CALDWELL, NJ — Grover Cleveland Middle School students have won the fourth annual “Battle of the Bands” competition at Rutgers University, earning the opportunity to travel to Rutgers-New Brunswick and perform the university’s fight song during a Scarlet Knights football game.
The Rutgers fight song, “The Bells Must Ring,” was performed on video by middle school bands from across New Jersey, with university representatives encouraging schools to submit their entries. The competition is organized jointly by the Rutgers-New Brunswick Division of Enrollment Management and the university marching band. Organizers evaluated submissions based on technical skill, compelling stage presence, and demonstrated pride in New Jersey’s flagship university.
“My students and I are absolutely thrilled about this opportunity and feel deeply honored to receive this recognition,” said Lauren Chen, band director at Grover Cleveland Middle School in Caldwell, New Jersey. “It’s a joy to work with the young musicians in the Caldwell-West Caldwell Public Schools, and their victory in this competition speaks to their hard work and dedication to achieving musical excellence.”
As the competition winners, Grover Cleveland Middle School band members will visit Rutgers–New Brunswick and join the Rutgers marching band in performing the university’s fight song at a Scarlet Knights football game at SHI Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey, on a future date. Band members and their chaperones will receive tickets to the game.
“None of this would have been possible without the unwavering support of our administration, staff, and families,” Chen added. “We’re grateful to the Rutgers University Scarlet Marching Knights for organizing this event, which we believe will inspire our young musicians to continue pursuing their musical passions through college.”
The original concept for the contest was developed by Courtney McAnuff, vice chancellor for enrollment management at Rutgers-New Brunswick, as a way to build early connections between younger students and the state university.
“We’re delighted to offer middle school students this unique opportunity to engage with Rutgers–New Brunswick in a distinctive way,” McAnuff said.
“We at Rutgers University Bands are incredibly excited to congratulate the Grover Cleveland Middle School Band on their victory in this year’s ‘Battle of the Bands’ competition,” said Todd Nichols, director of university bands at Rutgers, who joined the university in 2017 after 19 years leading high school bands.
Nichols continued, “We look forward to Grover Cleveland’s visit to our campus and their performance alongside our Rutgers University Marching Scarlet Knights. It’s going to be an incredible show.”
Congratulations, champions!
