UNK Pride of the Plains Marching Band opens season Saturday

Sep 3, 2024 / Todd Gottula, Director of Communications,

KEARNEY – The University of Nebraska at Kearney Pride of the Plains Marching Band has announced its season schedule, which begins Saturday with UNK’s home football game against Northwest Missouri State.

In addition to performing at all Loper home football games, Pride of the Plains will perform in the annual UNK Band Day Parade at 10 a.m. Sept. 21 in downtown Kearney.

Other scheduled performances include the Columbus Marching Festival on Sept. 28, UNK Homecoming Parade on Oct. 12 and Nebraska State Bandmasters Association State Marching Contest hosted Oct. 26 at Kearney High School.

The show theme for the 2024 season includes music from “Guardians of the Galaxy” movies.

The band is under the direction of Brian Alber. The drum line instructor and director of bands is Duane Bierman, and the color guard coordinator is Adrienne Rall. Drum majors are Sam Heitz of York and Emma Schroeder of Kenesaw.

Pride of the Plains 2024 Performance Schedule
Sept. 7, 7 p.m. – Loper Football vs. Northwest Missouri State (Foster Field)
Sept. 21, 10 a.m. – UNK Band Day Parade (Downtown Kearney)
Sept. 21, 1 p.m. – Exhibition Performance, Bearcat Marching Festival (Kearney High School)
Sept. 21, 7 p.m. – Loper Football vs. Central Oklahoma (Foster Field)
Sept. 28, TBD – Columbus Marching Festival Parade and Field Marching Competition (Columbus)
Oct. 12, 10 a.m. – UNK Homecoming Parade (Downtown Kearney)
Oct. 12, 2 p.m. – UNK Homecoming/Band Alumni Day and Loper Football vs. Pittsburg State (Foster Field)
Oct. 26, 2 p.m. – Loper Football vs. Emporia State (Foster Field)
Oct. 26, TBD – Exhibition, Nebraska State Bandmasters Association Contest (Kearney High School)
Nov. 16, Noon – Loper Football vs. Fort Hays State (Foster Field)

Pride of the Plains Marching Band Members
Nebraska
Alliance Aiden Zaro
Amherst Riley Riessland
Beatrice Abby Trantham
Beatrice Gavin Wolf
Belgrade Maria Moseman
Broken Bow Cameron Grafel
Broken Bow Cole Waterhouse
Columbus Douglas Davidchik
Columbus Marion Heindryckx
Columbus Rebecca Hoffman
Columbus Cherish Moore
Columbus Andrew Paez}
Fairbury Samantha Lee
Franklin Sierra Bloos
Fremont Bryce Reeson
Fremont Dan Shipley
Fremont Zoey Smallwood
Fullerton Rachel Hale
Gibbon Juan Pablo Ramirez
Gothenburg Olivia Bonine
Grand Island Noah Foley
Grand Island Raegen Hillman
Grand Island Ben Thurston
Gretna Jamie Vaughn
Hastings Shannon Armstrong
Hastings Jefferson Armstrong
Hastings Logan Vraspir
Hemingford Kylie Mendiola-Ozuna
Holdrege Matthew Garringer
Kearney Andrew Bartling
Kearney Elizabeth Daily
Kearney Micah Feddersen
Kearney Mackenna Goeke
Kearney Dillon Kusek
Kearney Dave Wedly Martin
Kearney Jesse Martinez
Kearney Avery Reitz
Kearney Ike Smith
Kearney Jacob Temme
Kenesaw Jaydn Jackman
Kenesaw Emma Schroeder
La Vista Kara Haffke
Lincoln Sydnee Ackerman
Lincoln Rylee Hennecke
Lincoln Gracyn Jozsa
Lincoln Meagan Konz
Lincoln Isabella Mattran
McCook Haylee Thomas
Minden Evan Porter
Minden Olivia Sheldon
Minden Alexis Tira
Mitchell Aubree Branson
Mitchell Riley Murphy
Nebraska City Lorelei Rakowski
North Platte Reace Anderson
North Platte Chyann Clark
North Platte Lucas Ratliff
North Platte Hannah Sims
Orleans Brianna Jorgenson
Ravenna Samantha Bursaw
Ravenna Kaia Johnson
Wallace Jesus Gomez
York Sam Heitz

Out of State
Wray, CO Benjamin Prentice
Lawrence, KS Annie Shew
Athens, TX Daniela Becker
Cheyenne, WY Lana Novotny
Cheyenne, WY Emily Schwaiger