{"id":201766,"date":"2026-04-18T14:45:34","date_gmt":"2026-04-18T14:45:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/201766\/"},"modified":"2026-04-18T14:45:34","modified_gmt":"2026-04-18T14:45:34","slug":"brooklyn-youth-enjoy-hbcu-battle-of-the-bands","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/201766\/","title":{"rendered":"Brooklyn Youth Enjoy HBCU Battle of The Bands"},"content":{"rendered":"

The second annual Concrete Crankfest, hosted by Big Apple Leadership Academy for the Arts, exposes young Black Brooklynites to HBCU music and culture. <\/p>\n

The 2nd Annual Concrete Crankfest brought a Historically Black College and University Battle of the Bands contest to Brooklyn, drawing support from elected officials and community leaders while driving donations for scholarship opportunities.<\/p>\n

Hosted on April 11 in Fort Greene by the Big Apple Leadership Academy for the Arts<\/a>, the event featured a high-energy marching band showdown between Delaware State University and Virginia State University, showcasing elite collegiate talent and connecting local youth to higher education pathways with HBCU culture.<\/p>\n

The event also featured BALAA\u2019s After School Program, Harlem Thunder Percussion, Ms. K\u2019s HBCU Double Dutch Team, the Brooklyn Gatorettes, and the Northern Showstyle Band Coalition, bringing together a dynamic mix of local talent and nationally recognized performance styles that showcased Black excellence.<\/p>\n

\"crankfest26\"
\n. Photo: Supplied\/Big Apple Leadership Academy for the Arts <\/p>\n

“The Big Apple Leadership Academy for the Arts continues to pour into our young people in ways that uplift both culture and opportunity,” \ufeffsaid Stefani L. Zinerman, Assemblymember for the 56th District. \u201cThrough their ensemble, The Empire Marching Elite, BALAA is not only nurturing talent, but building discipline, confidence, and clear pathways to higher education.”<\/p>\n

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