Family, friends, former students, and colleagues through the years, gathered to honor Mr. Jim LeBon and celebrate his 40 years of service as a band director at his annual Spring Band Concert. The evening began with a surprise reception with family, friends, and colleagues as well as performances in the courtyard by Port St. Lucie High School and Treasure Coast High School bands, where many of his former band students are now in attendance. There were many introductions and storytelling throughout the evening, beginning with Ms. Nicole Telese, Southport Middle Principal. Some of the guest speakers included Dr. Kevin Perry, Assistant to the Superintendent, Jim’s son and daughter-in-law, James and Lisa, who played with the advanced band, and other band directors from throughout the school district.
Southport Middle School’s beginning band students started the evening with a beautiful performance. Then the advanced band followed with another set of stellar music arrangements. The alumni and advanced band finished with a Stand by Me arrangement composed by Mr. LeBon.
Mr. LeBon was a high school band director in northern Florida and southern Georgia for fourteen years before moving to Port St. Lucie twenty-six years ago. He taught at Dan McCarty Middle School for eleven years and is currently in his fifteenth year at Southport Middle School.
Mr. LeBon has had a great deal of success with his students and is proud of the numerous superior and excellent ratings that they have achieved in concert band and solo and ensemble festivals. This year’s band members traveled to Osceola Middle School to participate in Florida Bandmasters Association District 13 Solo and Ensemble Festival, where they earned fourteen Superior and one Excellent medal. Mr. LeBon was very proud to see the results of their hard work.
Along with his school responsibilities, Mr. LeBon is an adjudicator at FBA concert and marching festivals as well as at solo and ensemble events. He is an arranger and composer and has his own publishing company producing works for band ensembles, as well as music for solo and ensemble. Mr. LeBon is also a member of the American School Band Director Association.
We are very proud to have had Mr. LeBon here at Southport Middle School to give the gift of music to all of our students and families. We wish him all the best in his retirement.
