Rockingly yours,

Doug Burris

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About 1,000 people packed the Miami Beach Senior High auditorium April 28 for the Beach High Rock Ensemble’s 40th anniversary concert. Performers and guests came from near and far to celebrate the last performance led by beloved music director (and Rock Ensemble founder) Doug Burris. After 41 years on the job, Burris, 70, is retiring at year’s end.

The concert featured performances by groupings of Rock Ensemble members from 1972 through 2012, including Exposé lead singer Ann Curless (class of ’82), who performed Don’t Cry Out Loud..

VIP attendees included former Surfside Mayor Paul Novack (Beach High Hall of Fame 2011), producer/songwriter Rudy Perez and Miami-Dade County School Board member Martin Karp.

“It was really beautiful. I still feel like I’m going to wake up. It was like one of those magical moments – a perfect evening,” said Burris, who described the event as “forty years in the making.”

MIAMI BEACH – (CBSMiami.com) — In his 40 years leading Miami Beach’s Sr. High School’s Rock Ensemble, Doug Burris hasn’t skipped a beat.

In fact, his legacy as a teacher who launched the first official School of Rock has had enormous success. Many of his students have gone on to pursue professional musical careers.

Now, Burris who has mostly taught from his wheelchair after Multiple Sclerosis left him paralyzed, is preparing to bid farewell to his own career as he plans to retire at the end of this school year.

But this music man is preparing a big time performance expected to crowd the school’s auditorium this Saturday night. The performers will include current and former students dating back to the early 70s when Burris himself got his start at the school.

Read Jasmine Kripalani’s full report here: http://miami.cbslocal.com/2012/04/26/rock-ensemble-teacher-prepares-farewell-performance/

The Miami Beach Senior High Rock Ensemble is a storied local institution.

Founded in September 1972, this program has allowed student musicians to travel the country and the world, playing as far away as Chicago and New York, as well as Japan in 2001. The ensemble has won award after award, even receiving a plaque of commendation from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in 1999.

And behind it all is Doug Burris.

He is the music teacher who arrived at Beach High four decades ago with a simple idea: Set up an after-school guitar group. And thanks to an understanding principal, Dr. Solomon Lichter, the teacher and his pupils were even allowed to focus on rock music.

That all happened one year after Burris was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

Miami Beach Senior High Rock Ensemble creator Doug Burris.

At this point in his illness, Burris is physically incapacitated, a quadriplegic who needs assistance every day of his life. But after speaking with him for even a brief period of time, it’s surprising when he has to ask for help to drink some water — because though his body is not responsive, his voice booms across the room. And it’s obvious he hasn’t lost any of his legendary will and passion.

Read full article here: http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/crossfade/2012/04/miami_beach_senior_high_rock_ensemble_doug_burris_retires.php

Saturday April 28th, 2012, Rock Ensemble will perform a very special concert commemorating 40 years of the music program created by Doug Burris at Miami Beach Senior High School. The concert will feature special performances by groups made up of past members from the last 40 years!

The concert will take place at the Beach High Auditorium, 2231 Prairie Avenue. It is also a benefit concert for Rock Ensemble Scholarships & The National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Tickets are on sale NOW!

2011-2012

ROCK ENSEMBLE

DRUMS
ADAM PEREZ
KYLE BENFORD

BASS
GABRIEL COTO

KEYBOARD
KYLE BENFORD
BRENNAN JASSO

GUITAR
JULIAN ALDANAS
BRENNAN JASSO

VIOLIN
LEEANNE DRUCKER

FEMALE VOCAL
AMBER MARK
HILLARY ZHUNER
NATASHA PERREIRA

MALE VOCAL
BRENNAN JASSO
DAVID GONZALEZ

TECHNICIANS
JAVIER MARTINEZ
OMAR ELNOMANY
MATEO DURAN
CHRISTIAN HERRERA
ALEXANDRE IBACACHE

PERSONNEL & FIELD TRIP MANAGER
LUCIA RYNKA-ESTEVEZ