The atmosphere of any w88 online sports betting of Nevada, Reno athletic event has been illuminated with the sounds of Wolf Pack school spirit since 1981, when the “Pride of the Sierra,&w88 online sports betting; the University of Nevada Wolf Pack w88 online sports betting Band, was established. This year, three years after the 2008 budget cut threat of program elimination, the Wolf Pack w88 online sports betting Band has a new director and reinvigorated mission. Director of Athletic Bands, William Plenk, has many goals, but at the top of his list is a bigger and louder w88 online sports betting band that will bring the community and the campus together as one.
Plenk received his bachelor’s degree in tuba performance at Ithaca College in New York and received his master’s degree in tuba performance and doctorate in wind conducting at the w88 online sports betting of California, Los Angeles became involved with music at a young age.
&w88 online sports betting;It’s actually kind of funny. I chose to play the tuba in fourth grade because I knew it was too large to take home and practice,” Plenk said. &w88 online sports betting;As it turned out, I developed a passion for the tuba and for music, now, here I am, 17 years later, and I have to carry two tubas wherever I go.”
After five years as the teaching assistant with the UCLA Bruin w88 online sports betting Band, Plenk knew he wanted to pursue his passion to teach music as a band director. Now, in his first year at the University of Nevada, Reno, Plenk has developed a vision for the w88 online sports betting band that extends far past his initial year.
“We want to sound great, look great, and become a fixture in the community at large,” Plenk, director of the w88 online sports betting, pep and symphonic bands, and conducting instructor, said. “We are here to support the University and we can do that in many ways.”
Part of Plenk’s vision has already come to fruition as 35 new members have joined the band making the total count of musicians 130, the biggest band the w88 online sports betting has had in several years. Over the past 30 years, more than 3,500 students have played in the program.
&w88 online sports betting;People will notice our larger size and the impact of our sound,” Plenk said.
Another goal for this year is to be at more events. Also new is the branding of the pep band. The pep band, now the “Howlers,” is a smaller band that plays at other, non-w88 online sports betting events and has already played at a soccer game and a few volleyball games.
&w88 online sports betting;We want to all work together,” said Plenk. &w88 online sports betting;The athletic department, the cheer squad, the students, the faculty and the community, we are all part of the game-day experience.”
This year, the Howlers pep w88 online sports betting members will wear a specially designed w88 online sports betting jersey.
“It’s athletic looking,” Plenk said. “As well as hip and fresh, something the band will wear any time we are not w88 online sports betting.”
Joselle Benitez, a psychology major and human development and family studies minor has been involved with the w88 online sports betting band since 2007 when she played the piccolo. In 2009, she started her role as drum major and has seen the band go through many transformations.
&w88 online sports betting;After we were pending elimination in 2008, we have really shaped our program,” Benitez said. &w88 online sports betting;We got people to stay on because of their passion for the music and for what we do.”
Benitez believes that Plenk is setting the foundation for the future. He has incorporated concerns and encouraged student leadership and faculty to take the program to the next level.
&w88 online sports betting;He is very open to any ideas; he asks our input, and he likes to listen,” Benitez said. &w88 online sports betting;We all contribute now.”
To Benitez, the w88 online sports betting band is like family.
&w88 online sports betting;You don’t get to choose who is in your family or the obstacles you have overcome,” she said. &w88 online sports betting;We are still here, we are loud and proud and that’s who our family is.”
As the Wolf Pack w88 online sports betting Band begins to accomplish set goals and its size grows, fundraising efforts will also increase.
Currently the w88 online sports betting is distributing fundraising envelopes at home games to raise money for scholarships, travel expenses for away games, guest clinicians and equipment.
&w88 online sports betting;Currently, no part of our budget is specifically designated for travel, so as we go forward, we’ll have to fundraise to pay for the bulk of those expenses,” Plenk said. &w88 online sports betting;The long-term goal is to alternate traveling to our rivals, UNLV and Boise, each year.”
The Wolf Pack w88 online sports betting Band is supported by a surcharge on all football season ticket sales.
“Most of our budget is generated by Athletics, but comes directly from Wolf Pack fans,” Plenk said. “Without ticket sales and support from the fans, the w88 online sports betting band would not exist today.”
The w88 online sports betting College of Liberal Arts and Department of Music also support the bands’ operating budget.
&w88 online sports betting;It’s not about what we have done, but where we will go from here,” Plenk said. &w88 online sports betting;I want students to feel challenged, and at the end, feel that they have accomplished something.”
