Monarch High Marching Band Captures First State Championship in School History

by David Volz November 13, 2025

77Shares

Monarch High School Marching Band. {Jorge Fernandez}

Chanel Gonzalez can remember when the Monarch High School Calvary Marching Band was a small organization that received little recognition.

That has changed dramatically, and on November 8, the Monarch band won the Traditional 1A State Championship at Pitbull Stadium on the Florida International University campus. The competition brought bands from all over Florida.

“For me, it was shocking because I did not think we would ever win such an honor,” said Gonzalez, a senior, manager of equipment, and a tenor saxophone player. We practiced hard, improved, and we won the state championship.”

Under the direction of new director Jorge Fernandez, the band has grown to about 80 members who love to practice and perform. This is the first time in school history that the Monarch marching band has won a state championship. They won in the smaller band category and performed traditional school band music and marching.

“Last year, I was the band director at Lyons Creek Middle School, but I was assisting with the Monarch band after school. Many of the students knew me and wanted to be in a band I was directing.”

The seniors have earned a memory to be cherished. Kaleb Castro, a senior who plays trombone and baritone, said, “It was a great feeling to win the state championship, and our band has really come a long way,” she said.

Younger band members are looking forward to even more success. Jaidyn Rodriguez, a sophomore and percussion captain, said she enjoyed being part of the state championship band and is looking forward to more competitions.

Got News in Coconut Creek? Send it Here. Don’t Miss reading NW Broward County’s #1 News Sites: Parkland Talk, Coconut Creek Talk, Coral Springs Talk, Margate Talk, Tamarac Talk, and Sunrise FL Talk.

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.