Visit the official Largo Band of Gold Alumni Association: http//:www.lbogaa.org/
Directed by the late Robert R. Cotter between 1968-1980, the Largo, FL Band of Gold was one of the most prolific high school marching & concert bands in American history. Assuming the role of director during a teachers' strike in 1968, Cotter led the band to their first VFW parade championship in 1970 and numerous prestigious contest titles followed during his tenure at Largo. Cotter transformed the 68-member band into a music program that boasted nearly 600 students at its height (all attending the same public high school). The Band of Gold earned 3 gold medals in the Parade, Field Show and Concert categories and was awarded the World Champion title at the World Music Contest, Kerkrade, Holland, 1978 (and that came after earning two gold medals "With Distinction" at the contest in 1974, the band's first trip to Europe).
Cotter, affectionately known to his students as "the Boss," instilled the values of determination, responsibility and integrity to his students. "The job of any teacher is to teach students to care. No matter the subject, every teacher should be teaching their students how to achieve a goal," he would say.
This photo collage-video is an all too brief tribute to the legendary music educator, staff, volunteers and alumni, assembled with hopes that it may inspire us to seek opportunities to perpetuate those values...
Support the Robert R. Cotter Memorial Scholarship Fund by visiting the official Largo Band of Gold Alumni Association website: http//:www.lbogaa.org/
(Includes images and recordings from various personal libraries and media sources. Voice of Robert Cotter taken from an interview in December 2000. All music arrangements by Robert Cotter, Jr.)
29 окт 2013
