Music Director

Neil E. Jenkins is in his 25th season as director of The Broward Symphonic Band at Broward College.  He taught for 21 years as Director of Bands at J. P. Taravella High School in Coral Springs, Florida and a total of 40 years as a public school music educator before retiring in June 2010.  Prior teaching positions were at Miramar High School in Broward County Florida and St. Cloud High School in Osceola County Florida.  

Ensembles under his direction consistently earned “Superior” ratings at the District and State level in both Marching Band, Jazz Band, and Concert Band performances, with many of his students participating in several of the outstanding honor bands throughout Florida.  These included the Florida All State Band, Festival of Winds (University of South Fla.), Tri State Honor Band (Florida State University), and the South Florida Honor Band (University of Miami).  

Bands under his direction have participated in such events as the Kentucky Derby Parade, Indy 500 Parade, Peach Bowl Parade, Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade, Orange Bowl Parade, with three concert performances in Europe, and was seen on the NBC Today Show with Al Roker.  Also, two performances at the prestigious Music for All National Concert Band Festival in Indianapolis, the London New Year’s Day Parade, the American Festival of Bands in Rome, Italy, the Florida Music Educators Association State Conference “President’s Concert”, and the 2009 Presidential Inauguration Parade in Washington D.C.  

Mr. Jenkins was the guest conductor for the Florida Ambassadors of Music European Concert Tour, performing in six countries throughout Europe on four occasions.  He has also served as guest conductor for the Monroe County All County Band, the 9th& 10th Grade Pinellas All County Band, the Green Honor Band at the 2013 South Florida Honor Band Festival sponsored by the University of Miami, the Marion County High School Honor Band, the Brevard County High School All County Band, and was conductor of the 2016 Florida All State High School Honor Band.  

Mr. Jenkins is an honorary member of the John Philip Sousa Foundation “Legion of Honor”, a recipient of the “Oliver Hobbs” award from the Florida Bandmasters Association for outstanding and consistent achievement as a music educator, and the “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the Miami Wind Symphony.  

He is a member of the Florida Bandmasters Association Hall of Fame, was the J. P. Taravella High School “2010 Teacher of The Year”, a finalist for Broward County 2011 Teacher of the Year, and was the Broward County “Arts Teacher of the Year” for 2010.  He is also an inductee of the South Florida Winter Guard Association Hall of Fame.  He is a member of the FBA, FMEA, NAfME, ASBDA, Phi Beta Mu Honorary Music Fraternity, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and the National Band Association.  

He served as the President-Elect (1998-2000), President (2000-2002), and Past President (2002-2004) of the Florida Bandmasters Association, and currently serves the FBA as their Executive Director, a position he has held since September of 2011.

Email: nejenkins47@gmail.com