Cornhusker Marching Band makes debut Sept. 16

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s 299-member Cornhusker Marching Band makes its 2023 debut Sept. 16 at Memorial Stadium with pregame and halftime performances at Nebraska’s football home opener against Northern Illinois.

This year’s band includes representatives from nearly every region of the country, though 75% of the students are from Nebraska. Twenty-two percent of the students have majors in the Glenn Korff School of Music. The rest are studying in 60-plus other degree programs across campus. Each band member passed two auditions to gain admittance to the group.

The drum majors for the 2023 marching band are junior Vilynn Decker of Staplehurst, junior Jason Manzitto of Lincoln, senior Steffani Nolda of North Platte and senior Madison van Ophem of Overland Park, Kansas. The twirlers are senior Carrigan Hurst of Little Chute, Wisconsin, and law student Steffany Lien of Lincoln.

Tony Falcone, associate director of bands in the Korff School, is the director of the Cornhusker Marching Band. 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 Foteini Angeli, Eric Elker and Trevor Frost. Allen Campoy is the percussion instructor, and Samantha Houston 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.

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 144-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. For more information, click here.

Following is a list of 2023 Cornhusker Marching Band members by hometown, with instrument or role in band, year in school and academic major(s).

Nebraska

Albion:

• Lauren Kohtz, trumpet, junior, emerging media arts.

Archer:

• Faith Blauhorn, trombone, junior, music education.

Aurora:

• Willa Sharp, clarinet, sophomore, music education.

Bellevue:

• Bella Acosta, piccolo, freshman, physics.
• Grace Carey, color guard, junior, fisheries and wildlife.
• Ellenna Divingnzzo, piccolo, junior, software engineering.
• Grace Fettig, piccolo, sophomore, undeclared undergraduate.
• Anna Gullett, percussion, senior, mathematics.
• Kevin Lloyd, percussion, sophomore, music education.
• Isaac Rasmussen, percussion, junior, psychology.
• Kyle Wessling, alto saxophone, junior, interior design.

Bennet:

• Andrew Moyer, trumpet, freshman, biological sciences.

Bennington:

• Emma Boardman, color guard, sophomore, elementary education and special education (K-6).
• Nia Kaufmann, tuba, junior, insect science.
• Parker McIlnay, horn, sophomore, landscape architecture.
• Nate Meyer, clarinet, junior, music performance.
• Jackson Miller, trumpet, freshman, chemical engineering.
• Megan Wilkins, clarinet, freshman, environmental studies.

Blair:

• Peter Lux, trumpet, sophomore, mechanical engineering.

Cedar Bluffs:

• Hailey Anderson, alto saxophone, senior, music composition.

Central City:

• Megan Blomstedt, trombone, sophomore, secondary education.

Ceresco:

• Lara Celesky, trumpet, senior, music education.

Columbus:

• Cole Asche, percussion, senior, actuarial science and music.
• Ben Gascon, trumpet, sophomore, architectural studies.
• Sarah Massman, percussion, junior, microbiology.
• Brandon Urkoski, trumpet, sophomore, marketing.

Denton:

• Joel Buettner, baritone, freshman, civil engineering.

Elkhorn:

• Rain Aurit, trombone, freshman, statistics and data analytics.
• Amanda Courtney, trumpet, sophomore, music education.
• Katie Gallis, trumpet, junior, geology.
• Michael Haugen, tenor saxophone, sophomore, construction management.
• Adelina Redlin, trumpet, freshman, speech-language pathology.
• Lauren Sieck, clarinet, freshman, music education.
• Megan Wilderman, color guard, sophomore, biological sciences.

Firth:

• Autum Thurber, clarinet, freshman, psychology.
• Gionna Weber, tenor saxophone, sophomore, elementary education.

Fremont:

• Yukina Higashi, clarinet, sophomore, music and pre-pharmacy.
• Shane Miller, alto saxophone, junior, mechanical engineering.
• Cade Rasmussen, trombone, freshman, biological systems engineering.
• Grant Westerman, clarinet, senior, music.

Geneva:

• Brock Godown, trumpet, senior, music education.

Grand Island:

• Zach Claassen, trumpet, senior, broadcasting.
• Sam Harvey, percussion, senior, mechanical engineering.
• Ryan Sodomka, trombone, freshman, music education.

