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 Pure Heart Throbbing Excitement!  Unparalleled Precision & Sound!

 “The New Standard of Collegiate Bands for the New Millennium”

Often referred to as the epitome of pride.  Pride in themselves, pride in perfection, pride in performance, and pride in the institution they represent.  They are the one and only Bethune-Cookman University Marching Wildcats. The only band that’s guaranteed to show-up and show-out, anywhere and anytime. This year’s edition of the Marching Wildcats boasts a band with over 200 members.

  • Recognized as “The Heartbeat of B-CU,” the band has performed at many events in the last two decades.
  • NFL Halftime Shows for the Jacksonville Jaguars 2001, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018 & 2022.
  • NFL Halftime Show for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2007, 2011, 2013 & 2014.
  • Performed a national commercial for ESPN’s Monday Night Football promotion for the New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphin game 2011.
  • NFL Halftime Show for the Miami Dolphins 2010.
  • 1998 & 2018 Circle City Classic-Indianapolis, Indiana, 1998 Heritage Bowl-Atlanta, Georgia, 1999 & 2003 Riverfront Classic-Cincinnati, Ohio, 2000 Conch Bowl Classic-Nassau, Bahamas as well as national television performances on ABC, BET, NBC, ESPN, UPN.
  • The Marching Wildcats were featured in a live performance with recording artist “Shaggy” for the 2001 MTV Rock N’ Jock Celebrity Super Bowl in Tampa, Florida.  This was a live broadcast on MTV from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, FL on Super Bowl weekend 2000. 
  • Performed for the nationally televised Fed Ex Orange Bowl Parade in Miami, Florida.
  • The Marching Wildcats were the guest band of Tom Joyner for the 2003 Family Reunion Weekend at Walt Disney World.
  • The Marching Wildcats performed for the Steve Harvey morning show in 2009.
  • The 2003, 2004, & 2005 Walt Disney World Christmas Morning Parade, nationally televised on ABC, featuring the Marching Wildcats. 
  • The Florida Education Leader Magazine labeled the Marching Wildcats as the best college band in the state of Florida for 2001. 
  • EA Sports featured the Marching Wildcats in the 2005 & 2006 NCAA Football Video Games and the soundtrack for the 2007 NCAA Basketball Video Game. 
  • The Marching Wildcats were selected for the Thirteenth year to participate in the Honda Battle of the Bands Invitational Showcase at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. – 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 & January 2018.
  • The Marching Wildcats performed for the 2006 & 2007 Orlando Magic season opener aired nationally on TNT.
  • Twentieth Century Fox Movie Production Company guest featured the Bethune-Cookman University Marching Wildcats in the Movie “DRUMLINE.” 
  • FOX Sports featured the Marching Wildcats in the pre-race show for the 2005 NASCAR Daytona 500 along with Clint Black, The Beach Boys and Vanessa Williams. 
  • Performed in Los Angeles MLB (Major League Baseball) Urban Sports Initiative in February 2009, 2010 & 2011 on the MLB Network.
  • The Marching Wildcats appeared on the Ellen Degeneres Show for her 2005 Super Bowl Special in Burbank, California. 
  • The Marching Wildcats filmed a commercial for Cadillac Automobile Company in Downtown Los Angeles, California.  The commercial aired in January 2006 and viewed approximately 6 months or more in various TV markets throughout the nation.
  • Performed the opening show for Brown & Brown Insurance Co. National Sales meeting in Orlando, Florida 2008, 2009 & 2010.
  • Performed the opening show for Grainger Co. National Sales meeting in Orlando, Florida 2007.
  • The XLIII Super Bowl in Tampa, FL featured the Marching Wildcats as a performer for the pre-game show in February 2009 along with recording artist Faith Hill and Jennifer Hudson.
  • The 2010 NFL Pro Bowl in Miami Florida featured the BCU Marching Wildcats for the entire halftime entertainment.  The performance was also featured on the TruTV show for NFL Films called FULL CONTACT.
  • The Marching Wildcats is the only HBCU Band featured in the Drum and Bugle Corp Magazine “Halftime” twice.  Once for the top 10 field shows in the country and the other was a centerfold story about the band performance for the 2010 Pro Bowl halftime.
  • Performed for the christening of the Disney Cruise Ship “The Dream”. 2011
  • The Marching Wildcats was the focus of a reality show with ESPNU called the “Battle”.  The show followed the band for the entire season giving an inside view of what HBCU Bands are all about.  The show aired for five weeks starting Thursday, November 4, 2010.  The show ended with the band face-off between FAMU and BCU at the Florida Classic in November.
  • Wells was a featured guest on the nationally televised show “Outside the Lines” on ESPN twice to give his perspective on HBCU band community and the impact of hazing.
  • The Marching Wildcats performed an exhibition show in Charlotte, NC in August of 2015, 2016 & 2017 for “The Queen City Battle of the Bands” sponsored by McDonalds.
  • The BCU Marching Wildcats were featured in a reality show documenting the dedication and hard work it takes to be in our band.  The show is a project of Stage 13 by Warner Brothers and is being aired world-wide on Netflix.  The title of the show is “Marching Orders”.
  • The Marching Wildcats was the opening act for the one hour CBS Special “Every Vote Counts” Campaign with host Alisha Keys and Kerri Washington on October 29, 2020 to encourage every person to vote.
  • The Marching Wildcats performed in Houston, Texas August, 2021 at the Cracker Barrell Battle of the Bands.  The band performed with Grammy Award Winning  Gospel Artist and the winner of BET’s Sunday’s Best, Ms. Le’Adria Johnson.  The Marching Wildcats returned in 2022 to Houston, Texas to perform in the Pepsi Battle of the Bands presented by Cricket Wireless.
  • The Marching Wildcats collaborated with Porsche North America for their Annual Conference in Atlanta, Georgia.  The Marching Wildcats did a video presentation featuring the all-electric Porsche Taycan.  The project featured the band and was filmed on BCU’s campus and various locations in Daytona Beach, Florida.  Porsche North America selected BCU’s Band to incorporate an element of HBCU culture in their company.
  • The Marching Wildcats auxiliary units consist of the Five Horsemen Drum Majors, Sophisticat Flag Corp and the nationally known 14KT Gold Dancers.  The Marching Wildcat legacy continues as the band strives to bring the finest in halftime performances to viewing audiences.
  • The Marching Wildcats are under the leadership of Dr. Donovan V. Wells, Director of Bands.  Dr. Wells is a 1984 alumnus of Bethune-Cookman University and a 1995 graduate of the Norfolk State University Graduate School of Music in Norfolk, Virginia.  Dr. Wells has been the Director of Bands since 1997.

 

The Band Staff:

Mr. James Poitier-Associate Director of Bands/Arranger

Mr. Pedro Orey-Assistant Director/Percussion    

Mrs. Villajean Williams-Administrative Assistant

Mr. Ken Moore-Announcer

Ms. Nikege Roberts-Auxiliary

Mr. Bree’Shawn Watson-Drum Majors

Ms. Tiffany Todd-Videographer

All directors are full-time faculty members in the music department, and hold a minimum of the Master of Music Education Degree.