Cornhusker Marching Band makes debut Sept. 4

· 13 min read

Cornhusker Marching Band makes debut Sept. 4

Color guard member Haley Petri chants “Go Big Red” during the Cornhusker Marching Band’s warm-up concert north of Kimball Recital Hall on Aug. 20. The band then marched to Memorial Stadium for its annual exhibition before it was canceled due to lightning. The band will make its 2021 debut Sept. 4 at the stadium with pregame and halftime performances at Nebraska's football home opener against Fordham.
Craig Chandler | University Communication
Color guard member Haley Petri chants “Go Big Red” during the Cornhusker Marching Band’s warm-up concert north of Kimball Recital Hall on Aug. 20. The band then marched to Memorial Stadium for its annual exhibition before it was canceled due to lightning. The band will make its 2021 debut Sept. 4 at the stadium with pregame and halftime performances at Nebraska's football home opener against Fordham.

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s 296-member Cornhusker Marching Band makes its 2021 debut Sept. 4 at Memorial Stadium with pregame and halftime performances at Nebraska’s football home opener against Fordham.

It will be the band’s first in-person performance at the stadium since November 2019.

“We’re off to a great start with a successful camp and are looking forward to returning to Memorial Stadium to perform for 90,000 of our best friends and spark the game-day atmosphere with our spirit and energy,” said Tony Falcone, director of the Cornhusker Marching Band.

This year’s band includes representatives from nearly every region of the country; though, 74% of the students are from Nebraska. Twenty-three percent of the students are music or music education majors. The rest are studying in more than 60 other degree programs across campus. Each band member passed two auditions to gain admittance to the group. The drum majors for the 2021 marching band are senior Jacob Coughlin of Omaha, senior Ian Maltas of Lincoln, senior Molly Olander of Burnsville, Minnesota, and junior Katherine Schmit of Lincoln. The twirlers are junior Carrigan Hurst of Little Chute, Wisconsin, senior Kimberly Law of La Quinta, California, and graduate student Steffany Lien of Lincoln.

Falcone is also associate director of bands in the Glenn Korff School of Music. Doug Bush is the assistant director of bands and assistant marching band director. Carolyn Barber, Ron and Carol Cope Professor of Music, is director of bands. Other band staff members are graduate teaching assistants Josh Cutting, Trevor Frost and Scott Walker. Bastian Wood is the percussion instructor, and Samantha Brown is the color guard instructor. Rose Johnson is the administrative technician, Jan Deaton is the office associate, and Nolan Schmit is the “voice” of the band.

Paul Circo jumps for joy as the Cornhusker Marching Band celebrates while marching to the stadium on Aug. 20.
Craig Chandler | University Communication
Paul Circo gets some air as the Cornhusker Marching Band celebrates while marching to the stadium on Aug. 20.

The Cornhusker Marching Band, which resides in the Korff School, was founded in 1879 as an ROTC unit and is one of the oldest marching bands in the nation. The band has received many honors throughout its 142-year history, including a Distinguished Recognition Trophy presented by John Philip Sousa in 1927 and the John Philip Sousa Foundation’s Sudler Trophy in 1996. The Sudler Trophy is the highest honor given to collegiate bands.

The “Pride of All Nebraska” has been seen by millions of viewers on television. The band was the first collegiate ensemble to perform at all of the major football bowl games: Rose, Orange, Fiesta, Sugar and Cotton. Learn more.

Following is a list of 2021 Cornhusker Marching Band members by hometown, with instrument or role in band, year in school and academic major(s).

NEBRASKA:

Albion:

  • Lauren Kohtz, trumpet, freshman, undeclared undergraduate.

Archer:

  • Faith Blauhorn, trombone, freshman, music.

Aurora:

  • Emily Donnell, piccolo, senior, secondary English (7-12).
  • Nathan Muilenburg, trombone, senior, biochemistry.

Beatrice:

  • Hannah Kassmeier, trumpet, sophomore, pre-health.
  • Sydney MacNett, piccolo, junior, elementary education.
  • Steven Powers, percussion, senior, architectural studies.
  • Emily Rempel, clarinet, freshman, pre-veterinary medicine.
  • Chasitey Whitmore, trumpet, junior, psychology.
  • Gerin Zimmerman, trumpet, junior, psychology.

