The Freedom High School Band
The Freedom High School Band is a comprehensive music program which includes over 200 students in grades 9 through 12. Course offerings include three concerts bands, three jazz bands, percussion, chamber ensembles, and eurhythmics (Color Guard). During the fall, all students are a part of the marching band, the Pride of the Patriots.
The bands at Freedom consistently earn “Superior” ratings at all district and state music performances assessments (MPA) and has a high level of participation in Solo and Ensemble events as well as representation in all-county, all-state, and other honor bands. Freedom bands perform actively throughout the community and have earned performance invitations including:
- Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade
- National Cherry Blossom Parade, Washington, D.C.
- UCF All-Southeastern Concert Band Festival
- Music for All National Concert Band Festival
- Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade
- 2022 Florida Music Education Association President’s Concert
- 2024 CBDNA/NBA Southern Division Conference
The band program benefits from outstanding parent and administrative support. Emphasis is placed on the individual student musician, with the understanding that every student is important.
The bands at Freedom consistently earn “Superior” ratings at all district and state music performances assessments (MPA) and has a high level of participation in Solo and Ensemble events as well as representation in all-county, all-state, and other honor bands. Freedom bands perform actively throughout the community and have earned performance invitations including:
- Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day Parade
- National Cherry Blossom Parade, Washington, D.C.
- UCF All-Southeastern Concert Band Festival
- Music for All National Concert Band Festival
- Chicago St. Patrick’s Day Parade
- 2022 Florida Music Education Association President’s Concert
- 2024 CBDNA/NBA Southern Division Conference
The band program benefits from outstanding parent and administrative support. Emphasis is placed on the individual student musician, with the understanding that every student is important.
Directors
Michael Antmann is in his 23rd year as a music educator, and his eighth as band director at Freedom High School. He earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Music Education from Florida State University, and a Doctor of Education degree from the University of Central Florida. Prior to his current position, he served as the Music Resource Teacher for Orange County Public Schools, and as band director at Bridgewater Middle School in Winter Garden, Florida, and Swift Creek Middle School in Tallahassee, Florida.
Bands under Dr. Antmann’s direction have consistently earned superior ratings at Music Performances Assessments (MPA) and earned performance invitations including the 2004 University of Georgia Middle School Band Festival, the 2006 and 2024 CBDNA/NBA Southern Division Conferences and the 2011, 2014, and 2022 Florida Music Education Association (FMEA) conferences. He has been awarded two Citations of Excellence from National Band Association, the FBA Tom Bishop Award, Teacher of the Year, and the 2010 and 2018 OCPS/Kessler Grand Bohemian Excellence in Teaching Fine Arts Awards. He was also a national semi-finalist for the 2019 and 2020 Grammy Music Educator Awards.
Dr. Antmann is an active member of both FMEA and the Florida Bandmasters Association, serving in multiple leadership roles. He is an instructor at and co-founder of the Florida Band Director Workshop in Titusville, which is an intensive and interactive workshop focused on conceptual teaching and band pedagogy. He is active as a guest conductor and clinician Florida, and has presented sessions at state and national conferences.
Bands under Dr. Antmann’s direction have consistently earned superior ratings at Music Performances Assessments (MPA) and earned performance invitations including the 2004 University of Georgia Middle School Band Festival, the 2006 and 2024 CBDNA/NBA Southern Division Conferences and the 2011, 2014, and 2022 Florida Music Education Association (FMEA) conferences. He has been awarded two Citations of Excellence from National Band Association, the FBA Tom Bishop Award, Teacher of the Year, and the 2010 and 2018 OCPS/Kessler Grand Bohemian Excellence in Teaching Fine Arts Awards. He was also a national semi-finalist for the 2019 and 2020 Grammy Music Educator Awards.
Dr. Antmann is an active member of both FMEA and the Florida Bandmasters Association, serving in multiple leadership roles. He is an instructor at and co-founder of the Florida Band Director Workshop in Titusville, which is an intensive and interactive workshop focused on conceptual teaching and band pedagogy. He is active as a guest conductor and clinician Florida, and has presented sessions at state and national conferences.
Ms. Abigail Mistretta is originally from the Florida Panhandle, and grew up under the direction of Mr. Eddie Steadman, Mr. Dan Wooten, and Mr. Jeff Adams. A graduate of the University of Florida, she received her Master of Music degree in Instrumental Conducting with a concentration in Clarinet Performance in the spring of 2022. While completing her graduate degree she served as a teaching assistant with the UF Clarinet Ensemble, UF Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, Concert Bands, and Gator Marching Band.
Ms. Mistretta also received her undergraduate degree in Instrumental Music Education in May of 2020 from the University of Florida. During her time there she performed as a clarinetist in both the UF Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band, University Symphony Orchestra on both Bb and bass clarinet, and in the University of Florida Clarinet Ensemble. In the summer of 2019, she had the opportunity to travel to France with the UF Wind Symphony as the bass clarinetist where the group performed in the Festival des Anches d’Azur in La Croix-Valmer. She also served on the Gator Band leadership team as a section leader for one year and Drum Major for two. She completed her student teaching in both Alachua and Bradford county while working primarily with middle and high school students.
She has been given the opportunity to serve with Dr. Michael Antmann as the Associate Director for Freedom High School in Orange County for the upcoming school year. Ms. Mistretta’s professional affiliations include the National Association for Music Education, the Florida Music Educators Association, Florida Bandmasters Association, and the National Kappa Kappa Psi Alumni association.
Ms. Mistretta also received her undergraduate degree in Instrumental Music Education in May of 2020 from the University of Florida. During her time there she performed as a clarinetist in both the UF Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band, University Symphony Orchestra on both Bb and bass clarinet, and in the University of Florida Clarinet Ensemble. In the summer of 2019, she had the opportunity to travel to France with the UF Wind Symphony as the bass clarinetist where the group performed in the Festival des Anches d’Azur in La Croix-Valmer. She also served on the Gator Band leadership team as a section leader for one year and Drum Major for two. She completed her student teaching in both Alachua and Bradford county while working primarily with middle and high school students.
She has been given the opportunity to serve with Dr. Michael Antmann as the Associate Director for Freedom High School in Orange County for the upcoming school year. Ms. Mistretta’s professional affiliations include the National Association for Music Education, the Florida Music Educators Association, Florida Bandmasters Association, and the National Kappa Kappa Psi Alumni association.