Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach makes amazing music, and many people know that. The band, the Marching Wildcats, has performed in any number of venues and has been featured on television and in movies.High school band students from around the country are at BCU to absorb some of that magic in band camp.They’re not Marching Wildcats, at least not yet. They’re Wildcat wannabes.Two hundred band students from high schools around the country at Bethune-Cookman University are immersed in the Marching Wildcat culture for a week. “Everyone is really into what they’re doing. Everyone’s really passionate about it, so it’s not any mixed emotions. We’re all for the same purpose, same goal,” said Paris Robinson, who’s attending band camp. “To see like how — how they conduct themselves, how they train their students to become this great,” said Chiemela Onyenso, a band camp attendee. The Marching Wildcats became this great under the long-time guidance of Director of Bands Donovan Wells.Year after year, he shapes talent, creates enthusiasm and demands intensity and precision.He’s sharing some of those same skills with the musically-inclined young people.”It’s a great recruitment tool for us because it acclimates students to Bethune-Cookman University. It acclimates them to our system of doing things in band,” Wells said. Wells hosted band camp for 17 years, then COVID-19 hit, so this is the first year back since and it’s wildly popular.Some of the current Marching Wildcat section leaders and a few of the high school band directors help run things.”My band director, he went here as well, so he always talked to us about it, and I always saw videos of them and things like that,” said Sapphir Gilder, a band camp attendee. “And I thought it would be really cool to be a part of it.””I’m hoping they’ll learn something. I’m hoping they’re having a good time, and I’m hoping that we’re leaving an impression on them of our program and of our school,” Wells said.Top headlines: Invasive tegu lizard spotted in Orlando man’s backyard, wildlife experts say Tropical depression forms in the Atlantic, expected to become Cindy Tropical Storm Bret near hurricane strength
VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. —
Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach makes amazing music, and many people know that.
The band, the Marching Wildcats, has performed in any number of venues and has been featured on television and in movies.
High school band students from around the country are at BCU to absorb some of that magic in band camp.
They’re not Marching Wildcats, at least not yet. They’re Wildcat wannabes.
Two hundred band students from high schools around the country at Bethune-Cookman University are immersed in the Marching Wildcat culture for a week.
“Everyone is really into what they’re doing. Everyone’s really passionate about it, so it’s not any mixed emotions. We’re all for the same purpose, same goal,” said Paris Robinson, who’s attending band camp.
“To see like how — how they conduct themselves, how they train their students to become this great,” said Chiemela Onyenso, a band camp attendee.
The Marching Wildcats became this great under the long-time guidance of Director of Bands Donovan Wells.
Year after year, he shapes talent, creates enthusiasm and demands intensity and precision.
He’s sharing some of those same skills with the musically-inclined young people.
“It’s a great recruitment tool for us because it acclimates students to Bethune-Cookman University. It acclimates them to our system of doing things in band,” Wells said.
Wells hosted band camp for 17 years, then COVID-19 hit, so this is the first year back since and it’s wildly popular.
Some of the current Marching Wildcat section leaders and a few of the high school band directors help run things.
“My band director, he went here as well, so he always talked to us about it, and I always saw videos of them and things like that,” said Sapphir Gilder, a band camp attendee. “And I thought it would be really cool to be a part of it.”
“I’m hoping they’ll learn something. I’m hoping they’re having a good time, and I’m hoping that we’re leaving an impression on them of our program and of our school,” Wells said.
Top headlines:
Skip to content
