Bands to Participate in Northwestern's Homecoming Activities Oct. 7

September 28, 2023

The Northwestern Oklahoma State University Ranger Marching Band led last year’s Homecoming parade. This year, the band will be joined by seven other bands to march around Alva’s downtown square at 10 a.m. Oct. 7.

More than 330 students in bands from across Oklahoma and Kansas will join the Ranger Marching Band by participating in Northwestern Oklahoma State University’s homecoming festivities set for Saturday, Oct. 7.

Joining the Ranger Marching Band in Northwestern’s Homecoming parade at 10 a.m. are seven high school and middle school bands. Four of these bands will join the Ranger Marching Band for the Massed Bands performance at 3:40 p.m. during pre-game of the homecoming football game vs. Harding University set to kickoff at 4 p.m.

Alumni are registered to provide music and entertainment as an Alumni Band during the first half of the homecoming football game. This year former drum major Patrick Wilson will direct the Alumni Band. Rehearsal starts at 2 p.m. in the band room in Ryerson Hall. Alumni can register to participate by going to www.nwosu.edu/homecoming.

Those bands scheduled to march in the parade and their directors include:

• Junior High – Blackwell Middle School, directed by J. Wayne Hudson; Pioneer-Pleasant Vale Junior High, under Sherri Lohmann; South Barber Junior High (Kiowa, Kansas), directed by Erin Place; and Southwestern Heights Junior High (Kismet, Kansas), led by Erika Clausing.
• High School -- Alva High School, led by Adam Steuart; Laverne High School, under Brian Pope; and Pioneer-Pleasant Vale High School, directed by Sherri Lohmann.

The bands participating in the Massed Bands pre-game performance include Blackwell Middle School, Laverne High School, South Barber Junior High, Southwestern Heights Junior High, and the Ranger Marching Band.

There will be an awards ceremony for the bands immediately following the parade at the bandstand in Alva’s Downtown Square. After the awards ceremony, the bands will then travel to the football stadium to rehearse for the Massed Band performance.

Northwestern's Homecoming Parade competition and Massed Band performance are made possible by a generous donation from the Charles Morton Share Trust. The Ranger Band and all the participating students wish to thank the donors for their support.

Bands still wishing to participate should register soon by contacting Eric Burger, instructor of instrumental music and director of bands at Northwestern, at (580) 327-8191 or ehburger@nwosu.edu.

A registration form and more information about Northwestern’s Homecoming events are available at www.nwosu.edu/homecoming.

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