Where are you from?
Omaha, NE
What year are you and what is your major?
I am a sophomore studying Advertising and Public Relations with a Music minor.
How did you get involved in band?
I got involved in band when I was 11 years old. I went to a catholic grade school and none of the schools have their own band programs, but an organization called Music in Catholic Schools was around and they would send one teacher to go to area schools during a certain time of the day and we would leave our normal classes to play our instruments for a class period. There was maybe 8-10 of us across four grade levels. We would have winter and spring concerts and there was an ensemble you could try out for if you were more interested. I played the trumpet in a concert setting until high school when I was introduced to marching band at Omaha Burke high school. It was competitive and so much fun! I played the trumpet for my first two years and was one of the drum majors for the last two years of high school. I loved having the excuse to meet 120 kids from all walks of life. It was fun and exciting and we finished 4th in the state my senior year. Everyone in band was hilarious and unique and it was so unlike any other class in high school. I was also in the jazz band and concert ensemble during high school but it was marching band, which was the most fun.
What is your favorite part about being in the band?
Favorite part about being in band is getting pumped for game day, away trip, and bowl trip. Game day is great because there is literally so much excitement at Memorial Stadium and the intense sound at our outside Kimball concert before we march down is extreme. Marching down to the stadium is something you have to experience if you haven’t ever before. The different instrument sections dance and chant to the drum line’s cadences and as we get closer to the stadium we play good ole’ Hail Varsity and No Place (Like Nebraska). There’s always a huge crowd and it’s exciting as people wave and cheer us down to the gates. Away Trip is awesome because we get to on a long bus ride to a different school in the Big 10 once a year. Whether we win or lose it’s awesome because they give us money to eat and we get to stay in a hotel. Bowl Trip is an extraordinary experience because for the past two years I have been in the CMB (Cornhusker Marching Band) we have gotten to go to Florida! While the days we are down there are long and filled with parades and pep rallies it is so much fun to be in the sun and warmth for practices.
Do you ever get nervous when you play on game days?
I did get nervous at my first game because during pre-game we strut out on to the field (which is a little tricky) and then we double-time file out to our spots on the field. This can be very intense when it is hard to hear the drum line/frontline and there are so many people in the stadium! Also, while we are relatively closely to each other on the field for Pre-Game it is very difficult to hear anyone around you. Even four steps away! You really have to rely on what you’ve practiced and that you’ve memorized your music well enough because you’re on your own, save for seeing the visual of the drum majors conducting on the sidelines.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
In 10 years, I hope I come back to the CMB alumni day. A bunch of old graduates come back and they play with the current band during half time for a song. It’s really nice to see that they loved band enough in college to come back so many years later. I hope that’s me! I also want to be working for an in-house advertising agency or doing public relations work for a small organization in the next 10 years. At least that is my current plan.
What are three words to describe you?
Quirky, loyal, passionate.