Golden Bear Pep Band

The Western New England College Golden Bear Pep Band is an instrumental group founded in 1998 by undergraduate students. Consisting of various brass and woodwind instruments accompanied by drums, this band plays at college sporting events, such as home basketball (men's and women's) and football games. The Pep Band has also performed on the road when Western New England College teams were in conference and division tournaments, specifically the men's and women's basketball Great Northeast Athletic Conference finals.

The Pep Band was invited by the NCAA Division III Regional Director's Office to play in the men's first round NCAA Division III Tournament versus Salem State College in 2000. In Spring 2002, the Golden Bear Pep Band was invited by the NCAA Regional Office to play for a Division II hockey team in the championships, since the other team had a pep band of their own. Unfortunately, due to short notice, the Pep Band was unable to get the required transportation and resources in line to play the gig.

The Pep Band was created under the leadership of Todd Zern, son of the Dean of Freshman and Transfer Students, Ted Zern. Todd took some time off from Western New England College to perform with the group Up With People, and upon returning gathered a group of freshmen with high interest and forged ahead to become the first instrumental group at the school. Other groups have folled including the Jazz Band.

The Pep Band, along with the Chorus, Stageless Players, Cheerleading Club, Dance Team, WNEK-FM Radio Station, "The Review", and "The Westerner" encompassed the performing and visual arts clubs in the early 2000s.