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History of the
Crown Jewel Band Festival
History of the Crown Jewel Band Festival
Introduction
The Treasure Coast Crown Jewel Marching Band Festival is an
organized interscholastic activity of Vero Beach High School.
Festival operations are conducted under the guidelines provided by
the Florida School Music Activities Association, the Florida
Bandmasters Association, the School District of Indian River Co.,
and Vero Beach High School.
The Beginning
The idea for the Crown Jewel Festival was originated in the Fall of
1981 during conversations between James Sammons and Gordon Popple,
Assistant Principal and soon to be Coordinator of Community and
Adult Education for the Indian River Co. School District. They felt
that our band students should be exposed to as many quality bands
during the year as possible to serve as role models for the further
development of what was at that time a very underdeveloped VBHS
Band. The band had just returned from observing a festival in
Winterhaven and had witnessed some great groups so the idea was that
if they could develop a festival in that area that we could do the
same in Vero Beach. This would also bring more bands into the local
community and improve interest and support for the VBHS Band.
Mr. Popple, knowing that he would become the Coordinator of
Community Education suggested that his department might be able to
sponsor and initially fund such an event in conjunction with VBHS.
During the late fall and early winter several discussions were held
and a decision was made by Mr. Sammons, John Witt, Principal of VBHS,
and Jim Burns, Superintendent of Schools to launch the event for the
Fall of 1982.
The Community Education Department and VBHS assumed the financial
and liability responsibilities, as the festival is an
interscholastic competitive event. The band director at VBHS, Mr.
Sammons, was designated by the Principal as Sponsor and Festival
Director of the event and the Coordinator of Community Education,
Mr. Popple, was designated by Mr. Sammons to serve as his designee
in the position of Executive Director of the festival.
The first Crown Jewel was held on the first Saturday of December
1982 with a parade competition (along with the Christmas Parade) on
Friday night. Over time the number of bands participating diminished
as the popularity of late season marching festivals fell out of
favor with the majority of bands. The festival was moved to October
and continues to be held on the third Saturday in October. The
festival has continued to be a strong well attended event drawing
top bands of all styles and sizes from around the state.
Crown Jewel celebrated its 25th Anniversary in October
2006 with a tribute during the exhibition performance of the VBHS
Band to Gordon Popple in honor of and in appreciation for his
contributions to the founding of Crown Jewel along with his
dedicated service to the Vero Beach community. Unfortunately, Mr.
Popple passed away in the spring of 2007.
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