Nikk Pilato remembers the 1989-1990 JPT Band:

"The first thing I remember when I stepped into the band room of J.P. Taravella was "Holy crap!  They have a lot more trophies than we do!" The very next thing I remember was the mingled look of surprise and fear Mr. Jenkins had on his face when he saw me.  "What are you doing here?" he asked.  "Um...I don't know how to tell you this...but I am now enrolled at Taravella."  Thus began my adventure at JPT.  The three previous years had been spent as a member of the Miramar High School Band, also under the direction of Mr. Neil Jenkins.  To say he was surprised to see me would be an understatement.   To my relief, I was accepted fairly quickly at JPT, and made some wonderful friends.  The JPT Band was several notches above the level that the Miramar band had been at, and for someone who had suddenly become gung-ho into music, this was Heaven.  The marching band, the concert band, the jazz band...everything was amazing, and I tried to take in as much as I could.

    I'll never forget trading my white plume for the black plume of a cute Irmo High School flute player at the Vero Beach contest, nor will I forget the shock of hearing a band that was even better than JPT's.  I remember my year-long fight with Kelly King as we broke up and got back together again on a daily basis.  The RUSH concert in February of 1990, when a whole ton of us went down to Miami and got lost looking for a place to park.  Parties at Jen Sinder's house.  The Outsiders.  Almost becoming the first JPT Band to get Superiors at State Festival.  Getting Straight Superiors with the Jazz Ensemble.  The "white bread" incident with Shane Walker at the Ramblewood Square Plaza.  Hanging out at All-State with Traci and Nina (in the pool, out of the pool, in the pool, out of the pool) and hiding out in the girls' room as Mr. Phillips did room checks.  Losing a friend to a motorcycle accident.  Surviving Dr. Timoney's class with the help of my band friends. Fuddruckers after football games.  But perhaps most of all, I remember discovering that music is what I wanted to do with my life.  And here I am."