Bergen Community College

Bergen Community College alumna Gabrielle Buttacavole, ‘25, studied music to become a musician. During her college career, she was the lead singer in Billy Fitz and the Liabilities, a band that was formed within Bergen’s music program.

Buttacavole performed covers and original pieces at various events, including EarthFest 2025 and the annual Create Tomorrow: Bergen Institute for the Creative Arts Gala. At the Gala, Buttacavole performed vocals, including “I Can’t Get Over You” and “Share Air,” alongside her band.

“I’ve been singing since I was three years old,” said Buttacavole. “I would sing in a lot of choirs in high school, and then I decided that music was going to be something that I wanted to do.”

Buttacavole was also a recipient of the AFA Academic Achievement Award and Triple Scholarship Award. Through her music on campus, she encouraged creativity in fellow classmates and made an impact on the performing arts at Bergen. 

“I think that opening your mind to several other sounds expands your knowledge, and can make you appreciate music more. Even things you have not heard before,” she said.

At Bergen, Buttacavole said she found many things that formed who she was. She believes that the College can help others do the same. “It’s a great idea to see the opportunities offered at Bergen and see how far you can go,” she said. “The connections that you make and the work that can be made over time can really be beneficial and amazing to see.”

Buttacavole graduated in May 2025.

Based in Paramus, Bergen Community College (www.bergen.edu), a public two-year coeducational college, enrolls more than 13,000 students at locations in Paramus, the Philip Ciarco Jr. Learning Center in Hackensack and Bergen Community College at the Meadowlands in Lyndhurst. The College offers associate degree, certificate and continuing education programs in a variety of fields. More students graduate from Bergen than any other community college in the state.

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