Cornhusker Marching Band makes football season debut Aug. 31

The University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s 300-member Cornhusker Marching Band makes its 2024 football season debut Aug. 31 at Memorial Stadium with pregame and halftime performances at Nebraska’s home opener against UTEP.

This year’s band includes representatives from nearly every region of the country, though 77% of the students are from Nebraska. Twenty-four percent of the students have majors in the Glenn Korff School of Music. The rest are studying in 70-plus other degree programs across campus. Each band member passed two auditions to gain admittance to the group.

The drum majors for the 2024 marching band are junior Vilynn Decker of Staplehurst, junior Tanner Maas of Gretna, senior Jason Manzitto of Lincoln and senior Annie von Kampen of North Platte. The twirlers are senior Britney Berry of Omaha 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 Andrea Mack. Jacob Wrobel 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 145-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.

Craig Chandler | University Communication and Marketing

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 2024 Cornhusker Marching Band members by hometown, with instrument or role in band, year in school, and academic major(s) or program of study.

Nebraska

Archer:

• Blaze Blauhorn, tuba, freshman, computer science.
• Faith Blauhorn, trombone, senior, music education.

Aurora:

• Austin Lents, alto saxophone, freshman, physics.
• Willa Sharp, clarinet, junior, music education.

Bellevue:

• Bella Acosta, piccolo, freshman, physics.
• Shane Daughtrey, percussion, junior, music.
• Ellenna Divingnzzo, piccolo, senior, software engineering.
• Grace Fettig, piccolo, junior, finance.
• Kevin Lloyd, percussion, junior, music education.
• Chris Nelson, horn, freshman, mechanical engineering.
• Jacki Petrow, piccolo, freshman, environmental and sustainability studies.
• Isaac Rasmussen, percussion, senior, psychology.
• Jonah Schwarting, percussion, freshman, pre-health.
• Kyle Wessling, alto saxophone, senior, interior design.

Bennet:

• Andrew Moyer, trumpet, sophomore, biological sciences.

Bennington:

• Noah Andersen, trumpet, sophomore, mechanical engineering.
• Emma Boardman, color guard, junior, elementary education and special education (K-6).
• Alexander Doan, alto saxophone, junior, journalism.
• Justine Huse, color guard, freshman, emerging media arts.
• Nia Kaufmann, tuba, senior, insect science.
• Parker McIlnay, horn, junior, landscape architecture.
• Jackson Miller, trumpet, sophomore, chemistry.
• Megan Wilkins, clarinet, sophomore, environmental and sustainability studies.

Blair:

• Peter Lux, trumpet, junior, mechanical engineering.

Cedar Bluffs:

• Hailey Anderson, alto saxophone, senior, music.

Central City:

• Megan Blomstedt, trombone, junior, secondary education.

Columbus:

• Ben Gascon, trumpet, junior, architectural studies.
• Sarah Massman, percussion, senior, microbiology.
• Jaylynn Sylvester, percussion, freshman, forensic science.
• Brandon Urkoski, trumpet, sophomore, marketing.
• Kylee Vrba, percussion, senior, animal science.

Denton:

• Joel Buettner, baritone, sophomore, civil engineering.

Elkhorn:

• Dylan Asmus, baritone, freshman, actuarial science.
• Rayne Aurit, trombone, sophomore, statistics and data analytics.
• Amanda Courtney, trumpet, junior, music education.
• Katie Gallis, trumpet, senior, geology.
• Mike Haugen, tenor saxophone, junior, construction management.
• Ellie Hoegemeyer, clarinet, freshman, journalism.
• Jonah Holstein, tenor saxophone, junior, criminology and criminal justice.
• Jeremiah Mohring, trumpet, freshman, music education.
• Adelina Redlin, trumpet, freshman, communication sciences and disorders.
• Lauren Sieck, clarinet, sophomore, music education.
• Grace Ulrich, clarinet, sophomore, biological sciences.
• Megan Wilderman, color guard, junior, biological sciences.

Firth:

• Morrisa Kisling, percussion, freshman, music education.

Fremont:

• Alexis Frank, color guard, freshman, graphic design.
• Yukina Higashi, clarinet, junior, music.
• Bethany Miller, trombone, sophomore, hospitality, restaurant and tourism management.
• Shane Miller, alto saxophone, senior, mechanical engineering.
• Cade Rasmussen, trombone, junior, nutrition and health sciences.

