With generous donations from fans and alumni and sponsorships from local businesses, the Gulf Knights Youth Organization has overwhelmingly surpassed its fundraising goal for this season and will be building a performing arts complex in Biloxi, Mississippi. The complex will be located at the now unprotected Home of Jefferson Davis, also called Beauvoir. Despite challenges from the city government and the Daughters of the Confederacy, the GKYO was able to claim the site with the aid of the NAACP and federal lawmakers. Construction of rehearsal facilities are scheduled to be completed before S120, and construction of amenities to allow for the “Back Bay Festival!” are scheduled to be completed before Week 4 of S120.

Even after the purchase of the site and construction of the complex, the GKYO aims to take on additional administration and staff to bring more attention to the organization and its ensembles in an aim to increase revenue from the “Back Bay Festival!” and off-season rentals of the complex. The organization has already welcomed industry leaders from Lonestar Regiment Drum Corps into the organization as admin and staff for Gulf Knights Drum and Bugle Corps: Mel Williams as Corps Director, Teagann Bass as Brass Tech, and Miranda Senney as Visual Tech. If you are interested in joining GKYO, please go to our website.

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