Bellevue:

  • Matthew Bigge, trumpet, senior, physics.
  • Grace Carey, color guard, sophomore, fisheries and wildlife.
  • Charlie Croteau, trumpet, junior, psychology.
  • Anna Gullett, percussion, sophomore, actuarial science.
  • Aurora Kenworthy, clarinet, graduate student, law.
  • Celeste Kenworthy, clarinet, senior, geology and psychology.
  • Owen Larson, percussion, sophomore, undeclared undergraduate.
  • Emma Mathias, clarinet, freshman, pre-law.
  • Ben Skoff, percussion, junior, social science.
  • Kyle Wessling, alto saxophone, freshman, interior design.

Bennington:

  • Nia Kaufmann, tuba, freshman, insect science.
  • Nathan Meyer, clarinet, freshman, music.

Bruning:

  • Isaac Baysinger, trombone, junior, computer science.

Callaway:

  • Teagan Hanson, tuba, senior, hospitality, restaurant and tourism management.

Cedar Bluffs:

  • Hailey Anderson, alto saxophone, sophomore, physics.
  • Katie Pace, trumpet, senior, environmental restoration science.

Ceresco:

  • Lara Celesky, trumpet, junior, music education.
  • Matt Jackson, trumpet, senior, music education.
  • Katie Lilly, piccolo, junior, elementary education and special education (K-6).

Columbus:

  • Cole Asche, percussion, sophomore, music.
  • Grace Christensen, alto saxophone, junior, psychology.
  • Sarah Massman, percussion, freshman, pre-health.
  • Kylee Vrba, percussion, sophomore, undeclared undergraduate.

Eagle:

  • Jacob Dill, percussion, junior, computer science.

Elkhorn:

  • Zachary Cheek, baritone, senior, music.
  • Joshua Holstein, trumpet, junior, interior design.
  • Nathan Kurz, baritone, senior, actuarial science.
  • Troy Scheer, alto saxophone, senior, nutrition and health sciences.
  • Emily Tanner, piccolo, junior, music education.

Fremont:

  • Grant Westerman, clarinet, sophomore, music.

Geneva:

  • Brock Godown, trumpet, sophomore, music education.

Grand Island:

  • Zachary Claassen, trumpet, sophomore, computer science.
  • Samuel Harvey, percussion, senior, mechanical engineering.
  • Kylee Sodomka, trumpet, junior, sports media and communication.

Gretna:

  • Emily Austin, baritone, sophomore, psychology and communication studies.
  • Brynn Boes, percussion, junior, biological sciences.
  • Margaret Cook, color guard, sophomore, biological sciences.
  • Maggie Driewer, clarinet, freshman, art.
  • Arden Fechtmeister, piccolo, senior, music.
  • Trent Fechtmeister, percussion, sophomore, interior design.
  • Maddie Gulizia, percussion, senior, biological sciences.
  • Carissa Hunter, color guard, junior, pre-veterinary medicine.
  • Katie Kersten, percussion, freshman, chemical engineering.
  • Alaric Schiltz, percussion, junior, mechanical engineering.
  • Addy Ubele, color guard, sophomore, biological sciences.

Hastings:

  • Josh Brooks, trumpet, senior, music.
  • Hailey Haase, trumpet, sophomore, veterinary science.
  • Taygon Shaw, color guard, freshman, textiles, merchandising and fashion design.

Hickman:

  • Leo Colgan, horn, freshman, computer science.

Kearney:

  • Sam Harre, trumpet, graduate student, mechanical engineering.
  • Colin Jones, trombone, freshman, nutrition and health sciences.
  • Bethany Krull, color guard, senior, computer engineering.
  • Skyler Krull, percussion, sophomore, forensic science.
  • Elijah Smith, trombone, freshman, software engineering.

Kimball:

  • Morgan Delaplane, baritone, sophomore, music education.

La Vista:

  • Cali Engel, trumpet, freshman, fisheries and wildlife.

