8-18-2008:
The Knights Winter Guard is returning for its 11th year in competition! We are happy announce that we will be holding auditions September 6th and 7th. Please come prepared to audition on dance, flag and both weapons. We have plenty of flags, but not enough weapons to go around, so please bring your own rifle and/or sabre. There is an audition fee of $40, checks made payable to "The Knights"
Location:
Lake Mary High School
655 Longwood Lake Mary Road
Lake Mary, FL 32746
Audition times are as follows:
Saturday, September 6th: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Sunday, September 7th: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Attire:
Black Dance Wear
Please come join us to help make our 11th season one to remember.
The Knights Winter Guard was the brain child of Michael James & Bobby Hazelton. It was formed to keep the Starlet Knights color guard spinning past the football season and to help get numbers in the fall program.
In 1999, The Knights of UCF began their inaugural season by performing "Elvis Everywhere" by The Koronos Quartet. They were Independent A.
In 2000, The Knights Winter Guard decided to take a comical look at the marching band world by performing a piece by Morton Gould. The floor was painted to look like an abstract football field on a silver floor.
In 2001, The Knights Winter Guard took on more of a mature identity. For the first time the guard was all female, so they capitalized on that by performing to Jill Scott's "Love Rain." This show was met with a little controversy. The Knights did serve notice that they were growing as force in WGI activity.
The year 2002 brought Knights their largest guard to date and most successful winter season. This year's show was called "Any Shoe That Fits!" The music was by Emerson, Lake, and Palmer. They were a WGI Independent A Class Finalist for the first time. And with that, they were promoted to Independent Open for next season.
In 2003, changes came along that would test the heart of the guard. Funding from the UCF Band Department was no longer, so director Michael James decided to floor the Independent Open guard anyway. This season's show was called "Remember." The music selection was Donnie Hathaway's "A Song For You." The show was dedicated to winter guards that have helped shape the art of winter guard as we know it today. The guard ended up 16th at WGI, but not before touching many people with their performance.
In 2004, the Knights took yet another chance stretching their limits. "Officina Industrial" allowed the guard to enjoy the most successful season to date. Their music was "Three Movements" by Steve Reich. The Knights finished 6th at WGI in Independent Open Class finals.
In 2005, the Knights returned to composer Steve Reich. This time his piece, "Desert Music" was the soundtrack that would prove that they belonged at the top of the class. The show was entitled "X = Love; The Equations of Life." With a quote from the movie "A Beautiful Mind," the Knights were awarded the Bronze medalist, and promoted to the highest level of competition, Independent World Class.
For their first season in world class, The Knights again decided to switch gears again. The show was called "A Hymn for Love." Music was by Cyndi Lauper, and along with quotes from the Bible, the Knights made their world class debut successful by finishing 11th in world class finals.
The Knights are currently in their ninth season of competition, and this year's production will be very exciting and what you've grown to expect from this humble program.