Stepping Off with Mr. Bud: Flashback to the Season

As football and band season comes to a close, let’s take a quick “Flashback” of the 2016 Jersey Shore Marching Bands.

What a year! There are 43 Band programs with over 3000 students participating. That is amazing!

Congratulations to all the Directors, students, parents and school districts who promote music at their schools. As we all know, music promotes self-esteem, creative thinking, teamwork, self-confidence, higher SAT scores, and here at the Jersey Shore, we have some of the best. Here are some of the 2016 highlights:

Jackson Liberty and Jackson Memorial participated in the Miss America Parade in Atlantic City.

In order to observe the events of September 11, 2001 the Long Branch High School and Manasquan High School Marching Bands combined to perform God Bless America.
In the US Bands Circuit, Allentown HS scored the highest score of the year: 95.40, while Brick Memorial, Jackson Liberty, Jackson Memorial, and Toms River East all broke into the 90’s.

The Jersey Shore had some very exciting music and themes for 2016 including:
“Oz, The Olympics, Picante, Fade to Black, Ruler, Beyond the Veil, License to Thrill,
Letters From Home, A New Land, Into the Tomb, Jersey Boys, Joy Love Hope, and Peace, Dead Men Tell No Tales and many more. I wish I could see, and hear all these again.

The Brick Memorial Mustangs, and Toms River North Mariners won their divisions at the Tournament of Bands championships.

Jackson Liberty performed opening ceremonies at the Pulaski Day Parade, in New York.

Both Toms River North and Middletown North scored their highest marching bands scores in school history.

Point Pleasant Boro won the Best Overall Grand Champion award (Group A) at the Brick Memorial, Brick Township and Toms River East competitions.

Jackson Liberty won Best Overall Grand Champion award (Group A) at the Hamilton West, Lenape, and Jackson Memorial competitions.

Ocean Township Spartans competed for the first time, and did exceptionally well.

Jonathan Grill – Assistant Director of the Toms River North Mariners wins the award for the Mannequin challenge.

I would like to take this time, to thank all the Directors for their cooperation with “Stepping Off With Mr. Bud” , the marching band students, and parents, and especially Dan Alexander, and WOBM for helping promote music in our schools.

Good Luck to all of the marching bands who are performing at local football playoffs games, and traditional Thanksgiving Day Games. Wishing you all a successful winter season and spring season.