Cornhusker Marching Band exhibition is Aug. 19

The Cornhusker Marching Band will hold its annual exhibition concert at 7 p.m. Aug. 19 in Memorial Stadium. The concert is free and open to the public.

The concert will feature highlights from the band’s preseason camp, including the popular “drill down” contest in which band members follow rapid marching instructions to try to be the last person on the field. The concert will also include a preview of the first halftime show.

“It’s a chance for the band to have a ‘dry run’ of a game day, though on a much smaller scale,” said Tony Falcone, associate director of bands and director of the Cornhusker Marching Band. “They get to show off for friends and family, who may not be able to attend a game. It’s one of the only things we do during the course of a season that’s just for us. It’s not attached to any other kind of event.”

Falcone said every seat in Memorial Stadium is a good seat for the exhibition.

“They’ll get to see the band up close and personal,” he said. “They’ll get a preview of what’s to come. It’s a great jump-start to the season.”

Nebraska’s football season kicks off Aug. 27 in Dublin, Ireland, with a game against Northwestern.

“We’re sending a 50-piece pep band to Ireland for the Northwestern game,” Falcone said.

The band will again perform at all seven home football games this season.

“We have an exciting season planned with new music and old tributes and current trends,” Falcone said.

Fans attending the exhibition concert should enter Memorial Stadium through Gates 3 and 11 (southwest and northwest entrances, respectively). Gates open at 6 p.m.

The Cornhusker Marching Band resides in the Glenn Korff School of Music.