Meet our Current Board Members!
Board Members serve a two year term and are elected by the membership at the annual meeting the Friday night of our reunion weekend.
Julie Duensing, 2014-2016 term
Alto Sax, 1986-1990
Favorite memory: Run on for pre-game, freshmen year. In AWE!!!!!
Why I serve: Because I feel at home with the people in the band! They are my PEOPLE!
Fun tidbits: There are many stories I can’t tell in public, but ask Chris Schuttler about La Bougerie in New Orleans and jello wrestling (things that make you go hmm?)
Ranelle (Luthy) Maltas, 2013-2015 term
Flagline, 1987-1991
Favorite show: the Swing show my freshman year. We performed it at the Fiesta Bowl, too.
Favorite memory #1: Standing on the field at attention during band camp and realizing the people around me cared as much about marching band as I did. I found my “people.” They are still some of my best friends today. They “get” me. I also met and married my best friend, Bill Maltas (alto sax). We have two boys, Ian and Zane.
Favorite memory #2: Looking out into the stadium from the tunnel that first game. It was my first Husker game ever. It was awe-inspiring.
Why I serve: I serve on the Board because I believe we are continuing to build life-long memories and friendships for the current band and our alumni. I got so much from being a member of the band, I want to give back. I have made many new friends from being on the Board with different people and have gotten to know many other new alumni from different eras.
Chuck Teutsch, 2013-2015 term
Tenor Sax, Snare Drum, head Drum Major 1969-1973
Favorite Memories: Watching the 1970-71 National Championship seasons unfold right in front of our eyes! Traveling with the band to the 1971 “Game of the Century” in Norman, OK, as well as all of the other Big 8 stadiums!
Fun Fact: I lived in all-male Abel Hall (room 1304) for all four years, and seeing Johnny Rodgers coming down the hall to the showers with only a towel over his shoulder was quite a sight!
Why I serve: I was privileged to be one of “Jack’s Boys”, the 180 member all-male band led by the late Jack Snider. I hope future generations get as much out of band as I did, and the BAA strengthens the current CMB!
Erin Thomas, 2015-2016 term
Drumline, 2000-2004
My band story: I came to the CMB exhibition performances as a high school student and remember thinking, “I have to be in this band!” I was in the pit percussion for two years and played cymbals for three years. I was fortunate enough to get to play with my best friend in the pit, and later I met my future husband in the drumline. The CMB is one of the highlights of my college experience.
Favorite shows: My first show, “The Fiddler on the Roof” in 2000, will always be a great memory. It was amazing to perform such fun music in front of an excited stadium of fans. I’ll also always remember the first show we performed after September 11, 2001. The game was rescheduled for a Thursday night and we performed beautiful versions of “Amazing Grace” and “God Bless the USA.” The crowd was so quiet throughout our entire performance but they erupted into a standing ovation when we finished. It was incredible.
Why I serve: Marching band was so important to me while I was in college and I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything. I hope to help CMB alumni stay connected, relive memories, and form new memories by performing again with the current band.
Jodi Alva, 2013-2015 term
Piccolo, 1992-1995
I joined band for two reasons. One was, coming from a small town, I felt that I would get to know more people sooner that loved music as much as me. It was particularly challenging because I only had 35 students in my grades 7-12 band at my school. Because we were small, I had only play the flute and had never field marched. To come to the university that first day and memorize the music, play the piccolo for the first time, and learn to read charts for my first show was pretty overwhelming, but also incredible. The second reason is that my grandpa was a lifelong Husker fan and he thought it would be neat if he could watch me march on the field. By the time I made the band, he was not in good health, but made it up to his seats to watch me March my first pre-game and halftime show. That game was the last one he was able to attend.
Why I serve: I am currently a board member as well as maintaining the BAA music and materials. It is fun to get together as a group to provide activities for both the current and alumni bands. Go big red!
Meet our current Officers!
Officers are appointed by the elected board members to serve an unlimited term.
Collin McAcy, Membership Coordinator since winter 2014
Drumline (Front Ensemble), 2008-2011
Rank Leader 2010-2011
Favorite Show: 9/11 Tribute – Extremely moving arrangements of The Star-Spangled Banner, Amazing Grace, and Proud to be an American coupled with a truly epic timpani part to end the show easily make this my favorite CMB performance.
Favorite Memory: My first halftime performance was also my first Husker game ever. The sheer energy and intensity in the stadium – as well as being blown away by the folks in the stands actually listening to you, unlike my time in high school band – made for an absolutely unforgettable experience.
Why I serve on the board: I want to do everything I can to help future members find their experiences with the CMB just as fulfilling and uplifting as I found mine. After everything the CMB did for me, I wanted to make sure I could give back.
