A Brief History of the UWEC Bands
A Brief History of the UWEC Bands
Give Today - Rodney Hudson Band Scholarship!
Rodney Hudson Band Scholarship
About the Scholarship:
As college admission is more competitive and tuition rates rise, your contribution can help us provide valuable support for the next generation of musicians at UWEC. Your gift to the Rodney Hudson Band Scholarship will help us continue to recruit top tier musicians for the UW - EAU CLAIRE band program!
Giving Levels
Conductor
$1,000+
- Name in print on all 100th anniversary publications + website
- Invitation to private pre-concert reception in Foster Art Gallery before the Symphony Band concert on Friday, April 28th
- 2 complimentary tickets to all 100th anniversary season concert band performance at the Pablo and Haas Fine Arts
Soloist
$500-$999
- Name in print on all 100th anniversary publications + website
- 2 complimentary tickets to all 100th anniversary season concert band performance at the Pablo and Haas Fine Arts
Ensemble Member
$250-$499
- Name in print on all 100th anniversary publications + website
- 2 complimentary tickets to all 100th anniversary season concert band performance at Haas Fine Arts
Give Today! Thank you for investing in the future of the UWEC Bands.
Donor Wall - Thank You!
Conductor $1000+
- Douglas Berg-Williams
- Larry Chamberlain
- RG Conlee
- Aaron Doty
- Cindy Ford
- Elizabeth (Bestie) Graham
- Elizabeth Hicks
- Barb Hovey
- Rodney and Beverly Hudson
- Howard and Patty Lehman
- Larry Lelli
- Russel Mikkelson
- Andrew Neesley
- Robert Ponto
- Bill Simon
Soloist $500-$999
- Thomas Bruckner
- Delphine and Joe Casey
- Charita Fidelity
- Chris and Erin Gleason
- Clay Overlien
- William and Renee Rademaker
- James Reitz
Ensemble $250-$499
- Michael Allen
- Kathlynn Anderson
- Kathryn Bressler-Mansell
- Tim and Lori Cruciani
- BAE Systems
- Hugh Gaston
- Laura Kelley
- Rich Morgan
- Phil and Allison Ostrander
- David Pietenpol
- Jeff and Julie Ropers-Rosendahl
- Bill and Barbara Stewart
- John and Crisinda Stewart
- Christopher and Heather Tank
Music Enthusiast $100-$249
- John Asmus
- Eric Becker
- Patrick Bents
- Jeff Dahlseng
- Matt Evans
- Nancy Haefer
- Kelly and Mark Heidel
- Bryan Jaeckel
- Dan and Stacy Julson
- Darrin Kinstler
- Tracey (Geimer) Klickman
- Jeanne and Michael Kolis
- Kurt Majkowski
- Dennis McGraw
- Matt and Jodi Mealey
- David Mihalyi
- Mary Peterson
- Eric Ristau
- James and Constance Root
- Mary Jo Running
- Diane Schuknecht
- Carol Smith
- Erika Svanoe
- Sue and Matthew Walker
- Barbara and Jerry Young
- Joseph Zesbaugh
Music Fan $1-$99
- Monica Allen
- Bryn Anderson
- Anonymous
- Joshua Becker
- Dawn Dinegan
- Julia Diggins
- Andrew Dziuk
- Lisa Evenson
- Christi Forsythe
- Paul Gilbertson
- Leslie Hoffman
- David Hunt
- Thom Kieffer
- Joann Klink
- David Kocik
- Gregory Lang
- Nicole Lindberg
- Benjamin Mackie
- Lois Mease
- Gary Smith
- Carl Meincke
- Patrice Pakiz
- Betty Rasmussen
- Elliott Rittenberry
- Tim Sandsmark
- Eric Songer
- Andrei Strizek
- George Utphall
- Emily Wermund
- Matthew Winarski
- Nancy Wucherpfennig
- Brenda Zimmerman
Contributions as of 5/4/2023
The 2022-2023 academic year marked the Centennial Celebration of the University Bands at UW – Eau Claire. The Band made its first public appearance in Assembly on Friday, January 20, 1922. The band of 20 was organized by students and Miss Clara Mae Ward served as the adviser. Today, the University Band program consists of three concert bands (Wind Symphony, Symphony Band, University Band), four jazz ensembles, numerous chamber ensembles and combos, the Blugold Athletic Band (BAB), the Blugold Marching Band (BMB), and serves over 700 UWEC students across every major on campus. The ensembles frequently perform on campus, in the community, region, country, and internationally.
