James Bruce, Director Of Bands
James Bruce holds the Bachelor of Music Education from Florida State University where he served three years as Drum Major of the FSU Marching Chiefs and two terms as President of Kappa Kappa Psi National Band Fraternity. He has been Director of Bands at Manatee High School since 1988 where his bands have received Superior ratings at FBA band evaluations for the past twenty years. He has served as the director of the Manatee Community College Symphonic Wind Ensemble and has been the director of the Florida State University Marching Band Leadership Camp for the past thirty years, having trained hundreds of drum majors and student leaders from across the country. He is serving a second term as district chairman of the Florida Bandmasters Association and serves as an adjudicator and clinician throughout the state of Florida. In 2004 he was honored to serve as a band adjudicator for the New Year's Day Parade in London, England, and in 2007 he received the honor of being inducted into the Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity. He also performs as the bass trombonist with the Sarasota Pops Orchestra. His professional affiliations include Music Educators National Conference, Florida Music Educators Association, and The Florida Bandmasters Association.
 
 

Lorianne Keeney, Assistant Director
Ms. Lorianne Keeney hails from Morrow, Georgia, where she started in band as a percussionist. She graduated from Morrow High School and the went on to Middle Tennessee State University where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Instrumental Music Education, and a Master’s Degree in Instrumental Conducting. She has conducted many ensembles, including The MTSU Wind Ensemble, and the MTSU Percussion Ensemble, and worked with many ensembles including The MTSU Band of Blue, Mt. Juliet Marching Band and the Mt. Juliet Indoor Drumline. She has performed with artists such as Lalo Davila, J.B. Smith, Matt Savage, Greg Bissonnette, Arthur Lipner, Richie Garcia, Heratio Hernandez, David Amram, and has played under conducting/composing greats such as W. Francis McBeth, Alfred Reed, Johan DeMeij, Jerry Junkin, Colonel Arnald Gabriel, and Colonel Lowell Graham. She is an active member of the Percussive Arts Society, MENC, FMEA, FBA, MEA, and NEA. Ms. Keeney recently accepted a position as Principal Percussionist with the Sarasota Pops.
 
 

Lori O'Leary, Dance Team Director
Lori O'Leary is a fifth generation native of Bradenton, Florida, and a third generation graduate of Manatee High School. During her years at Manatee, she was involved in several clubs and organizations, including the Sugar 'Canes dance team. During her years on the squad, the team earned several superior ratings at various competitions and camps. They also performed in the community and kicked off the first Mr. Sugar 'Cane fashion show. She is also a 1990 graduate of Florida State University where she earned a degree in secondary English education. Completing her eighteenth year as an English teacher, this is her first year as director for the Sugar 'Canes and second year involved with the team. At the beginning of her term as director, she has traveled with members of the team to Texas, Orlando, and, Gainesville where the girls have won top honors and multiple superior trophies. Lori is married to Sean O'Leary and has three children: Connor, Logan, and Kiley.
 
 

Linda Boone, Associate Director
Mrs. Boone graduated from Manatee High School where she played clarinet and piano and was drum major of the Marching 'Canes. She received her Bachelor's degree in Spanish and Master's degree in Spanish Education from the University of South Florida. Mrs. Boone recently retired as Sugar Cane director having served in this capacity for 25 years. From 1996-2003, she was a Coach Consultant for the Universal Dance Association, traveling to summer camps giving seminars for dance team directors. Currently, she is the chair of the Foreign Language Department at MHS, Vice-President of the Florida Dance Team Directors Association, and the Chairman of the Auxiliary Committee of the Florida Bandmasters Association. She is also a member of the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese, Florida Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese, Dance Team Directors of America, Music Educators National Conference, and Florida Music Educators Association. Mrs. Boone is married to Robert Boone, MHS Class of '72, and has two children (Jason, MHS Class of '04, was a member of the MHS drumline and Wind Ensemble).