Rock Ensemble

The Miami Beach Senior High Rock Ensemble is a high school rock band currently directed by Michael "Mac" McNamee and Frankie Trullenque. Established by Clark Douglas Burris in 1972, the Rock Ensemble has played rock music in South Florida and across the country for over 40 years. Notable alumni of the Rock Ensemble include Fernando Perdomo, Chris Price, Ann Curless and David Chesky.

The Rock Ensemble has covered many eras of rock and pop music, from The Rolling Stones, Heart, and Pink Floyd to Red Hot Chili Peppers and Taylor Swift.^[1] During the 2011-2012 school year, Burris announced his retirement. On April 28, 2012, the Rock Ensemble played its final concert marking 40 years of rockin' the planet.^[2] Following the incredibly successful 40th Anniversary Concert, Doug Burris retired after a long and distinguished career in the teaching profession.

Doug Burris

Clark Douglas Burris - Founder (March 21, 1942 - January 28, 2016) was born in Paterson, New Jersey.^[3] Burris grew up in Monroe, New York where he attended the Monroe-Woodbury School System. Throughout school, Burris played trumpet and baritone horn and sang with the high school chorus. In addition, Burris taught himself how to play the guitar and performed with a local band, The Variations, during his high school years. Burris also lettered in football, wrestling and track. He graduated from Monroe-Woodbury Central High School in 1960.

Burris earned his Associates in Applied Arts Degree in Music at Orange County Community College. In 1962, Burris attended Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. Burris studied trombone, which he played with the Marching Chiefs. In January 1967, Burris was hired by the Highland Falls Central High School System in Highland Falls, New York to teach instrumental music. He also organized a jazz band and film scoring ensemble.

In 1969, Burris attended the University of Miami Frost School of Music in Coral Gables, Florida. In 1970, at age 28, Burris was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.^[4] He received his Masters Degree in Music Education from the University of Miami in January 1971.

In June 1971, Burris was hired at Miami Beach Senior High School to teach guitar. He was given permission by Beach High principal Dr. Solomon Lichter to form the first-ever school rock band. In September 1972, Burris founded the Miami Beach Senior High Rock Ensemble.

On November 10, 2000, Burris was inducted into the Miami Beach Senior High Alumni Association Hall of Fame. On November 13, 2003, he earned the National Multiple Sclerosis Society's 2003 National Achievement Award. On February 10, 2005, he received the Florida State University Opperman Citation For Outstanding Accomplishment in Teaching and Leadership. On September 7, 2006, the Miami-Dade County League of Cities presented him with an award for 35 Years of Dedication to Music Education at Miami Beach Senior High School. In 2007, the Town of Surfside, Florida proclaimed June 12 'Doug Burris Day.'

During the 2011-2012 school year, Doug Burris announced his retirement from Miami Beach Senior High School. The City of Miami Beach Proclaimed April 11, 2012 as 'Doug Burris Day' in recognition of his 40 years of commitment to the musical education of the students of Miami Beach Senior High School, the Arts and Entertainment Industry, and serving as a Beacon of Accomplishment for Others with Multiple Sclerosis and to the City of Miami Beach Community at large.^[5]

Burris died at his home in Coconut Grove, Florida, January 28, 2016.

History

In 1971, Burris was hired by Dr. Solomon Lichter to teach guitar at Miami Beach Senior High School.^[6] In 1972, Burris started the first-ever school rock band.^[7] The first group performed hit songs like Sympathy for the Devil and Stairway to Heaven.

In June 1987, the Rock Ensemble performed the Pink Floyd album The Dark Side of the Moon to a sold-out Beach High auditorium. At the end of the final song of the concert, the AC power in the room was lost and the group completed the song a cappella.^[8]

In April 1999, the group performed at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio where the group was awarded a plaque.^[9]

On May 18, 2007, the Rock Ensemble celebrated its 35th anniversary with a concert at Miami Beach's Lincoln Theatre.

On November 20, 2008, the Rock Ensemble played its first of three consecutive tribute concerts to Heart in its Dreamboat Annie series. The concert covered the entire Dreamboat Annie album, including Crazy on You, White Lightning And Wine, and Magic Man.

On April 17, 2010, the Rock Ensemble competed at the Heritage Music Festival at Bonanza High School in Las Vegas and earned a gold rating.

On April 28, 2012, the Rock Ensemble played its 40th Anniversary Concert, which featured groups from each of the last 40 years. The concert, which sold out the 800-seat Beach High auditorium, ended with a Free Bird guitar solo by Kevin Sgarro (C/O 2011).

In the news

Burris and the Rock Ensemble have been featured in the news on numerous occasions:

CBS 4 News (2000)- Rock Ensemble on CBS Sunday Morning
Miami Beach Community News (2010)- Miami Beach High Rock Ensemble: Still Rockin' the Planet
Miami New Times (2012)- Miami Beach Senior High Rock Ensemble's 40th Anniversary Concert
CBS 4 News (2012)- Rock Ensemble Teacher Prepares Farewell Performance
Miami Herald (2012)- Beach Buzz: Beach High music director retiring this year

See also

Miami Beach Senior High Rock Ensemble

References