Grand Island:

• Ryan Sodomka, trombone, sophomore, music education.

Gretna:

• Emma Cheshek, piccolo, freshman, music.
• Maggie Driewer, clarinet, senior, art.
• Paige Germer, color guard, sophomore, chemistry.
• Cody Hunter, trombone, freshman, civil engineering.
• Caleb Jones, tuba, junior, psychology.
• Walker Lee, trombone, junior, computer science.
• Tanner Maas, drum major, junior, actuarial science.
• Faith Rinaldi, horn, freshman, psychology.
• Addy Ubele, color guard, senior, elementary education and special education (K-6).
• Emma Willey, piccolo, junior, mechanical engineering.

Hastings:

• Gretchen Muth, tenor saxophone, junior, French.
• Taygon Shaw, color guard, senior, textiles, merchandising and fashion design.

Holdrege:

• Blake Harvey, tuba, sophomore, architectural studies.

Kearney:

• Jayleigh Fuller, piccolo, senior, chemistry.
• Sky Krull, percussion, senior, forensic science.
• Makayla Maxson, color guard, sophomore, advertising and public relations.
• Cheyanne Pace, color guard, senior, fisheries and wildlife.
• Devin Tubbs, trumpet, freshman, sports media and communication.

La Vista:

• Hudson Carrico, horn, freshman, meteorology-climatology.
• Cooper Cook, trumpet, sophomore, electrical engineering.
• Cali Engel, trumpet, senior, fisheries and wildlife, and environmental science.
• Reagan McPeck, color guard, freshman, architectural studies.
• Parker Wolfe, alto saxophone, sophomore, computer science and music.

Lexington:

• Gabe Macias-Villegas, tuba, sophomore, electrical engineering.
• Keri Smith, clarinet, sophomore, veterinary science.

Lincoln:

• Gavin Addleman, alto saxophone, senior, music education.
• Nolan Benbow, clarinet, senior, broadcasting.
• Will Bethune, percussion, freshman, mechanical engineering.
• Brody Biberdorf, trombone, sophomore, graphic design.
• Leo Bretta, trumpet, senior, broadcasting.
• Mason Buller, horn, freshman, undeclared.
• Tori Coleman, color guard, junior, veterinary science.
• Keira Cummins, alto saxophone, junior, actuarial science.
• Josiah Dames, trombone, senior, sports media and communication.
• Kenna Dezort, piccolo, junior, elementary education and special education (K-6).
• Nikki Duero, color guard, senior, physics.
• Darrion Edwards, trombone, freshman, undeclared.
• Amelia Farber, horn, freshman, secondary education.
• Kelly Fedderson, percussion, senior, chemical engineering.
• Liam Fitzgerald, percussion, freshman, music education.
• Kyle Geschwender, alto saxophone, freshman, undeclared.
• Addie Going, color guard, junior, history.
• Jake Green, trumpet, graduate student, mechanical engineering and applied mechanics.
• Brady Groves, trumpet, freshman, geography.
• Sam Hanson, trombone, sophomore, philosophy.
• Lilly Herbel, Trumpet, sophomore, secondary education.
• Kamryn Hertzel, color guard, freshman, criminology and criminal justice.
• Caleb Holmbeck, tenor saxophone, senior, secondary education and mathematics.
• Jane Jewell, trombone, sophomore, fisheries and wildlife.
• Greg Johnson, trumpet, senior, sports media and communication.
• Janelle Johnson, trombone, senior, interior design.
• Larsen Jorgensen, piccolo, junior, elementary education.
• Nuhad Khan, tenor saxophone, sophomore, biological sciences and music.
• Tristin Korinek, baritone, graduate student, architecture.
• Cameron Krueger, baritone, junior, civil engineering.
• Mirabella Kundhi, tenor saxophone, freshman, emerging media arts.
• Steffany Lien, twirler, graduate student, law.
• Alison Lundstedt, color guard, freshman, anthropology.
• Jason Manzitto, drum major, senior, music education.
• Alfonso Meza, tuba, senior, music education.
• Sage Monismith, piccolo, junior, architectural studies.
• Ian Nebesniak, trombone, sophomore, landscape architecture.
• Alex Nguyen, horn, senior, accounting.
• Ryan Olson, trombone, freshman, music education.
• Marcos Ortiz Ibarra, trumpet, freshman, undeclared.
• Trevin Overton, baritone, junior, architectural studies.
• Parker Peterson, horn, freshman, software engineering.
• Preston Pierce, trumpet, sophomore, music education.
• Grace Sandbulte, piccolo, sophomore, pre-health.
• Grace Schirmer, horn, senior, elementary education.
• Natalie Schmersal, piccolo, sophomore, emerging media arts.
• Savannah Schutte, color guard, junior, mathematics.
• Alex Schwarz, horn, freshman, computer science.
• Jaedynn Shively, color guard, senior, elementary education.
• Nick Sprague, trumpet, freshman, nutrition and health sciences.
• Christian Staehr, baritone, freshman, history.
• Julia Steffensmeier, trumpet, sophomore, music education.
• Holly Stoebner, tuba, freshman, biological sciences.
• Velicity Sundling, color guard, junior, criminology and criminal justice.
• Andrew Tangen, trombone, junior, supply chain management.
• Katy Taylor, color guard, sophomore, actuarial science.
• Autum Thurber, clarinet, sophomore, psychology.
• Megann Timm, color guard, senior, fisheries and wildlife.
• Lauren Vogel, color guard, sophomore, psychology.
• Frank Vogt, tenor saxophone, senior, secondary education.
• Jacob Vollbrecht, tuba, senior, accounting.
• Ian Vondrak, trombone, senior, broadcasting.
• Cole Welstead, tuba, sophomore, computer science.
• Jackson Williams, trumpet, senior, music education.
• Joel Williams, percussion, junior, music education.
• Seth Woodward, piccolo, sophomore, biochemistry.
• Yasmin Worth, color guard, senior, biochemistry.
• Cyrus Zgud, piccolo, sophomore, music.

