Ocean City Rock Band Could Be the 'Best in the U.S.'

A local rock band is in the running to be the “Best Teen Band in the USA,” and a victory would bring $5,000 to school music programs in Ocean City.

students Dean Howey, Ryan Walsh, Andy Wiggins and Will Wiggins created 123 DRAW in 2007, naming the band by the first letters of their first names. Since then, the band has been playing Sweet Sixteen parties, school events, Family Nights on the Boardwalk, First Night and other venues throughout Ocean City.

Howey and Andy Wiggins are now seniors at Ocean City High School. Ryan Walsh and Will Wiggins both attend William Paterson University, Walsh a freshman and Wiggins a sophomore.

The band is entered in the 2011 School Jam sponsored by National Association of Music Merchants. The contest is described as follows:

After an online public vote and review by a panel of music industry judges, eight finalist bands will be chosen to take the stage live on Jan. 21, 2012 in Anaheim, Calif. during the weekend of the world-famous NAMM Show. The finalists will perform in the Downtown Disney District for hundreds of fans and a panel of judges comprised of music professionals to claim the title of "Best Teen Band in the USA." The grand-prize winning band will receive a trip of a lifetime to perform at the original SchoolJam Festival in Frankfurt, Germany, along with a private music video recording session on the John Lennon Educational Bus, $1,000 towards the purchase of new gear and $5,000 for their school music programs.

Anybody can help 123 Draw win by voting online. To do so:

• Visit the School Jam website. The site includes three samples of 123 Draw music.
• Create an account. The form will ask for a favorite local musical instrument store. If you don't have one, you can use 123 Draw's favorite: in Ocean City.
• Vote for 123 Draw. Each user can vote once per day throughout the month of November.

The band created a Facebook group on Tuesday and generated more than 200 votes in the first day.

Band members said they first heard of the competition from Ocean City High School Music Director Donna Schwartz, who taught each of the boys. Will Wiggins, drummer for the band, says it is the first national competition the band has ever taken part in, and that the band would love the professional feedback along the way.

“If we do win, we have a lot to be excited about," Wiggins said. "We all owe a lot to Ocean City's music department for training us and building our musicality and professionalism, and we'd love to be able to give back.”

Schwartz taught each of the four boys throughout high school and commends them on their progress as a band. If the band wins, she has said the boys should have a say in how the $5000 should be spent.

Her first thought is to consider new equipment -- with the marching band drums being the first to be renewed. A second thought was to be replace or update the Jazz Band equipment, since all four of the boys have participated in this extra-curricular program. The last thought would be to purchase a band shell for the stage area where the pit orchestra performs during the Drama Guild’s spring musical.

“While playing band/marching/jazz music they would always ask questions to help make them better musicians and help improve the quality of the ensemble they were performing with. All have them have very good ears, when they play together, they listen to each other and complement each other, they just don’t make noise,” Schwartz said.

The band will perform in Ocean City during the Dec. 31 First Night celebration 7 to 10 p.m. at the . They plan on finishing an EP this winter.