Gretna:

• Brynn Boes, percussion, senior, biological sciences.
• Maggie Driewer, clarinet, junior, art.
• Paige Germer, color guard, freshman, chemistry.
• Carissa Hunter, color guard, senior, veterinary science and pre-veterinary medicine.
• Caleb Jones, tuba, freshman, psychology.
• Walker Lee, trombone, sophomore, computer science.
• Tanner Maas, horn, junior, actuarial science and finance.
• Emma Morrison, trombone, senior, child, youth and family studies.
• Alaric Schiltz, percussion, senior, mechanical engineering.
• Addy Ubele, color guard, junior, elementary education.

Hastings:

• Hailey Haase, trumpet, senior, veterinary science and pre-veterinary medicine.
• Gretchen Muth, tenor saxophone, sophomore, global studies and French.
• Sydney Nelson, alto saxophone, junior, mathematics.

Holdrege:

• Blake Harvey, tuba, freshman, architectural studies.

Kearney:

• Jayleigh Fuller, piccolo, sophomore, chemistry.
• Jacob Fuqua, trombone, freshman, mechanical engineering.
• Colin Jones, trombone, junior, biochemistry and secondary education.
• Skyler Krull, percussion, senior, forensic science.
• Makayla Maxson, color guard, freshman, psychology.
• Cheyanne Pace, color guard, junior, fisheries and wildlife, and pre-veterinary medicine.
• Elijah Smith, trombone, junior, software engineering.

La Vista:

• Cooper Cook, trumpet, freshman, electrical engineering.
• Cali Engel, trumpet, junior, fisheries and wildlife, and environmental studies.

Lexington:

• Gabe Macias-Villegas, tuba, freshman, pre-engineering.
• Keri Smith, clarinet, sophomore, veterinary science and pre-veterinary medicine.

Lincoln:

• Gavin Addleman, alto saxophone, junior, music education.
• Nolan Benbow, clarinet, junior, bvroadcasting.
• Brody Biberdorf, trombone, freshman, undeclared undergraduate.
• Savana Brakeman, trumpet, senior, political science and psychology.
• Leo Bretta, trumpet, sophomore, computer science.
• Joseph Bruner, tenor saxophone, senior, psychology.
• Abbie Carstens, horn, senior, psychology.
• Tori Coleman, color guard, sophomore, veterinary science and pre-veterinary medicine.
• Keira Cummins, alto saxophone, sophomore, actuarial science.
• Christian Dahlman, tenor saxophone, senior, mechanical engineering.
• Josiah Dames, trombone, junior, sports media and communication.
• Kenna Dezort, piccolo, sophomore, music education.
• Matthew Dohmen, percussion, senior, mechanical engineering.
• Nikki Duero, color guard, junior, physics.
• Kelly Fedderson, percussion, junior, chemical engineering.
• Jake Green, trumpet, senior, mechanical engineering.
• Samuel Hanson, trombone, freshman, undeclared undergraduate.
• Jessie Harlan, tenor saxophone, senior, psychology and political science.
• Colton Harris, alto saxophone, senior, music performance.
• Lilly Herbel, trumpet, freshman, undeclared undergraduate.
• Ryne Hermsen, alto saxophone, freshman, sports media and communication.
• Caleb Holmbeck, tenor saxophone, junior, mathematics and secondary education.
• Kayla James, tenor saxophone, senior, hospitality, restaurant and tourism management.
• Jane Jewell, trombone, freshman, undeclared undergraduate.
• Alyssa Johnson, color guard, senior, journalism, and advertising and public relations.
• Greg Johnson, trumpet, junior, sports media and communication, and broadcasting.
• Janelle Johnson, trombone, junior, interior design.
• Larsen Jorgensen, piccolo, junior, elementary education.
• Nuhad Khan, tenor saxophone, freshman, music.
• Tristin Korinek, baritone, graduate student, architecture.
• Rylen Lanning, percussion, junior, software engineering.
• Kirby Le, alto saxophone, freshman, music education.
• Steffany Lien, twirler, graduate student, law.
• Jason Manzitto, drum major, junior, music education.
• Alfonso Meza, tuba, senior, music education.
• Sage Monismith, piccolo, sophomore, architectural studies.
• Avae’ Muir, piccolo, junior, communication sciences and disorders.
• Ian Nebesniak, trombone, freshman, architectural studies.
• Alex Nguyen, horn, junior, accounting.
• Trevin Overton, baritone, sophomore, architectural studies.
• Parker Peterson, horn, freshman, software engineering.
• Preston Pierce, trumpet, freshman, music education.
• Claire Rohrs, color guard, sophomore, secondary education.
• Grace Sandbulte, piccolo, freshman, pre-health.
• Grace Schirmer, horn, senior, elementary education.
• Natalie Schmersal, piccolo, freshman, undeclared undergraduate.
• Savannah Schutte, color guard, sophomore, mathematics.
• Jaedynn Shively, color guard, junior, elementary education.
• Holly Stoebner, tuba, freshman, pre-health.
• Velicity Sundling, color guard, sophomore, criminology and criminal justice.
• Andrew Tangen, trombone, sophomore, supply chain management.
• Katy Taylor, color guard, freshman, actuarial science.
• TJ Taylor, trumpet, senior, economics and management.
• Tori Thomas, piccolo, senior, secondary education.
• Megann Timm, color guard, junior, fisheries and wildlife.
• Jacob Vanderford, alto saxophone, senior, advertising and public relations, and broadcasting.
• Lauren Vogel, color guard, freshman, psychology.
• Frank Vogt, tenor saxophone, junior, secondary education.
• Jacob Vollbrecht, tuba, junior, accounting.
• Ian Vondrak, trombone, junior, broadcasting.
• Truliah Walker, trumpet, freshman, psychology.
• Addison Wanser, clarinet, senior, Spanish and marketing.
• Cole Welstead, tuba, freshman, computer science.
• Jacob Weskamp, trombone, senior, fisheries and wildlife.
• Jackson Williams, trumpet, junior, music education.
• Joel Williams, percussion, junior, music education.
• Seth Woodward, piccolo, freshman, biochemistry.
• Yasmin Worth, color guard, junior, biochemistry and pre-veterinary medicine.
• Kirby Zinniel, baritone, senior, music education.

