University High School (Orlando, Florida)

University High School has one of the best drama departments in Florida. They have performed several popular plays and musicals such as The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Les Misérables, Ragtime, Carousel, Evita, Aida, Miss Saigon, The Wiz, Beauty and the Beast, Shrek, Guys and Dolls and Sweeney Todd. University has presented Lend Me A Tenor the fall of 2010, and was one of the first high schools in the world to put on the production of Phantom of the Opera in the spring of 2011.

The Drama Department also boasts a Thespian Troupe. Every winter Troupe 4848 of District 5 hosts the District 5 thespian competition, and travels to Tampa every spring for State competition. They also participate in the Applause Awards at the Dr. Phillips Performing Arts Center. This school year (2019–20), University's drama department will present Silas Marner as its One Act, It's a Wonderful Life and The Best Christmas Pageant Ever in the Winter and Fiddler on the Roof in the Spring. University's Musical Theater program will also be doing A Man of No Importance.

In the past, the Troupe's One Act, The Window School, won "Best in Show: One Act" and went on and received straight superiors at State in 2008. Silas Marner was presented in 2009, and received straight superiors at District and State competition. Troupe 4848 attended Districts 2010 and won straight superiors for their One Act, A Tulip For Lily. In 2011, Troupe 4848 entered Jesus Christ Superstar as their One Act in the District 5 competition, won straight superiors and are now expected to go to the State Competition in March 2012. Troupe 4848 will also be presenting Les Misérables as their musical in April 2012.

The University High School Band Program has had a history of excellence in a wide range of performance activities since its inauguration in 1990. The program currently serves approximately two hundred students, who participate in a variety of ensembles including concert bands (Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Concert Band), two jazz bands (Big Band and Jazz Ensemble), a steel drum band (Blue Steel), two percussion ensembles, color guard and winter guard, International Baccalaureate (IB) Music, and marching band.[3]

The University Marching Band entering the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida.

The wind ensemble and big band have regularly received superior ratings at the district and state level Florida Bandmasters Association Music Performance Assessment (MPA).

The University High School Winter Guard has been a finalist at nationally qualifying regionals and had strong placements in statewide competitions. The Winter Guard received 12th place at WGI World Championships in 2008 and 14th place in 2009. In the 2000s won the Scholastic A gold medal many times at the Florida Federation of Color Guard Circuit (FFCC) Championships. More recently bronze medal for Scholastic AAA in 2013 and the Scholastic AA gold medal in 2014.

The band's indoor drumline, called the "University Percussion Syndicate," earned national recognition in 2001, claiming third place in class Scholastic A in the WGI World Championships in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The UPS won the 2009 FFCC Circuit Championship and placed fourth in Scholastic A class at the 2009 WGI World Championships in Dayton, Ohio. The UPS received first place at the 2020 WGI Regionals and second place in the 2020 FFCC Percussion Focus.

The University Marching Band is the most visible performing arts ensemble at University High School and has a long history of quality performances on the national stage. High-profile performances by the group include the National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade in Washington, D.C. (1995 & 2001), the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City (1995), the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California (1998) where the school modeled a float after "The Princess and the Pea" (as seen in the Bee Movie), and the Saint Patrick's Day Parade in Chicago, Illinois (2013). The marching band has received the highest rating at the FBA Marching MPA twenty-two of the school's twenty-three years. Field productions by the marching band include "One City Block" (2005), "There And Back Again" (2006), "Almost Yesterday" (2007), "The Enigma" (2008), "An Inconvenient Truth" (2009), "Through the Mind of a Child" (2010), "Reflections" (2011), "Ballet Méchanique" (2012), "Danzón Universitas" (2013), "Pandora's Box" (2014), "The Ring Cycle" (2015), "Je Suis" (2016), "Let There Be Light" (2017), "No Part Of Easy" (2018), and "Out of the Silent Planet" (2019).[4]

A Florida Marching Band Coalition (FMBC) regional competition called the "University Classic" has been hosted by the band in October annually since 2004.[5]

University has a new dance program that began the 2018–2019 school year. This program will be a part of the Performing Fine Arts Magnet. Although this program is new, there were other dance programs at the school in the past.

Sabor Latino was a student-directed Latin dance team that participated in the Orlando Latin Dance Expo. Sabor Latino was directed by Giovanni Nieves along with several team captains (Valerie Kerr 08–09, Kenneth Shuga 11, Julissa Henry 09–10, Frankie Agosto 10–11, Juan Medina 11). SL performed at every Hispanic Heritage Month at the school bell tower, and also participated in many charity events. Sabor Latino only lasted through graduating classes of 2007–2011.