William R. Boone High School Band
2000 S. Mills Avenue Orlando, FL 32806
James Henderson, Director
Rob Connelly, Associate Director

James Henderson is currently a teacher of instrumental music with Orange County Public Schools, Florida. Mr. Henderson is in his fourth year as Director of Bands at William R. Boone High school and helps with three other junior high’s that feed into the school. Mr. Henderson oversees all facets of the instrumental music program. His teaching experience in Louisiana and Florida encompasses the elementary, junior high and high school levels, as well as private brass instruction.

Performing groups for which Mr. Henderson has been responsible have been consistently recognized for their high level of accomplishments. Mr. Henderson has served as a clinician and an adjudicator throughout Orange County and in Louisiana for both concert and marching band activities. Recently, Mr. Henderson recipient of the Kessler award for Excellence in Teaching Fine Arts.

His professional affiliations include Florida Music Educators Association, Florida Bandmasters Association and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. Mr. Henderson has also held office as Secretary of the District 8 chapter of the Florida Bandmasters Association. A native of Louisiana, Mr. Henderson holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Louisiana State University.

Contact Mr. Henderson at james.henderson@ocps.net

Rob Connelly is currently serving as Associate Director of Bands at William R. Boone High School in Orlando, FL. Mr. Connelly came to Boone following his graduation from The Florida State University where he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Music Education. While at Florida State, he performed with the Symphonic Band, Opera Orchestra, Percussion Ensemble, Steel Drum Ensemble, and was section leader for the Marching Chiefs Drumline. He was also the recipient of the Robert Colbourn Memorial Scholarship rewarded to a rising senior Music Education major.

At Boone, Mr. Connelly teaches Music Theory, two Percussion Ensemble classes and the Symphonic Band, which have all received superior ratings at District & State Music Performance Assessments. The Boone Percussion Ensemble received “Best in Show” at the 2005 Winter Park Music Festival in Winter Park, Colorado and the drumline received “Best in Show” at two Florida Marching Band Coalition competitions in 2005.

Mr. Connelly currently serves as principal percussionist for the Brass Band of Central Florida who competed in the prestigious British Open of Brass Bands in Birmingham, England in October of 2005. He belongs to Golden Key National Honor Society, Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society, and Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society. His professional memberships include Florida Bandmasters Association, Music Educators National Conference, Percussive Arts Society, and Phi Mu Alpha National Sinfonia.

Contact Mr. Connelly at robert.connelly@ocps.net