Nebraska City:

• Luke Partsch, horn, senior, history and music.
• Kiera Rakowski, clarinet, freshman, mechanical engineering.

Norfolk:

• William Bryant, trumpet, freshman, computer engineering.
• Alex Cook, alto saxophone, freshman, theatre arts.
• David Fanta, trumpet, senior, civil engineering.
• Noah Janke, trombone, freshman, mechanical engineering.

North Platte:

• Drew Carlson, trumpet, junior, emerging media arts.
• Jack Carlson, alto saxophone, senior, music performance.
• Anissa Hoffman, alto saxophone, sophomore, music education.
• Dawson McGahan, tuba, sophomore, computer engineering.
• Lexi Nolda, clarinet, sophomore, biological sciences.
• Steffani Nolda, drum major, senior, music education.
• Annie von Kampen, piccolo, junior, music education.

Omaha:

• Isaac Alfieri, tuba, freshman, mechanical engineering.
• Lilliana Baez-Leonard, color guard, sophomore, art.
• Will Bauer, percussion, junior, biological sciences.
• Adam Blaker, percussion, sophomore, music education.
• Lauren Circo, trumpet, junior, interior design.
• Travis Cloyd, tenor saxophone, sophomore, chemical engineering.
• Chayse Comer, trumpet, freshman, mechanical engineering.
• Peyton Comer, percussion, sophomore, computer science.
• Konner Corbin, trombone, sophomore, computer engineering.
• Karli Crawford, color guard, sophomore, communication sciences and disorders.
• Matt DeLong, tenor saxophone, junior, music education.
• Adriana Delozier, trumpet, freshman, psychology.
• Alex Doan, alto saxophone, sophomore, journalism.
• Luke Eckles, percussion, sophomore, music performance.
• K. J. Ellison, clarinet, senior, political science and global studies.
• Jonathan Friesen, percussion, freshman, pre-health.
• Katelyn Fucik, color guard, junior, interior design.
• Emily Gibson, color guard, freshman, music education.
• Gavin Gillespie, percussion, sophomore, music education.
• Alida Grobbelaar, clarinet, freshman, biochemistry.
• Sean Higgins, percussion, freshman, music education.
• Nathan Hollenbeck, baritone, senior, marketing.
• Jaeda Jeffries, clarinet, sophomore, interior design.
• Karyssa Johnson, horn, freshman, international business.
• Molly Kramer, piccolo, senior, music education.
• Jordan Larsen, alto saxophone, freshman, music performance.
• Charles McIver, percussion, sophomore, computer engineering.
• Jamison Moisset, alto saxophone, sophomore, mechanical engineering.
• Allison Neuman, clarinet, junior, music education.
• Will Nitzschke, tuba, freshman, civil engineering.
• Dalin Plog, horn, senior, accounting.
• Carter Ross, percussion, senior, civil engineering.
• Jake Schlosser, trombone, senior, political science.
• Katie Schlosser, clarinet, freshman, pre-health.
• Davin Seeger, percussion, freshman, music education.
• Collin Siracuse, tuba, freshman, computer science.
• Savannah Snawerdt, color guard, sophomore, elementary education and special education (K-6).
• Kennedy Sommerer, color guard, junior, English and communication studies.
• Cyphers Stewart, alto saxophone, senior, music education.
• Ryan Swierczek, horn, sophomore, music education.
• Gudelia Tepox, trumpet, freshman, forensic science.
• Brad Theis, trumpet, senior, mechanical engineering.
• Simon Thengvall, trumpet, senior, mechanical engineering.
• Tate Underwood, alto saxophone, freshman, undeclared undergraduate.
• Colin Worthington, clarinet, freshman, music education.

