The PCTVS Marching Band once again had an impressive performance and earned a Gold Rating at this year’s NJMEA Marching Band Ratings Festival at Wayne Hills High School on Saturday, October 23. The band scored an extraordinary 89.5 while the brass section earned the award for Outstanding Musical Contribution and percussion earned the award for Outstanding Visual Contribution.

Overall, this is the band’s 3rd straight gold rating at this event, adding to 2018 and 2019 accomplishments. What is even more impressive is that the band was able to accomplish this difficult feat even though they did not have a season last year and about 60% of its membership are rookies.

Earning gold at this event is also very challenging because the judges are fair, but tough on the scoring. Bands must demonstrate high levels of musical criteria such as consistency, achievement, and coordination, all of which the Bulldog Marching Band met and well exceeded. The 2021 production was entitled Inside the Velvet Ropes and featured the arrangements “Conga,” “Fever,” and “Saturday Night’s Alright.” Training began in July with a two-week minicamp, where members were taught marching basics and worked on learning and memorizing their show music and routines.

From there, the band completed a two-and-a-half-week August camp where they learned their drill and put music and routines to movement. Their fall season has consisted of weekly rehearsals and performances that have allowed the band to continue developing their show leading up to their successful production at the NJMEA Ratings Festival.

The band is under the direction of Nelson Mendez; Assistant Director Patrick Bennett; Color Guard Advisors Melissa Andriac & Stacie Bennett; Instructors Alfredo Alejandro Gumbs, Angelo Oliver & Leon Pooran; Drum Major Jesse Bross; Color Guard Captain Madison Singh; Drum Captain Andres Guerra; Section Leaders Benjamin Suttora, Sahaf Chowdhury, Shayla Montero, and Laila Ramirez.

The band will look to continue its tradition of success on the field and maintain a GOLD standard of excellence in performance as they continue marching forward into future competitions, football games and parades! Go Bulldogs!

Drum Captain Andres Guerra (Paterson), Drum Major Jesse Bross (Bloomingdale), and Color Guard Captain Madison Singh (Clifton) pose with their Gold plaque.

The PCTVS Marching Band performs led by Drum Major Jesse Bross (Bloomingdale).