Crown Heights marching band takes center stage at some of NYC's biggest events

Brooklyn United was given the opportunity of a lifetime to perform at the MTV Video Music Awards Sunday night behind Lil Nas X. 

News 12 Staff

Sep 16, 2021, 3:01 AM

Updated 1,197 days ago

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This week has been one of big opportunities for a local marching band from Crown Heights.
Brooklyn United was given the opportunity of a lifetime to perform at the MTV Video Music Awards Sunday night behind Lil Nas X. 
And Monday evening they performed, yet again, for some of the biggest celebrities at the Met Gala.
The opportunity is not lost on them. Band member Rodney Smith says it has been a blessing for them.
“It's a blessing for us and the kids to just be out there and perform in front of people with millions of dollars,” says Smith. “It's a real honor.”
Brooklyn United is a community organization led by Ty Brown. It serves the city’s youth, allowing students of the program to perform in a life-changing activity that build character development, skills building and performance opportunities.
Brown says they are a family. He describes the youth as “super talented.”
“They listen. They pay attention,” says Brown. “The younger ones help motivate the older ones and vice versa.”
Brown says there is no end for what the band can do.
The group will be heading to the Apollo Theater next. 
They'll take to the world stage in 2022 when they will head to France.