Monroe:

• Perah Connelly, color guard, freshman, biological systems engineering.

Nebraska City:

• Luke Partsch, horn, graduate student, law.
• Kiera Rakowski, clarinet, sophomore, mechanical engineering.

Norfolk:

• Nate Buettner, tuba, freshman, music.
• Alex Cook, alto saxophone, freshman, theatre.
• Noah Janke, trombone, sophomore, mechanical engineering.
• Amelia Pinkelman, trombone, freshman, biochemistry.

North Platte:

• Drew Carlson, trumpet, junior, emerging media arts.
• Jack Carlson, alto saxophone, graduate student, music.
• Anissa Hoffman, alto saxophone, junior, music education.
• Levi Luenenborg, trumpet, sophomore, software engineering.
• Dawson McGahan, tuba, junior, computer engineering and electrical engineering.
• Haylee Nolda, clarinet, freshman, pre-health.
• Lexi Nolda, clarinet, junior, nutrition and health sciences.
• Annie von Kampen, drum major, senior, music education.

Omaha:

• Will Bauer, percussion, senior, biological sciences.
• Britney Berry, twirler, senior, communication sciences and disorders.
• Adam Blaker, percussion, junior, music education.
• Lauren Circo, trumpet, senior, interior design.
• Travis Cloyd, tenor saxophone, junior, chemical engineering.
• Chayse Comer, trumpet, sophomore, mechanical engineering.
• Peyton Comer, percussion, senior, computer science.
• Maddie Condon, clarinet, freshman, music.
• Matt DeLong, tenor saxophone, senior, music education.
• Adriana Delozier, trumpet, sophomore, psychology.
• Luke Eckles, percussion, junior, music.
• Maddux Eckles, trumpet, freshman, music education.
• Jonathan Friesen, percussion, junior, Pre-health.
• Katelyn Fucik, color guard, senior, interior design.
• David Garcia, horn, freshman, finance.
• Sasha Gates, color guard, freshman, biological sciences.
• Emily Gibson, color guard, sophomore, music education.
• Gavin Gillespie, percussion, junior, music education.
• Arqui Halsey, percussion, freshman, music education.
• Drew HIggins, tenor saxophone, sophomore, mechanical engineering and music.
• Sean Higgins, percussion, sophomore, music education.
• Jaeda Jeffries, clarinet, junior, construction management.
• Karyssa Johnson, horn, sophomore, economics.
• Blake Kahler, percussion, freshman, marketing.
• Molly Kramer, piccolo, senior, music education.
• Hannah Kress, clarinet, freshman, nutrition and health sciences.
• Austin Landmark, trumpet, freshman, chemical engineering.
• Jordan Larsen, alto saxophone, sophomore, music.
• Latron Louis, alto saxophone, freshman, music.
• Charlie McIver, percussion, junior, computer engineering.
• Adam Meismer, percussion, freshman, mechanical engineering.
• Allison Neuman, clarinet, junior, music education.
• Kyla Niiya, trumpet, freshman, psychology.
• Will Nitzschke, tuba, sophomore, accounting.
• Jack Reason, percussion, freshman, mathematics and music.
• Katie Schlosser, clarinet, sophomore, psychology.
• Davin Seeger, percussion, sophomore, music education.
• Collin Siracuse, tuba, sophomore, computer science.
