John “Dan” Michaelson II, 80, of Lincoln, passed away on February 11, 2022. He was born on February 8, 1942, in Lincoln to Eugene and Bernice (Knapp) Michaelson. Dan proudly served in the United States Navy for 20 years. He also proudly called himself the world’s oldest rookie, joining the Cornhusker Marching Band after his military service at age 37.
He was a talented and accomplished musician participating in the Christ UMC Church Brass and Choir, the Community Concert Band, and the University of Nebraska Cornhusker Marching Band. While in the United States Navy Dan directed many concert, jazz, and rock bands. His last duty station was as an admin for the Navy Band, where he directed the Sea Chanters Chorus. Dan was a member of Christ United Methodist Church and of the UNL Alumni Band as a participant and served as Treasurer for many years. Dan loved going to Cornhusker home football games with his son, Geoff, who is also a CMB alum. Something special that they got to do together for 35 years.
Dan Michaelson Cornhusker Marching Band and Navy Service
Celebration of Life to be held 1:00 p.m., Saturday, February 19, 2022, at Christ United Methodist Church, 4530 A Street, Lincoln (10). Rev. Richard Randolph, Ph.D officiating.
Glow Big Red begins Wednesday from noon to noon on Feb. 16 to Feb. 17. You We wanted to follow up with you to share ways your support can go even further to benefit our students. All gifts to the UNL Band Alumni Association go towards the Jack R. Snider Scholarships.
Scott Washburn: Dollar-for-Dollar Match for UNL Band Alumni Association Thanks to Scott Washburn, all gifts will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $1,000.
Scott Washburn: 50 Donor Challenge – UNL Band Alumni Association We’re looking for 50 donors by the end of Glow Big Red to unlock an additional $500.
How can you show your support during Glow Big Red?
Give: Make a gift of $5 or more to support students and areas of campus close to your heart! Help the NU Foundation reach our campus goal of 4,500 gifts!
Glow: Make your room, home or business GLOW to let your Husker pride shine!
Share: Use the hashtag #GlowBigRed to share your support and Big Red story on social media!
Make a gift of $60 or more, and the NU Foundation will send you a cozy, exclusive Husker blanket! The perfect companion for a cold winter.
From noon to noon on Feb. 16 to Feb. 17, we’re celebrating our campus and the people who make the University of Nebraska–Lincoln a special place by ensuring more students can realize their dreams at Nebraska.
How can you show your support during Glow Big Red?
Give: Make a gift of $5 or more to support students and areas of campus close to your heart! Help the NU Foundation reach our campus goal of 4,500 gifts!
Glow: Make your room, home or business GLOW to let your Husker pride shine!
Share: Use the hashtag #GlowBigRed to share your support and Big Red story on social media!
We know you’ll help us make Glow Big Red a huge success. Make your gift ahead of time at glowbigred.unl.edu and still have it count toward our big day.
Let’s Glow All In for Glow Big Red, Huskers!
P.S. Make a gift of $60 or more, and the NU Foundation will send you a cozy, exclusive Husker blanket! The perfect companion for a cold winter.
As Jack’s 100th birthday approaches on July 24th, we’d like to take a moment to share some of the many highlights of his 37-year career at the University of Nebraska. Jack served as director of bands/marching band and professor of French horn at UNL from 1950-1986.
After serving in the United States Army during World War II, Jack completed his undergrad and master’s degrees from the university. After teaching at Kearney High School for one year, he was asked to come back to the university in 1950 to teach low brass, percussion and assist with the band program under Donald Lentz.
Jack expanded the band program in his first years, made improvements and took different approaches – all with the goal of improving the situation for the students.
Waving both arms and pointing in two directions at once, Director Jack Snider shouts instructions to the University of Nebraska band during a marching rehearsal.
November 12, 1961
Jack’s first show as director of the Cornhusker Marching Band was the 1961 North Dakota game where it rained ALL week. The film of that halftime show is (now) humorous… the highlight being when twirler Joyce Burns made her debut, jumping out of the oversized bass drum just as the sun broke through the clouds, starting the tradition of the twirler being called the “Sunshine Girl.”
The first women auditioned for the Marching Band in 1971, but of the five who auditioned, none were accepted. The next year, five women were accepted into the group.
Jack Snider leading rehearsal.
In 1973, Jack assisted in getting alumni together to form the University of Nebraska–Lincoln Band Alumni Association to establish resources for both long and short term projects and to assist the Cornhusker Marching Band in raising funds for a three-week European tour.
From May 15-June 6, 1974, Jack led 168 band members on a European tour visiting Switzerland, Germany, England, Belgium and the Netherlands, giving a total of nine concerts. Jack designed a 60-minute half time show with marches, show tunes and Disney tunes. Such exposure brought national recognition to the Nebraska Bands and attracted students from all over the country.
“Jack Snider was nothing short of an iconic figure in music at UNL. His storied career as Director of Bands was the stuff of legend. No UNL Band Alumni Weekend ended without a standing ovation for Jack Snider. Very few concerts on the UNL campus happened without Jack Snider in the audience. His mind and ears were formidable. His humor was dry, yet generous and so very smart. He was an inspiration to all.
John W. Richmond, former Glenn Korff School of Music Director
September 22 1985
Jack was a member of the American Bandmasters Association, co-founder and charter member of the Nebraska Bandmasters Association, College Band Directors National Association, National Band Association, Phi Kappa Lambda, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Gamma Lambda and Kiwanis International. He also co-founded the Nebraska Marching Band Festival, the nation’s largest indoor marching band competition.
Community and state-wide activities also occupied much of Jack’s time and energy. He was active in Lincoln Symphony as well as church functions. Each summer he worked with the All-State Music Clinic for high school students.
Jack was known as a faculty member who showed great concern for individuals and his students with friendship extending beyond the members of the groups in which he participates, reaching many members of the university community both students and faculty.
Snider’s greatest pleasure is “his kids – seeing what they’ve done, watching them grow.” “One of the great things about the marching band is that it pulls kids from all areas of campus, from cattle ranchers to doctors.”
Jack Snider, 4/2/5/1983 Daily Nebraskan
After Jack passed away in February 2015, the Band Alumni Association chose to honor him by renaming the general fund the Jack R. Snider Band Alumni Association Fund. In addition, a scholarship was established in his name for marching band members to help students manage band-related expenses such as uniform dry cleaning, instrument maintenance, marching shoes and the credit hours required for participation in the band. Thanks to contributions from many of our alumni, we’ve been able to expand the number of scholarships offered and increase the amount of scholarship in the past five years.
Please consider a donation to https://go.unl.edu/sniderfund to continue Jack’s legacy of helping the students he loved so much.
We have been approved for our Band Reunion performance with the Athletic Department and Glenn Korff School of Music. Save Saturday, September 4, 2021, for our reunion. We are still in planning stages and are not we sure if there will be a Friday night event or not.
Game time is set for 11:00 a.m. CT and will be aired on FOX.
