Bethune-Cookman College President Dr. Oswald P. Bronson (center) celebrates the announcement of the marching band's invitation to the Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational Showcase.

B-CC’s “PRIDE” INVITED TO PRESTIGIOUS HONDA INVITATIONAL SHOWCASE

DAYTONA BEACH, FLA – The Bethune-Cookman College marching band reaffirmed its status of being one of the nation’s elite College bands by being selected to perform at the second annual Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational Showcase, January 24, 2004 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Ga.

As a representative of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference along with Florida A&M, B-CC will be in a select group of ten bands invited to participate. The honor also earned the B-CC band program a $10,000 grant from Honda, who for the past 15 years has been highlighting the unique and unsurpassed education and cultural experiences found only at Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Curtis Cason (at microphone) of Honda officially extends the invitation to appear in the Invitational Showcase to B-CC Director of Bands Donovan Wells, B-CC President Dr. Oswald P. Bronson Sr. and B-CC Music Department Chairman Dr. Hiram C. Powell.

The Georgia Dome was also the site for filming of the movie “Drumline,” in which the B-CC “Pride” had a cameo role. Returning to Atlanta to participate in the Invitational Showcase is an honor, according to Director of Bands Donovan Wells.

“We’re thrilled to be going back to Atlanta,” Wells said. “We have a lot of alumni and supporters in that area that we know will come out to see us perform.”

Band selection for the Invitational Showcase was based on an online fan opinion survey (33.3 percent), as well as opinion surveys completed by HBCU presidents and conference commissioners (33.3 percent) and band directors (33.3 percent).  School officials were not allowed to vote for their own school.

“I’m pleased to see how well we did in the online polling,’’ Wells said. “The word is out and I’m delighted to see how our network of supporters came together to give our great band such a strong showing. We strive for excellence and it paid off.”

Bethune-Cookman College President Dr. Oswald P. Bronson, Sr., an avid supporter of the band and music programs, was thrilled with the announcement.

“This is a high profile award that goes a long way to elevating the positive national image of the College,’’ Bronson said. “It is an exceptionally gratifying way to commend the band members and their directors for their high standards of excellence and hard work.” 

Tickets are now on sale for the Invitational Showcase and can be purchased through Ticketmaster and at the Georgia Dome box office.  More than 60,000 fans from across the country are expected to attend the largest and only national showcase of HBCU marching bands in the country. Reserved seats for this fan-friendly event are $10 each. 

Bethune-Cookman is a comprehensive college, which offers degrees in liberal arts as well as professional fields, such as business, education and nursing. A United Methodist Church-affiliated school, the college has a diverse and international student population of more than 2,500 and a solid reputation for academic excellence. As evidence of its outstanding program, the College has been listed in the Templeton Honor Roll of Character Building Colleges and Universities, and it was ranked by Black Enterprise magazine as one of the “Top 50” schools in the nation for black students.

For more information, contact our website www.bethune.cookman.edu. 

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