BKSteppers Marching Arts
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This “One Band, One Sound” philosophy created a unit that became the equal of any university band, and the envy of their middle- and high-school peers.
BKSTEPPERS Marching Arts includes programs such as the Music Creation Project at P.S. 316, Brooklyn Collegiate High School Drumline, Eagle Academy for Young Men of Harlem Drumline, BKSTEPPERS Drumline and X-Factor Drumline. Under the auspices of the Jackie Robinson Center for Physical Culture, BKSTEPPERS began life in 1989 as the Jackie Robinson Steppers Marching Band, playing in the shadow of Ebbets Field and its great baseball ghosts. Founded by principal Johnny Walker, the Jackie Robinson Steppers Marching Band adopted a southern style of performance and expression using precision dance and musical styles to create what was called “The Ultimate Musical Experience” for both audience and membership. In 2004, the band reorganized to become The Brooklyn Steppers Marching Band. The Brooklyn Steppers’ roster exploded to a peak strength of nearly 200 members. The world would soon take notice as The Brooklyn Steppers began receiving invitations to play at major events across the New York metropolitan area. A typical week consisted of performance dates with the New York Mets, the New York Knicks, The United Nations, and the Borough President of Brooklyn. Film and television soon came calling, with the band appearing on every network from ABC to MTV. The Steppers made silver screen appearances in such blockbusters as “Pulse: A STOMP Odyssey” and Disney’s Academy Award-nominated fantasy “Enchanted.” All the while The Steppers balanced their practice and performance expectations with the academic demands, which have become a cornerstone of the program. The Brooklyn Steppers Marching came through time and time again, and nearly two decades of work culminated in what to date is the ultimate gig: representing the state of New York in the January 20, 2009 Presidential Inaugural Parade for President Barack Obama. Today, the BKSTEPPERS Marching Arts is soaring towards a future of artistic renewal, expanded programming, and social and community leadership. Board of Trustees
Janice Bonsu
Social Work Supervisor II
New York City Department of Homeless Services
David A. Boyd, Interim Board Chair
Assistant Director
DC 37 Schools Division
Jerede Brown
District Manager
Cook Medical
M. Guerrier
Consultant
GCS
Michael Huttenlocher
Partner
McDermott Will & Emery
Cynthia Pacelli
Teacher
NYC Department of Education
Keisha Salmon
Audience Development & Communications Director
American Documentary | POV
William F. Shea
Partner
Floyd Advisory
Antonio Thompson
Executive Director
BKSTEPPERS Marching Arts
Clement J. Waldmann, III
Percussion/Kit Swing
Blue Man Group
Our Team
Jason Brown, Percussion Assistant, and Teaching Artist Assistant
Darick Kelly, Percussion Consultant
Benjamin Nadler, Percussion Director and Teaching Artist
Michael Mendoza, Percussion Assistant, and Teaching Artist Assistant
Thierry Rémion, Teaching Artist
Antonio Thompson, Executive Director
Lance Wright, Percussion Teaching Artist and Teaching Artist
09/04/2026
With deep gratitude, we remember Geraldine S. Kunstadter, who passed away peacefully at home on August 23, 2026, at the age of 98.
Geraldine supported The Brooklyn Steppers faithfully in recent years, renewing her commitment to our young people year after year. Her generosity helped keep our Saturday workshops running, put instruments in students' hands, and gave young drummers in Brooklyn room to discover what they were capable of.
Her life was extraordinary. She entered MIT to study engineering in 1945, worked on the Cyclotron Project at the University of Chicago, and went on to spend decades in international humanitarian work, funding programs across Asia, Central America, and South Africa alongside nonprofits right here in New York City. She was a pioneer in making small grants with outsized impact. That is exactly what her support meant to us.
We send our love to her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Every beat our students play carries something of what she gave.
Thank you, Geraldine.
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/nytimes/name/geraldine-kunstadter-obituary?id=62304942&fbclid=IwY2xjawUHrP1wZG9mBWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMVF2a2JTaklSU3JCYTFKSTRzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe-o41Y1NcqCBQTwomP4NDdEozd7cesy1sc0k72AimWvEad55p1775eaQ7nvo_aem_scNqHIJx-Y90eYJkJ2tp8A
GERALDINE KUNSTADTER Obituary (2026) - New York, NY - New York Times View GERALDINE KUNSTADTER's obituary, send flowers and sign the guestbook.
03/26/2026
Last night, BK Steppers was honored at The Guidance Center of Westchester Gala at Glen Island Harbour Club in New Rochelle. We are deeply grateful to be recognized alongside an organization we are proud to call a partner in the work we do every week in Mount Vernon.
Our X-Factor Drumline took the stage and reminded the room exactly why this tradition matters — 350 young people across New York City and Mount Vernon, showing up, working together, and representing something bigger than themselves.
Thank you to The Guidance Center of Westchester for this honor, and for the commitment you bring every day to strengthening our community. 🥁
03/26/2026
Such an honor to receive the Vision of Hope Award at the Spring Gala.
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