The Ocoee High School Band Program

Re-established in 2005, The Ocoee High School band program is comprised of approximately 225 students. These students make up our three concert bands, two jazz bands, percussion ensemble, Knights Visual Ensemble (K.V.E.) and the Marching Knights in which ALL students participate during the fall football season and seasonal parades throughout the year. The Marching Knights are the center of School Pride and Spirit here at Ocoee High School and in the Ocoee and West Orange County Community.  Our Ensembles have consistently earned Superior ratings at district and state music performance assessments as well as maintaining a demanding performance schedule for community events throughout Central Florida. Our Bands have also performed on the national stage which include these events listed below:

• The 2007 Cotton Bowl Band Competition in Dallas Texas (Grand Champion):
• The 2008 IKEA Thanksgiving Day Parade in Philadelphia; The 2009 Florida Citrus Parade:
• The 2010 New York City Veterans Day Parade;
  
• The 2013 Autozone Liberty Bowl Band Festival;
• The 2016 National Memorial Day Parade in Washington D.C.
• 2019 Chicago Thanksgiving Day Parade 
• The Florida Classic Battle of the Bands (Several Appearances)
• Under Armour High School All American Football Game (Annual Televised event on ESPN)
  
• Numerous Appearances at Universal Studios Orlando

The Ocoee Marching Knights have become one of Central Florida’s most entertaining and recognized musical organizations as we have continued to grow and maintain a very busy performance and community service schedule. With a strong tradition of academic success among the band students, we have produced several Top 10 Academic Students over the years  as well as many National Honor Society students, Not to mention our students are also involved in just about every sport and club on campus. We are very proud of the success, of our students as musicians, performers, scholars and leaders of the next generation.
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Our Directors

Bernie Hendricks, Jr. 
Director of Bands

Mr. Hendricks has served as director of bands at Ocoee High School since the school opened in 2005 He previously served as director of bands at Robinswood Middle School for eight years. Mr. Hendricks is a 1997 Magna Cum Laude Graduate of Florida A & M University, where he served as band president and percussion section leader. He is an active member of the Florida Bandmasters Association for which he has served terms as district secretary and treasurer. He also served on the Orange County fine arts curriculum and leadership teams and the All County concert and jazz band committees. Mr. Hendricks has served the Florida Music Education Association as a state committee chair person and member of the state executive board. Mr. H is a founder member and clinician for the Hapco Jazz Festival and the Hapco Summer Jazz Camp. 
 
Mr. Hendricks has received the honor of “Teacher of the Year” in 2000 at Robinswood Middle School, 2007 and 2017 at Ocoee High School. In 2017 he was a Finalist for Orange County Teacher of the Year.  He was also recognized by the School Band & Orchestra Magazine as the Florida representative for their “50 Most Influential Directors.” Mr. Hendricks is an active adjudicator and clinician throughout the state of Florida. He also serves the community as band leader and Life Group leader at Orlando World Outreach Center. Bernie is happily married to an educator and the proud father of three wonderful children. 

Jennifer Brown-Rolle
​Director of Bands & Orchestra

​Jennifer Brown-Rolle has taught in Orange County Public Schools for past 16 years. She spent her first 11 years as the Director of Bands at Apopka Memorial Middle School, where she established Superior rated concert and jazz bands. Mrs. Brown-Rolle also initiated  the orchestra program at Apopka Middle School before making the jump to Ocoee High School. She Joined the Knight family in 2016 and has continued to build the band programs here as well as re-establishing the Ocoee Orchestra Program.
Mrs. Brown-Rolle completed her bachelor’s degree at Florida A & M University and also holds a Master of Music Therapy Degree from The Florida State University. Music and medicine have always been a passion for her, but the call to give back the gift of music to students won her over. She is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Jack and Jill of America Inc. and loves to volunteer her time in the local community, serving our youth
She has served as session coordinator for the Florida Music Education Associations’ State Conference, is an active Florida Bandmasters Association adjudicator and has recently accepted the call to serve on the FMEA student development committee. She also led the way to charter the Tri-M Music Honor Society chapter at Ocoee High School. In this organization our students serve as advocates for music in the school and community.
Mrs. Brown-Rolle feels that working with the Ocoee High School Band and Orchestra students is a pleasure. “It is amazing to see what our students are able to achieve with hard work and persistence. It is not easy doing what we do but it is always worth it in the end.”
Mrs. Brown-Rolle is happily married and has 2 wonderful daughters……..well actually; little sweet pea on the way wants it to be known (with her vigorous kicks) that there will be a 3rd wonderful daughter come fall 2021!!!!!!