Rock On with the Marco Island Academy of Rock Band

Marco Island’s very own band, the Marco Island Academy of Rock Band is organized by Marco Island Academy Art Teacher, Shane Totten and provides local students with a “safe comfortable community to further their musicianship and friendships.” The band frequently performs at local venues and events in the community. You can go show the band support at their upcoming gig at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church on February 10th.

Totten first started the Marco Island Academy of Rock in August of 2021 and has been performing with the Academy of Rock in the community since November of that same year. Totten’s shared love and passion for music with the students influenced him to start the band and since then he has cherished the community of students that has “evolved beyond music to lasting friendships.”

The band has previously performed at the MIA Festival of Nations, St. Mark's Church Events, and Mar-Good Park in Goodland for the Holiday Craft Bazaar. Totten and the students in the band spend time rehearsing on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays after school.

The Marco Island Academy of Rock Band has made many meaningful contributions to the community, and Totten shares that in order to support the citizens of Ukraine, the band performed dressed in all blue and yellow, the colors of the Ukraine flag, and raised funds in support. “We raised funds to help Ukraine citizens related to one of our church families,” said Totten. The band raised a total of eight hundred dollars in donations. 

The band's current members include students Ella and Jack Riley, Jac Lamb,  Darwin Reyes,  Brady Graham, Jacob Hibbard,  Maddison Good, Zoie Swift,  Joey Kakaty, Brigid O’ Sullivan,  Shane Kohane, Tam Vu, Lexi Smith, and Shane Totten. The band actively performs at events in the community and has performed for Halloween and sung Christmas Carols during the holidays. 

The Marco Island Academy of Rock Band provides great opportunities for students to get involved in the community, gain confidence, and make friends. A student in the band, Lexi Smith, shares that “Being in the band has taught me to be more confident in performing in public, how to successfully work with a large group whether it’s planning activities or performing together and how to rock on!”