Keith Griffis

KEITH GRIFFIS is the Director of Bands at Walter L. Sickles High School in Tampa, FL where he oversees all band activities including Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Jazz Ensembles, and the Marching Wall of Sound.

Bands under Mr. Griffis’ direction consistently earn superior ratings in concert, marching, and jazz assessment and have earned the Florida Bandmasters Association’s “Otto J. Kraushaar” award for straight-superior ratings at both the district and state level. Recognized as having one of the largest band programs in the greater Tampa Bay Area, Sickles High School enjoys representation in All-County, All-State, and All-National Honor Ensembles, and has a proud legacy of alumni performing in collegiate and professional ensembles.

Mr. Griffis is active as an adjudicator, presenter, and conductor. He has been invited to present clinics at several professional conferences including the Florida Music Education Association Conference, the Florida Bandmasters Association Summer Convention, and at the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, IL. He has enjoyed several guest conducting appearances with professional ensembles including the United States Air Force Concert Band in Washington, DC.

Mr. Griffis has been recognized as the Sickles High School “Teacher of the Year”, the Hillsborough County Parent-Teacher Association’s “Instructional Person of the Year”, and has been a Quarterfinalist for the Grammy Foundation’s Music Educator Award. His professional affiliations include the Florida Bandmasters Association, the Florida Music Education Association, the National Band Association, and Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity.

Mr. Griffis holds a Master’s degree in Music Education from the University of South Florida, and is a graduate Cum Laude from Florida State University with Bachelor degrees in Music Education and Music Performance. While at FSU Mr. Griffis served as the Head Drum Major of the World-Renowned FSU Marching Chiefs. He and his wife, fellow high school band director, Amanda, live in Tampa along with their dog, Nola.