Roanna Combs

Roanna Combs retired as a Polk County music educator in 2013. Her career began at Ft Meade JR/Sr High School in 1978, moving to Lake Gibson High School 1979- 2005 and concluding at Ridge Community High School 2005-2013. She received her BS in Business at Florida State University and her certification in music from Florida Southern College. She is a member of the Florida Bandmasters Association, Florida Music Educators Association and Phi Beta Mu. She is also continues to serve as an active FBA District and State Adjudicator. From her first year as an educator she was tasked to develop a Colorguard program at Ft. Meade Jr/Sr High School and began to develop her love and appreciation for the art form. In 1981 Roanna began hosting Winter Guard shows at Lake Gibson HS and within just a few years the shows grew to hosting as many as 40 plus guard units as well as solo events from across the central Florida area. In 1984 she approached John Harlow, director of the winter guard program at Lakeland High School, and discussed the possibility of creating an organization for the central Florida area. South Florida and the panhandle of Florida already were enriched with successful winter guard organizations; there was a need for the central area to organize. With the goal to provide guard students and their directors the opportunity to continue to grow and share in the art form, the two met with yellow tablets in hand sitting in the floor at the coffee table in her apartment. The Florida Federation of Colorguard Circuit began to take shape and thus became a reality in 1985.