Hastings College students participating in the 2025 Intercollegiate Band include (from left) Erick Rodriguez, Karl Ludwig, Jason Jones, David Udlock, director Dr. Emily Threinen, Mekenzie Miller, Maggie deFreese, Daniel Steinhauser and Anna Zentz, (Hastings College, Courtesy)
HASTINGS — Hastings College had eight students participate at the Nebraska State Bandmasters Association (NSBA) spring conference and play in the Nebraska Intercollegiate Band, which was held earlier this month in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Hastings College students who participated in the band, which included students from more than 10 colleges and universities across the state, included:
- Maggie deFreese of Holdrege, Nebraska, for oboe/English horn
- Jason Jones of Colorado Springs, Colorado, for percussion
- Karl Ludwig of La Junta, Colorado, for tenor saxophone
- Mekenzie Miller of Kearney, Nebraska, for trumpet
- Erick Rodriguez of Grand Island, Nebraska, for alto saxophone
- Daniel Steinhauser of Omaha, Nebraska, for trumpet
- David Udlock of Castle Rock, Colorado, for percussion
- Anna Zentz of Grand Island, Nebraska, for flute/piccolo
“The Intercollegiate Band is a great way for Hastings College music students to interact and network with other talented collegiate music students from across the state while working with world-class clinicians to have an amazing musical experience. It’s an honor to be selected to participate,” said Dr. Louie Eckhardt, Hastings College associate professor of music and director of bands.
The conductor for this year’s band was Dr. Emily Threinen, an associate professor of music and director of bands at the University of Minnesota School of Music in the Twin Cities. In this position, she conducts the acclaimed University Wind Ensemble, guides the graduate wind band conducting program, assists in undergraduate conducting and provides administrative leadership for all aspects of the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities band program.