Lincoln:

  • Gavin Addleman, alto saxophone, freshman, undeclared undergraduate.
  • Anavictoria Almodovar-Warner, alto saxophone, freshman, music education.
  • Baylee Andersen, trombone, senior, animal science.
  • Lauren Berke, trumpet, senior, mechanical engineering.
  • Savana Brakeman, trumpet, sophomore, political science.
  • Leo Bretta, trumpet, freshman, undeclared undergraduate.
  • Patrick Brown, alto saxophone, freshman, music.
  • Joseph Bruner, tenor saxophone, sophomore, undeclared undergraduate.
  • Abigail Carstens, horn, junior, psychology.
  • Sean Casey, percussion, sophomore, music education.
  • Angel Cervantes Garcia, clarinet, freshman, undeclared undergraduate.
  • Christian Dahlman, tenor saxophone, junior, mechanical engineering.
  • Josiah Dames, trombone, freshman, secondary education.
  • Makenna Dezort, piccolo, freshman, elementary education.
  • Matthew Dohmen, percussion, sophomore, mechanical engineering.
  • Nikki Duero, color guard, freshman, physics.
  • Jonathan Duke, trumpet, senior, actuarial science.
  • Kelly Fedderson, percussion, freshman, chemical engineering.
  • Kason Fiedler, tuba, junior, music education.
  • Hunter Foged, trumpet, senior, biological sciences.
  • Mace Fowler, tenor saxophone, freshman, music.
  • Hayden Fuelberth, trombone, junior, music education.
  • Rachel Gerdes, trumpet, senior, chemical engineering.
  • Jacob Green, trumpet, junior, mechanical engineering.
  • Jessica Harlan, tenor saxophone, sophomore, psychology.
  • Lily Harms, piccolo, freshman, music education.
  • Colton Harris, alto saxophone, sophomore, music.
  • Sarah Hawkinson, trumpet, sophomore, biochemistry.
  • Caleb Holmbeck, tenor saxophone, freshman, mathematics education.
  • Zachary Hosek, baritone, junior, accounting.
  • Kayla James, tenor saxophone, freshman, music education.
  • Alyssa Johnson, color guard, junior, journalism.
  • Greg Johnson, trumpet, freshman, sports media and communication.
  • Hannah Johnson, piccolo, junior, psychology.
  • Janelle Johnson, trombone, freshman, architectural studies.
  • Larsen Jorgensen, piccolo, freshman, undeclared undergraduate.
  • Hayden Kehn, clarinet, junior, civil engineering.
  • Megan Kolbe, trumpet, freshman, emerging media arts.
  • Rylen Lanning, percussion, freshman, computer science.
  • Danielle Lemons, horn, junior, graphic design.
  • Steffany Lien, twirler, graduate student, law.
  • Ian Maltas, drum major, senior, psychology.
  • Jason Manzitto, alto saxophone, freshman, music education.
  • Alfonso Meza, tuba, junior, music education.
  • Nadya Miller, piccolo, freshman, psychology.
  • Seth Miller, baritone, junior, biochemistry.
  • Alyse Monismith, clarinet, junior, graphic design.
  • Avae’ Muir, piccolo, sophomore, communication sciences and disorders.
  • Alex Nguyen, horn, freshman, business administration.
  • Martin Nguyen, percussion, senior, computer science.
  • Nestor Pelayo, baritone, senior, music education.
  • Calvin Pilkington, trumpet, junior, software engineering.
  • Justin Richard, horn, senior, music education.
  • Daniel Riedel, percussion, junior, computer science.
  • Grace Schirmer, horn, sophomore, elementary education.
  • Katelyn Schmid, horn, junior, music, and criminology and criminal justice.
  • Katherine Schmit, drum major, junior, music education.
  • Tyler Senne, trombone, junior, software engineering.
  • Jaedynn Shively, color guard, freshman, elementary education.
  • Collin Sipple, alto saxophone, senior, computer science.
  • Tristan Taylor, trumpet, junior, economics.
  • Gavin Teet, trumpet, junior, mathematics.
  • D’Kota Thomas, clarinet, freshman, architectural studies.
  • Victoria Thomas, piccolo, sophomore, secondary education.
  • Megann Timm, color guard, freshman, pre-veterinary medicine.
  • Ryan Valenta, trombone, senior, sports media and communication.
  • Jacob Vanderford, alto saxophone, sophomore, theatre.
  • Franklyn Vogt, tenor saxophone, freshman, undeclared undergraduate.
  • Jacob Vollbrecht, tuba, sophomore, music.
  • Addison Wanser, clarinet, senior, business administration.
  • Jacob Weskamp, trombone, sophomore, fisheries and wildlife.
  • Jayne Whitman, clarinet, senior, elementary education and early childhood education.
  • Hope Whitney, clarinet, senior, nutrition and health sciences.
  • Jackson Williams, trumpet, freshman, music.
  • Joel Williams, percussion, freshman, undeclared undergraduate.
  • Kirby Zinniel, trumpet, junior, music education.

