Dr. Duane Bierman
UNK director of bands, 308.865.8607
Twenty-one Nebraska bands took part in the 2012 Band Day Parade Competition last weekend, according to Dr. Duane Bierman, University of Nebraska at Kearney director of bands.
The bands marched in what was billed as “Nebraska’s Largest Homecoming Parade.” Band Day, UNK Homecoming and Family Day were all celebrated over the weekend.
Taking the Sweepstakes Trophy for the top band overall was the Kearney High School band. The Kearney High School band also took first place in Class AA, and the Kearney High School drum line earned the Outstanding Drum Line trophy. Winning the Best Color Guard Trophy was Kearney Catholic.
In Class A competition, North Platte placed first, and Holdrege took first in Class B. In Class C competition, Grand Island Central Catholic placed first, Kearney Catholic placed second, and Overton placed third. In Class D competition, first place went to Axtell, second place went to Sumner-Eddyville-Miller, and third place went to Wilcox-Hildreth.
In the middle school division, first place went to Ogallala Middle School, second place went to Kearney Eighth Grade Band, and third place went to Palmer Junior High.
Trophies for the event were donated by the Kearney Hub. Assisting with the awarding of the trophies was Julie Speirs, Kearney Hub publisher, along with Dr. Bierman and UNK band director Dr. Brian Alber. Also helping with the event were the Kearney Visitors Bureau, Jaycees, UNK Athletics, UNK Parking Services, KGFW Radio, Kearney Police Department, UNK Police and Parking Services, Yanda’s Music and Pro Audio, Andrea McClintock, Jane Jameson, Marcia Burman and Lance Rall.
Judges for the event included Aaron Svoboda of Kearney, Chris Shade of Hastings, Quinn Texmo of Omaha and Dr. Neal Schnoor, UNK senior adviser to the chancellor for executive affairs.
The full listing of bands that took part in Band Day and the homecoming parade, listed in alphabetical order by town, include: Amherst Public Schools, Arapahoe Public School, Axtell Community Schools, Elm Creek Public Schools, Gibbon Public School, Grand Island Central Catholic, Holdrege High School, Holdrege Middle School, Kearney Catholic School, Kearney Eighth Grade Band, Kearney High School, Kenesaw Schools, North Platte High School, Ogallala Middle School, Overton Public Schools, Palmer Junior High, Ravenna High School, South Platte Schools, Sumner-Eddyville-Miller, Wallace School District 65-R and Wilcox-Hildreth.
