The University of Nebraska-Lincoln's 288-member Cornhusker Marching Band will make its 2010 debut Sept. 4 at Memorial Stadium with pre-game and halftime performances at Nebraska's football season opener against Western Kentucky.
The band includes 2006 Alliance High School graduates Matthew Dimmitt and Amy Rischling. Dimmitt, a senior, plays baritone. Dimmitt is majoring in economics and is the son of Brian Dimmitt and Sue Dimmitt. Amy Rischling, a senior majoring in music education, is one of the drum majors. She is the daughter of Dick and Gretchen Rischling.
This year's band includes representatives from nearly every region of the country, but 83 percent of the students are from Nebraska. Approximately 20 percent of the students are music or music education majors. The remainder of the students are studying in more than 70 other degree programs across campus. Each band member passed two auditions to gain admittance to the group.
Anthony M. Falcone, associate director of bands in the UNL School of Music, is the director of the Cornhusker Marching Band.
The drum majors for the 2010 marching band are seniors Craig Mathis of Omaha, Justin Potter of Nebraska City, and Amy Rischling of Alliance. The twirler is sophomore Rachel Foehlinger of Omaha.
The Cornhusker Marching Band is a unit of the UNL School of Music. It was founded in 1879 as an ROTC unit and is one of the oldest marching bands in the nation. The Marching Red has received many honors throughout its 131-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 for high musical standards and innovative marching routines. The Sudler Trophy is the highest honor given to collegiate bands.
The Marching Red has been seen by millions of viewers on television. The band was the first collegiate ensemble to perform at all the major football bowl games (Rose, Orange, Fiesta, Sugar, and Cotton).
