{"id":12562,"date":"2024-09-17T16:06:06","date_gmt":"2024-09-17T20:06:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/?p=12562"},"modified":"2025-02-24T14:25:38","modified_gmt":"2025-02-24T19:25:38","slug":"pharrell-taps-princess-anne-high-marching-band-to-support-biopic-movie-project","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vbcpsblogs.com\/core\/pharrell-taps-princess-anne-high-marching-band-to-support-biopic-movie-project\/","title":{"rendered":"Princess Anne High marching band attending Pharrell movie premiere, appearing on “TODAY” show"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Fabulous Marching Cavaliers in New York City<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Movie premiere<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Pop star Pharrell Williams enrolled musicians at his alma mater Princess Anne High School to help with the theme song for his new biopic movie, \u201cPiece by Piece<\/a>.\u201d And the band participated in the movie premiere in New York City and performed on the “Today” show.<\/p>\n

Click here<\/a> to see a recap of their appearance.<\/p>\n

John Boyd, director of the Fabulous Marching Cavaliers, said the incredible opportunity started in March 2023, when a member of Williams\u2019 team contacted him about collaborating on music for the movie.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe put me in contact with his recording engineer, Mike Larson, who then sent me music and we agreed on a date where Mike would come to Princess Anne and we would record.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Princess Anne High School’s Fabulous Marching Cavaliers at a recording session for the movie theme song, “Piece by Piece,” in spring 2023.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After a recording session that spring, Larson reached out again to Boyd asking for names of the student musicians who participated.<\/p>\n

Skip forward to Sept. 6 of this year, when Apple Music and Spotify released the single, \u201cPiece by Piece<\/a>,\u201d crediting the musicians.<\/p>\n

“We found out about it during the football game and at the post-football game pizza get-together at Chicho\u2019s,\u201d Boyd said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was exciting!\u00a0 On Monday I started seeing the band\u2019s name appear in places like Rolling Stone magazine<\/a> and in online music reviews. It is all incredible, and I am so excited and happy for the students to be able to have this amazing experience!\u201d<\/p>\n

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Princess Anne’s marching band received a mention in Rolling Stone magazine.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Oct. 11 is the release date for the animated Lego movie about Williams growing up with unique ideas and aspirations.<\/p>\n

Williams has shown his dedication to Princess Anne many times since graduating in 1991, Boyd said, including speaking to students about staying committed to their education and dreams.<\/p>\n

\u201cA takeaway I hope the kids can glean from this is to actually listen to the lyrics of the song and realize that nothing is done overnight,\u201d Boyd said. We build our futures \u2018piece by piece\u2019 through hard work, perseverance, overcoming obstacles, and belief in ourselves and our team.”<\/p>\n

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The Fabulous Marching Cavaliers on the “Today” show Oct. 9, 2024.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The film company Focus Features informed Boyd that the band was invited to an the movie’s Oct. 9 premiere at The Lincoln Center in New York City and on NBC’s “TODAY” the same day.<\/p>\n

Superintendent Dr. Donald Robertson Jr. said he was thrilled to hear that Virginia Beach City Public Schools students contributed to the catchy, inspirational song.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re proud to call Pharrell Williams one of our own here at VBCPS,\u201d Robertson said. \u201cHe\u2019s a great representative of the values we instill in our students, to build and use their unique talents to improve their community and make a positive impact on the world. I can\u2019t wait to see the movie!\u201d<\/p>\n

Princess Anne students described what it was like to work with a Virginia Beach legend:<\/p>\n