Osmond:

• Kaden Polt, trumpet, sophomore, fisheries and wildlife.

Palmyra:

• Gwen Leuschen, percussion, junior, music performance.
• Oscar Thomas, tenor saxophone, freshman, mechanical engineering.

Papillion:

• Dylan Auld, baritone, freshman, music performance.
• Josh Blazek, baritone, sophomore, music and mechanical engineering.
• Courtney Clark, tuba, sophomore, music education.
• Devin Countryman, alto saxophone, freshman, animal science.
• Giselle Hernandez, color guard, freshman, undeclared undergraduate.
• James Kessler, trumpet, freshman, biological sciences.
• Meredith Koehler, alto saxophone, freshman, emerging media arts.
• Anna Leahy, clarinet, sophomore, music education.
• Ashley Llewellyn, trumpet, junior, animal science.
• Gordon Lytle, tuba, junior, music education.
• Josiah Mayfield, tenor saxophone, sophomore, civil engineering.
• Gavin Mielke, horn, freshman, architectural studies.
• Kylie Muller, color guard, senior, emerging media arts.

Plattsmouth:

• Jaden Horner, baritone, sophomore, graphic design.

Ponca:

• Matthew Lentz, trombone, sophomore, pre-health.

Seward:

• Tanner Bye, tuba, freshman, mechanical engineering.

Sidney:

• Alexah Fort, clarinet, senior, emerging media arts.

South Sioux City:

• Tanner Miller, alto saxophone, sophomore, music education.
• Angel Rodriguez-Villalobos, trombone, freshman, music performance.

Springfield:

• Phoenix Jensen, color guard, freshman, secondary education.

Staplehurst:

• Vilynn Decker, drum major, junior, music performance.

Waverly:

• Nathaniel Cloud, trombone, freshman, microbiology.
• Jacob Dill, percussion, senior, music performance.
• Ben Gerdes, alto saxophone, junior, secondary education and mathematics.
• Madysen Patire, clarinet, junior, business administration.
• Kayla Pracht, horn, senior, regional and community forestry, and music performance.
• Brynley Prang, clarinet, freshman, undeclared undergraduate.

Elsewhere in the U.S.

ARIZONA:

Marana:

• Tessa Soukup, piccolo, freshman, architectural studies.

CALIFORNIA:

Fountain Valley:

• Reeed Cady, trombone, freshman, mechanical engineering.

COLORADO:

Grand Junction:

• Vivika Ortiz, piccolo, sophomore, criminology and criminal justice.

Littleton:

• Rachael Huxley, piccolo, senior, music performance.

Lone Tree:

• Lexie Gwyn, percussion, sophomore, textile, merchandising and fashion design.

Parker:

• Savannah Anderson, percussion, sophomore, pre-health.
• Nick Mowery, trumpet, sophomore, construction management.

Thornton:

• Jessica Jacoby, clarinet, sophomore, graphic design.

FLORIDA:

Altamonte Springs:

• Alek Harden, trombone, senior, computer engineering.

ILLINOIS:

Channahon:

• Cheyenne Bishop, horn, senior, music education.

Downers Grove:

• Maxx Jabir, baritone, senior, computer science.

Geneva:

• Brock Mason, trumpet, freshman, actuarial science.

Glenview:

• Hayden Giannini, percussion, freshman, music education.

Inverness:

• Elizabeth Heraty, horn, junior, elementary education.

Marengo:

• Jordyn Guse, piccolo, senior, forensic science.

Plainfield:

• Brandon Muff, tuba, sophomore, software engineering.

Round Lake:

• Angela Sementa, color guard, freshman, pre-physical therapy.

Wauconda:

• Roy Dumblauskas, piccolo, senior, computer science.

