KEARNEY – Music has been a big part of Raegen Hillman’s life since she picked up a violin in fourth grade.
Now, the University of Nebraska at Kearney senior is sharing that passion from a much more visible position – standing in front of the Pride of the Plains Marching Band as one of its two drum majors.
For Hillman, the role is about more than leading performances.
“Being a drum major means that I get to help continue the tradition of the Pride of the Plains,” she said. “My goal this season is to be a leader who inspires the band to rise to a new level.”
A Grand Island native and Board of Regents Scholarship recipient, Hillman is studying PK-12 music education at UNK. Along with violin, she plays alto saxophone and oboe, as well as piano and other instruments she’s learned through her degree program.
She enjoys music because it gives people another way to communicate and connect.
“Sometimes it is easier to express myself through music and performance than words alone,” Hillman said. “Music is a unifying practice that anyone can participate in.”
That inclusive environment is one of the things she likes most about marching band. Pride of the Plains is open to students from all academic programs, bringing together people with different backgrounds and perspectives.
Hillman joined Pride of the Plains as a sophomore after realizing how much she missed marching band, an activity she participated in during high school. She was also drawn to the camaraderie within the program.
“Most people in the Fine Arts Building were in marching band, and it seemed like such a fun community,” she said.
This season, Hillman and fellow drum major Samantha Bursaw of Ravenna are leading Pride of the Plains through shows featuring music from “How to Train Your Dragon” and “Chicago: The Musical.” The band performs at all home football games and will be featured in two upcoming downtown Kearney events – the UNK Band Day Parade at 10 a.m. Sept. 19 and UNK Homecoming Parade at 10 a.m. Oct. 3.
Hillman is particularly excited about this year’s performances.
“‘How to Train Your Dragon’ is a nostalgic movie for me, and its iconic score is a joy to bring to life,” she said. “‘Chicago’ also has such a recognizable score. These themes have been so fun to put together so far this season.”
Her musical involvement extends beyond Pride of the Plains. Hillman also performs with Kearney Symphony Orchestra and is a member of the National Association for Music Education and Kappa Kappa Psi and Delta Omicron honors groups.
She chose UNK after hearing about the positive experiences her mother and older sister had here. Affordability was another factor, along with the personal attention she knew she would receive from faculty and staff.
“I knew if I came to UNK I would be supported by a group of dedicated faculty and staff who would treat me like a person, not just an ID number,” she said.
After graduating, Hillman hopes to take her passion for music into an elementary school classroom in the Omaha area. Eventually, she plans to pursue a master’s degree in music education.
“I am very passionate about music and believe it is a core topic that every child should learn,” she said. “I want to be a teacher so I can advocate for music and support young people’s passion for it.”
PHOTOS BY ERIKA PRITCHARD, UNK COMMUNICATIONS