Lyons:

  • Reid Preston, trombone, junior, agricultural economics.

Martell:

  • Lanouette Bohmont, clarinet, sophomore, horticulture.

McCook:

  • Kylee Hauxwell, trumpet, senior, electrical engineering.

Nebraska City:

  • Luke Partsch, horn, sophomore, music.

Norfolk:

  • David Fanta, trumpet, junior, civil engineering.
  • Austin Matthies, trumpet, junior, accounting.
  • MaKinzie Walton, alto saxophone, junior, psychology.

North Platte:

  • Jack Carlson, alto saxophone, junior, music education.
  • Steffani Nolda, alto saxophone, junior, music education.
  • Jonah San Miguel, baritone, freshman, music.
  • Annetta (Annie) von Kampen, piccolo, freshman, music.

Omaha:

  • Breanna Armstrong, tenor saxophone, junior, sociology.
  • Jaynie Barber, color guard, junior, communication studies.
  • Will Bauer, percussion, freshman, biological sciences.
  • Sam Becker, percussion, freshman, biological sciences.
  • Payton Betzold, color guard, senior, architectural studies.
  • Alaina Blaker, tuba, junior, music education.
  • Danielle Botdorf, clarinet, junior, undeclared undergraduate.
  • Tamario Brooks, percussion, senior, music.
  • Lauren Circo, trumpet, freshman, architectural studies.
  • Paul Circo, trumpet, senior, electrical engineering.
  • Austin Collins, trombone, senior, software engineering.
  • Jacob Coughlin, drum major, senior, management.
  • Matt DeLong, tenor saxophone, freshman, music.
  • Kylee Ellison, clarinet, freshman, political science.
  • Carly Fox, tenor saxophone, senior, music education.
  • Katelyn Fucik, color guard, freshman, architectural studies.
  • Emma Fuller, color guard, senior, elementary education.
  • Kaitlyn Gallis, trumpet, freshman, film studies.
  • Caleb Geiger-Lee, trombone, junior, history.
  • Erica Harmon, color guard, sophomore, pre-health.
  • Nathan Hollenbeck, baritone, sophomore, marketing.
  • Omar Khayati, tuba, freshman, mechanical engineering.
  • Molly Kramer, piccolo, junior, undeclared undergraduate.
  • Kate Madsen, color guard, junior, business administration.
  • Caroline Mattern, clarinet, junior, music education.
  • Emily Matuella, trombone, junior, psychology.
  • Cody Merrill, trumpet, senior, music education.
  • Allison Neuman, clarinet, freshman, music.
  • Meredith Ollerich, trumpet, senior, chemistry and music.
  • Nicholas Pavel, tuba, senior, business administration.
  • Haley Petri, color guard, senior, elementary education.
  • Hannah Petri, color guard, senior, art.
  • Dalin Plog, horn, junior, music.
  • Carter Ross, percussion, junior, undeclared undergraduate.
  • Grace Ruff, trumpet, junior, music education.
  • Jake Schlosser, trombone, junior, political science.
  • Ashley Schnabel, percussion, junior, secondary English (7-12).
  • Carson Scott, trumpet, senior, business administration.
  • Gus Sheppard, baritone, senior, music education and management.
  • Clara Smith, piccolo, junior, music education.
  • Alyssa Soppe, percussion, senior, music education.
  • Lukas Stelzle, tuba, senior, mechanical engineering.
  • Mark (Cyphers) Stewart, alto saxophone, sophomore, music education.
  • Bradley Theis, trumpet, junior, mechanical engineering.
  • Simon Thengvall, trumpet, sophomore, mechanical engineering.
  • Cheyenne Warren, clarinet, senior, biochemistry.
  • Olivia Whalen, color guard, junior, criminology and criminal justice.
  • Ethan Yaroch, horn, junior, political science.

