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Late this afternoon we learned that UNL Professor Emeritus of Music Jack Snider passed away at 4:20 PM today. We will post information about funeral arrangements as they become known. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers.
Last month, Jack Snider took a turn for the worse. His son, Bob, and daughter-in-law, Annie are both with him. Jack is sleeping most of the time. Jack’s long term memory is still good. He is having some trouble swallowing and had pneumonia. The doctors are talking that he has days to weeks left. Bob is very proud of his Dad and the impact he has had on so many people.
Jack R. Snider, professor of music emeritus and former director of bands, taught at NU for 36 years. Snider was a founder and the first president of the Nebraska State Bandmasters Association, which gives an annual award in his name. Since retiring in 1986, he has been president of the first advisory board for the College of Fine and Performing Arts, president of Lincoln’s Downtown Kiwanis Club and member of the board of advisers for the Association of Concert Bands of America.
The Russ Swanson Outstanding Bandsman Award was presented Friday night at the band banquet, held at the downtown Holiday Inn. The deserving recipient was Brian Vuu. Brian is a Senior Music Education Major (Saxophone) from Lincoln (Southwest High School.) This year he served as one of the Drum Majors, and last year was Alto Sax Section Leader in the CMB. Along with Marching Band he participates in the Jazz Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Saxophone Quartet and Saxophone Choir. He also sings bass in the Vocal Jazz Ensemble.
The award was renamed in 2012 in Russ Swanson’s honor. Russ was a french horn player in the marching band and was a part of the 1941 Rose Bowl Band. He was also a WWII veteran serving on an air bomber crew. He was a charter member of the Band Alumni Association in 1974 and was on the board until a little over a year before he died in 2011. He and his wife were dedicated volunteers for activities of the BAA board.
No matter how much we love tradition, things change. With the increasing cost of printing and mailing a newsletter, we have turned our attention to technology to assist us in communicating with our members in a more cost-effective and timely manner. It is with great sorrow that we have ended the printing of the Belle Lyre. An archive of past issues is listed in the menu bar above.
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Thank you for everyone’s input on the design of this site. A big thank you to our website host and UNL Band Alum, Jeff DeLong, for getting our site updated.