• Charles Smith, percussion, junior, music education.
• Henry Smith, trumpet, freshman, undeclared.
• Savannah Snawerdt, color guard, junior, special education (K-6).
• Kennedy Sommerer, color guard, senior, English.
• Ryan Swierczek, horn, junior, music education.
• Gudelia Tepox, trumpet, sophomore, forensic science.
• Tate Underwood, alto saxophone, sophomore, finance.
• Vanessa Uwase, tuba, freshman, civil engineering.
• Alex Voss, percussion, freshman, computer engineering.
• Colin Worthington, clarinet, sophomore, music education.

Osmond:

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

Palmyra:

• Gwen Leuschen, percussion, senior, music.
• Oscar Thomas, tenor saxophone, sophomore, mechanical engineering.

Papillion:

• Dylan Auld, baritone, sophomore, music education.
• Owen Bottjen, trumpet, freshman, music education.
• Courtney Clark, tuba, sophomore, music education.
• Devin Countryman, alto saxophone, sophomore, animal science.
• James Kessler, trumpet, freshman, biological sciences, and fisheries and wildlife.
• Meredith Koehler, alto saxophone, freshman, emerging media arts.
• Anna Leahy, clarinet, junior, music education.
• Ashley Llewellyn, trumpet, junior, animal science.
• Josiah Mayfield, tenor saxophone, junior, construction management.
• Gavin Mielke, horn, sophomore, architectural studies.

Plattsmouth:

• Jaden Horner, baritone, junior, graphic design.

Ponca:

• Matthew Lentz, trombone, junior, nutrition and health sciences.

Ravenna:

• Hanna Johnson, trumpet, freshman, biochemistry.

Roca:

• Pete Wasser, trombone, freshman, electrical engineering.
• Gionna Weber, tenor saxophone, junior, elementary education.

Schuyler:

• Joel Medina, trombone, freshman, music.

South Sioux City:

• Tanner Miller, alto saxophone, junior, music education.

Staplehurst:

• Vilynn Decker, drum major, junior, music.

Wahoo:

• Kyra Scanlon, trumpet, junior, biological sciences.

Waverly:

• Nathaniel Cloud, trombone, sophomore, microbiology.
• Ben Gerdes, alto saxophone, senior, secondary education.
• Brynley Prang, clarinet, sophomore, mechanical engineering.

York:

• Ellie Gartner, tuba, freshman, criminology and criminal justice.

Elsewhere in the U.S.

ALABAMA:

Auburn:

• Dracen Pedersen, baritone, freshman, emerging media arts.

ARIZONA:

Marana:

• Tessa Soukup, piccolo, sophomore, architectural studies.

COLORADO:

Grand Junction:

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

Highlands Ranch:

• Brett Vogler, trumpet, freshman, music.

Parker:

• Nick Mowery, trumpet, junior, construction management.

Thornton:

• Jessica Jacoby, clarinet, junior, graphic design.

ILLINOIS:

Arlington Heights:

• Delaney McCabe, color guard, freshman, business and law.

Channahon:

• Cheyenne Bishop, horn, senior, music education.

Downers Grove:

• Max Jabir, baritone, senior, mathematics.

Geneva:

• Brock Mason, trumpet, sophomore, actuarial science.

Glenview:

• Hayden Giannini, percussion, sophomore, music education.

