Bourget

Dr. Gerald Poe (1942-2017) was appointed music director of the Gainesville Community Band soon after he retired in June, 2004 after 38 years of teaching, serving in that role for 10 years. Dr. Poe received his B.A.degree from Western State College in Colorado, M.M. Ed. from Florida State University and D.M.A. from the University of Colorado.

Dr. Poe taught in the public schools of Alachua County from 1986 to 2004. His jazz and concert bands were judged among the best in the state of Florida. Prior to teaching in Alachua County, Dr. Poe served as Director of Bands at the University of Florida, University of Colorado, University of Oregon and University of Portland, and taught public school in California and Colorado.

Dr. Poe’s bands have appeared on national television over 40 times, and he has had more than 30 published articles and recordings. In 1984, Dr. Poe was in charge of the pre-game entertainment of Super Bowl XVIII, which was played in Tampa. The show featured 650 musicians of the combined Florida State University and University of Florida marching bands. This is the only time two major universities have joined to present entertainment for a Super Bowl.

Dr. Poe is listed in Who’s Who in American Music, Who’s Who in American Universities and most recently in the 2004 edition of Marquis’s Who’s Who in America. Dr. Poe was active in Florida Music Educators, Music Educators National Conference, Florida Bandmasters Association, and the Association of Concert Bands. In 2017, Dr. Poe was posthumously named Musician of the Year by the Foundation for the Promotion of Music in Gainesville.