Encore Youth Programs

YOUTH BIG BAND CONCERT

May 4, 2025 | 2 p.m. | Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts

Get ready for a night of high-energy jazz as the talented Encore Performing Arts Youth Big Band takes the stage! This concert will showcase promising young musicians, performing a range of big band jazz styles, from classic swing to contemporary arrangements. The vibrant and dynamic energy of the performance will have you tapping your feet and feeling the rhythm as these young stars bring their passion and skill to the stage.

This performance will feature special guest artist, Alexis DeLaRosa. With every note, you’ll experience the power and excitement of live big band jazz, all while supporting the next generation of musicians. Whether you're a long-time jazz fan or new to the genre, this concert is sure to leave you inspired and uplifted.

INTERESTED IN AUDITIONING FOR ENCORE YOUTH PROGRAMS?

Are you interested in auditioning for Youth Big Band or Youth Wind Ensemble? Fill out our interest form and we’ll contact you with more information once auditions are available.

DR. MICHAEL ANTMANN - 24/25 AND 25/26 YOUTH BIG BAND SEASON DIRECTOR

Michael Antmann is in his 24th year as a music educator, and his ninth as band director at Freedom High School. He earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Music Education from Florida State University, and a Doctor of Education degree from the University of Central Florida. Prior to his current position, he served as the Music Resource Teacher for Orange County Public Schools, and as band director at Bridgewater Middle School in Winter Garden, Florida, and Swift Creek Middle School in Tallahassee, Florida.

Ensembles under Dr. Antmann’s direction have earned performance invitations including the University of Georgia Middle School Band Festival (2004), the CBDNA/NBA Southern Division Conference (2006, 2024), the UCF Music for All Regional Concert Band Festival (2019, 2022), and the Florida Music Education Association (FMEA) conference (2011, 2014, 2022). He has been awarded five Citations of Excellence from the National Band Association, the FBA “Tom Bishop Award”, the “Oliver Hobbs Award,” Teacher of the Year, and the 2010 and 2018 OCPS/Kessler Grand Bohemian Excellence in Teaching Fine Arts Awards. He was also a national semi-finalist for the 2019 and 2020 Grammy Music Educator Awards.

Dr. Antmann is an active member of both FMEA and the Florida Bandmasters Association, serving in multiple leadership roles. He is an instructor at and co-founder of the Florida Band Director Workshop in Titusville, which is an intensive and interactive workshop focused on conceptual teaching and band pedagogy. He is active as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator, and has presented sessions at state and national conferences.

DR. JO JOSSIM – 25/26 YOUTH WIND ENSEMBLE DIRECTOR

A native of Florida, Dr. Jossim is a graduate of Sandalwood High School (1978) in Jacksonville and received her Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from the University of South Florida (1983). Continuing her education, she earned a master’s degree in oboe performance from the Lamont School of Music at the University of Denver (1985), upon completion of her degree she was appointed interim conductor of the Lamont Symphony Orchestra. While in Denver she became the Music Director/Conductor of the Broomfield Civic Orchestra and the Golden Youth Symphony. In addition to her orchestral activities, she also taught middle school band at Sinclair Middle School and general elementary music in the Cherry Creek and Englewood Public School Systems, also in the Denver area. In 1991 she returned home to Jacksonville, Florida where she was Director of Music at Bishop Kenny High School. Her teaching duties included concert band, marching band, choir, music theory and general music. Under her direction the concert band received Superior ratings for the first time in the history of the school. Following her high school teaching she entered The Florida State University where she earned the Ph.D. in Music Education (1999).

Currently Dr. Jossim serves as Director of Bands, Instrumental Studies and Professor of Music at Florida Southern College in Lakeland Florida since 1999. Throughout this time Dr. Jossim has conducted the Florida Southern College Symphony Band, Florida Southern College Symphony Orchestra and served as Head of the Music Education program teaching courses in conducting, music education, supervising music interns, woodwind quintet, brass quintet, studio oboe, faculty advisor for NAfME as well as the Director of the MOCS Pep Band. She was also founder and director of the Florida Southern College Middle School Band Symposium, and Conductor of the Florida Southern College Summer Band Camp. Her bands have performed at State Conferences, and she maintains an active schedule as a guest conductor and clinician throughout the United States.

In addition to her responsibilities at Florida Southern College she was also co-founder/conductor of the Lakeland based Hollingsworth Winds Concert Band and past president of the Florida College Music Educators Association. she is Chair of Commissioning for Phi Beta Mu, Omega Chapter and New Music Selection Committee member for the Florida Bandmaster’s Association.

She is has held memberships in numerous professional and honorary organizations including Kappa Kappa Psi, Tau Beta Sigma, Delta Omicron, Florida Music Educators Association, Florida Bandmasters Association, College Band Directors Association, Phi Kappa Phi, Omicron Delta Kappa and Phi Beta Mu.

She has been awarded the “Outstanding Contributor Award for Band” by Phi Beta Mu, Omega Chapter the Wade Outstanding Teacher Award at Florida Southern College and most recently inducted into the Florida Bandmasters Roll of Distinction.