Students from 10 area schools, inspired by the anti-bullying spirit, will compete to put on the best musical show for “Jersey Boys” cast members and other celebrity guest judges at the “BAND Against Bullying” multi-school music and arts festival taking place at 7 p.m. May 14 in the Center for the Arts, North Campus.

The competition and dignity-for-all rally seeks to raise awareness of bullying-related issues and anti-bullying education efforts among schools and youth groups.

Janet Snyder from Kiss 98.5 will host the event. The acts will be scored by a panel of 10 specially chosen judges, including Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson, Buffalo Sabres alumnus Andrew Peters, Nicholas Picholas from Kiss 98.5 and Hayden Milanes, a member of the national touring cast of the musical “Jersey Boys.”

Milanes will perform at the May 14 event. Other judges include Ed Suk, National Center for Missing & Exploited Children NY Regional Office; Amanda Nickerson, associate professor of counseling and director of UB’s Alberti Center for Bullying Abuse Prevention; and Dennis Black, UB vice president for university life and services. 

Students from 10 local high schools will perform their themed music or arts acts to raise community awareness and earn the distinction as the best performance at the “BAND Against Bullying” competition. Arts groups at local schools also will display their projects, all created around the anti-bullying theme.

“Clearly the issue of bullying and harassment in schools is a prevalent concern,” says Nickerson, whose center is hosting the competition. “And it’s really the youth that are going to take the lead in setting a culture and climate of acceptance and dignity for all people.”

Among those supporting the event are lead sponsor Hodgson Russ, LLP, M&T Bank, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the Erie County Law Enforcement  Foundation, AldoMedia, Dent Neurological Institute, New Era, WebbMason, the 100 Club of Buffalo, JC Creations and KISS 98.5.

For more information, visit the BAND Against Bullying website.