Inverness:

• Elizabeth Heraty, horn, senior, elementary education.

Minooka:

• Brice McManus, tuba, freshman, actuarial science.

Naperville:

• Ben Kujawa, trumpet, freshman, accounting.

Plainfield:

• Brandon Muff, tuba, sophomore, software engineering.

Round Lake:

• Angela Sementa, color guard, sophomore, nutrition and health sciences, and dance.

Wauconda:

• Roy Dumblauskas, piccolo, senior, computer science.

IOWA:

Ankeny:

• Gabby Brady, percussion, senior, music education.
• Clara Freese, tuba, junior, fisheries and wildlife, and grassland systems.
• Olivia Kuper, percussion, sophomore, biological sciences.
• Avryn Schardt, percussion, junior, advertising and public relations.

Council Bluffs:

• Terry Larkin, percussion, junior, music education.

Hamburg:

• Christian Harris, Percussion, sophomore, music.

North Liberty:

• Spencer Knight, horn, senior, civil engineering.

Red Oak:

• Sam Fields, tuba, sophomore, nutrition and health sciences.
• Jonah Wemhoff, trombone, sophomore, music education.

Shenandoah:

• Eli Schuster, horn, junior, nutrition and health sciences.
• Josh Schuster, alto saxophone, junior, microbiology.

Sioux Center:

• Ellie Hurst, trumpet, senior, actuarial science.
• Will Hurst, trumpet, sophomore, music education.

Spirit Lake:

• Max Bower, alto saxophone, senior, music education.

KANSAS:

Basehor:

• Chloe Bogard, baritone, senior, broadcasting.

Lawrence:

• Abby Reasoner, percussion, senior, music education.

Leawood:

• Dylan Levitan, percussion, freshman, chemical engineering.

Manhattan:

• Garric Nowlin, trumpet, freshman, mechanical engineering.

Overland Park:

• Anna James, piccolo, senior, meterology-climatology.
• Stephen North, baritone, senior, computer science.

Wichita:

• McKenna Varlack, baritone, senior, psychology.

MARYLAND:

Leonardtown:

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

MICHIGAN:

Parma:

• Maddie Cotey, color guard, freshman, secondary education.

White Lake:

• Brooke Edwards, piccolo, senior, biological sciences.

MINNESOTA:

Lakeville:

• Sarah Hawkinson, trumpet, senior, biological sciences.
• Garrett Siefken, baritone, freshman, music.

Maple Plain:

• Claire Erb, percussion, freshman, music education.

Wayzata:

• Andrew Linden, trumpet, senior, management and music.

MISSOURI:

Independence:

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

Kansas City:

• Kara Fitzpatrick, alto saxophone, freshman, music.

Parkville:

• Emma Kimbrel, baritone, freshman, elementary education and special education (K-6).

NEW JERSEY:

Sewell:

• Isabella Donia, piccolo, junior, computer engineering.

NEW MEXICO:

Rio Rancho:

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

NORTH DAKOTA:

Grand Forks:

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

OHIO:

Mentor:

• Vivianne Clark, tenor saxophone, junior, English.

OKLAHOMA:

Jenks:

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

PENNSYLVANIA:

York:

• Chloe Hoover, trumpet, senior, management.

SOUTH DAKOTA:

Brandon:

• Anna Tews, piccolo, junior, biochemistry.

Lennox:

• Nate Collette, trumpet, sophomore, music.

Sioux Falls:

• Aaron Burchill, percussion, sophomore, emerging media arts.
• Ethan Rohr, baritone, sophomore, music.
• McKenzie Swearingen, percussion, freshman, music education.
• Matthew Wang, trombone, junior, computer science.

Watertown:

• Kate Luken, piccolo, sophomore, Spanish and international business.

TEXAS:

College Station:

• Catelyn Cox, alto saxophone, sophomore, nutrition and health sciences.

WASHINGTON:

Mercer Island:

• Julian Jay, tenor saxophone, freshman, pre-health.

WISCONSIN:

Delafield:

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

Fond du Lac:

• Nikki Elm, tuba, junior, geology.

Germantown:

• Owen Addison, trombone, sophomore, software engineering.

WYOMING:

Sheridan:

• Isabella Kennah, alto saxophone, sophomore, political science and environmental engineering.