Palmyra:

  • Kristopher Phillips, percussion, senior, music education.

Papillion:

  • Maggie Blazek, trumpet, senior, music and business administration.
  • Ellenna Divingnzzo, piccolo, freshman, software engineering.
  • Ryan Kimball, percussion, senior, music.
  • John Lytle, tuba, sophomore, music education.
  • Kylie Muller, color guard, junior, undeclared undergraduate.
  • Madison Sides, color guard, senior, English.
  • Alexander Wood, percussion, freshman, music.

Plainview:

  • Klarissa Norris, piccolo, sophomore, pre-health.

Scottsbluff:

  • Edgar Torres, clarinet, senior, social science.

Seward:

  • Hannah Roebke, color guard, sophomore, broadcasting.
  • Abby Rood, trombone, senior, music education.

Sidney:

  • Alexah Fort, clarinet, sophomore, broadcasting.

Staplehurst:

  • Vilynn Decker, trumpet, sophomore, music education.

Wahoo:

  • Sydney Holdsworth, alto saxophone, senior, music education.
  • Kyra Scanlon, trumpet, freshman, chemistry.

Waverly:

  • Benjamin Gerdes, alto saxophone, freshman, computer science.
  • Joshua Gonser, tuba, freshman, architectural studies.
  • Madysen Patire, clarinet, freshman, music education.

ARKANSAS:

Jonesboro:

  • Isabel Welch, horn, senior, microbiology.

CALIFORNIA:

La Quinta:

  • Kimberly Law, twirler, senior, chemical engineering.

Norco:

  • Jansen Coburn, percussion, senior, sports media and communication.

COLORADO:

Littleton:

  • Rachael Huxley, piccolo, junior, music.

Longmont:

  • Jayda Larsen, piccolo, junior, forensic science.

Parker:

  • William Mowery, trumpet, junior, supply chain management.

FLORIDA:

Odessa:

  • Colin Gaynor, clarinet, senior, actuarial science.

ILLINOIS:

Batavia:

  • Jacob Skomer, alto saxophone, junior, accounting.

Channahon:

  • Cheyenne Bishop, horn, sophomore, music.

Darien:

  • Mahmoud Jabir, baritone, freshman, computer science.

Geneseo:

  • Lauren Plumley, clarinet, senior, mechanical engineering.

Huntley:

  • Clarissa Mason, clarinet, senior, forensic science.

Inverness:

  • Elizabeth Heraty, horn, freshman, elementary education.

Marengo:

  • Jordyn Guse, piccolo, junior, forensic science.

Mascoutah:

  • Megan Whisenhunt, tuba, senior, emerging media arts.

Montgomery:

  • Margaret McCabe, color guard, freshman, forensic science.

Mount Prospect:

  • Rowan Foort, trombone, junior, social science.

Orion:

  • Alisa Holst, clarinet, junior, food science and technology.

Wauconda:

  • Roy Dumblauskas, piccolo, freshman, computer science.

Woodridge:

  • Cady Murphy, clarinet, junior, biochemistry.

IOWA:

Ames:

  • Sam Taylor, trumpet, junior, political science.

Ankeny:

  • Gabby Brady, percussion, freshman, music education.
  • Nathan Petsche, trumpet, senior, music.

Council Bluffs:

  • Ian Brungardt, trumpet, junior, biological systems engineering.

Des Moines:

  • Keaton Clark, alto saxophone, freshman, music education.

