like to volunteer with our organization, or donate to this worthy cause, please contact us by email at ypbcoordinator@gmail.com.
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