The Director - Armand Navarro
Mr. Armand Navarro is the director of the Pensacola High School Band. He is going into his 9th year as head director of The Fighting Tiger Band program starting in the 2012-13 school year. Mr. Navarro received his Masters in Music Education from the University of North Texas (2021) and his bachelor of music education from the University of West Florida (2010) where he also received completed a minor in professional education. At Pensacola High School he directs the band program which encompasses 2 concert bands, the marching band, beginning bands, colorguard, and jazz band. Under his the direction the concert bands and marching band is enjoying success not seen from the program since the early 1980's. Most recently, the varsity concert band has received straight superior ratings at district concert festival and qualified for 2 consecutive state concert band appearances. Additionally, the marching band has received straight superior ratings and in 2019 won The Little Big Horn Marching Band Festival in Opp, AL sweeping all band categories and best band in class 2A.
After completing his bachelors he began working for the Escambia County School district as a music sub. From 2011-2014 he directed the University of West Florida Pep Band where they played at all home and playoff basketball games as well as other various campus performances. In the 2011-12 school year Mr. Navarro was the chorus director at Escambia High School followed by a year of subbing for band directors and music teachers in Escambia County.
As a trumpet player he is regularly hired as a dependable and serviceable musician playing for various groups, churches, and productions. You can often hear him play for the Pensacola Civic Band and The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart.
He has studied conducting with Rick Glaze of the University of West Florida as well as conducting symposiums led by Dr. Patrick Cornochan of The University of Miami Frost School of Music, Steve Rivero of the 13th Army Band, Dr. Donald J. McKinney of the University of Colorado Boulder, Dr. Scott Lubaroff and Dr. Tremon Kizer both of the University of Central Florida, Professor Richard Clary of The Florida State University Wind Orchestra, and most recently distinguished professor David Itkin of The University of North Texas.
Mr. Navarro is a member of the Florida Bandmasters Association, The Florida Music Education Association, The National Association for Music Education. In January 2020 he was awarded The Tom Bishop award from the Florida Bandmasters Association which is given to directors for making "huge amount of positive difference in a short amount of time".
Aside from his teaching duties, Mr. Navarro enjoys camping, hiking, kayaking, paddle boarding, fishing, ultimate frisbee, and spending time with his friends and family.
After completing his bachelors he began working for the Escambia County School district as a music sub. From 2011-2014 he directed the University of West Florida Pep Band where they played at all home and playoff basketball games as well as other various campus performances. In the 2011-12 school year Mr. Navarro was the chorus director at Escambia High School followed by a year of subbing for band directors and music teachers in Escambia County.
As a trumpet player he is regularly hired as a dependable and serviceable musician playing for various groups, churches, and productions. You can often hear him play for the Pensacola Civic Band and The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart.
He has studied conducting with Rick Glaze of the University of West Florida as well as conducting symposiums led by Dr. Patrick Cornochan of The University of Miami Frost School of Music, Steve Rivero of the 13th Army Band, Dr. Donald J. McKinney of the University of Colorado Boulder, Dr. Scott Lubaroff and Dr. Tremon Kizer both of the University of Central Florida, Professor Richard Clary of The Florida State University Wind Orchestra, and most recently distinguished professor David Itkin of The University of North Texas.
Mr. Navarro is a member of the Florida Bandmasters Association, The Florida Music Education Association, The National Association for Music Education. In January 2020 he was awarded The Tom Bishop award from the Florida Bandmasters Association which is given to directors for making "huge amount of positive difference in a short amount of time".
Aside from his teaching duties, Mr. Navarro enjoys camping, hiking, kayaking, paddle boarding, fishing, ultimate frisbee, and spending time with his friends and family.
Assistant Director - Colin Slavin
Mr. Colin Slavin has been teaching with Pensacola High School since 2014 and is currently the assistant director of bands part time. In addition to his duties at PHS he is also the head choral director at Beulah Middle School as well as the cymbal instructor for the Southwind drum and bugle corps. He has been one of the cymbal instructors and battery visual instructor at Escambia High School since 2012. He was also the cymbal instructor for the Sacramento Mandarins Drum and Bugle Corps from 2015 to 2017. His marching cymbal experience includes the Escambia High School Diamonds Indoor Percussion Ensemble, Oregon Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps, and Atlanta Quest Independent World Percussion Ensemble. Colin recently completed his Bachelor’s degrees in music education and trumpet performance from the University of West Florida and is a member of the Florida Vocal Association.