Bands

UNK offers several diverse opportunities for participation; our bands are Wind Ensemble, the Symphonic Band, the Pride of the Plains Marching Band, and the Pep Band.  Membership in Marching Band and Symphonic Band is open to all UNK students; membership in Wind Ensemble is by audition only.  The Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band are regularly invited performers for the Nebraska Music Educators Association Conventions, and the Pride of the Plains Marching Band has performed three times for Rome's New Year's Day Parade (2006, 2009 and 2012) and for President Bill Clinton in 1998. The Pride of the Plains has also performed in Ireland for the St. Patrick's Day Parade (2018) and for the New Year's Parade (2022). The marching band will return to Rome to perform in the 2027 New Year's Day Parade. For more information, contact Dr. Brian Alber or Dr. Tyler Hawk

Pride of the Plains Marching Band (MUS 103)

Rehearsal Times: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 3:35-5:15 PM  (Fall Semester Only)

Directors: Dr. Brian Alber (alberbw@unk.edu) and Dr. Tyler Hawk (hawkt@unk.edu)

The marching band is a non-auditioned group open to all students at UNK.  We perform at all home football games (approximately 5-6) and a couple of local parades. The band prepares two different halftime shows, in addition to our traditional pregame show. We will have a preseason band camp the week before classes begin in August. During this time, you can move into your dorm room (if you are living on campus) and we will provide all meals through Sodexo (the university cafeteria). Approximately 50% of the marching band is composed of non-music majors, so you would be working with students from diverse backgrounds and a variety of different majors. Many students have stated that participating in Marching Band was a great way to get acclimated to the campus and begin networking with other students before classes begin.

Symphonic Band (MUS 104)

Rehearsal Times: Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 3:30-4:20 (Spring Semester)

Director: Dr. Tyler Hawk (hawkt@unk.edu)

The Symphonic Band is a non-auditioned concert band that is open to all UNK students. This ensemble performs two concerts each spring. This is a perfect ensemble for music education majors that would like to gain proficiency on a secondary instrument, or for students that simply want a low-stress concert band performance opportunity.

Wind Ensemble (MUS 105)

Rehearsal Times: Tuesday and Thursday 3:30-5:00 PM (Fall Semester) and Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 4:30-5:30 (Spring Semester)

Director: Dr. Brian Alber (alberbw@unk.edu)

The Wind Ensemble is an auditioned concert band (auditions are held at the beginning of the fall semester); the ensemble is open to any UNK student. The Wind Ensemble performs two concerts each semester and a tour in the spring of each odd year. The Wind Ensemble has a proud history of musical excellence, having been selected to perform at the Nebraska State Music Education Conference in 2014 and 2024 and the Nebraska State Bandmasters Conference in 2019.