Nikki Csipkes, Executive Secretary/General Manager since summer 2014 (pictured on right)
Pit Percussion/Drumline, 2000-2004
Favorite show: It was Fiddler on the Roof in 2000 and I played xylophone beside my best friend. We had so much fun playing the music and adding visuals!
My favorite part of game day: march down because of the buzz of excitement in the air, and it was just a blast!
Why I serve: I have served in three positions on the BAA board- Recording Secretary, Vice President, and now General Manager. The CMB meant a lot to me in college and I want to ensure that the program continues to thrive so that new members of the CMB can have the best experience possible as well!
Molly Boyd, Recording Secretary since 2011
Alto Sax, 2002-2006
My band story: My dad and love of music are the reasons I joined the marching band. My dad played alto sax in the marching band and he would always return for Band Alumni Day. I remember going with him to one of those days my senior year in high school, seeing the band on the field, and thinking next year that is going to be me. I did not go to UNL my freshman year, but because they let in students from other colleges back then, I was able to attend Nebraska Wesleyan and audition (and join!) the CMB. I transferred to UNL the following year, and marching band had a lot to do with it. My favorite show was my first one when we played the music of Blood, Sweat, and Tears. I was not familiar with this band, but the music was memorable and fun to play. Marching band was my favorite class, and I met so many new friends because of it. Now dad and I come back every year for Band Alumni Day to play, march, and see old friends.
Why I serve: I currently serve as the recording secretary for the BAA. Having the chance to be a part of and serve something I care about so much helps satisfy my love of music and marching band camaraderie.
Jenny Johannes Hascall, Membership Coordinator since winter 2014
Trumpet in C-Rank & drum major, 2000-2004
Favorite show: “Fiddler on the Roof “ was my first field show, so it will always be my favorite.
Highlights: Participating in the Cornhusker Marching Band and being able to experience such things as the Rose Bowl Parade was one of the highlights of my college career. The band experience taught me leadership skills I carry today.
Why I serve: It feels good to be involved in the UNL Band Alumni Association. The organization is filled with great people, and I hope we can work together to benefit the current students of the band in multiple ways. I want their experience to be a great one!
Tom Kallman, Vice President since winter 2014
Trombone, 1981-1984
Favorite Show/Memory: The big band show when I got to dance the Jitterbug with the flag corps!
Elizabeth Chase, Historian
Piccolo 1988-1994
Favorite memory: Seeing my name on the roster the Sunday of cuts. Not believing I was making a long-time dream come true. Obviously the pre-game run on is highly memorable too (who doesn’t have that as their #1 memory of being part of the Marching Red?). Another favorite memory was the Fiesta Bowl parade in Phoenix ‘89-’90 and seeing my family along the route cheering us on. It was special to be able to share my band experience with close family members who live in Phoenix and who would not otherwise have the chance to see me march in Lincoln.
Why I serve: Because I want to give back to something that gave me so much.
Jeff DeLong, Webmaster
Years in Band: 1988 – 1992
Instrument in Band: 1988 – Horn & 1989-1992 – Drumline / Cymbals
Favorite Show and/or Memory of Being in the CMB: 1988’s Spanish Show – Malaguena, Spain, and Children of Sanchez. This was the show we took to the Orange Bowl. We had an impromptu battle of the bands with Miami while waiting to march in the parade. Our rendition and performance of Malaguena pushed them 10 feet back and our drumline dominated. Great feeling to have in your first year with the marching red. Every year following I never lost the feeling that I was part of something special.
Why I Serve the BAA: I was fortunate to have an incredible five years with the marching band. I continue to serve to give back to an organization filled with rich tradition and great memories. The Tradition Continues…
Steve Pearson, President since 2001
Alto Sax, 1987-1991
About Steve: He is the Event Services Manager for the Lied Center for Performing Arts, where he has worked since 2010. In his role with the BAA, he is in charge of securing venues for our Friday night dinner and post-game party, making catering arrangements for the dinner, arranging speakers for the dinner, and providing leadership on issues throughout the year as directed by the board. He played in the men’s basketball pep ban from the fall of 1989 to the spring of 1992. He was a member of both the Misty’s and Grandmother’s pep bands. Steve is married to fellow band alum Liz Whitney Pearson (Trombone 1987-1989) and they have a 9 year old daughter, Ava.
Comments (1)
one of those Jack’s boys when Lenz was in charge officially but Jack really was the one running the show.He was on our bus going out to the Orange Bowl stadium back in Jan,60.The Auburn fans shouted out “war eagle” to our bus and one UNL band guy in the back shouted back “chicken hawk”…way to go.One really favorite nostalgia of mine if the alum band would do it is play more march music on the way over to the stadium,especially “Entry of the Gladiators”march.We use to play that entering in the open south end of the stadium,one long line .It got the point across this was going to be one “glorius gladiator contest, have fun”.