Woodridge:

• Cady Murphy, clarinet, senior, biological sciences.

IOWA:

Ankeny:

• Gabrielle Brady, percussion, junior, music education.
• Carson Doss, color guard, sophomore, music and theatre arts.
• Clara Freese, tuba, sophomore, fisheries and wildlife.
• Olivia Kuper, percussion, freshman, biological sciences.
• Avryn Schardt, percussion, sophomore, advertising and public relations.

Council Bluffs:

• Terry Larkin, percussion, sophomore, music education.

Hamburg:

• Christian Harris, percussion, freshman, music performance.

North Liberty:

• Spencer Knight, horn, senior, civil engineering.

Red Oak:

• Sam Fields, tuba, freshman, nutritional science and dietetics.
• Jonah Wemhoff, trombone, freshman, music education.

Shenandoah:

• Eli Schuster, horn, sophomore, nutritional science and dietetics.
• Josh Schuster, alto saxophone, sophomore, microbiology.

Sioux Center:

• Ellie Hurst, trumpet, junior, actuarial science.
• Will Hurst, trumpet, freshman, mathematics.

KANSAS:

Basehor:

• Chloe Bogard, baritone, junior, broadcasting.

Lawrence:

• Abigail Reasoner, percussion, junior, music education.

Overland Park:

• Laurel Carder, clarinet, senior, computer science.
• Anna James, piccolo, junior, meteorology-climatology.
• Stephen North, baritone, junior, computer science.
• Madison van Ophem, drum major, senior, forensic science and biochemistry.

Wichita:

• Clayton Pettera, horn, senior, biochemistry.
• McKenna Varlack, baritone, junior, psychology.

MARYLAND:

California:

• Bobby Coleman, tuba, sophomore, advertising and public relations.

MICHIGAN:

White Lake:

• Brooke Edwards, piccolo, junior, biological sciences.

MINNESOTA:

Apple Valley:

• Willem Shelleny, percussion, senior, biochemistry.

Eden Prairie:

• Zach Howard, trumpet, senior, accounting.

Lakeville:

• Sarah Hawkinson, trumpet, senior, biochemistry.

Wayzata:

• Andrew Linden, trumpet, senior, music and business administration.

MISSOURI:

Greenwood:

• Aaron Harrel, trombone, freshman, acting.

Independence:

• Austin Samson, tenor saxophone, freshman, forensic science.

NEW JERSEY:

Columbus:

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

Washington Township:

• Isabella Donia, piccolo, sophomore, computer engineering.

NEW MEXICO:

Rio Rancho:

• Samantha Peterson, color guard, freshman, mechanical engineering.

NORTH DAKOTA:

Grand Forks:

• Carston Swanson, percussion, sophomore, criminology and criminal justice.

OHIO:

Mentor:

• Vivianne Clark, tenor saxophone, sophomore, sociology.

OKLAHOMA:

Jenks:

• Rori Johnson, horn, sophomore, emerging media arts.

PENNSYLVANIA:

Harrisburg:

• Audrey Fraser, trumpet, senior, psychology and sociology.

York:

• Chloe Hoover, trumpet, junior, management.

SOUTH DAKOTA:

Aberdeen:

• Keilani Mielke, trumpet, freshman, computer engineering.

Brandon:

• Anna Tews, piccolo, sophomore, biochemistry.

Lennox:

• Nate Collette, trumpet, freshman, music.

Sioux Falls:

• Ethan Rohr, baritone, freshman, music performance.
• Matthew Wang, trombone, sophomore, computer science.

Watertown:

• Kate Luken, piccolo, freshman, film studies.

TEXAS:

College Station:

• Catelyn Cox, alto saxophone, sophomore, nutritional science and dietetics.

Galveston:

• Tavin Grey, trombone, senior, nutritional science and dietetics.

Mansfield:

• Kaitlyn Lee, color guard, junior, forensic science and insect science.

Round Rock:

• Camille Bellinger, baritone, freshman, music education.

WISCONSIN:

De Pere:

• Carter Powell, trombone, graduate student, computer science.

Delafield:

• Lanae Maas, alto saxophone, junior, plant and landscape systems.

Fond du Lac:

• Nikki Elm, tuba, sophomore, geology.

Germantown:

• Owen Addison, trombone, freshman, software engineering.

Little Chute:

• Carrigan Hurst, twirler, senior, microbiology.

WYOMING:

Sheridan:

• Isabellla Kennah, alto saxophone, freshman, political science.