UW - Eau Claire celebrates 100 years of the band program - WEAU Story
Alumni Band Weekend - April 24-27, 2025
Register to Join the Alumni Band! (Registration opens September)
Join us April 24-27, 2025 for our Alumni Band weekend as we celebrate the University Bands! The weekend will feature performances by the musicians of the Symphony Band and Wind Symphony including concerto competition winners, student conductors, along with rehearsals and performance of the UWEC Alumni Band. There will be time to connect with friends, colleagues, and UWEC faculty (past and present). Dr. Ostrander and Dr. Stewart will lead rehearsals of the Alumni Band on Saturday and Sunday to prepare for the Sunday afternoon concert.
See who plans to attend: Alumni Band Roster 2025 (registration opens September 2024)
Thursday, April 24, 2025
7:30pm - Symphony Band Concert - Gantner Concert Hall (tickets required)
- Dr. Phillip Ostrander, conductor
Reception in Haas Lobby following the Concert (sponsored by the National Band Association student organization).
Friday, April 25, 2025
7:30pm - Wind Symphony Concert - Gantner Concert Hall (tickets required)
- Dr. John R. Stewart, conductor
Reception in Haas Lobby following the Concert (sponsored by the National Band Association student organization).
Saturday, April 26, 2025
8:30am - Alumni Band check-in - Haas Fine Arts Lobby
10am-noon - Alumni Band Rehearsal (Gantner and HFA 139)
Noon-2pm - Lunch on your own
2-4:30pm - Alumni Band Rehearsal (Gantner and HFA 139)
4:30-7:30pm Dinner/Studio Gatherings
7:30pm - The Singing Statesmen Concert - Gantner Concert Hall (tickets required)
Sunday, April 27, 2025
2pm - Alumni Band Concert - Gantner Concert Hall (Free Event)
Reception in Haas Lobby following the Concert (sponsored by the National Band Association student organization)
Tuesday, April 29, 2025
7:30pm - University Band Concert - Gantner Concert Hall (tickets required)
- Prof. David Lofy, conductor
Reception in the Lobby following the Concert (sponsored by the National Band Association student organization).
Questions about the Alumni Weekend?
Contact Dr. John R. Stewart, Director of Concert Bands
Centennial Concert Programs April 25-30, 2023
Normal Band 1922
The 1st UW - EAU CLAIRE Band.
UWEC Percussion
MUED Major, Katie Miller at the Pablo 2019
Wind Symphony in Hamel Performing Arts Center_Madison
Wind Symphony performing at the College Band Directors National Association North Central Regional Conference at UW - Madison in April 2022.
The Blugold Marching Band brings the spirit
The largest marching band in the Midwest energizes the fans at Blugold athletic events.
Angela Klinkner, senior music education major
Senior music education major Angela Klinkner is happy to see her fellow music students so eager to comply with all necessary accommodations for the virus, and finds the support students and faculty are all offering one another to be truly heartwarming.
Kevin Day Composer in Residence 2021
Kevin Day working with Wind Symphony for the consortium premiere of his Concerto for Wind Ensemble in October 2021.
Doc Severinson and Jazz Ensemble I
Doc Severinson performing with Jazz Ensemble I in the State Theatre during the annual Jazz Festival
Symphony Band
Symphony Band performing in the RCU Theatre at the Pablo Center at the Confluence.
Jimmy Heath with Jazz I
Jazz legend Jimmy Heath worked with Jazz Ensemble I during the 50th Eau Claire Jazz Festival.
While I believe the musical instruction is second-to-none, the personal growth I gained from being a part of the UWEC music community has been even more beneficial to my professional career.