Last week we mentioned the fundraising campaign to support Medgar Evers Preparatory School’s efforts to participate in the national marching band competition. We are happy to report that the band was able to participate this past weekend. Below is a clip of their performance

We first spotted (or actually we first heard) the Medgar Evers College Preparatory School Band playing on Eastern Parkway a couple of weeks ago as they skillfully remastered a tune “Nothing on You” by hip-hop artist B.O.B. According to a recent article in the Daily News:

A CROWN Heights marching band has skyrocketed into the elite ranks of high school groups – but desperately needs $35,000 to compete in this weekend’s national championship

Two years ago, Medgar Evers College Preparatory School marching band didn’t even exist, but they catapulted into the nationals by winning a regional tournament last month and now want to compete in the nationals in Atlanta on Friday.

“Good luck follows this band around,” said band director Jermanique Brown. “Everywhere they go, they get first place.”

The problem is that school officials and parents can’t raise money fast enough to keep up with the stunning success of the 126 drummers, horn players and dancers in the band, dubbed “The East Coast Ocean of Soul.”

Read more on the Daily News.

(We have some great video of the band in action as they played a couple of tunes for us.  Hopefully we will have a chance to put it up over the weekend. In the mean time, enjoy the above video courtesy of WPIX.)

Update 2/15/10: For more details about local public school options, see comments section below.