Harlan:

  • Devin Kearney, trumpet, freshman, music education.
  • Griffin Schleimer, trumpet, freshman, music.

Logan:

  • Abigail Ridder, percussion, junior, environmental studies.

North Liberty:

  • Spencer Knight, horn, freshman, civil engineering.

Sioux Center:

  • Ellie Hurst, trumpet, freshman, actuarial science.

West Des Moines:

  • Erik Skoog, percussion, senior, software engineering.
  • Jamison Smith, trombone, freshman, music.

KANSAS:

Altamont:

  • Emma Meier, tuba, sophomore, forensic science.

Lawrence:

  • Helena Lord, tenor saxophone, junior, biochemistry.
  • Abby Reasoner, percussion, freshman, business administration.
  • Noah Stussie, tuba, junior, music.

Leawood:

  • Jacob Jeng, trombone, freshman, emerging media arts.

Overland Park:

  • Laurel Carder, clarinet, junior, undeclared undergraduate.
  • Anna James, piccolo, freshman, meteorology-climatology.
  • Matthew Lowry, alto saxophone, junior, music and psychology.
  • Jay Selzer, clarinet, freshman, computer science.
  • Madison van Ophem, horn, junior, forensic science.

Shawnee:

  • Ellen Schnacker, alto saxophone, junior, music education.

Wichita:

  • Clayton Pettera, horn, junior, biochemistry.

MICHIGAN:

White Lake:

  • Brooke Edwards, piccolo, freshman, biological sciences.
  • Zack Edwards, clarinet, senior, supply chain management.

MINNESOTA:

Apple Valley:

  • Willem Shelleny, percussion, junior, biochemistry.

Burnsville:

  • Molly Olander, drum major, senior, actuarial science.

Eden Prairie:

  • Mikayla Capouch, color guard, junior, psychology.
  • Zach Howard, trumpet, sophomore, accounting.

Savage:

  • Cade Schanzenbach, trombone, senior, actuarial science.

South St. Paul:

  • Patrick Schmidt, percussion, senior, political science.

Wayzata:

  • Andrew Linden, trumpet, sophomore, music.

MISSOURI:

Blue Springs:

  • Patrick Orel, horn, senior, computer science.

Kansas City:

  • Evan Ericksen, tenor saxophone, senior, mathematics.
  • Zach Howard, percussion, junior, music education.
  • Pierce Saylock, tenor saxophone, junior, marketing.

NEW JERSEY:

Chesterfield:

  • Maya Tanikawa-Brown, trumpet, freshman, food science and technology.

OKLAHOMA:

Enid:

  • Stephen North, baritone, freshman, computer science.

OREGON:

Portland:

  • Glenna Fulitano, color guard, senior, elementary education.

PENNSYLVANIA:

Harrisburg:

  • Audrey Fraser, trumpet, sophomore, psychology.

York:

  • Chloe Hoover, trumpet, freshman, business administration.

SOUTH DAKOTA:

Brookings:

  • Jenna Knudtson, percussion, senior, electrical engineering.

Sioux Falls:

  • Benjamin Breske, horn, senior, environmental studies.

Tea:

  • Melissa Graue, clarinet, junior, music education.

TEXAS:

Aledo:

  • Jordan Chapin, trombone, junior, mechanical engineering.

Allen:

  • Bethany Thompson, clarinet, freshman, hospitality, restaurant and tourism management.

Arlington:

  • Theodore Krieger, trumpet, junior, business administration.

Frisco:

  • Samuel Thomas, clarinet, senior, forensic science.

Galveston:

  • Tavin Grey, trombone, junior, nutrition and health sciences.

Grapevine:

  • Nicholas Reyes, trombone, senior, finance.

Mansfield:

  • Kaitlyn Lee, color guard, sophomore, insect science.

WISCONSIN:

De Pere:

  • Carter Powell, trombone, junior, computer science.

Delafield:

  • Lanae Maas, alto saxophone, sophomore, undeclared undergraduate.

Little Chute:

  • Carrigan Hurst, twirler, junior, biochemistry.

WYOMING:

Sheridan:

  • Daley Nissen, alto saxophone, freshman, actuarial science.

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