Pride of Wildcat Land members, Classy Cats to perform with select intercollegiate marching band
Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021
The Pride of Wildcat Land, the Kansas State University Marching Band, performs in the north end of Bill Snyder Family Stadium. | Download this photo.
MANHATTAN — Twelve members of The Pride of Wildcat Land, the Kansas State University Marching Band, and the entire K-State Classy Cats dance team have been selected for the College Band Directors National Association Intercollegiate Marching Band and will be part of a virtual performance.
The Intercollegiate Marching Band will perform "End of Time" by Beyonce in a video that will premiere online on the Intercollegiate Marching Band YouTube channel on Monday, Jan. 11, the day of College Football Playoff national championship game.
The intercollegiate band features nearly 1,500 performers from 200 college band ensembles in 45 states and Puerto Rico.
"All college bands are missing out on some tremendous experiences, including bowl games — and K-State is no exception," said Frank Tracz, director of the Kansas State University Marching Band. "This opportunity gives our Pride of Wildcat Land members a great chance to perform at a bowl game. As the director of The Pride, I am grateful to the good folks at College Band Directors National Association and the NCAA for this fantastic opportunity for our band students."
The performance will showcase all of the unique aspects of a college halftime show, including musicians, drum majors, color guard members, dancers, and majorettes.
"This is going to be a historical performance," said Mark Spede, president of College Band Directors National Association and the director of bands at Clemson University. "In this unusual year when bands have been unable to perform their traditional pregame and halftime shows during college football games, the College Band Directors National Association is pleased to offer this opportunity with the help of its partners."
The K-State Marching Band appeared at all home football games this season with the exception of the last game against Texas. The 400-plus member band rehearsed and performed in masks while physically distanced in the north end zone of Bill Snyder Family Stadium. The band used special equipment, such as bell covers and puppy pads, to ensure the safety of all members.
Read more about the K-State Marching Band members' selection to the Intercollegiate Marching Band at k-state.edu/band/news.
The following Pride of Wildcat Land members will be part of the Intercollegiate Marching Band:
Riley Toom, fourth-year Color Guard member and senior in applied music, Andover; Bailey Lincoln, fourth-year Classy Cats member and senior in kinesiology, Berryton; Ryan Nelson, drum major, fourth-year band member and senior in music education, Caney; Caitlyn Rude, second-year Classy Cats member and sophomore in elementary education, Garden City; Maddie Lane, fourth-year Color Guard member and senior in secondary education-English, Goddard.
From Greater Kansas City: Morgan Haworth, first-year Classy Cats member and freshman in secondary education, Kansas City; Chris Hovis, second-year band tuba player and sophomore in music education, Leawood; Megan Kiekbusch, first-year Classy Cats member and sophomore in nutrition and health, and Kinsley Turner, second-year Classy Cats member and sophomore in life sciences, both from Lenexa; Brooke Allen, third-year Classy Cats member and junior in human development and family science, Chloe Bartels, second-year Classy Cats member and sophomore in human development and family science, Meredith Casey, drum major, fourth-year band member and senior in music education, Layne Steffen, second-year Classy Cats member and sophomore in business administration, Grace Williams, second-year Classy Cats member and sophomore in open option, and Kaitlyn Woicke, second-year Classy Cats member and sophomore in business administration, all from Olathe; Megan McGrevey, first-year Classy Cats member and freshman in computer science, and Kia Warren, third-year Classy Cats member and senior in elementary education, both from Overland Park; and Emerson Bidnick, third-year Classy Cats member and senior in accounting, and Mackenzie Nagel, third-year Classy Cats member and junior in journalism and mass communications, both from Shawnee.
Brevin Armstrong, first-year Classy Cats member and junior in elementary education, Hutchinson; Will Osorio, first-year band tuba player and freshman in music education, Junction City; Jenna Gillespie, first-year Classy Cats member and freshman in business administration, Lawrence; Delaney Madden, fifth-year band twirler and senior in family studies and human services, Osawatomie; Gillian Falcon, drum major, fourth-year band member and senior in chemical engineering, Salina.
From Topeka: Kathryn Artiles, first-year Classy Cats member and freshman in sports nutrition; Jordan May, second-year Classy Cats member and sophomore in fine arts; and Kamryn Nickel, second-year Classy Cats member and junior in open option.
From Wichita: Jacob Keith, fourth-year band trombone player and senior in finance and accounting; Justin Keogebon, third-year band baritone player and senior in computer science and mathematics; Mara McElgunn, second-year Classy Cats member and junior in kinesiology; Elleigh Peters, second-year Classy Cats member and sophomore in open option; and Sophia Shaar, third-year band mellophone player and senior in chemical engineering.
From Missouri: Zoey Dutcher, fourth-year Color Guard member and senior in secondary education-English, Camden Point; and Josi Frigon, second-year Classy Cats member and junior in civil engineering, Liberty.
