Wildcat Band
Director - Kevin Dimmel Assistant Directors - Greg Borsz, Erin McConnell
For information on the current 2024 season, click here.
For alumni information, click here.
Philosophy
The Wildcat Band’s philosophy encompasses commitment, discipline, unselfishness, pride and the dignity of each member. Our basic goal is working hard, together, towards excellence.
History
The list of accomplishments and honors of the Wildcats is, to say the least, impressive. For a period of over 50 years, this organization has set a standard unmatched by any other high school in the country. Certainly there have been many other high schools with exceptional bands, but none with the ability to sustain their excellence over an extended period of time. This is the mark of a true champion. Among other honors, our record includes 34 of the past 45 New York State Field Band Championships; five National Field Band Championships, as well as six Bands of America Grand Nationals Finalist appearances, including the 1990 Class AA National Title; two Falls Church, Virginia Tournament of Bands Championships, a Myrtle Beach Sweepstakes Award for the Most Outstanding Band, and 15 Bands of America Regional Championship Finalist appearances as well as four Class Championships and the 1994 Toledo Regional Championship.
It now becomes the goal of all of us - Staff, Students and Parents to meet the simple but awesome task of continuing a quality of performance that is clearly without equal. This is no small chore, and we will be severely challenged. We ask that we all rise to that challenge, and, in the process, experience memories that we can be proud to enjoy for years to come.
The Record
1966 - State American Legion Championship 1967 - Sherburne Pageant of Bands Champions
1968 - Sherburne Pageant of Bands Champions 1969 - Sherburne Pageant of Bands Champions
1969 - New York State Lions Festival Championship 1970 - New York State Lions Festival Championship
1970 - Gorham Pageant of Bands Champions 1971 - New York State Fair Champions
1972 - 2nd Place at Washington DC Cherry Blossom Festival
1973 - Ranked Nationally for 1st time (#5)
1974 - Class A - New York State Field Band Conference Champions
1975 - Class A - New York State Field Band Conference Champions 1975 - North Syracuse Festival
1976 - St. Petersburg Festival of States National Field and Parade Champions
1976 - Class AA - New York State Field Band Conference Champions
1977 - Falls Church, Virginia Tournament of Bands Champions
1977 - Class AA - New York State Field Band Conference Champions
1978 - Class AA - New York State Field Band Conference Second Place
1979 - Class AA - New York State Field Band Conference Champions
1980 - St. Petersburg Festival of States Field Band Champions, Second in Parade
1980 - Class AA - New York State Field Band Conference Champions
1981 - Falls Church, Virginia Tournament of Bands Champions
1981 - Class AA - New York State Field Band Conference Champions
1982 - Open Class - New York State Field Band Conference Champions
1983 - Open Class - New York State Field Band Conference Champions
1984 - St. Petersburg Festival of States National Field Band Champions, Third in Parade
1984 - Open Class - New York State Field Band Conference Champions
1985 - Open Class - New York State Field Band Conference Second Place
1985 - Bands of America Grand Nationals Third Place
1986 - Open Class - New York State Field Band Conference Champions
1986 - Bands of America Grand Nationals Second Place (Best Drums & Guard Honors)
1987 - Open Class - New York State Field Band Conference Third Place
1987 - Bands of America Grand Nationals Third Place
1988 - Open Class - New York State Field Band Conference Second Place
1989 - Myrtle Beach Festival Sweepstakes Award
1989 - National Class - New York State Field Band Conference Champions
1990 - Bands of America Morgantown, WV Eastern Regional Fifth Place
1990 - National Class - New York State Field Band Conference Champion
1990 - Bands of America Grand Nationals Class AA National Champions, 5th Overall
1991 - National Class - New York State Field Band Conference Champion
1991 - Bands of America Grand Nationals Seventh Place
1992 - National Class - New York State Field Band Conference Champion
1993 - Bands of America Morgantown, WV Eastern Regional Second Place
1993 - National Class - New York State Field Band Conference Champion
1994 - Bands of America Toledo, OH Midwest Regional Champions
1994 - National Class - New York State Field Band Conference Champion
1995 - Bands of America Toledo, OH Mideast Regional Class AA Champions, 5th Overall
1995 - National Class - New York State Field Band Conference Champion
1995 - Bands of America Grand Nationals Class AA Second, 8th Overall
1996 - National Class - New York State Field Band Conference Champion
1997 - National Class - New York State Field Band Conference Champion
1998 - Bands of America Hofstra, NY Eastern Regional Class AA Champions, 2nd Overall
1998 - National Class - New York State Field Band Conference Champion
1999 - Bands of America Indianapolis, IN Midwest Regional Eighth Place
1999 - National Class - New York State Field Band Conference Champion
2000 - Bands of America Morgantown, WV Mideast Regional Fifth Place
2000 - National Class - New York State Field Band Conference Champion
2001 - Bands of America Toledo, OH Midwest Regional Fourth Place (Best Music Honors)
2001 - National Class - New York State Field Band Conference Champion
2002 - Bands of America Massillon, OH Regional Fourth Place
2002 - National Class - New York State Field Band Conference Champion (98.92 - record score)
2003 - Bands of America Youngstown, OH Regional Third Place
2003 - National Class - New York State Field Band Conference Champion
2004 - Bands of America Piscataway , NJ Regional Class AAA Champions, 3rd Overall
2004 - National Class - New York State Field Band Conference Second Place
2005 - National Class - New York State Field Band Conference Second Place, NY State Champs
2006 - Bands of America Livonia , MI Regional Fourth Place
2006 - National Class - New York State Field Band Conference Champion
2007 - Bands of America Youngstown, OH Regional Sixth Place
2007 - National Class - New York State Field Band Conference Second Place
2008 -Bands Of America Towson, MD Regional Seventh Place
2008 -National Class - New York State Field Band Conference Champion
2009 -Bands Of America West Chester, PA Regional Eighth Place
2009 -National Class - New York State Field Band Conference Champion
2010 -Bands Of America Pontiac, MI Regional Eleventh Place
2010 -National Class - New York State Field Band Conference Third Place
2011 -USSBA Gold Show Virginia Beach, VA 2nd Place (Best Music Honors)
2011 -National Class - New York State Field Band Conference Champion
2012 -USSBA Yamaha Cup, NJ 2nd Place (Best Overall Effect Honors)
2012 -National Class - New York State Field Band Conference Champion
2013 -National Class - New York State Field Band Conference Champion
2013 -US Bands Class VI-Open National Champions (Best Visual Effect Honors)
2014 -National Class - New York State Field Band Conference Champion
2015 -US Bands Marine Corp Invitational, Annapolis, MD Second Place
2015 -National Class - New York State Field Band Conference Third Place
2016 -USSBA Yamaha Cup, NJ 2nd Place
2016 -National Class - New York State Field Band Conference Third Place
2017 -Bands Of America Newark, DE Regional Fifth Place
2017 -National Class - New York State Field Band Conference Second Place
2018 -Tidewater Regional Virginia Beach, VA 1st Place
2018 -National Class - New York State Field Band Conference Fourth Place
2019 - Bands of America Toledo, OH Regional Eighth Place
2019 - National Class - New York State Field Band Conference Fifth Place
2021- National Class- New York State Field Band Conference Second Place
2022- National Class- New York State Field Band Conference Fourth Place
2023- US Bands Marine Corps Invitational, Annapolis, MD Second Place
2023- National Class - New York State Field Band Conference 5th Place